National Three Peaks Challenge
The National Three Peaks Challenge is an individual endurance test in the UK, in which participants climb the highest mountains in the three countries of England, Scotland and Wales. It is also commonly known as Three Peaks Challenge or Three Peaks designated and is not to be confused with the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.
Although there are no fixed "official" rules, is generally recognized as a success only a completion within 24 hours or during a weekend, which makes the use of a motorized means of transport essential. Some participants start and finish the challenge at sea level, while the majority sets the start and end point to the foot of the first or last mountain.
The mountains that must be climbed, are ( in amount ) Ben Nevis ( 1344 m) in Scotland, Snowdon ( 1085 m) in Wales and Scafell Pike in England (978 m). The total distance of the corresponding increases of 42 kms around a marathon and the implementation requires a travel distance of about 765 kilometers. As a rule, begins with the Ben Nevis, the highest and most farthest mountain, then leads to Scafell Pike in the Lake District and ends on Snowdon in Wales.
Although each year to complete a large number of people, the Three Peaks Challenge, there is no official organization. For most of the sporting challenge is in the foreground, and they can be mainly support of friends, organizing the supply and transport. There is also always professionally organized groups that connect a charitable aspect to the implementation of the Three Peaks Challenge and raise funds.
So far the route in less than 15 hours including 10 hours of driving time was finished.
The three mountains of the main island nor the Northern Ireland Slieve Donard and Carrantuo in the Republic of Ireland can be added. This variation is, however, rarely chosen and mostly carried out in a major charity event. It requires extensive logistical effort, to the use of helicopters.
Implementation
To take advantage of long daylight hours and good weather, the attempt to climb the three highest mountains in Britain in a day, usually taken in the summer. It has proven over the years by experience a certain sequence to be optimal to meet the challenge successfully.
As a rule, begins with the ascent to Ben Nevis at 17:00 clock. With this schedule, the summit by about 1,300 meters in altitude against 20:00 clock and the starting point may be reached again at 22:00 clock. The season is crucial because if the climb must be started rather to be back before nightfall, remains the next day less time to climb Scafell Pike, if you do not want to start in the dark early morning.
After returning from Ben Nevis starts immediately to the south to the Lake District and eaten while driving.
Because of the inevitable transfer services, it is essential to have a team to support it, which is responsible for the transportation, meal preparation and other assistance.
The journey from Scotland to the Lake District is the longer of the two distances to be covered, take depending on driving speed and traffic conditions around six to seven hours and should be used by the participants necessarily for a little sleep.
When you reach the Lake District until 4:30 am clock, the Scafell Pike can be climbed via different routes and the summit around 7:00 clock can be achieved. The normal route starts at Wasdale Head; a more frequently used route is from Seathwaite to the highest point of England.
Although the Scafell Pike is the lowest of the three to be climbed mountains, he is usually described as the biggest challenge. This is probably due to the fact that the Ben Nevis was ascended quite quickly at the beginning and after a long drive the steepest stage must be mastered without enough sleep in the early morning.
If you have completed the correct route without significant delays can be started after return around 8:30 clock to the third stage in the direction of Snowdon Wales.
During the next approximately five hour drive, most are struggling with hunger and fatigue. In addition, worry wide to finish the challenge successfully, because the time is liable to be scarce, especially if it can be driven slowly on the narrow access roads to the Snowdonia National Park.
Until 13:30 clock the ascent of Snowdon should be initiated in order to reach the highest point of Wales about 15:30 clock. This leaves a remaining time of one and a half hours to successfully complete the Three Peaks Challenge.
Three- Peaks - Season
1977, the entire route of about 470 miles ( 756 km ) in 54 hours traveled 57 minutes and 47 seconds a runner team of Vauxhall Motors Athletic Club with five participants.
In August 1981, this record was beaten by another team of the same club for 18 minutes and 14 seconds. As far as known, this time was not improved by 54:39:14 hours until today.
Criticism
While the Three Peaks Challenge has become increasingly popular over the years, also critical voices grew louder. Residents and local authorities and conservationists complain increasing traffic, pollution and noise pollution. There is also criticism that participants will have significant erosion damage by not using the beaten track, but look for shortcuts in order to save time.
Although the Three Peaks Challenge is used repeatedly in order to raise money for charitable purposes, it is criticized that the resources of others, instructed on donations charities such as mountain rescue or emergency services be significantly impacted.
The Institute of Fundraising has issued together with the Lake District National Park Authority guidelines to help the organizers of such charity events, to avoid criticisms:
- No implementation at weekends
- No implementation in the months of June and July
- No subscriber numbers over 200
Proponents of these fundraisers note that it is only a small number of participants who cause problems with inappropriate behavior and that the payments made donations exceeding the cost of the criticized behavior by far.
Nevertheless, it is found from various sites over and over again that the problems caused by inexperienced and poorly equipped participants increase continuously. So the volunteers of the local mountain rescue teams need help again especially participants who overestimated their physical abilities to withstand the external conditions in the mountains or who are not even able to orient themselves in difficult terrain.