Returning from the Three Peaks Challenge and having some time to myself on the ferry journey home (between sorting kids issues - who can play next on the “ds”; whether they can borrow my laptop etc) I thought I would put pen to paper to reflect on the event and what the team has achieved.
The main achievement must be raising so much for Oskar’s Dreams (estimated in the region of £6,000) with the St Helens members also raising four figure sums for Whiston Hospital. The generosity of all those who sponsored us was much appreciated and spurred us on during the 24 hours itself; not least as one of my sponsors (she knows who she is!) applied a penalty clause in the event that I failed to complete some of the challenge!
There's a Photo Gallery to look at either before or after reading the Challenge Story.
The Final Team
- Jon Wild
- Colin Garvey
- Simon Warmsley & late addition:
- Elliot (the mountain goat) Dillon
- Andy Dillon (driver; team mum and Elliot’s Dad)
The Run Up
Once the challenge had been set last year the team has gone through a number of personnel changes and unfortunately even in the last few weeks 2 members had to drop out (Sean Hoppe having to return to Australia & Neil Williams being laid low a few days before the big event with hernia excuses which seem to have been caused by excessive golf in Spain a few days before!).
Having taken on the challenge we realised that a lot of training would be needed by some of the team members (me included) and we soon took to walking up Greeba; Slieau Whallian and North Barrule on a regular basis. To begin this the training schedule was fairly relaxed but as time raced nearer to d day (4th 5th July) we began to panic slightly as TT week entertaining and holidays threatened our fitness regime. A final push saw us on a weekend trip to Scafell Pike which went well apart from perhaps a little over exuberant relaxing in the welcoming environment of the local Wainwright Inn!
We prepared quite thoroughly as the success of the sponsorship put added pressure on the team to succeed – map reading skills were honed, final training walks completed and our driver Andy was fully briefed on the route, contingency plans (if the satnav breaks down don’t panic and head south) and the menu for the 24hrs planned out (although Colin’s preference for pasties at the bottom of each hill was overruled for the pasta option – but see below!).
The Plan
The Reality
For those of you who are interested the plan was something like this, but the reality (in italics) was a bit different;
3rd July
Depart Douglas 9am;
Depart 9am (having hassled Colin as we arrived 5mins early to find him half dressed and still packing!)
Arrive approx 7pm at Fort William Backpackers.
Arrive 7:30pm at Backpackers (30mins late due to stopping off at the Drovers Inn for a quick pint – the drivers recommendation!)
Evening meal high carb’ and fish.
Lovely pub meal of Haggis mash and neaps in the Ben Nevis Inn! ( we had been training hard though and all felt guilty after the 3rd pint!)
Sleep at Backpackers Inn
Find out that Backpackers Inn was not the place we thought it was (we decide that was Andy’s fault) and actually more designed for those of us 25 years younger and on a serious budget - sharing a very cosy room in tiny bunk beds with another 3 people (who had just left the set of Trainspotting!) was not even Elliot’s idea of fun (he was happy to spend his dad’s money elsewhere!). Next hour spent trying to find somewhere else to stay; eventually find the interesting and friendly Croit Anna Hotel.
Early night – no other entertainment allowed.
Back from the Ben Nevis Inn found us mixing with the coach tours entertainment – we have now halved the age of the bar and our efforts to join in the sing along to Auld Lang Syne (I thought that was just New Year?!?) fell on deaf ears……. We took in the spectacular view of Loch Linnhe and the cloud over Ben Nevis – oh dear.
Weather
Clear and cloud free for great view.
Rain haze and mist – low cloud
4th July
Late breakfast of fruit and isotonic drinks
Full Breakfast (only prunes on the menu so we had an excuse!)
Relax – meditation, and other things athletes do prior to events
Went shopping – great Fat Face in Fort William where we bought some gear (although the cool façade was quickly lost as Colin’s nerves got the better of him - he started acting very strangely – buying (and wearing) a necklace (we thought it was for his wife Colette!).
Pasta lunch
We all felt too sick with nerves by this stage so could not really face anything!
Head off at 5:30pm
Far too much nervous energy burnt off during the afternoon and further wasted time and energy winding up Colin for wearing a necklace (he had now decided to climb with it too!)
Leave 4:31pm
3hrs up Ben Nevis (10 miles total – approx 4,000ft climb) - take it easy on the first one to ensure we do not peak too early!
Simon strides on with Elliot our last minute entrant who is unnaturally fit and seems to be able to float up (also annoying to find he is quarter of a century younger than me - sounds better than admitting he is only 16 and kicking our butts……)
Colin puffs and pants his way up trying to video and carrying that heavy necklace……..). He is on a downer towards the top.
Success - 2hrs 20mins up – excitement got the better of us and we flew up – we are all knackered
Take in the spectacular views at the highest point in the British Isles and head off
Avoid hyperthermia and the snow; take a picture (and the mick out of Colin for still wearing necklace!).
2 hours down–
1hr 30mins down – Colin starts running down as he has delusions of becoming a fell runner, Simon and I hold back (being sensible and tired!)
