Youth Cancer Trust Teams Complete 3 Peaks Challenge

On Saturday 24th May 2009, 5 teams assembled at the Chase The Wild Goose Hostel in Banavie, nr Fort William, to register for the Youth Cancer Trust - Three Peaks Challenge.

The Challenge is to climb, and travel between, the highest UK mountains of Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England) and Snowdon (Wales), all within a continuous strictly timed schedule of around 24 hours. The challenge involves driving some 480 miles between the peaks, walking some 26 miles, and climbing over 10,000 feet.

Teams represented Scottish Widows, Barclays, CHF Creative, Cuddles Day Nursey and Nigel Bradley entered a team made up from his company and it's suppliers.

The forcast was for heavy rain and strong winds on Ben Nevis, but improving as the event developed and moved south. The prediction proved true, with all teams getting a soaking on the Ben, with a mixture of snow and hailstones waiting for teams on the summit area, with deep slush and snow remaining underfoot from the winter.

All teams completed the Ben Nevis climb on target, and swiftly headed off to Wasdale for the next climb - Scafell Pike. The conditions here were much more inviting, but having to climb and navigate in the dark, with only the clear skies and stars to help, careful navigation was important to ensure teams did not stray off the prescribed route. Latter teams were treated to an impressive Lake District sunrise.

Teams then started the final drive to Llanberis, Snowdonia, for the last of the Three Peaks - Snowdon. The sun was now shining, and tired teams needed to ensure they had plenty of liquids available for this climb up a very popular and busy mountain. Temperatures of 73 degrees were recorded at the finish, the Heights Hotel, in Llanberis, where drivers and support teams would await their walkers.

After just 23 hours and 45 minutes after starting the Ben Nevis climb, the first team arrived at the finish - WELL DONE..! Within a few hours all other teams had successfully completed the challenge, and also raised a huge amount of much needed funds for the Youth Cancer Trust.

Many thanks to everyone who took part, and helped acheive so much during this weekend.

Richie..

What a strange year this is turning out to be..!

From a frighteningly slow start, we're now busier than ever. Perhaps with the financial uncertainty we are all facing, and the pound falling to 1:1 with the euro, everyone has decided to stay in the UK?

We've had some sad losses from our team and family, but we've now got some new additions too. Even though they may be leaving us for some 3 months to do voluntary work in India..! You train the staff then they go to work for someone else for no pay? Bizarre... ;-) You're only young once I suppose. Good luck Amy.

Our Three Peaks events are running week to week, with some midweek events too.

During the Spring Stroller 3 Peaks Challenge, we claim to co-ordinate the very first Lifeboat rescue on Ben Nevis..! A crew from Portishead Lifeboat were taking part in the challenge to raise funds for their voluntary service when they witnessed a walker slipping off the mountain track, and down into a ravine. Their prompt action could well have saved the other walker from at best very serious injuries.

News Article Here

Anyhow, I'm now seconded to organising Princes Trust Personal Development Programmes for young people, Janet is on residetial courses, Amy is getting ready to go to India, and everyone else is running round like the proverbial flies with blue bottoms...

Youth Cancer Trust Three Peaks Challenge is our next event, and you can now see what I'm up to via Twitter - if you really want to know.. http://twitter.com/richieev

Last day off... 26 days ago.
Average working day... 14 hours.
Expenses paid by UK taxpayer... Nil

Perhaps I'll have to still keep paying my own mortgage, cleaning my own moat, and changing my own lightbulbs. But then again... VOTE FOR ME :-) I want to give up work and be an MP.

Richie..

Yorkshire Three Peaks - Event Complete..!

A big 'Thank You' to everyone who took part in the Open Challenge Series Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday 2nd May 2009. A total of 148 walkers started the challenge, and 15 walkers used our recovery service to return early due to fatigue, or minor injury or strains. No serious injuries or losses were recorded during the event, and all walkers were accounted for at the end of the event. Phew..!

Despite the concerns of the event director (me..!) the forcast of heavy downpours never materialised and as the mist cleared from the mountain tops, teams were treated to fantastic panoramic views of Yorkshire. Hull Pot Beck did not go into spate, and most teams enjoyed a reletively smooth passage across the moss - although some participants discovered just how deep some of the bogs were in the moss...

Teams were happy to discover the BBQ underway on their return to the finish at Horton, with the quickest team returning in 6 hours 15 minutes - the slowest in just on 15 hours. I am still amazed by those teams seen running up to checkpoints after some 20 miles of hard slog.

Some teams entered just for the sheer hell of attempting the challenge, whilst others entered to raise funds for local charities or good causes, and one team raised over £5000 for their local charity - well done. Our Open Challenge events have no fundraising comittment, but it's great to see some 60% or teams using this event for fundraising purposes. Thanks.

I'd just like to thank the staff at the Philpin Snack Bar, Susan at the 3 Peaks Bunkbarn, the Golden Lion staff, and the local National Park Rangers for making this event possible.. And of course, thanks to all of the Merseyventure support staff and mountain guides for putting up with me (and YOU..!) with a smile - always a pleasure - never a chore...

But of course, without you - the walkers, this event would not be possible - THANK YOU..!

Photo's will be posted shortly to our Flickr website, and we welcome any photo's you would like us to share. Please email to richie@merseyventure.com

We hope you may want to enter another of our Open Challenge events - details can be found at:

http://open-three-peaks-challenge-2009.weebly.com/

Stay fit - stay safe,

Richie..

3 Peaks Challenge - Scafell Pike Training Walks

During the weekend, a number of teams and individuals took part in a series of ntraining and familiarisation events at Wasdale, including basic navigation, a night ascent of Scafell Pike, and a daytime ascent of Scafell Pike.

Conditions were fabulous for the entire weekend, but don't expect such favourable weather when you return for your Three Peaks Challenge... It's very unusual to have such clear and calm weather in this area, and after you all left we experienced high winds and hail stones. The campervan was rocking all night (due to the stormy conditions, lol) and the temperature plumetted.

ANOTHER SCAFELL PIKE DAY ANNOUNCED

Due to demand, we will be organising another guided Scafell Pike ascent, for individuals or groups wishing to see the beast before their challenge. This will be on Saturday 11th April (Easter Saturday) and it's a great excuse to have a short break in the Lake District.

Just £30 per person to enter, £15 per person if taking part in a 2009 Merseyventure Three Peaks event, or FREE if you are the designated Team Leader on one of our challenges.

Full details from the Open Challenge Three Peaks website - just click the link..

Three Peaks Challenge Forum.

Are you organising or taking part in a 3 Peaks Challenge in 2009? Have you previously taken part in the challenge? Would you like to get some useful information from people that have completed the challenge - or event organisers that stage many challenges each year?

Perhaps you would like to offer some advice to 'first-timers'.

Our Three Peaks Forum is a place you can visit to get all of the latest news regarding access, road conditions, planned roadworks and route improvements, known event dates and details, charity events, and links for accommodation, transport, and food stops. Do you want to promote your challenge or fundraising webpage?

We also offer a unique 'team finder' service for people looking to join a team - and teams looking for members. Many members are also looking for drivers, or drivers looking to help a team out.

The forum is 100% free, but you must register to post a message.

With some 80-100 visits per day in the very quiet months, this forum has over 1000 visits per day during summer, and is the only active Three Peaks Challenge forum on the internet.

To visit, click the link below:

Three Peaks Challenge Forum