The 24 Peaks Challenge

This is one of the most demanding mountain walking events devised as a charity challenge. It involves walking up 24 peaks in the Lake District, each one over 2400ft, in 24 hours over one weekend. Total distance is approx. 30 miles and height climbed approx. 13,000ft - nearly half the height of Everest!

We are doing this in aid of the BRI's Haematology Day Unit (part of the Haematology & Oncology Centre), via the Above & Beyond Appeal. The unit provides outpatient/day case care for patients with blood disorders from Bristol and across the south west. We have chosen this charity because Jane has had treatment here.

Now, in order to make you take pity and sponsor us generously, you might like to read our “mountain-walking CVs” which show why we are so suited to this task......

Jane
Knows the Lake District well, owns up-to-date 2½" maps which she is learning to fold properly. Currently has a bad foot, a bad knee, a life-threatening blood disorder (well, it was life-threatening until she had her spleen removed 3 months ago), and is allergic to walking socks.

 Nick
Says he has been to the Lake District before and has a 1980 1" map (Tourist series). Nick was in army cadets (left in 1972).  Fat, drinks too much, has raised blood pressure and high cholesterol. Keeps fit by walking and cycling, mainly to the pub.

Jim
Was a runner until forced to retire due to ruptured calf muscles. Usually keeps fit by walking to work, a round trip of almost a quarter of a mile.  Jim says he has heard of the Lake District, and has just bought his first pair of walking boots. Currently cannot walk, due to broken rib.
 
Peter
Believes this will be "easier than Everest" - luckily he is only referring to Base Camp - he was carried there last year by the sherpas. Peter keeps fit by sitting on a veranda on the Isle of Wight, a completely flat place near France. His chiropractor has promised that his shoulder will be OK once his pelvis has been un-twisted.
 

STOP PRESS!

As some of you already know by now, this weekend’s 24 Peaks Challenge was defeated by severe weather and adverse knee conditions.

On day 1, we initially managed three peaks in good time, but then the bad weather, forecast for later in the day arrived early, making progress very difficult. By the time we reached Great Gable it was apparent that three out of eight knees were suffering and conditions were getting steadily worse.

We decided to split the team in two to allow Nick and Pete to try to complete the full route, while Jim and Jane took a shorter route to the end of the walk, which they finished after 10 hours of walking. Nick and Pete finally completed the walk by 9.15pm, having been walking for over fourteen hours. Most of the day had been spent in torrential rain and high winds (this was midsummer’s day, incidentally!). Some of the attached photos show how dangerous it was becoming to ford the streams on route.

The Met Office mountain forecast for day 2 predicted even worse weather than on day 1! Torrential rain and winds of 75mph on summits and ridges were threatened, so on the Met Office’s recommendation we decided to call it off for safety reasons.

Apologies to all of you who sponsored us so generously for not being able to complete the original challenge. We are hoping to have a repeat attempt at some point in the future (we never learn!)