Mountain and Glen Three Peaks Challenge Blog

Three Peaks Challenge Training 2011

We’re organising a number of Three Peaks Challenge Training events this Summer and we’d love you to come and join us!

This is partly in response to the news that Mountain Rescue call-outs have risen 50% due to the increasing reliance on new technologies such as smartphones. Wasdale Mountain Rescue team have noted that people are neglecting to learn basic map and compass skills for the Three Peaks and are unprepared when their phone, GPS or even (in one case at least) Satnav fails. The aim of our training weekend is to teach you all you need to know for a safe, successful challenge.

Scafell Pike, with it’s steep incline is the most testing mountain of the Three Peaks Challenge, both navigationally and physically. This is not only an opportunity to take a close look at the route to the summit of Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head with one of our Mountain Leaders, but also to polish your navigation skills and get some expert tips in the process! Throughout the event our Leaders will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the Three Peaks Challenge, including equipment, training and preparation. We’ll also provide you with a detailed 16 week fitness plan to get you “mountain fit”.

As Scafell Pike is often attempted in the dark during the Three Peaks Challenge on day one we give you the option of climbing the mountain in daylight or darkness. On day two we provide a full day of navigation training and map-work. This takes the form of a “walk and talk” session in the area of the Scafell Massif. Maps and compasses are provided.

We would strongly advise anyone thinking of undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge in 2011 to come along and get all the necessary mountain skills for a successful challenge. We’ll even donate 10% of the cost to the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team.

Postcards from a Mountain Top

Anyone contemplating the endurance of the Three Peaks Challenge should possibly consider consulting the dictionary for a few evocative words when searching for vocabulary to use on their postcards to describe their Three Peaks Challenge Experience.

The first word to consider would be “experience”. When used as a noun, the word experience is defined as follows: A particular instance of personally encountering or undergoing something. Therefore, when used in conjunction with a Mountain and Glen Three Peaks Challenge, your sentence when describing the views atop each mountain peak would probably read something along the lines of, “My experience with Mountain and Glen when I undertook the Three Peaks Challenge was awesome, breath-taking and totally overwhelming”.
Naturally, the word “experience” can also be used as a verb, which the dictionary defines as follows: To have experience of or to feel. So an appropriate use of the word as a verb would be, for instance, “ To experience the Three Peaks Challenge with Mountain and Glen is, without doubt, an experience not to be missed.”

Another word which a Three Peaks Challenge would bring to mind would be “Memories”. This is a noun which is defined by the dictionary as follows: A mental impression retained; a recollection and so a possible sentence when used in conjunction of your Three Peaks Challenge with Mountain and Glen would be, “My memories of the Three Peaks Challenge with Mountain and Glen are priceless.”

However, one of my favourite words to use when describing a Mountain and Glen Three Peaks Challenge is “emotions”. This word truly does encapsulate all that one would expect when undertaking such an event as The Three Peaks Challenge.

Undeniably, a whole gamut of emotions will be experienced as you undertake your Three Peaks Challenge with Mountain and Glen, from security and well-being, through to sheer joy and elation, with at the end of your Three Peaks Challenge, a sense of sadness and a touch of sorrow.

Security and wellbeing? You may well ask why would these words would come into the equation? Well, with any Mountain and Glen Three Peaks Challenge trip you are very safe in the knowledge that you are in the hands of experienced mountain leaders who have a wealth of knowledge, leaving you to enjoy your event with total confidence.

The joy and elation are obvious words to choose when you reach the peak of each mountain in the Three Peaks Challenge, and do not particularly require expansion upon, but as you experience the utter bliss and the sense of calm and tranquillity atop each mount, it is only natural to retreat into yourself and contemplate the natural beauty that surrounds you.

The sadness and sorrow? Well, perhaps these words are a tad dramatic, but anyone experiencing the Three Peaks Challenge with Mountain and Glen are sure to feel a touch of sorrow at the end of their expedition, leaving the wondrous views behind and “coming back to reality”, but they might actually be a little too exhausted to think about those particular words at the end of their Challenge!

And lastly, how about another word thrown in for good measure? Let’s have the word “anticipation”. Just imagine the sheer sense of expectation and excitement you will experience as you plan your next Three Peaks Challenge with Mountain and Glen!

Three Peaks Challenge – A Real Adventure!

