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Taking on the 3 Peaks

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el_pappje
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Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by el_pappje »

Right gang, I'm after some pointers if I may.

As part of a works fundraising effort, we're thinking of doing the 3 Peaks (full, not Yorkshire). It's going to be finalised very shortly as if we do it, we'll need time to train and organise so it can be done with as much daylight as possible so about 4 months' hence.

I've found this link about walking boots walking-boot-advice-required-on-a-budget-t100917.html and within that a link here hiking-boots-t94210.html?hilit=brasher

I'll be scouring through those, but I'd really appreciate any advice here on selecting appropriate kit. I'm neither after skimping and doing it on the cheap, nor wanting the Gillette option - but practical, well-suited kit that will suit the task ahead and the training for it. That can include footwear, poles, clothing - all tips welcome as I'm a novice in this regard. If it's like some bike kit and Aldi do a great line in lightweight waterproof shells, great. If I need to go to a specialist shop for certain bits, where should I head?

All comments gratefully received.

Pappje

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murf
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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by murf »

Poles? Don't be daft.

No need to overspend on boots. Good make. Fully waterproof and most importantly comfortable. Don't buy online unless you try on in a shop. Need to be worn in a lot if you want to do the 3 peaks.

Need good, lightweight waterproofs beyond what Aldi wouls sell IMO. You'll be carrying them 99% of the time but if and when you need them you won't want to be relying on crap. Go to Blacks. Their stuff should be fine if you aren't taking it up properlyand will wimp out if weather is bad (which I would advise - Scafell in the dark isn't a nice place if raining!).

Main tip is plan walking, parking and driving routes in advance and get laminated copies to distribute. We lost an hour when some people went back to where we had left the van in Glen Nevis without realising the plan was to move it......
Last edited by murf on 11 Mar 2015, 22:55, edited 1 time in total.

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murf
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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by murf »

Daylight isn't that important as you'll probably do one in the dark (usually Scafell) and drive through dawn and dusk. Anytime from Early May to late August???

el_pappje
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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by el_pappje »

Cheers Murf.

I think we'll be looking for a couple of dedicated drivers and to have all that side of things agreed in advance.

Re the night/day thing - I know there will be some night time walking but am working on the lines of how much lighter the nights are in Scotland (from experience!). On the grounds of doing it in 24 hours and therefore the start time equals the finish time, and wanting to finish late-pm/early-evening at Snowdon so non-walking colleagues can potentially come for a celebration, I figure that a start at Ben Nevis can be done in order to make the ascent in the light/evening/dusk which means the "night" as it is in Scotland would be on the descent and not actually that terribly dark. That would mean Scafell Pike in daytime too.

Good info re kit, shoes, waterproofs etc. The plan is definitely to make sure things are worn in! Are there any particular styles of footwear best suited to this challenge? I've only skimmed the other threads so far.

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murf
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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by murf »

Spose you could start Nevis at about 4pm. Down at 8.30. Maybe start Scafel 6am? Can't remember the exact timings.

Depends what you want to do at the end. We drove home. Would advise against that!

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barry
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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by barry »

http://www.mcofs.org.uk/clothingandequipment.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

there's a basic checklist and a wee nose round the website should give helpful links. echo what murf says...try stuff on, especially boots. a decent outdoor shop will be able to advise.

Poles - if they help you, take them. not for everyone. try borrow a pair and test them to see how you get on.

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by barry »

some deals on.... http://www.blacks.co.uk/footwear/mens-f ... ing-boots/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by unc.si. »

Nice one El Pap. Nearly did it myself about 25 years ago but the driving put us off so we did the Welsh 3000's and the Coast to Coast instead.

Too long since I've done a lot of walking, so can't offer any specific advice on kit. Just make sure you break your boots in.

Main things are to make sure you can navigate the Ben Nevis plateau in bad weather so you don't end up stuck down Gardyloo or five finger, faced with a tough climb back up or an easy fall down the gullies, and probably visit Scafell PIke beforehand so you don't end up wasting time on navigation, which can be a bit tricky.

