So my work are organising it and I'm gonna need to do some training. Is it really as hard as most people make out? Can I carry on doing 1 day a weekend on the MTB and sorta like 40 miles a week on the road or is that not enough?
[url= http://thebmc.co.uk/three-peaks-challenge ]Have a look at this link[/url]
That will be plenty. It will be pretty easy if you have any kind of fitness.
Donate to the mountain rescue
Take a look at the link...
Do a bit of walking/climbing/running as well, just to build a bit more strength in the supporting muscles around foot and ankles that don't get much of a workout on the bike. It's not too hard fitness wise, but it is a long day on uneven ground, so can wear you down a bit.
Don't worry too much about some of the views in that BMC article either, a lot of 'seasoned' hill walkers seem to have a bit of a chip on their shoulders about it. Do, however, do it it in a small group, ensure you can navigate properly, be prepared for the weather, and to call off the walk if it's too bad, and be respectful of locals, particularly at night, by driving sensibly, not dropping litter, and not making too much noise. Try and persuade those organising it at work to donate a %age of your sponsorship to the three mountain rescue stations as well.
The walking is quite frankly easy, far more interesting walks to be done around Ben Nevis taking in much more vertical feet and interesting scenery.
The 3 peaks is more about your driver and driving.
Do the 3 peaks cyclocross race, much more of a challenge!
If you are a relatively fit and outdoorsy kind of person and your work decide to do the challenge its probably not the best career move to not do it. If that is the case pleaderwilliams advice is good.
My advice...
- 2 drivers per vehicle with none walking
- Plenty of space in the vehicles - if it's wet you don't want to be crammed in.
- Don't get obsessed with 24hrs, just aim to do the 3 walks in 13hrs (that way things like traffic, slower team members etc won't prevent you achieving your personal challenge)
- Get the drivers to prepare hot water in flasks so you have tea/coffee/pot noodle/porridge available in the vehicle at the start of each journey
- Spare clothes in the vehicles but don't carry too much on your back, these are not epic adventures
- Good boots, I've heard stories of numpties having soles fall off on the way up Ben Nevis
- Listen to the haterz as the advice re. the impact on Wasdale Head is true etc, but don't let it get you down if its a work thing or a challenge you want to achieve as its a fun 2 days (if not the most inspiring walks). If others don't want to donate to mountain rescue as part of the challenge then make a private donation yourself.
Small groups, donation to Mountain Rescue as a minimum.
The lakes was always the one that lost out as most people just drove in and out again so it does have some very negative views.
A better idea is to a 3 Peaks closer to each other and remove all the driving but still have a decent challenge.
Normal hill rules be prepared take everything home with you and expect the worse weather possible.
People who raise valid criticism of the 3 Peaks challenge haven't got a chip on their shoulder, neither are they 'haterz', which implies there's no substance to their complaint.
The 3 Peaks industry, driven by private firms as well as charities, has turned the whole thing into a bloated and damaging farce. The Institute of Fundraising's specific guidance demands that organisers be sensitive to local residents and organise adequate toilet and water facilities, when this is frankly impossible at or near Wasdale Head when the very nature of the event means you arrive in the middle of Saturday night.
If your sleep every Saturday night from May to August was disturbed by vans arriving and leaving every 20 minutes, noisy groups disembarking or embarking, and every Sunday morning you were clearing up litter and faeces from your front garden, you'd probably be a little disenchanted with the whole thing.
If the OP is determined to go ahead, fine, I hope he can encourage his group to be sensitive, to be virtually silent at Wasdale Head and use the bogs at the Mway services rather than crap in the doorway of the hotel or on the path in the darkness.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-18785590
Please think very carefully about this. I'm ashamed to say I did this many years ago in a small group and was completely shocked at what I saw.
The charities, imo, were irresponsible and some of the people walking had clearly not done any training or partaken in any exercise whatsoever.
If I had realised beforehand the impact this had on local people, I would never have done it. There is indeed something on the web written from the Wasdale perspective, I'll see if I can find it.
Edit: we were an independent group and no charity involvement.
As above - the main training should be avoiding crapping on the ground and taking your rubbish home with you.
Why not just drive a car for 24hours round the M25, it would at least be original, and there are more places to go for a dump.
I did it a few years ago on rail industry event which involved doing it all by rail on a specially arranged train (with on board poop facilities obviously). It was a big group but pretty well organised and they did seem to be focussed on trying to minimize impact where possible (in as much as you could do with dozens of people involved) - we did Snowdon first, in the dark, and they kept the cafe and facilities at Pen Y Pass open especially for us. We got the narrow gauge railway up from the main line at Ravensglass to Boot in Eskdale and walked in from there to Wasdale to do Scafell the following morning (again there were facilities there for us to use). Travelled up to Fort William overnight for an early morning ascent of Ben Nevis.