The Three Peaks Challenge is, most certainly without a doubt, a real Challenge in every sense of the word. However, should you choose to complete The Three Peaks Challenge with the aid of Mountain and Glen, who have many years’ experience in this field, you can be rest assured that your Three Peaks Challenge will be ably led, in a safe, calm manner, and that at the end of your Three Peaks Challenge you will undoubtedly feel as though you have accomplished a real Challenge (and strengthened many a friendship along the way).

The Three Peaks Challenge encompasses the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales respectively. However, it is a common misunderstanding that the Three Peaks Challenge involves the three highest summits of Britain, as in actual fact there are over one hundred mounts in Scotland higher than Scafell Pike and more than fifty are higher than Snowdon – but that takes nothing away from the Three Peaks Challenge itself – which if done “by the book” is done within a staggering deadline of just 24 hours.

Many people contemplating the Three Peaks Challenge simply want to experience the thrill and sense of accomplishment that the Three Peaks Challenge offers – whilst others are hoping to raise funds for a cherished charity, and up to press, Mountain and Glen are delighted that we have helped raise many hundreds of thousands of pounds for charitable causes.

However, before you can even contemplate undertaking The Three Peaks Challenge, you must ensure that you are prepared both mentally and physically for the Challenge ahead, and this is where the wealth of experience offered by Mountain and Glen really does come in, as they can literally assist you along every step of the way, from the very first moment you decide “I am going to complete The Three Peaks Challenge”.

As the Three Peaks Challenge is such an arduous and tough undertaking by any stretch of the imagination, some people prefer to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks as a “warm up” exercise in preparation for the National Three Peaks Challenge itself. The Yorkshire Three Peaks extends about 25 miles and follows a circular route through the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, starting and finishing in the quaint and delightful village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The Yorkshire Three Peaks, as with the National Three Peaks Challenge, offers fantastic scenery taking in such sights as the Ribblehead Viaduct, which telly addicts will know appears on the opening credits of the popular television show “Emmerdale”.

It should be noted that the Yorkshire Challenge, whilst not as arduous as the National Three Peaks Challenge, does still cover quite a distance, being only a tad shorter than a marathon with some uneven and boggy terrain thrown into the equation too, and so anyone partaking this particular Challenge should have a good degree of fitness and stamina – and, of course, as we are in Britain rapid changes in the weather should be allowed for!

The Yorkshire Three Peaks involves the summits of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough and perhaps it goes without saying that a huge sense of achievement and accomplishment will most definitely be found at the end of your journey.

Whichever Three Peaks Challenge you ultimately decide upon, with Mountain and Glen you can certainly be rest assured that your Mountain Leader will be knowledgeable and enthusiastic, with plenty of experience in all aspects relating to your Three Peaks Challenge – and they will, without a doubt, have a good measure of humour thrown in to boot!

Three Peaks Challenge With Mountain And Glen

To a modest Sunday or fair-weather walker, the idea of the Three Peaks Challenge is totally daunting and probably, if truth be told, quite terrifying. The national Three Peaks Challenge combines the three highest mountain peaks in Scotland, England and Wales, namely Ben Nevis which rises a magnificent 4,408 feet above sea level; Scafell Pike which reaches 3,209 feet above sea level and, lastly, Snowdon, which rises to a glorious 3,560 feet above sea level – oh and if we are going to do it properly, the timescale is just 24 hours. Indeed, to a novice, the idea of actually undertaking and completing The Three Peaks Challenge at all, never mind completing it to such a frantic deadline, appears nothing short of miraculous.

It goes without saying that much training has to be completed, both mentally and physically, before attempting to undertake such a trial – and The Three Peaks Challenge is certainly not something to be undertaken lightly. There is a plethora of preparation to be done, and if like many others who have completed the Three Peaks Challenge, you are considering raising money for charity as you do it …. you should be aware that every penny you raise will certainly be hard earned!

Mountain and Glen specialise in offering a wide and varied range of walking adventures, and can help you with every aspect of your Three Peaks Challenge. Indeed, if the idea of completing the 3 Peaks Challenge within 24 hours seems far too big a deal, you can take a more “leisurely” approach and climb a mountain a day. This option will ensure that you can still look back with an enormous sense of pride and achievement in completing The Three Peaks Challenge; but as an added bonus you will have had more time to enjoy the scenery and surroundings without the stresses and strains of the tight deadline of 24 hours for the Three Peaks!