Actually, the main thing is to make sure you go to Pete's Eats in Llanberis for breakfast the next day :D

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by Geoffv »

Group of 12 of us attempting the challenge in mid July. Starting at Fort William overnight stay at Prem Inn Friday - climb Ben Nevis start at 6am Saturday. We are climbing Snowdon in the dark.

We have hired a prof firm to bus us between locations. They get good reviews. http://Www.busybus.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That website has great info too.

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by gazwood »

We did it a couple of years ago. Hired a mini bus and had a friend who acted as designated driver who slept whilst we did the climbs and we slept whilst travelling. Started at Nevis around 4.30pm which meant we started the ascent of Scarfell about 4am in the dark and pouring rain. Had to sprint up and down Snowdon to complete it under the 24hours due to heavy traffic on route there and had zero time to enjoy any of the views in any of the locations.

My top tip - take a change of clothing for after each peak to change into whilst travelling to the next one, including underwear, you'll thank me for it later :lol:

Loved doing it, elated to complete it in the 24 hours, would never EVER do it again :shock:

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by el_pappje »

gazwood wrote:Loved doing it, elated to complete it in the 24 hours, would never EVER do it again :shock:
:lol: :lol:

Thanks all for the tips, keep 'em coming!

Actually Gaz, your point about the views is something I'm mindful. Again, that's part of my thinking in considering the timing atop Ben Nevis and the potential finish on Snowdon. I know the idea of the challenge is to do it within 24 hours but we're discussing whether that is the be-all and end-all. The context is we'll be raising funds for a charity involved with a primary school in Burkina Faso - it's a material shareholder in our company but whereas in the past it was funded elsewhere, it's now needing funds and so we're gearing events towards that (one colleague is doing the Helvellyn Tri later this year :shock: ). So I'm thinking probably max 6 actual walkers, with other colleagues to be designated drivers for some or all of the route. There's also the idea that colleagues not able or wanting to do the whole thing can come along and do part of it as part of the whole "event", even if that's just descending from Snowdon after getting the train up.

Unc Si - I thought of the Coast to Coast too, a cousin did it yonks ago, but we need an event done in a shortish period rather than taking a fortnight out of work! That's one for a later date maybe.

Geoffv - good luck!

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by el_pappje »

barry wrote:some deals on.... http://www.blacks.co.uk/footwear/mens-f ... ing-boots/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cheers Barry - the Mrs mentioned Blacks, it's good to know that their kit is likely to be ok. I wanted to make sure I wasn't innocently falling into the hiking equivalent of the Bike-Shaped Object :mrgreen:

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by murf »

Clothes don't help or hinder like a bike (shaped object) does. You just want something to do the job and keep water out. Cheap stuff won't. Also need flexibility as temperatures change massively top to bottom so wear layers. You might start in t-shirt and shorts so that will be a full pack. I like cut off trousers (Craghoppers do good ones. Called kiwi?) so you can zip legs on and off but decent tracksuit bottoms are fine if they go over your boots. Wooly hat and gloves maybe.

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by murf »

Saw this in Tesco at lunchtime:

Image

el_pappje
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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by el_pappje »

Cheers Murf! :D

I shall check it out.

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by el_pappje »

Cheers Murf! :D

I shall check it out.

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by wolfboy »

I'm also doing the three peaks this year, i've got myself a pair Trespass Hillden walking boots http://www.trespass.com/men/footwear/walking-boots (got them from here, have a wee look)

How many of you are doing it?

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by el_pappje »

wolfboy wrote:I'm also doing the three peaks this year, i've got myself a pair Trespass Hillden walking boots http://www.trespass.com/men/footwear/walking-boots (got them from here, have a wee look)

How many of you are doing it?
Max of 6 I think - anymore and the driving gets tricky to organise, short of people volunteering to drive a minibus! There will likely be some colleagues thinking of pitching for one peak or part of one, but max 6 for the full shebang.

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look.

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Re: Taking on the 3 Peaks

Post by murf »

Don't suppose anybody out there is joining me and my dog taking on 10 peaks tomorrow?

450 people, 10 peaks, 10 hours, 16 miles, 1 charadee

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