A roller-coaster ride!

Well its over and the only question remaining is 'How?' Well, here's how:

We actually started well and everyone turned up at 5am to set off from Camberley and an enjoyable journey resulted in us reaching Fort William in the early evening. After settling in to the 'Lodge' we went for Dinner and to recce the start point.

At 5.15am on Wednesday we started the climb of Ben Nevis (15mins late which was a bad omen!) The sun was shining and what little cloud there was,was at about 500m. A good and healthy start turned into a route march as 'The Ben's' gruelling path took its toll and it wasn't till 9.47 am that we made the snow capped summit. Once there the clear blue sky and morning sun made everyone forget the climb and for 15 mins there was much picture taking and general tomfoolery. (Check Geoff's summit stunt in the photos!) The descent started at 10 and was completed only at 12.50 pm which made for a 7 hour 25 minute climb and put the schedule in danger.

On the road to Scafell Pike we made a quick stop at the Lodge to pick up Adil's wash (cosmetics)bag which he had managed to leave that morning, but it had mysteriously been taken to an employees home and didn't get returned for 30 minutes. More time lost and alternative plans were discussed. Nevertheless, onward we went until the M8 at Glasgow turned into a car park and the chance to climb The Pike that day faded completely. A new plan was hatched to go to the next hotel, wake at 2.30am, drive the 1.5 hours to The Pike and climb at first light. Easy!!

Easy, huh! We arose at the correct time and set off in the darkness, unaware the Tom Tom was leading us through Wrynose Pass and onto Hardnott Pass, possibly the most difficult roads in the UK, impassable in a mini-bus! Wrynose we navigated, but trying to get into Hardnott proved too much for the mini-buses clutch and the sad faces of the team as we shivered in the cold whilst Martin gamely burned clutch plates was a depressing sight. Never to be defeated we turned the bus around and flew into the night on a different path and arrived at Scafell at 6am. 1.5 hours late and not a good start to a difficult day!

The climb started at 6.16am and the troops were lively now they were back on their feet. We had one causualty from 'The Ben' and were down to 6 climbers for this climb but smiles were all around, even when Rob realised I had lied about how steep it was! The summit was made at 9.08am on schedule and so spirits were lifting. A quick round of photos and the descent started at 9.16am. The walk down was a bad one for the knees and the stresses and strains of the adventure were becoming apparent. We got down at 11.40am which was 24mins over our schedule but not grim.

A quick sandwich and change of clothes and off to Wales for the last climb, time was of the essence as we didn't want to climb too much in the dark and some of us had work the next day! We made Snowdon for 5pm and were on our feet and climbing by 5.20pm. Now there were only 5 as Scafell Pike had taken another casualty!

Snowdon turned out to be a magnificent ascent being achieved in 2.5 hours, reaching the summit just before 8pm. The still beautiful weather was marvellous as the trial climb of Snowdon had been in atrocious conditions. Downward we went very quickly as night was drawing in, tired limbs and heads were now our worst enemy and we were about half way down when darkness fell, we all donned head lights and slowly trekked on. Our speed at this point slowed to a crawl as the route was little more than a rock scramble but we eventually arrived to a warm meal and coffee at 11pm, under 6 hours which was a great time.

The journey home was one of weary bodies and tired heads, several stops were made for refreshments and an eventual arrival in Camberley around 5am was welcome relief for all.

The pictures (all available at Photobucket.com - user 3Peaks2008) tell the story best but the following awards could be made:

Best Climber - The Beaver
Best Hair - Adil
Best Pillow - John
Best Gollom impression - Rob
Best Abuse - Geoff
Best Gnome impression - Tim
Most Welcome Face - Martin with hot pasta
Most likely to fall over - Mark
Best looking - Arnold by a long way!

We Did It!!!!!!!!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to an amazing time and achievement. There were many unforgettable moments whilst trying to get to the mountains as well, but I think we are all very proud of ourselves and the others in the team.

Special thanks to Arnold because without him it would not have been possible to do this on this scale and the same goes to our sponsors who all showed tremendous support.

