Can I climb the National 3 Peaks?
The Infamous ‘National 3 Peaks’ challenge is a serious test of strength, stamina and determination. To climb the 3 tallest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours is a life changing adventure, that will test the metal of any participant, and is often regarded as a ‘right of passage’ for the thousands of hill walkers and adventure racers who attempt the challenge each year.
The ‘3 Peaks’ as it is known as (not to be confused with the equally demanding ‘Yorkshire 3 Peaks’) is a timed challenge to scale the summits of Ben Nevis 1344m, Scafell Pike 978m and Snowdon 1085m inside 24hrs. The distance walked is around 26 miles, the height climbed is around 9700 feet or 2957m, and the drive in between is approximately 450 miles.
Can YOU complete the challenge? For the majority of those reading this article the answer will probably be YES! That is not to say that the challenge is easy, far from it actually, for the grim reality of it is that well over half of those hundreds of hopeful ‘3 Peakers’ who attempt the challenge on every weekend during the summer months, most normally fail to cross the finish line inside a genuine 24hrs.
In recent years the challenge has become a stable source of revenue for the dozens of charity challenges organized as ‘mass participation’ events, each and every weekend throughout the summer, and subsequently the need to ensure that the majority of participants succeed in passing the challenge has resulted in a ‘watering down’ of the challenge requirements. The pure and perceived approach would simply be to log the challenge start time and then have the finish time as 24hrs after this time, what could be simpler?
For the vast majority of challengers and challenge providers, this is the standard, and it is strictly adhered to, however some of the more unscrupulous providers have now taken it upon themselves to ‘bend this standard’ and ‘stop the clock’ during rest periods, ‘stop the clock’ on top of the final summit, or even more underhandedly divide the time to 14hrs of climbing and 10hrs of driving (regardless of how long the drive actually took) to allow even the most hapless of participants the ability to pass within a dubious ‘24hrs’.
The secret to achieving the National 3 Peaks in under a genuine 24hrs is all in the ‘small print’. Good preparation, strict adherence to time keeping, good administration, a dedicated driver and a nominated leader who is qualified, experienced, current and competent on the complexities involved in route finding and navigation on each of the 3 peaks, in the worst weather known to man, by day and by night!
The challenge normally starts at the foot of Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands after an overnight stop in nearby Fort William. This first peak ideally sees participants scale the highest of the 3 summits on fresh legs following a well-established footpath in hopefully a sub-5hr time. For some challengers this is often the hardest of the 3 peaks, being the highest and steepest, but generally after this initial rude awakening and a 6 hr drive with the opportunity to refuel and rest, most participants have usually recovered well enough to attack the next summit with renewed vigor and enthusiasm! Which is just as well as the next peak is technically the most demanding, and depending on which route is taken, often the longest.
‘Scafell Pike’ in Cumbria is the second summit to be attempted, with the majority of ‘non’ 3 Peakers tackling the mountain from the farming hamlet of ‘Wasdale Head’, ascending the shorter but steeper route up ‘Brown Tongue’. However, the route and road to ‘Wasdale Head’ is narrow and winding, and for most ‘3 Peakers’ the slightly longer but less steep approach from ‘Seathwaite’ is the preferred option.
The rocky and loose approach along the ‘Corridor Route’ from ‘Seathwaite’, ‘often done in darkness’, is generally regarded as the most technical section of the ‘3 Peaks’ challenge, and is normally the section that most groups lose valuable time on, and have the most difficulties with navigation and route finding on, especially with large and inexperienced groups of charity trekkers. That said, in mid summer, with good weather and long daylight hours this approach can be truly stunning, with spectacular views to be had by those able to raise their heads from the trail beneath their feet!
A good time on ‘Scafell Pike’ would be sub 5hrs, and as long as ‘Ben Nevis’ and ‘Scafell Pike’ have been accomplished in sub 5hr times and there have been no unnecessary traffic hold ups, then at this time (normally about 2245hrs based on a 0700hrs start time participants would generally know if they are going to complete the challenge successfully with just ‘Snowdon’ in Wales left to climb).
Following a short drive of approximately 4 hours into Wales and the Snowdonia National Park, participants would start the ascent of ‘Snowdon’ from the ‘Pen y Pass’ car park and hostel at approx 0300hrs, thus giving challengers 4 hours to complete the final summit on a well worn, but very rocky ‘Pyg track’. This route is generally achieved in under 4 hours by most walkers.
Whilst 24hrs is a reasonable target for most well organized, prepared and led challengers, it is however, far nicer and almost as equally rewarding to achieve the ‘3 Peaks’ ‘as a team, as friends and with all who started out in a ‘reasonable time’, rather than to turn the challenge into a test of stamina and endurance and subsequently leave by the wayside all of those unable to keep the pace of the fittest members of the group; exhausted, dejected and destroyed, and probably highly unlikely to undertake another adventure again for fear of failure!
This article was brought to you by:
Damon Blackband
Director – Imp Adventures
‘exciting adventures at home and abroad’
t 07768 608914
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