The planned 3 peaks walk took place on 11 April on a beautiful spring day with brilliant sunshine for most of the 11 hours and 10 minutes it took to complete.
Members completing the walk were Jenny Owston, Luke Farrow, Alan Gott and me. We were accompanied by my son Martin, Richard Philpott, Sam Philpott, Mickey and Tony. Peter Evans kindly provided support in the way of drinks and food, and carrying spare clothing etc that was used along the way.
Everyone arrived at Horton in Ribblesdale on time and the walk started at 9.00 taking the anti clockwise route of Pen-y-Gent, Whernside and Ingleborough. The summit of Pen-y-Gent was reached in just over an hour, and at this point Peter left us to return to his car and drive to Ribblehead to meet us after the next leg.
As expected, the leg to Ribblehead was very boggy, and several members of the party managed to put their feet on non terra firma. Luckily no boots were lost to the bogs and the only thing lost was the pride of certain individuals.
How deep is a bog? At least three quarters the length of Richard’s leg.
We eventually arrived at Ribblehaed at 13.00 where we met up with Peter who provided us with drinks of tea and a supply of water to replenish our water bottles
Pit stop at Ribblehead
We reached the summit Whernside around 15.00 where we had spectacular views Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland Fells.
By this time tiredness and injury were starting to slow down the party, and it took us a further 3 hours to reach the summit of Ingleborough, including another pit stop with Peter near the Hill Inn.
Summit of Ingleborough
It was a relief to everyone that we had climbed all 3 peaks and it was now 4 ½ miles downhill all the way back to Horton in Ribblesdale. We eventually arrived back at the car park at 20.10 feeling very tired and weary, just as it was turning dark.
Well done everyone for completing the walk; in particular the members of the group who were finding it hard going for the last 4 hours. It can only be described as character building, and by that time they have read this they will want to walk the 3 peaks again!
Distance walked 24 miles (38km) and total accent 1,533 metres.
Nigel
well done all, especially nigel for organising and leading the walk, and peter for providing support – I bet every one was very grateful for a)the food and drink, and b) not having to carry it round with them
Luke was fit again in time to climb on saturday!
mind you, I was right that 9 hours to complete was optimistic;-D
Two guys ran the 3 Peaks on Saturday in 5 hours 35.
And then again in 5.40.
And then again, 7.15.
http://www.justgiving.com/3x3peaks