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I've (stupidly) agreed to do the 3 peaks challenge....!!


Jamesy

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Ok so the other night while a bit p!ssed i kinda agreed to do the 3 peaks challenge with a girl from work and some of her clients. :D

 

I've read up on it and it sounds HORRENDOUS! We're doing it mid July i think :faint:

 

Climb 3 mountains in 24 hours between Scotland, the North and Wales.

 

Has anyone here done it....got any advice please (apart from maybe cut down on the fags the day before!!!)

 

http://www.thethreepeakschallenge.co.uk/

 

Muchos :)

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Im guessing i'll be sorting your diet for this one then?

 

Can foresee loads of carbs needed? :D on a brighter note, this will shift a bit of the belly. :D

 

Yeah mate we're doing it mid-late July :taped: ...... by then the cutting phase of the diet should be complete and i will be able to power it home!!!!!!

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I have done all 3 individually but wouldn't do the challenge. Hats off to those that can do it but doing something like that when fatigued is not always a great idea. I certainly don't consider myself fit but managed them ok.

 

Ben Nevis I found that the toughest, it never got particularly steep but it was just a constant gradiant, you think you are getting near the top and behind the mist another thousand feet shows up. I was very lucky when I went to have the weather hold out but it's very exposed so could turn nasty. Think the main route is the pony track which is likely the route they will take you. My main memory was you think you are near the top and you are not, a real killer on the legs.

 

Scafell Pike Quite a nice easy start and nice views a bit of scrambling required and a few steep bits but fairly straightforward, I think this is the smallest of the peaks. Got biblical weather when I was there and could barely hear each other at the top. The small streams that were there on the way up were almost torrents on the way back and had to wade to get through, could hardly see anything up top. Not sure what route they will take you up here.

 

Snowdon Deffinately the best of the three, I have been a bunch of times and there are amazing views and several routes you can take up. They will almost certainly take you up the pyg track route which is a bit of a sod to start with as it's basically rock steps for a long time but then levels out before a final steeper walk. If you had time to spend here (which you don't ;) ) I would have to recommend going up the Crib Goch route, it's something I won't forget but you need a head for heights.

 

 

 

You will enjoy yourself at least on the first climb but I can't tell you enough how important it is to have a decent pair of walking / climbing boots and socks. I will try and dig a few pics out to show what you are in for ;)

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Nort one i have done but im a reasonably experienced walker. (thats walker :p)

 

Get a decent set of walking boots with good ankle support and make sure they are well worn in. Decent socks too.

 

Any time i do long distance walking i tape up my feet using zinc tape mainly because i blister easily, as part of your prep you will find out fairly quickly if you are that type. Take talc with you and blister kits like compede.

 

If you feel hotspots forming on your feet stop and rectify the problem ( prevention is better than cure)

 

In terms of fitness i don't think you need to do too much prep really, just regular walking with the gear you will use for the challenge. Add some hills in to the mix, if your not local to some have regular days away in the brecon beacons or similar to give you some experience of hiking in the hills.

 

Have fun and be thankful we aren't in a high altitude part of the world, 14000 feet plus makes hill walking an interesting propsect :D

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I have done all 3 individually but wouldn't do the challenge. Hats off to those that can do it but doing something like that when fatigued is not always a great idea. I certainly don't consider myself fit but managed them ok.

 

Ben Nevis I found that the toughest, it never got particularly steep but it was just a constant gradiant, you think you are getting near the top and behind the mist another thousand feet shows up. I was very lucky when I went to have the weather hold out but it's very exposed so could turn nasty. Think the main route is the pony track which is likely the route they will take you. My main memory was you think you are near the top and you are not, a real killer on the legs.

 

Scafell Pike Quite a nice easy start and nice views a bit of scrambling required and a few steep bits but fairly straightforward, I think this is the smallest of the peaks. Got biblical weather when I was there and could barely hear each other at the top. The small streams that were there on the way up were almost torrents on the way back and had to wade to get through, could hardly see anything up top. Not sure what route they will take you up here.

 

Snowdon Deffinately the best of the three, I have been a bunch of times and there are amazing views and several routes you can take up. They will almost certainly take you up the pyg track route which is a bit of a sod to start with as it's basically rock steps for a long time but then levels out before a final steeper walk. If you had time to spend here (which you don't ;) ) I would have to recommend going up the Crib Goch route, it's something I won't forget but you need a head for heights.

 

 

 

You will enjoy yourself at least on the first climb but I can't tell you enough how important it is to have a decent pair of walking / climbing boots and socks. I will try and dig a few pics out to show what you are in for ;)

 

Nort one i have done but im a reasonably experienced walker. (thats walker :p)

 

Get a decent set of walking boots with good ankle support and make sure they are well worn in. Decent socks too.

 

Any time i do long distance walking i tape up my feet using zinc tape mainly because i blister easily, as part of your prep you will find out fairly quickly if you are that type. Take talc with you and blister kits like compede.

 

If you feel hotspots forming on your feet stop and rectify the problem ( prevention is better than cure)

 

In terms of fitness i don't think you need to do too much prep really, just regular walking with the gear you will use for the challenge. Add some hills in to the mix, if your not local to some have regular days away in the brecon beacons or similar to give you some experience of hiking in the hills.

 

Have fun and be thankful we aren't in a high altitude part of the world, 14000 feet plus makes hill walking an interesting propsect :D

 

Thanx guys good advice.

 

I dont have any walking boots (or any walking gear for that matter!!) - I've been told its worth spending a decent amount on these.... socks and ankle support too!!

 

I do blister alot during football so a little repair kit will be perfect!!

 

Its non-stop though once you start - 5 hour climb, 6 hour drive, 5 hour climb, 4 hour driver, 4 hour climb :faint:

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Life insurance.

 

A Guy i know has done it and he was a regular daily runner etc, and it near killed him. I would maybe say stop the fags yesterday or you wont be making it!

 

I cant run too well, apart from playing footi - and have recently upped my fags from 3 to 8 a day...

 

.... not the best prep granted :D

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Jamesy, done this three times now last one in 2004, don't go getting any big heavy boots, get some good light trekking shoes, and get them as soon as you can, then the only really good training you can do is to get out there and cover lots of ground especially hills the steeper the better.

Obviously to start with build up steady, a couple of 5 milers over a week then start making them longer. If you know that you get blisters, before you start any walking put some "Mole skin" on the spots where you get them, use only the best socks, (I use bridgedale trekker) and I would have at least one fresh pair for each lumpy bit.

 

The three main bits of advice would be, get out there and cover a lot of ground, you havn't got long till July, look after your feet, and make sure you have a good support team and drivers. Oh and enjoy it's worth doing.

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Good walking boots is always a good option break them in and find out where or if ther are any pressure points on your boots and use zinc oxide tape to strap up the pressure points to avoid blisters. Along with this two pairs of socks a tight fitting thin set (to act like a second skin) and a thick normal set, this works really well it means if theirs any wear on ur boot it will rub your thin sock not your skin.

And lastly cut your toe nails lol if you have scew toes the Sharp little nails will cut you to ribbons.

Well maintained feet are are such a big thing for long distance.

Happy feet, happy walker.

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Heavy, stiff walking boots are the wrong thing for this type of event, in the summer, just do plenty of carefull, rough, hill or dune walking/trotting to strengthen up your ankles, if you get damp/wet feet through water or sweating you will get blisters.

 

By the way, be a lot more carefull going down slopes than up, this is usually where any damage is done.

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