3 Peaks, 3 mates, 3 years waiting... time for the National 3 Peaks challenge!
The National 3 Peaks Challenge includes climbing the Tallest mountain in the 3 home countries of Great Britain, all within 24 hours.
Scotland (Ben Nevis - 1,345 m)
England (Scafell Pike - 978 m)
Wales (Yr Wyddfa - 1,085 m)
If your idea of a successful adventure is completing all the goals and targets, then this, was a colossal failure. For me at least.
Due to the nature of the challenge, there were so many moments we were unable to capture which I've done my best to write up below. Hope you enjoy the Video.
This all started 3 years ago in 2020, at the back end of the lockdown, me and lids went for a little stroll up Ben Nevis. That moment spawned the idea of doing the 3 peaks. The following year, myself, Lids and Houlty were all fired up ready to go... then lids had to work. Postponed a year. The 2nd year attempt, I went and bust my ACL 10 days before the attempt. Postponed another year. Despite being a few months short of full recovery from my knee operation, I was eager not to put it off again. So, we packed up the car and made the 9-hour drive up to Fort William, ready to camp the night by the water of Nevis, resting up for the challenge that lay ahead.
Attack of the midges, leading to a very brisk pack up of camp and getting some "high quality" fuel in at a nearby McDonalds.
9:24 - Challenge starts. Up the tourist track of Ben Nevis, we made quick progress, to start with - I did need a 5-minute stop as I started to feel pretty sick halfway up. On the way up we passed a few small teams also completing the 3 peaks challenge (and a pair of crazy climbers who knew nothing about the 3 peaks challenge until that day who then managed to go on to do all 3 off the cuff)
12:39 - Summit of Ben Nevis, quick stop to refuel and rest whilst Lids and Houlty have panic attacks watching dogs (and kids) playing very close to the edge of overhanging ice.
14:52 - Heat stroke hits on our way down the mountain. Trying my best to keep it together, joking about the last time Houlty spewed (after a few too many beers) I ended up emptying the contents of my stomach just off the footpath. 30 minute walk left to the car.
16:06 - Heading back to McDonalds (more to rehydrate than anything else). My order, a small diet coke, and large Fanta and an orange juice... I felt drunk at the time, don't judge. Driving out of Fort William, I remember the conversation with Houtly (now driving - and clipping the curb with my car at every chance he got) very clearly.
Me: *burp* "oh dear"
Houlty: You alright Russ? Need me to pull over
Me: "Might do" *burp* "actually yeah mate, pull over"
Houlty: "Where"
Me: "Anywhere mate, actually just here...
After ruining the poor pavement, I shut my eyes for the 6 hour drive down to the Lakes.
22:09 - Arriving at the bottom of Scafell Pike, feeling a bit better than before, but very little strength left I figured we'd see how it goes. After the first 30 minutes, I knew that if I continued, there was little to no chance of getting the challenge done in 24 hours. I gave all the advice I could to Lids and Houlty before heading back to the car.
00:20 - Lids and Houlty complete the 2nd Mountain. 1 more to go.
01:49 - Back at the car after a sprinting finish, no time to stop or rest, on to Eryri (Snowdonia) Lids did do some of the driving but after running over a very large dead fox, I figured he needed the sleep.
07:22 - The bus from Nant Peris to Pen Y Pass. Tackling Yr Wyffda's Pyg Track gave us (well the other 2) the best chance to complete the challenge. Nothing new or exciting for me having done the Pyg Track many times in the past, I knew this would be a bit suffer-fest for no real personal reason. It was important to me however to do anything I could to help the lads achieve their goals so up we went.
09:14 - Saying our congratulations to the other groups we'd met over the past 24 hours and taking a minute to reflect on what had been achieved. 3 Peaks, in 24 hours, done.
Although I waited 3 years to attempt and "fail" the 3 peaks challenge, I take pride in having organized, led and supported these 2 to push some massive physical and mental limits. Now I really have to work on getting my fitness back.
#adventure #wild #national3peaks #3peaks #wildcamping #mountains
