IF A British flag flies above the world's highest mountain next year it will be thanks, in part, to a soldier's love of Otley Chevin.

Warrant Officer (WO) Dick Gale is one of a 19-strong expedition hoping to become the only British team ever to have ascended Mount Everest via the notorious West Ridge.

The 36-year-old, who has led expeditions over Europe and South America, will fly out to the Himalayas with an advance party on March 16, 2006, to help set up base camp.

The West Ridge is regarded as the toughest face of the 8,848 metre peak and has only been successfully scaled by 13 people.

WO Dale, originally of Bradford Road, Otley will have to draw on decades of mountaineering experience if he is to add his name to the roll of honour.

That, and some juvenile expeditions made closer to home.

He said: "It all began with me swinging around on trees up the Chevin and then when I got a little bit older I found the crags. I joined the army, really, to keep climbing mountains -- it seemed the only career that would let me do that!

"I've been out to the Himalayas half a dozen times but this has got that extra half a kilometre above anything I've ever been on before.

"Physically it's a lot more arduous route and that's why it has had very few ascents. On the altitude side of things we'll be on oxygen from around 7,500 metres which will take the edge a little.

"Having coped alright at altitude before is a bit of a guide as to how you'll do but you never really know how you'll cope until you get there.

"And the high altitude is very debilitating, you just don't get all the oxygen you need or sleep particularly well.

"Then you've got the weather, the ridge is very exposed and takes a fair bit of a battering.

"Normally at the time we're going there's a bit of a 'weather window' so the plan is for us to be high enough to take advantage of that when it comes."

The team will consist of two base camp staff, 17 soldiers, and one representative apiece from the RAF and the Royal Marines.

The group will move its supplies from camp to camp until everything needed for the final effort is stored at 8,000 metres, and ropes will be laid along the route to facilitate a quick escape.

As the climbers progress they will face icy winds of up to 177mph along the ridge and sheer drops on both sides, while the temperature could drop to below 60 C.

Only the strongest few will be chosen for the last 850 metre push to the very top, and no-one is underestimating the scale of the challenge.

WO Gale said: "There's quite a range of expedition experience among us and we'll need it. It's a very protracted, long route.

"Once you get onto it proper it hits you at about the 7,000 metre mark and you have a long ridge to work along. Then, after that, the technical climbing actually starts. It just keeps on going and gets harder and harder as you go along.

"None of it at the top end is particularly "ninja" stuff by today's standards but it's about attrition, you just have to keep going.

"The military are one of the few teams that will go up anything like this and the odds of putting everybody on top are very minimal --- it won't happen.

"We've tried it twice before, in 1988 and 1992, and got to 8,500 metres but didn't quite manage that last push because of the conditions."

The group will be followed by a film crew to the final camp and the climbers will be able to post diary entries onto its website and read messages from well-wishers.

The climbers have been preparing for the ascent for two years. WO Gale said: "We're doing quite a bit of training together at weekends about twice a month, and we've been together as a unit since we were selected in January, 2004. It's all about building skills together and seeing who fits in.

"For winter training I've spent periods on the Scottish hills and also had two Alpine trips in Switzerland.

"This is the sort of challenge where the success will come from the expedition as a whole, not an individual, although hopefully we'll get around 12 people up there."

Like all experienced climbers Mr Gale knows only too well the risks of the task ahead. But, keen to keep the spirits of his family and girlfriend high, it's not something he likes to dwell on.

He said: "Regarding the danger side of expeditions I tend not to elaborate on them. They see me come back every year and they don't need to know about the hairy bits!

"Fingers crossed we'll make it to the top and I'll be back home safe again."

To find out more visit www.armyoneverest.com.