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Well, we did it! What a weekend!
After a comprehensive briefing (!!) from our guide, Hannah, we started under threatening skies up Ben Nevis on Saturday morning. As we ascended the weather closed in and we had a long hard climb in very wet, cold, misty and windy conditions. Mike "Mountain Goat" Murtagh even had the chance to do some messing around in the snow drift that remains on "The Ben" from the winter!
After that straight, in the minibus, change of clothes, and trying to get our essentials dry ready for Scafell Pike. A long long drive followed, before meeting up with our guide, Kat, late in the evening. Thankfully we went up Scafell Pike in the dry, up to the cloud level at least, where it got damp and cold. With our head torches on, Kat expertly navigated us up to the top in pitch darkness and thick fog. We headed straight down and, back on the minibus, we headed for Snowdonia. Morale was a bit low and tiredness was setting in. Sporadic shut eye was only possible when we hit the M6 some hours later. The average seemed to be 1hour, max.
The sun was rising over the Lancashire Hills when the forecast came through - it didn't look good for Snowdonia. After some travel, transport and personnel difficulties with our guides, we eventually made it to Pen-y-pass in torrential rain conditions. Our guide for this one was Damon "I've done everything and been everywhere" (Boris to his friends), who made it clear that conditions were such that many Challenges were being abandoned - but not us - we weren't quitters! A difficult climb up Snowdon followed in absolutely horrendous conditions - driving pouring rain, paths turned into rivers, 50 - 60 mph winds and mist, but we made it to the top (the cafe was closed due to the poor weather) and completed the set of photos with our banner. At this point we realised that we still had a chance of hitting our objective of doing all the climbs in under 14 hours, but only just!
With Boris's permission we were allowed to "crack on" under our own steam and, with the outside chance of hitting our objective, the 3 of us decided to jog / run down. "Mountain Goat" Murtagh led the way and got down in 1hr 3 mins, and Keith " Steadie Eddie" Dowling and me, Ivor "go at anything" Thomas got down together in 1hr 15mins - it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of our lives, running through rivers, clambering down rock faces, and eventually sprinting home into the Pen-Y-Pass car park to be met by our waiting families. What a feeling!
Thank you so much to those of you who have sponsored us, including our very generous Corporate Sponors. We have raised a lot of money in aid of our Charity "The Lighthouse Club" and If you still wish to donate you can do so via our Just Giving web page at http://www.justgiving.com/Hankinson3peaks2010
I have taken a weeks leave to help get my body back in order and get my gear dried out, so you may not get a reply to any emails for a week or so!!
I am so proud of my 2 colleagues and how we helped each other get through the weekends' difficulties. Now what can we do next ...........
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