Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club

3 Peaks Challenge, Report & Thank You     

3 Peaks Challenge by Three Club Members

Sue White-Earl, Louise Watson, John Harrison

Joined by John's son & two friends.

Well Done to all of them 

Report

by John Harrison

“ I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all those who have either given or promised sponsorship for our recent 3 peaks expedition.You will remember that Kathryn took charge of passing sponsorship forms around the bus on a couple of recent bus outings when we were unable to join you due either to having the dog with us or to 3 peaks training. Anyway a considerable number of Club members signed up for which we are extremely grateful. And so to a brief report.

Three Club members ( Louise Watson, Sue Whyte-Earl and myself along with my son and two other friends who are not Club members) had agreed to have a go at the Three Peaks Challenge in support of Cancer Research. The attempt was scheduled for the weekend just gone which,it will not have escaped your notice, was preceded and followed by rather good weather.I am not sure what we did to upset the weather gods but they were certainly most unkind to us on the weekend itself.We left Carlisle in warm sunshine and headed north into increasing greyness which, by the time we reached Glen Nevis was the customary continuous rain.However needs must, so we left the comfort of the minibus and headed off up Ben Nevis for a different sort of Saturday evening. By supper time we were back at the minibus, soaking wet and off to Wasdale Head where we were sure the weather would be better for, as we all know it never rains in the Lake District in summer ( and anyway the forecast had said it would clear during the night). It didn’t and around 4ish we did set off up Scafell Pike in rain which in fairness was a little bit warmer. Back at the bus after peak 2 the clouds did look as though they might break away so I was getting my shorts out of my bag ready for Snowdon. It was really quite pleasant on the M6 but into Wales and lo and behold the rain started again, this time accompanied by a strongish and blooming cold wind.Nearing the top of Snowdon a train appeared out of the gloom but we resisted the temptation and persisted on foot to bag peak 3 and onto a hasty descent. At the finishing line we were delighted to be informed by our support team that we had completed the Challenge and had managed 22 hours 45 minutes. Those of you who have done this thing will know how hard it is. The combination of the physical effort required, the lack of sleep and, in our case also the weather, certainly makes it live up to the name challenge but we have to say, all worth it and in a good cause. We also must say that we are members of a very generous walking club and once again huge thanks to Kathryn for circulating the forms and all who responded so magnificently and sponsored us. We understand that when all other sources are taken into account our expedition as a whole has raised substantially over £2000 and still rising so thank you all very much for your contribution.

John