Whichever Three Peaks Challenge option you choose with Mountain and Glen you will be accompanied by an experienced and accomplished “Mountain Leader” or Guide. Each Mountain Leader is highly qualified and has an abundance of knowledge to ensure that you and your team complete the Three Peaks Challenge in as safe and comfortable a way as possible and you can relax and be rest assured that whilst you are undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge with Mountain and Glen you are undoubtedly in the best of hands.

The sense of achievement, accomplishment and pride as you finish the Three Peaks Challenge would surely take some beating, and friendships are firmly cemented as you undertake the experience together; indeed more and more companies are undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge as an ideal team-building event when planning corporate functions.

However, don’t be put off if you are alone and none of your friends want to experience The Three Peaks Challenge with you. At various dates throughout the year Mountain and Glen offer an “Open Bus” programme whereby individuals or smaller groups can join up to complete the Challenge, safe in the knowledge that they are in expert hands and with similar like minded people.

Yes, the idea of completing The Three Peaks Challenge is daunting; but it is also exhilarating, exciting and adrenaline-charged too, and whilst you may start out your Three Peaks Challenge as strangers, you can guarantee that you will forge strong friendships with your team mates as you endure the adventure together.

Your Three Peaks Challenge – Fitness and Training

Having organised Three Peaks Challenges for nearly six years now there’s one constant thread that runs through every Challenge; the teams or individuals who have put the most into their preparations always finish faster, have a more enjoyable time and recover quicker than those who leave it all until the last minute or assume that it’ll be easy! The Three Peaks is a tough event, make no mistake!

But there are a number of things that you can do to make life easier for yourself.

Firstly, prepare your body for the Challenge ahead. Walking up and down mountains for extended periods of time puts a strain on specific muscles which aren’t often used. For example, the hip flexor which comes into use to raise the leg can really take a pounding and we have seen people withdraw after Ben Nevis as theirs have become too painful. Many people purely concentrate on Cardiovascular fitness, which is a key part of your preparation but you need to see the bigger picture. We would advise at least 16 weeks of specific preparation in order to prepare your body adequately. We also provide all our customers with a personalised fitness progamme to follow, which targets all these areas of the body before they get on the mountain!

Secondly, Navigation. We never cease to be amazed by the number of people who approach us at Wasdale Head to ask us “which way is Scafell mate”? Scafell Pike is a navigation nightmare in poor weather and good map and compass skills are essential. Don’t be tempted to rely on a GPS either – they are notoriously inclined to give false readings in the area of Scafell Pike summit! You shouldn’t assume that because your Challenge is in mid-Summer that the weather will be clear; some of the worst weather we experienced last year was in mid-July! If you are in a team don’t just rely on one person to navigate, it’s very much a team effort. Get one member to “check navigate”, another to count paces, another to “tick off” features on the ground as the team passes them. A group effort like this won’t go far wrong if everyone has the necessary skills and knows what they should be doing. The best advice we can give is to always prepare for the worst conditions possible – anything else is a bonus!

Finally, you really need to check out every piece of kit, equipment and clothing you’ll be using on your challenge well before the day of the event. This will also increase your self-confidence. The best way to do this is get your team, colleagues or friends together and head for the mountains. Doing this will also have the added bonuses of getting used to walking with weight on your back, walking in boots, eating and drinking on the move plus improving your mountain-specific fitness.

We are running a number of Three Peaks Challenge training weekends during the summer. All participants will be given a personalised fitness programme in addition to valuable navigation training whilst getting a close look at the route for the Three Peaks itself. Why not get yourself booked on one and give yourself the best possible chance of success?

Your Three Peaks Challenge – Socks

Socks are an essential part of your Three Peaks Challenge kit, but one often overlooked or ignored, mainly because they can be fairly expensive. A couple of pairs of good quality walking socks can literally make the difference between finishing in style or sitting out the end of the challenge in the minibus nursing blisters while the rest of your team celebrate their success!

There are two schools of thought on whether you should wear one, or two pairs of socks whilst walking; proponents of the single sock theory would say that just one layer allows a better boot fit whilst those who prefer two socks argue that a double layer lessens the chance of blisters by reducing friction next to the skin.

Both arguments are valid and it really boils down to personal choice and experience.