No 5:

Upon the top of Nevis,Blind in Mist!
I look into the Chasms and a Shroud
Vaprous doth hide them; Just as much I wist
Mankind do Know of Hell!!!!!


'Wordsworth'

Travel Quote Of the Day

No1: "Not all those who wander are lost" J.R.R. Tolkien. Except when following Arnold around Box Hill!

No2: "No road is long with good company"-Turkish Proverb. This will be a bloody long journey!

No3: "I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." - Mark Twain.

No4: "No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. ~Lin Yutang.

The Schedule

This is it, the actual event.

Tuesday 13th May 2008

Meet at Allders Service Yard.
0500hrs Drive to Fort William 530 miles (13 hours)
We will be stopping for breaks and lunch en route.
1800hrs Arrive at Inchree Centre.
Evening meal in Fort William

Wednesday 14th May 2008

0400hrs Up and quick breakfast.
0500hrs Start climb of Ben Nevis
Estimated climbing time 6 hours
1100hrs Finish climb
1100hrs Warm meal to eat whilst on the road. (Pasta in sauce)
1100hrs Drive to Wasdale Head 254 miles (5½ hrs).
Small meal to eat before arrival. (Pasty / fruit / crisps)
1630hrs Start climb of Scafell Pike
Estimated climbing time 5 hours
2130hrs Finish climb
2130hrs Drive to Penrith 63 miles (1½ hours)
Meal stop en route.
2300hrs Arrive at Travelodge Hotel.

Thursday 15th May 2008

0630hrs Breakfast (Cereal / Pain au Chocolate / Fruit)
0700hrs Drive to Snowdon 187 miles (3½ hours)
Small meal before arrival (Sandwiches / Fruit / Crisps)
1100hrs Arrive at Snowdon. Postcode LL55 4TY
1100hrs Start climb of Snowdon
Estimated climbing time 6 hours
1700hrs Finish climb
Warm meal ready. (Pasta in sauce)
1700hrs Drive home 245 miles (5 hours)
2200hrs Return.

Total Climbing time 17 hours
Total driving time between mountains 10½ hours

The countdown begins......

It seems only a little while ago that I was typing 92 days to go into the box on the right. Now with only 18 left it is all becoming a little bit more real!



Above is a current picture of Snowdon, I see no snow but clouds which are man enough to pick us up and dump us as rain!!

This picture of Ben Nevis is a little bit more like it.

Good luck with the training everyone and we will be having a get together soon to discuss finer details.

Beaten by Snowdon

Well, having missed the first Snowdon trek, I took Theresa to Wales on Friday night, and having wined and dined her in the finest hotel we set forth onto Snowdon at 9.30am Saturday morning. Theresa's reasons for being this stupid were many: Accomplishment; make sure her foot was okay after an operation in the New Year; and especially to raise money for MacMillan cancer support in memory of her school friend Sam Ephgrave who died recently.

The weather was reasonable, dry and slightly windy, and the car park was full of climbers. Unfortunately the weather forecast for the top was gales & high winds, hill fog, rain above 700m and wet snow!

The first part went very well but at about 600m the cloud started closing in and the rain, sleet and snow started. The winds were gusting so hard it was difficult to stand up but we still had hope. Then all those happy climbers started passing us going down after giving up and fewer and fewer people were about. At about 800m we noticed that the remaining climbers were putting on crampons (spikes on boots) and carrying ice axes, visability was down to 20m and the snow/sleet/hail hurt when it hit your face! We were soaked through but onward we went.

We got to the zig-zag steps and negotiated them but at the top the path narrowed to a few feet wide with a large drop, being unable to see any rocks due to the foot deep snow we called it a day and turned around. We had managed 950m high and about 650m from the summit but sense told us to quit.

The trip down was difficult, lots of slipping on our backsides as the snow prevented walking easily and once below the snow-line the now gushing water made our boots even wetter and the path difficult. We got to the base at 2.30pm so a very good time in the conditions, and the cheery drive home was accompanied by rain for 200 of the 250 miles.

Except for not getting to the summit, and the cold, an excellent day and Theresa has managed to raise about £320 from her work colleagues at St Bernards Composites in Farnborough, and her friends, which will be put into Geoff's pot.