More than four dozens of soldiers spent the night in the forest warming up after the early morning frost with tea made by themselves and with many kilometres of strenuous moving across Hruby Jesenik ridges. On the way, they had to find checkpoints with disciplines to accomplish that check their preparedness.

When the competing patrols were crossing a cross massif they faced a task that simulated the situation that one team member was injured and the others had to move, i.e. pull him up to another, higher rock. In the simulation the entire team began with climbing along secured way to a fifteen-metre rock. From there, the “injured” person in a stretcher was pulled up to the finish along a couple of leaning ropes.

Having accomplished the task, the team was only to get the progress indicia from the “lampoon” and go fast ahead. Moving from one checkpoint to another should be as fast as possible, which does not mean the shortest way. Often, putting on cross-country skis and take the longer way following the contour line is much faster despite several kilometres in addition than wading through snow in gulches.

And here is another test of special skills arranged by the competition organisers, coming from the University of Defence Physical Training and Sport Centre. A physically demanding and exhausting discipline located on a slope in the mountains required the team to divide. One member was to climb up a twenty-eight metre tree and, when on the top, step on a small board and ring a bell. The other two used a rope system to pull one another to tree tops.

“I did fairly well. The climbing was a bit long. Wing blew up there and the tree swayed, there was frost on the board,” said LCpl. Jiri Juhas representing the 4th rapid deployment brigade. However, the referees noted a mistake in the way of performing the task that resulted in “accomplished with penalty” decision. LCpl. Juhas touched the bell supporting metal structure when standing up on the board.

Weather in the Hruby Jesenik Mountains valleys during the day was influenced by a cold front, foggy, moderate wind and a bit of snowfall. On their movement the teams met icy areas formed from melting snow on the previous days. Therefore, the athletes had to pay extra attention to avoid an unpleasant experience.

The endurance stage ended eliminating two teams from the competition. The teams for the 14th logistic support brigade and University of Defence II withdrew at the end of the stage. In the entire period of the two days, the students for the University of Defence team I were showing the best performance followed by 73rd tank battalion, Charles University military branch of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport and 233rd mountain rangers battalion (Mittenwald).