Like others, having become aware of the issues since, I wouldn't do it again, but have to say I enjoyed the event at the time.
I'd say that anyone of average fitness with some hill walking experience would be fine.
Why not do the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, the original one?
There's less driving, better walking, better pubs, and it's more of a real physical effort.
please do not do this and try to discourage your collegues by sending the above link to the BMC's article. It isn't so much of a walking challenge as it is a driving one.
As Moses says - yorkshire 3 peaks are a blast !!
Makes it a bit harder because you don`t get to rest en route to the next one but easily achievable with a reasonable level of fitness ...
Do it in winter to avoid the crowds and you`ll enjoy the bogs more - maybe ..
As a keen walker ive avoided the NATIONAL 3 peaks like the plague - mainly because its very disruptive and seen as a jolly by most of the participants. Great for the charities but brings nothing to the communites involved .
Ah the old Three Peaks Driving Challenge. The people of Borrowdale and Wasdale, etc, will welcome your coach party with open arms. I haven't got a chip on my shoulder, I really don't like it. Other challenges are available. Fitness wise, you'll probably be in better shape than Keith from Accounts.
Can I carry on doing 1 day a weekend on the MTB and sorta like 40 miles a week on the road or is that not enough?
Hang on, which Three Peaks are we talking about here?
From your OP, you sound like you're talking about a riding one cos there's no mention of walking in your question?
If it's the Three Peaks Challenge of walking up Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon in 24hrs then don't do it - see above for the reasons why.
If it's the Three Peaks of Yorkshire (Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, Ingleborough) on foot then some walking practice would be useful given that you can expect to be out for anywhere between 6 and 18hrs (pace/weather dependent).
If it's the Three Peaks CX race held every September then practice riding a CX bike off-road and hiking the thing up hills on your shoulder!
OK so general consensus seems to be don't do it, sorry for you all but I am doing it. I was not aware of the damage done but I am now. I am a respectable person as are all my work colleagues. It's a shame that this is the attitude due to the majority but there's nothing I can do about that.
How about trail centres littered with gels and litter, should we advise everyone to avoid this also due to the environmental damage and noise pollution to the local area? Should we ban the London marathon due to the disruption to so many peoples working lives?
I will now knowing the damage make a conscious effort to pick up any litter I see whilst on the hills, as I would do if out on the trails.
I will now knowing the damage make a conscious effort to pick up any litter I see whilst on the hills, as I would do if out on the trails.
Good on you for that - just make sure you take enough bags.
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Anyway, back to the training.
You need to get in plenty of hours practising holding your right foot at a slightly plantarflexed angle.
How about trail centres littered with gels and litter, should we advise everyone to avoid this also due to the environmental damage and noise pollution to the local area? Should we ban the London marathon due to the disruption to so many peoples working lives?
Poor analogies in my opinion. You can make a real difference by convincing your work to do something more inspiring and less impactful in order to raise money. The 3 peaks continues because businesses are not aware of the negativity the challenge attracts. Have a look at your company's environmental charter if they've developed one and see if the challenge fits with it? Not dissing you personally BTW. Awareness needs raising, it is a real problem.
I did it a few years ago.
I was pretty fit through cycling (finished about 15th team at Mountain Mayhem on singlespeeds - mostly due to teh mud killing everyone else) and did a few practice walks of 3 hours plus leading up to it.
Only trouble was I wasn't used to walking the up/down stuff - its pretty flat round here. Was getting pretty tired by Snowdon but completed it in about 12 hours walking however next 3 days was AGONY - could hardly walk my legs weer so sore and stiff.
So I strongly recommend walking up and down (especially down - that was much harder for me) some steep stuff in advance.
Glad I did it as I now want to go back and do some proper walking at each location, but the sight of 20 vans of walkers pissing and shitting all over the verges in the peaks really did bring home the local effect there.
OK so general consensus seems to be don't do it, sorry for you all but I am doing it. I was not aware of the damage done but I am now. I am a respectable person as are all my work colleagues. It's a shame that this is the attitude due to the majority but there's nothing I can do about that.How about trail centres littered with gels and litter, should we advise everyone to avoid this also due to the environmental damage and noise pollution to the local area? Should we ban the London marathon due to the disruption to so many peoples working lives?