Colin now on an enormous high – has the doctor taken something at the top? We decide it is his natural manner – another nickname develops (necklace boy adopted by us all by this stage) – bipolar boy!
Quick shower, into car and depart at 11pm.
We have pushed it so hard that Simon is physically sick (another nickname is created – “vomer” Walmsley – no sympathy here!). We briefly wonder whether he is ill but convince ourselves that friendly encouragement will do the trick.
Depart well ahead of schedule – 9pm
5th July
Sleep during easy drive down, arrive Wasdale Head, for Scafell Pike leave 5am
Our driver Andy quickly gets christened “Lewis” he is driving like a demon; 3 g in the corners makes it tricky to sleep. Satnav goes crazy and we lose 15mins. Simon’s sickness returns Colin called in to do blood test for viral check! I carry on with the necklace jokes……….
Arrive after dawn - commence climb on well trodden path 5:15; 2hrs up (6miles total & 3000ft)
Arrive well ahead of schedule but find it is strangely dark at 2.20am. Scare the sheep and ourselves trying to find the beginning path (glad we did this one last week….).
Struggle to find the path, head torches blazing - Colin convinced we have gone wrong & wants to turn back (on a bipolar low at the moment)… overruled by team navigator (me) and fortunately we are still on track.
1hr 50mins up
Take in the views and head off
Avoid hyperthermia but just rain; no snow this time; take a picture (and the mick out of Colin for still wearing the necklace!). Simon cold but digging in.
1hr 20 down.
1hr 15 down – daylight helps the descent and Colin back on a high – still wants to run. Elliot still at the front.
Leave for Snowdon 9 am - easy drive to Wales
Leave 6am cold and wet – no showers here and too tired to do much but wrap up. Lewis still having problems with satnav – when I wake up we are in Aintree – Satnav does not seem to understand congestion issues – we have lost some time here………..
Arrive (exhausted!) 1pm.
Arrive (exhausted) losing track of time now – think it is about 10:30am so we are still doing well. Weather closing in fast, it is time to get this over with. Colin is ecstatic as we have still not been overtaken by anyone; I point out that we did not meet anyone (up or down) on Scafell save for a few sheep that were moving pretty quickly when we scared the hell out of them (see above) – this does not diminish his enthusiasm – obviously going through one of those highs again…….
Up 2hrs 30mins (8miles total approx 3000ft climb).
Managing to stop the team setting off in the wrong direction and we press on well – the record of not being passed continues as we nail a few more walkers on the way up (OK it was a group of 20 cub scouts who we only hauled in at the top (they were moving as fast as the sheep).
Weather really closes in but Elliot still floating on ahead. Lewis also joins us for the last one but can’t keep up with his son either!
We make it – nearly there 2hrs 20mins up; not too bad considering those cubs held us up really……..
Take in the views and down 1hr 45mins arrive 4:15 – 15mins to spare!
Freezing cold at the top and tipping down with rain still no views – we reflect that we have seen lots of the inside of clouds and little in the way of scenery but hey ho.
Colin strikes on ahead (I realise it is a cheap necklace, as the ink starts to run as well!) Colin is also trying to encourage Simon who is suffering from something (viral infections have not been ruled out by Colin but he seems more interested in the champagne at the bottom!) Simon digs deep (despite the constant barrage of encouragement) and we make good time to the bottom.
Down 1hr 32mins with 10 mins at the top we arrive at 2:33pm
Success 22hrs 2mins
Drink Champagne!
Finally something goes to plan – well almost. Only Colin and I are up to drinking champagne. Ok, not quite true; we ban Lewis from drinking as he still has to get us home; Elliot abstains - too young and healthy and Simon now lost all colour and I become convinced he will attack Colin if he is given any champagne. Colin gets the last word as he opens my bottle of champagne – the other bottle goes back in his bag!
Travel home quietly
Too excited to sleep and the joys of Bangor City prove too alluring – all that good work lost in one evening? Elliott bales out and sleeps right through – we have finally out performed him!
Well not everything went to plan but team spirit and some good planning got us through. If you have managed to read this far you must have sponsored us already – but if not you can still donate on line………
Thanks to all
Jon
A sincere and grateful thanks |
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Trust Company Limited Tel: 01624 699 000 |
Manx Radio |
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| Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. Ltd. |
4Hire who provided a vehicle for the Challenge |
PS Here’s to the next one – unbeknown to my team mates the next challenge for 2008 has been found; the 15 peaks above 3,000ft in Wales in 24 hrs according to the blurb.
“The 15 peaks challenge is not for the faint hearted ! Many people have climbed Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis within a 24 hour period, however this usually entails substantial rest (in the back of vans/cars/minibuses etc...) and easy direct routes to the summits. Whatever way you decide to do it, the 15 peaks challenge will require a walk of some 30 miles and over 14,000 feet of ascent and descent. It is likely that a traverse of Crib Goch will be required, a grade 1 scramble at the best of conditions. The 15 peaks challenge is a demanding day out in the mountains and will test the stamina of the very fittest walkers and climbers.”
Any sponsors for 2008 please sign up now!