Our advice is to try both before your Three Peaks Challenge and see which works best for you. Remember though that the success of either system depends on a well-fitting pair of boots. Oh, and avoid cotton socks at all costs! Cotton retains moisture. On a warm day your socks will be absorbing a great deal of sweat (from your legs as well as your feet!) and blisters are guaranteed. Many manufacturers, such as Smartwool use Merino Wool in their socks which helps to keep your feet dry on long walks.

When you find a sock that works for you, buy enough to have a fresh pair for each mountain. Putting on damp socks won’t help your feet. Bring a pair of flip-flops or sandals to wear in the minibus too – this will give your feet plenty of time to breathe between mountains.

The Three Peaks Challenge will punish your feet – even if you’ve never had a blister in your life it’s also worth carrying some Compeed blister plasters in your rucksack just in case! If your feet are soft, try planning ahead by putting a couple of these on your heels before you start (much valuable time is lost by stopping on the way up Scafell Pike to put one on!). Old school walkers swear by Zinc Oxide tape for this purpose, but we’ve found that it has a tendency to roll-up at the edges which can also cause a blister as it rubs the skin underneath.

So choose a good pair of socks to compliment a well-fitting pair of boots, try them out on a long walk and bring a couple of spare pairs on your Three Peaks Challenge and you won’t go far wrong.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

Many people planning on undertaking the National Three Peaks Challenge often use the Yorkshire Three Peaks as a training walk, to build up stamina or to test their kit (and team mates!) before the event.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks is a 12 hour Challenge which takes place in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  The park is dominated by the peaks of Pen-y-ghent (694m/2276 ft), Whernside (736m/2414ft) and Ingleborough (724m/2375ft).  The Challenge is to complete a circular route of around 25 miles/40 km over these three peaks in under twelve hours.  The start and finish are situated in the village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

If you would like to take part in one of our fully-supported Yorkshire Three Peaks events we have a couple of dates running in 2011 suitable for individuals or small groups.  We provide a Mountain Leader and vehicle support, light refreshments throughout and a certificate for all successful participants.

Foe more information click here

The Three Peaks Challenge – when to do it

One of the most common questions we get asked is “when is the best time to attempt the Three Peaks Challenge?”  A very good question! There’s no hard and fast answer but there are a couple of major issues to consider.

Weather – People are often surprised how long snow will remain on the summit of Ben Nevis.  There is usually still a significant amount of snow covering the summit plateau well into May/June.  The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) still conduct avalanche surveys in mid-April! This alone should answer part of the question!  The major consideration for us as event organisers is not rain but wind; 60mph gusts on any of the Three Peaks Challenge summits could have catastrophic consequences.  Before an event we keep a close eye on various weather resources (such as Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) which gives comprehensive, clear forecasts daily); any indication of strong winds always sets alarm bells ringing. Generally speaking this would normally be an issue from around mid-October.

Daylight  – obviously the closer to the Summer Solstice you attempt your Three Peaks, the more daylight you will have.  Scafell Pike catches many walkers out in darkness, particularly if mist descends on the route. That said, the experience of climbing a mountain in the dark is something not to be missed!  If you have one of our Mountain Leaders guiding you’ll be left to enjoy the experience, without having to worry about navigating your team.  We would discourage anyone reading this from undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge on the weekend(s) closest to the Summer Solstice as Wasdale Head and it’s surrounding narrow roads are chock-a-block with minibuses around this time.  This not only impacts on the local communities but makes for a pretty poor Three Peaks experience!

Training - Many people undertake the Three Peaks early in the year when the only training they’ve had is in the gym because the winter weather has made training outdoors impractical.  In our experience you need to have a balanced training programme behind you when you attempt the Challenge.  We provide our customers with a 16 week training programme, prepared by a Sports performance professional as we believe that this is an essential part of your preparation. We would encourage anyone considering the Three Peaks in 2011 to give themselves plenty of time to ensure an adequate level of fitness and stamina to climb (and descend!) around 10,000 feet of rough terrain.

In summary:

• Choose a date between the end of April and mid-October. 
• Be aware that snow may still be on the summit of Ben Nevis and prepare accordingly.
• Avoid the Summer Solstice for your Three Peaks Challenge.  Don’t follow the crowds!
• Consider hiring a professional Mountain Leader http://bit.ly/gHjUdK
• Ensure your preparation is adequate: this is as important as your kit!
• Tweet us if you need any advice!