All Picture: Vanessa Slawson (Nick Scott Photography)

 

Double Top

The National 3 Peaks Challenge – Take 2

 

 

Team 2 – Gary Townrow (SL), Martin Beach (Group Boating Manager), Vanessa Slawson (CSL), and Nick Scott (Driver).

 

 

Until you’ve done it you don’t really have an idea of what it demands of you.  25 miles of walking, 3407m of climbing and in our case 1347 miles of driving because we start from Southampton . All of this is done non-stop of course.

 

 

It was a pretty lonely experience for our driver Nick, who volunteered to get us from home and back via Fort William , Wasdale Head and Llanberis.  He found that whenever we were in the car we slept and whilst we walked – he slept. His experience in driving the length and breadth of the UK for his business (www.nickscott.co.uk) was a key part to our challenge.  Not having to worry about navigation meant we could get some sleep.

 

 

If you like walking then that’s good, but you also have to like walking up hill for 50% of the time and probably the most difficult, was walking down hill for another 49%.   I can only remember a few flat bits – mainly car parks!

 

 

You need to be organised with the correct kit and having the very best you can afford (or borrow) certainly paid off. The wind chill factor at the top of Ben Nevis was below zero and coupled with horizontal sleet which felt like someone throwing nails at your face, we made steady work of the first Peak.

 

 

Scafell Pike was a totally different experience.  We set off in the dark with torches and as the light came up we realised it was going to be another walk in the clouds.  This seemed to be the hardest and perhaps the least interesting of the 3 peaks – clouds are cold and wet! On the return journey to the car park we encountered a variety of walkers and their dogs, day trippers who ask you “Is it far?” and people in clothing not suitable for the mountains! 

 

 

Snowdon was the last and yes, we did see the lady in flip flops coming down as we were going up.  It felt really strange going up against the tide of people who had spent the day on the mountain coming down.  With just the 6th leg of the journey to go, (getting down safely), we encountered another summit in the clouds.  It was at this point we allowed ourselves a small cheer.

 

 

You also have to eat and drink on the move.  Keeping your energy levels up is essential.  Living on Mars Bars, peanuts and bananas is an interesting diet, interspersed with sandwiches, sausage rolls and pasties in the car.  Drying your wet clothing and boots at the motorway service station is also an unusual past-time.

 

 

We are very grateful to all our sponsors and supporters.  A huge thank you to everyone who helped us with advice, kit and sponsorship – with over £1200 already pledged we are very pleased with the total raised and proud of our achievement.  Thank You.

 

Celebratory meal!