The New Inn Clapham, Saturday 9th June 2007 - Three Peaks and Three Sleeps

Breakfast (for some) at 6.30am. One of the team has to be raised from his pit by mobile phone. Mike has had a restless night sharing a room with JK but at least he'd got a packed lunch unlike the rest of us. John has apparently had a few words with "him upstairs" for support but Steve is relying only on surgical supports ..... to ankles and knees.

Steve (still trying to wake up) and John drive the other 5 A-Teamers over to Horton-in-Ribblesdale getting virtually the last spots in a rapidly filling car park. It seems like the whole world and his dog has descended on Horton to do the Three Peaks Challenge today. Our sole topic of conversation seems to be "Are we seriously going to do this/We must be mad etc.".

We call at the Cafe to take on board water and provisions and then take partial team photos outside the Cafe. Steve sets his GPS to record the event for posterity (and so he can keep reminding people how far we had come or had to go)and we set off around 7.25am.

We reach Pen-y-Ghent (see photo) around 8.45pm and it's starting to warm up.

Steve manages a few bites of his bacon butty salvaged from a hastily taken breakfast and seems to get a spurt on. (or is he just trying to cure his hangover).

Meanwhile, the B team is having a late, leisurely breakfast and decide to scale the heights of Ingleborough from Clapham.

It's a long trek from Pen-y-Ghent to Ribblehead in the warm sunshine. Steve and Dave take the lead and reach Ribblehead at 11.15am. (N.B. half an hour before the rest of the team). Steve promised Chris if he did do the 3Ps he would be taking it slowly!

Steve has arranged to meet up with his friend Richard and once all the team has arrived we take a well earned breather and carry out running repairs to feet courtesy of John K's first aid kit. Mike decides that even with first aid his feet won't make it to Whernside and decides to head straight for Ingleborough. Surprisingly, there are no takers for a pint at the Ribblehead Inn. John M. tells us the worst is yet to come.

We leave Ribblehead debating which way to ascend Whernside. In the end we follow the crowd and soon Steve announces we're half-way round (12 miles?). As we reach the bridge over the Carlisle to Settle railway we see a lot of people waiting around and then realise it's because there is a steam train due any minute. There then follows a lot of coughing and spluttering.

Meanwhile, its 1.00pm and the B team resting from their arduous scaling of Ingleborough are embarking on their third (and I'm reliably informed most impressive) sleep hence the B Team walk becomes the Three Sleeps walk.

Mike calls Steve on his mobile and leaves a message to say he's reached the top of Ingleborough. (Steve gets the message on Sunday!).

Back with the A team they reach the summit of Whernside around 2.00pm where Chris uncovers his foot. The general consensus is that Alison will have to amputate! Dave calls home and gets a first - a team public warning! Meanwhile, Chris phones Alison for remote assistance and a fly does a weird kamikaze into the combined sunblock/insect repellent Richard is applying. John M. again tells us the worst is yet to come.

Onwards and downwards where the Ribblehead viaduct again comes into view. As we reach the valley near Bruntscar Richard decides to head back to Ribblehead and home to Hawes. Soon we reach an enterprising farm on Philpin Lane where Paul and Steve take on refreshments of fresh orange and a lucozade whilst the others press on, heads down (sensing the worst is yet to come?. Paul and Steve catch the others up and the team starts to tackle the ascent of Ingleborough. However, it turns out not to be that bad after all (the worst was not to come!). Steve and Paul complete the two pitches to the top, only stopping before the last pitch.

Jubilation all round as we reach the summit of Ingleborough and the Trig. point at around 5.00pm and team photo ensues.

Steve informs everyone - "20 miles down, only 4.0 miles to go". John K. cheers up "...only 4 to go?"

It's a Long slog back to Horton. Paul and Dave lead the way. The signpost we pass saying 2.5 miles to Horton is definitely wrong! Meanwhile the skies over to the NE look distinctly black and threatening. Steve catches up Paul and Dave as they descend from the Railway crossing into Horton. We make it back to the car park about 6.50pm as it just starts to rain. We have done it under the required 12 hours!

John K. John M. and Chris soon follow. As we arrive back at the New Inn the B team have thoughtfully provided a tray of foaming pints of Golden Bo**ocks to quench our thirst.

Time for hot bath and then dinner at 8.00pm. The waitress tells us that the 3Ps team on the next table to us apparently got back at 4.00pm and is very disparaging about our A-team's efforts - but we think this is a sign she's getting to like us. After the meal Fred wins the sweep stake fair and square.

We retire to the bar for coffee and liqueurs and lick our wounds.
It being the Saturday night of the OGWWE, it's malt whisky tasting and a few stalwarts stay up to take part. As per last night, not much is recalled after that!

So how did we do? See what the other competitors' times were on the day (plus some amusing team names). Three Peaks - The BT Skanska Three Peaks Challenge

Here are our Three Peaks Challenge stats, maps and stuff .

• Completers: Chris, Curls, John K., John M., Mike, Paul, Steve
  
• Time: 11 hours and 25 minutes
• Moving average speed: 2.3 mph
• Total distance: 24.2 miles (As recorded by Steve's Garmin ForeTrex 101)
  
• Ascent: 5,134 feet
• Highest Point: Whernside 2387 feet
• Will we do it again: No!

Here's the route on the right as captured by Steve's GPS.
(Numbers in blue as follows: 4 digits numbers are time of day in 24hr format, integers are cumulative miles)

... and here's the route profile


See the full set of pictures here.........