I will now knowing the damage make a conscious effort to pick up any litter I see whilst on the hills, as I would do if out on the trails.
I'm wondering why you asked for opinions? You seem a tad touchy ... is it cos you didn't like some of the opinions voiced?
To be fair, he was asking for training tips, not a breakdown on how his plans were up there with Pol Pot's ideas about the future of Cambodia.
Individually he will do less damage than the average 3-peaker, probably only as much as the average punter who ticks off Snowdon, Scafell P and the Ben.
Yeah you're right martin. I guess I just feel strongly about this having done it myself and not realising beforehand the impact.
I'm wondering why you asked for opinions? You seem a tad touchy ... is it cos you didn't like some of the opinions voiced?
To be fair, he was asking for training tips, not a breakdown on how his plans were up there with Pol Pot's ideas about the future of Cambodia.
I was only asking for training tips, didn't expect to have the politics behind it introduced to me instead. Glad I did, however, because I'm now educated on the issue and can better myself with this knowledge.
I find it hard to believe that people would stop to shit on the verge but the human race never fails to surprise me. I can 100% assure you that none of my group will be making such stops.
I don't really understand why you haven't considered even discussing doing something less environmentally unsound.
You've taken the facts of the situation and decided to go ahead anyway.
There is an over riding factor in all this and that's the fact that it's a rubbish challenge and I know you will look back after doing it and agree that it wasn't worth the cramped, sleepless car journey between each leg all for a couple 100 quid for a random charity that has nothing to do with the challenge itself.
I find it hard to believe that people would stop to shit on the verge
Some of them do it on the path. Make sure you're packing a decent headtorch for jobbie avoidance.
I did it when I was in sixth form so over 20 years ago. As said above the driving is the hard bit. We had two dads driving and six of us walked. Didnt notice any crowds of people, but then it was all fields in those days.
No disrepect to the OP but its become more of an office thing to raise cash for good causes. I suspect 90% of the participants have never climbed a serious hill before, training involves an extra lap around the shopping center in the new boots and map skills arent needed as you just follow the herd . Obviously the OP doesnt fit into this category 😉
I posted above about the yorkshire 3 peaks being more of a challenge and i stand by that although its getting very busy over the summer with charity challengers and guides.
As for fitness you`ll be fine on the day but expect to seriously feel it for a good few days afterwards.
I seriously hope you enjoy it as nothing beats a good challenge but the national 3 peaks an organised jolly - enjoy but im sure as a responsible adult youll be wincing at the antics and fitness of your fellow challengers...
a couple 100 quid for a random charity that has nothing to do with the challenge itself.
+1
The various National Park authorities have to do their own fundraising to help cover the very expensive repairs they need to make to the paths and the landscape from damage caused by these "Three Peakers".
The worst hit area is around Scafell. Timings usually dictate that the groups arrive about 10pm - midnight and leave by about 5am so the local villages get constant streams of cars & minibuses going through in the middle of the night, parking on the verges and then buggering off again without even staying in the area and benefitting the local economy in any way.
It's a crap challenge, it really is. Shedloads of fuel and lots of damage to the paths to walk up three relatively easy hills. Big hills yes, but there's no real challenge to them. You'll literally be following lines of headtorches.
You know it may not be that hard/interesting but it is an achievement, you will have climbed the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales back to back. The terminally offended on here will scoff and moan but your friends and family, the people that matter, will be proud that you got of your arse and did it.
Do it with some care and you will have the same or less impact than anyone climbing them individually (which is 100s of 1000s more than the 3 peakers). Donate to the mountain rescue and the national trust and you will even have a positive impact.
You know it may not be that hard/interesting but it is an achievement
if you consider walking 23 miles, mostly in the dark interspersed with about 13 hrs of being on the road an achievement, go for it.
I suspect 90% of the participants have never climbed a serious hill before, training involves an extra lap around the shopping center in the new boots and map skills arent needed as you just follow the herd . Obviously the OP doesnt fit into this category
I've done Scafell and I'm visiting Snowdon some time before I actually attempt the three peaks and 4 of the other members of our team are serious sports persons, 1 triathlete and 3 marathon runners, I guess we're not your 90%, sorry 😀
The worst hit area is around Scafell. Timings usually dictate that the groups arrive about 10pm - midnight and leave by about 5am so the local villages get constant streams of cars & minibuses going through in the middle of the night, parking on the verges and then buggering off again without even staying in the area and benefitting the local economy in any way.
