3 Peaks Challenge UK. A personal mountaineering challenge!

[OmegaJJH]

Hello TRF,

At 5pm today I will embark upon a once in a lifetime challenge that I have been training for since Christmas.

It is the 3 peaks challenge.

The aim is to climb:

Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland

Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England

Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.

That's over 11,000ft of climbing & circa 500 miles of driving.

Oh, all within 24 hours!!

It works out at roughly 13 hours of hiking and 11 hours of driving.

Unfortunately Mother Nature has dealt us a cruel blow before we've even started with heavy rain, poor visibility, high winds and -4 temps predicted for this evening. This will no doubt slow us down and make the challenge all the more difficult to complete within the 24 hours.

Luckily, if we're successful we have a rather plush hotel with Jacuzzi and spa waiting for us at the end of the challenge.

Just making last minute preparations now and looking forward to getting going!

All training walks through some of the worst weather imaginable and for the next 24hours I will have my trusty sub strapped to my wrist so for all those 'is it safe threads'... probably YES!!

Also, for a bit of fun my best friend (who knows my utter disdain for 'selfies') has challenged me that if I get a selfie at all 3 summits he will make a donation to a charity of my choosing therefore if successful I'll post them on here along with a compulsory wrist shot!

Wish me luck, I'm going to need it!!

[NewEnthusiast]

Good luck James. Which one are you starting with? If wrist shots count as selfies then you're sorted!

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[OmegaJJH]

Starting at Ben Nevis as it's the hardest. All being well start Scafell Pike at 3-4am.

The weather literally couldn't be any worse

[NewEnthusiast]

Good Scottish weather there... I believe the euphemism is character building!

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[OmegaJJH]

Originally Posted by NewEnthusiast

I believe the euphemism is character building!

That's exactly what my friend said

[NewEnthusiast]

Originally Posted by OmegaJJH

That's exactly what my friend said

Haha. Other sage words of encouragement from the Sergeant Major/Macho sports coach school of motivational speaking; skin is waterproof and once you're soaked through, you can't get any wetter!

Do you have a driver so you can rest between climbs (and a decently large bar tab open at the foot of the last hill)?

[daveathall]

The very best of luck James.

[OmegaJJH]

Originally Posted by NewEnthusiast

Do you have a driver so you can rest between climbs (and a decently large bar tab open at the foot of the last hill)?

Yes we have a driver & will try to get as much sleep as possible but lack of sleep will surely be a factor.

Originally Posted by daveathall

The very best of luck James.

Thanks Dave!

[Cru Jones]

sounds like fun! enjoy.

[todd.hepburn]

I visited Ben Nevis a couple of weeks ago! Got a great pic:

[cop414]

James, this sounds like an excellent adventure, best of luck and be safe!

[hugs]

Good luck

[teqp]

Best of luck James!

[rudestew]

Tried it and failed ,lost two big toe nails , rookie mistake with boots , good luck .

[hugs]

nvm misread

[milov]

Though you will already be underway: Good luck... and have fun.

I'm not sure if the sailing/running version of this event is still on. It was an organised race where you sailed between the mountains with a crew of three. The summiting was done by a pair of runners.

I once did the Tasmanian version of the event.

[Pangit]

Good luck, I hope it all goes well.

[NewEnthusiast]

Hope it's going well and the feet aren't hurting too much

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[Abdullah71601]

Did you make it?

[Too Old]

Think he's got 6 hours more!

[Old Expat Beast]

Good luck James, I hope everything is going well.

[AzPaul]

Sounds like great fun and a challenging adventure.
Good luck

. . . . though the word 'mountaineering' does conjure up a slightly different image.

[OmegaJJH]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Did you make it?

DID IT!!

We finished well ahead of schedule with a time of 20 hours 40 minutes.

Very tired and sore but feel a huge sense of satisfaction and pride.

Thanks for the nice comments everyone!

We've just checked in to hotel so quick shower and then jacuzzi!!

Will post some pics soon.

[NewEnthusiast]

Well done! Enjoy thr adrenaline buzz and share the gory details when you've recovered (ps leaving nearly 4 hours to spare is showing off a bit 😜)

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[Peter99]

Well done! A great achievement indeed!
Some 20 years ago in the London area the trio peak test was organised each year by a well known charity.
A couple of coaches used to leave London for the 7/8 hour run to bonny Scotland, Ben Nevis ( it is quite bonny actually!) for the start of the 24 hour test. I put my name down.
But by chance I happened to bump into an old pal who had completed the 24 hr challenge the previous year and he painted a quite horrendous story of the conditions in the coach after each climb, as it was particularly wet that year.
It was the squash of exhausted people with wet kit in cramped conditions.
Having experienced similar experiences during my military service I just could not face it again! It can be bad enough with your transport!
Yes! I chickened!
I cancelled my application but had to make a hefty contribution to the charity in lieu!
A couple of years later the charity discontinued the trio not only for coach problems but complaints due to litter dropping.
Well done again and in 20 hours! Fantastic!

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Congrats James...well done

[breitlings]

What watch did you wear?

[SearChart]

Whoah that is very cool!! Congrats James

[brandrea]

James best of luck to you, sounds like a great adventure and a test of endurance.

I may have missed it, but what what are your wearing for this

Edit: I see you finished! Congratulations James - now about that watch ... we gotta keep it WIS here

[rudestew]

good show