Over the 21st - 22nd of August, 25 soldiers from the Royal Army Dental Corps (Regulars and Reserves) successfully completed the daunting National 3 Peaks Challenge. This involved climbing the 3 highest mountains in Scotland, England & Wales all within 24 hours! In all the challenge involved some 26 miles of ascent and descent, with total travel approaching around 600 miles from Aldershot and back.
The 3 Peaks Challenge is definitely not to be underestimated. This “vertical marathon” pushes climbers over unforgiving terrain, and is real a test of stamina and endurance.
The expedition started out of Aldershot on 21 August heading northwards to the Army Adventure Training Centre, Kinlochleven for a good nights sleep prior to the assault on the first mountain.
At the western end of the Grampian mountain range stands Ben Nevis (1344m), the highest mountain in the UK. Its name derives from the Gaelic Bein Naebhis, which roughly translates into “malicious mountain”. Getting to the summit was a perilous zigzag slog over punishing rocks, loose gravel and even snow. Though it was the middle of August, temperatures at the top were close to zero along with freezing fog and a biting wind-chill. Once at the summit, there was only time for a quick photo and a bite to eat to recharge the batteries prior to the descent. The main aim of the way down was not to turn an ankle or knee in the rush to get back to the bus. Climb time five and a half hours.
Once at the bottom it was straight back into the minibuses and off for stage two.
Arriving at Scafell Pike in Cumbria at midnight on the 21st, in the pitch black, we were already stiffening up nicely. But there was no time for respite so it was head torches on and straight up. At 978m, although considerably lower than Ben Nevis, Scaffell Pike is a more technical vertical route, which includes a river crossing about a third of the way up. Visibility was extremely poor as, even with torches, the drizzle and fog meant you could barely see the ground ahead. The top of Scafell is a giant boulder field of shattered volcanic rock so the main danger in the dark was dropping an entire leg into a crack!
With no view to speak of at two in the morning we didn’t linger at the top, so following a quick head count and some chocolate on the move it was back down to the car park for the last leg. Climb time four and a half hours.
The final challenge took on the highest mountain in Wales, Snowdon (1085m). With it’s beautiful glacially sculpted valleys and lakes, it is seen as more of a tourists climb. But after approximately 19 hours of climbing and driving, muscles burned, joints ached, and smiles had long been replaced by grimaces. Every one agreed this was the “emotional” part of the challenge but four and a half hours later all had successfully peaked and returned. For all this was a memorable experience, perhaps not to be repeated so soon though. But a few days of pain was definitely worthwhile to raise awareness for those who often have to withstand a lifetime of it.
If you think this challenge is worthy of your support please consider donating to our charities – The Soldiers Charity (Army Benevolent Fund) and DentAid (Dental Care to Developing countries). Both of these charities do some amazing work to benefit those less fortunate than ourselves. So please donate as all donations, no matter how small, will go a long way to supporting those who need it most.
Just click on the charity donation link…..thank you.
The 3 Peaks Challenge is definitely not to be underestimated. This “vertical marathon” pushes climbers over unforgiving terrain, and is real a test of stamina and endurance.
The expedition started out of Aldershot on 21 August heading northwards to the Army Adventure Training Centre, Kinlochleven for a good nights sleep prior to the assault on the first mountain.
At the western end of the Grampian mountain range stands Ben Nevis (1344m), the highest mountain in the UK. Its name derives from the Gaelic Bein Naebhis, which roughly translates into “malicious mountain”. Getting to the summit was a perilous zigzag slog over punishing rocks, loose gravel and even snow. Though it was the middle of August, temperatures at the top were close to zero along with freezing fog and a biting wind-chill. Once at the summit, there was only time for a quick photo and a bite to eat to recharge the batteries prior to the descent. The main aim of the way down was not to turn an ankle or knee in the rush to get back to the bus. Climb time five and a half hours.
Once at the bottom it was straight back into the minibuses and off for stage two.
Arriving at Scafell Pike in Cumbria at midnight on the 21st, in the pitch black, we were already stiffening up nicely. But there was no time for respite so it was head torches on and straight up. At 978m, although considerably lower than Ben Nevis, Scaffell Pike is a more technical vertical route, which includes a river crossing about a third of the way up. Visibility was extremely poor as, even with torches, the drizzle and fog meant you could barely see the ground ahead. The top of Scafell is a giant boulder field of shattered volcanic rock so the main danger in the dark was dropping an entire leg into a crack!
With no view to speak of at two in the morning we didn’t linger at the top, so following a quick head count and some chocolate on the move it was back down to the car park for the last leg. Climb time four and a half hours.
The final challenge took on the highest mountain in Wales, Snowdon (1085m). With it’s beautiful glacially sculpted valleys and lakes, it is seen as more of a tourists climb. But after approximately 19 hours of climbing and driving, muscles burned, joints ached, and smiles had long been replaced by grimaces. Every one agreed this was the “emotional” part of the challenge but four and a half hours later all had successfully peaked and returned. For all this was a memorable experience, perhaps not to be repeated so soon though. But a few days of pain was definitely worthwhile to raise awareness for those who often have to withstand a lifetime of it.
If you think this challenge is worthy of your support please consider donating to our charities – The Soldiers Charity (Army Benevolent Fund) and DentAid (Dental Care to Developing countries). Both of these charities do some amazing work to benefit those less fortunate than ourselves. So please donate as all donations, no matter how small, will go a long way to supporting those who need it most.
Just click on the charity donation link…..thank you.
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