See above. Spent 1 night under canvas at the bottom of Scafell in the camping area and reluctantly parted with £15 for a hat which I stupidly forgot to pack in the store situated at the bottom then drank far too much after we got back down...t'was a good job we pitched the tents when we arrived. Also was the hardest I've ever worked for some Gorgonzola and crackers!(Mid-way-up snack break food.)
I know you're not directly attacking me but seriously guys, we're not the bad ones and on that basis we will undertake this 'challenge' with out a guilt trip because we know we tried our best to decrease the impact on the locals.
Now here's a question that I'm sure will get a few going...
How about sponsoring me once it's all OK'd and we have dates. Sponsor me for The National Trust and Mountain Rescue? Or are all you who are against the three peaks not even going to support the ones you claim to be preaching for? Just a question, maybe you'll prove me wrong...
Maybe the National Park authority should ban all nocturnal parking and dropping off of passengers for a two mile radius around Wasdale and patrol the area throughly. This would solve the problem. People are happy to walk X miles up and down a bleedin' mountain but if they can't drive to the start of their trek then they can't be bothered.
The two Peak Challange anyone?
😉
BTW, I wasn't aware of the problems surrounding the 'Challenge' until I read this thread and followed the links, but I think I sympathise with the locals on this one. Seems a bit like a rural version of chugging to me... OK, whatever the cost, as long as it raises a bit of money for charity.
I've done Scafell and I'm visiting Snowdon some time before I actually attempt the three peaks and 4 of the other members of our team are serious sports persons, 1 triathlete and 3 marathon runners, I guess we're not your 90%, sorry
In that case it's even less of a challenge so no, I won't sponsor you.
If it was someone who'd never set foot outside a city before who'd been "inspired" by who knows what then maybe - it's out of their comfort zone, something they've never done before.
But an active, outdoorsy person doing it? That'd be like me asking for sponsorship to ride 100 miles. I've done dozens of century rides and while they're a bit of an undertaking, they're nothing special. Same with this for you - it'll require a bit more thought and preparation than your normal walk up a hill but the main challenge behind it will be putting up with your team-mates farting and snoring in the minibus between peaks.
I did it years ago, team of 4, all climbed the mountains, pairs relay cycling as far as Tarbett then full group for the final stretch into Glen Nevis, start to the top of the Ben was sub 60 hours
We then assisted a poorly tourist on the descent who was helicoptored off the Ben (we were the only people on the hill who would stop to help (and who had basic kit such as warm clothes and a survival bag, this was before mobiles) despite it being very busy.
The helicopter did come back for us but we had to turn the lift down aas the vehicles were in the other valley
Also acquired a nickname 😉
Big-n-daft .. Proper adventure and top respect, done with a twist and i like that sort of thing..
Sorry Bradley sire - no sponsorship from the Lasty coffers im afraid.
Your lads may have the legs for it but unfortunatly they may get a rude awakening, up and down is a different kettle of fish.
By all means do the national 3 peaks and at some point follow it up with the yorkshire challenge and then tell me which was the most fun/challenging - sorry mate but no contest 😆
Sounds like you have some fit guys on your team, Bradley.
So...here's a curveball - do Scafell Pike from Langdale instead. Easier road access, fewer people to piss off if you park sensibly, but four miles longer, and not just following everyone else's headtorches up the route.
How about sponsoring me once it's all OK'd and we have dates. Sponsor me for The National Trust and Mountain Rescue? Or are all you who are against the three peaks not even going to support the ones you claim to be preaching for? Just a question, maybe you'll prove me wrong...
Go do something that's a proper challenge: Welsh 3000s inside 24 hours maybe? Bob Graham Round? Even the Whitton, but a glorified motoring tour of the UK interspersed with some roadside walks... Or do what you're doing by interesting routes - Tower Ridge on the Ben, something on lliwedd, just use some imagination...
Sorry but reading a plea from the BMC not to do it and then say I'm doing it anyway whilst being aware of the issues still means you'll be part of the problem, consciously or otherwise..
I think people were hoping you'd day 'if the 3 peaks is causing that much of an issue then I'll have nothing to do with it'
You could work out what the petrol would cost and just give that amount to your chosen charity and go out and do a century ride on your own... win win win surely?
Or the Welsh 3000's. That's proper.
I am not sponsoring you because I think you are taking the easy path by not challenging it. Also i have done the Welsh 3000s which is proper nails. But, good luck regardless.
How about sponsoring me once it's all OK'd and we have dates. Sponsor me for The National Trust and Mountain Rescue?
You're having a laugh aren't you?
The NT explicitly refuse to accept anything from companies running these 3 peaks events as doing so will, in their eyes, imply they condone such events.
