3 Peaks Challenge - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon
7/8 June 2003, in aid of the Schools CD ROM project

By Hywel Lewis

Alan Sykes, Hywel Lewis, Richard Elsdon, Chris Cooper, Peter Jenkins, Peter Hirsch set off for the 3 Peaks. Photo Hywel Lewis

My involvement with the 3 Peaks challenge began with a conversation with my friend Peter Hirsh:
"How do you fancy having a go at the 3 Peaks, Hywel?"
"What's that Peter?"
"Climbing the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours".
Reflective silence...

We set up training walks up Scafell Pike, Snowdon and the Peak district, and purchased and tested equipment. At 5.20pm Saturday 7th June the clock started and we were off with Peter in the lead setting a cracking pace. I was very relieved to hear one of the more experienced walkers suggest that he slow down!

The tourist path leading to the summit of Ben Nevis is well paved for most of the way, but the last third of the climb is a relentless slog over a loose rocky surface. We arrived at the summit at 8.10pm. At this point, the weather took a turn for the worse, and it was a thoroughly drenched team who clambered back into the van two hours later. I could describe the experience of five guys changing out of wet clothes and boots in the darkness of a speeding mini van driven by a maniac, but... onward to Scafell!

At Sunday morning, 4.20am, feeling slightly travel sick after negotiating the final twisting miles at 'Formula 1' speeds (time was of the essence after all), we set off for the summit of Scafell Pike. It involved a steep, direct climb and we were heading back down just over two hours later. Once again we resigned ourselves to the ritual of synchronised wet clothing removal at high speed. Did I mention that time was of the essence?

An attempt on the 3 Peaks can be wrecked very easily by getting lost en-route. Thankfully this did not happen. We duly arrived at 'Pen Y Pass' and set off on the final climb at 1pm. Snowdon for me was the most picturesque of the three mountains but being a Welshman, I would say that wouldn't I? My knees were really complaining by this time but we became aware that we were going to do it and we finished at 4.56pm, a total time of 23 hours 36 minutes - a very satisfying achievement.

A hearty thanks to the team who raised a very healthy £1260.50.

Climb every mountain

It has been a busy season for sponsored events. BSA members have risen to the challenge and scaled all the heights of Britain - sometimes in less than 24 hours. During Summer 2003 Nick Pearce and his team also completed the 3 Peaks challenge, in 23 hours 4 minutes and raised £735.

"The challenge was great fun and provided a good opportunity to meet new people and interact and test my speech in a challenging and demanding environment. Once I had committed myself to doing the challenge I thought I would raise money for charity. I immediately thought of BSA as a worthy cause, and my friends, neighbours and colleagues at work have all been very generous," Nick said.

Watch out for the full story by Nick in the next Speaking Out, Spring 2004. It will be the perfect time to start planning for your event in the Summer.

From the Winter 2003 edition of Speaking Out