The 3 Peaks Challenge

The actual challenge itself is like completing a marathon in the fact that you cover over 23 miles, the difference here is that the 23 miles you cover are by going up and down 3 mountains and it's not on flat terrain. So to complete the challenge you do need to have a good level of fitness and also the correct equipment.

Although anyone can go out on their own or with a group of friends to complete the three peaks, there are many organised events where there are relevant marshalls and health and safety aspects covered so that you're covered for any eventuality.

One of these is the event we are undertaking to raise money for the charity Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) which is due to take place in the 24 hours of 13/14th September 2008.

Whichever format you choose it is vital to have good crew who are not walking who will do the driving between the mountains and ensure that there is dry kit and energy food ready for the walkers when they come off the mountain.

Having a crew is essential and I would recommend a crew of 2 people to make sure everything goes safely and smoothly. You can't drive 450 miles between the 3 mountains and walk the 3 mountains without any rest in 24 hours, it's simply too tiring and too dangerous.

The timings you need to be aiming for to complete the challenge within 24 hours is to complete Ben Nevis in 5 hours 30 minutes, Scafell Pike in 4 hours 30 minutes and Snowdon in 4 hours. This gives a total walking time of 14 hours which leaves 10 hours to drive between the mountains.

Remember that you can make time up on each mountain to give you some leeway on the driving and recuperation time. You can't make time up on the driving because you need to respect the speed limits and also the safety of your team.

Depending on where you live you will either normally do the mountains in the order of Ben Nevis-Scafell Pike-Snowdon or Snowdon-Scafell Pike-Ben Nevis due to their locations.

Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is the largest of the 3 peaks but isn't said to be the most technically difficult. However, being the tallest does still mean that it is hard work. It stands at 1,344 metres and it has an estimated 100,000 ascents per year. You can find out more about this mountain at this Squidoo Lens.

Scafell Pike

Scafell Pike is the smallest of the 3 peaks at 978 metres but is said to be the most technically difficult. There are many rocky and craggy parts of the mountain and the final part is quite slippery and hard work. You can find out more about this mountain at this Squidoo Lens.

Snowdon

Snowdon is said to be the easiest of the 3 peaks and is the middle mountain in terms of height standing at 1,085 metres. The Llanberis path is quite tourist-y and is a nice easy ascent / descent. You can find out more about this mountain at this Squidoo Lens.

Training is vitally important when undertaking any large scale piece of exercise. If you're going to go up a mountain you need to ensure that you're going to be fit enough to get back down again and do so without injury.

The training I would recommend before undertaking the challenge is to slowly build up your stamina and gradually build to intense training sessions. Ideally you'll start training up to 9 months prior to the event to be fully prepared.

At the start of the training you'll need to be doing gym sessions focussing on treadmill, cross-trainer and the step machine to build up stamina and the right muscle groups. You should be completing at least 3 sessions of 1 hour duration per week at the early stage.

The interim period of training (7 months prior to the event) should be increasing the intensity of the gym sessions but also incorporating upper body work for the shoulders, upper arm and shoulder areas as these come into play when using walking poles (the poles are important as they take the strain and pressure off the knees and legs).

The interim training period should also be incorporating walks on similar terrain to the mountains, taking in local hills and fells to not only start getting used to the terrain but also to start breaking in the kit so that you'll reduce blisters and any other uncomfortable roughness that comes from new clothes.

Training from 5 months prior to the event should be focussing less on the gym but more on the outdoors elements. Although the gym is good for building stamina, it's nothing compared with actually getting out on the hills.

Training from this point should also encompass completing 1, 2 or all 3 of the peaks. You need to be familiar with each route as it is on the mountains you can decide where you can make time in order to complete the event within the 24 hours.

Training from 3 months prior to the event should be at least 3 times in the gym and 3 times completing local challenging hills and walks per week. This doesn't leave much other spare time for socialising or family, but if you want to do this properly you need to put in the hard work to achieve your goal.

In the 2 months prior to the event you should test out if you're actually read by trying to complete 2 of the peaks in 1 day, perhaps an early start in the Lakes taking in Scafell Pike then heading straight down to Wales for a jaunt up and down Snowdon.

Alternatively, rather than driving up and down the country you could try to complete the same mountain twice in 1 day. For instance, you could take a figure of 8 route on Snowdon going up the Llanberis Track, down the Pyg Track, back up the Miners Track and then back down the Llanberis Track.

Doing 2 in one day will definitely be an eye-opener as to whether you are on track and ready to complete the full event.

No training should be done in the week prior to the event to conserve energy levels.

I would suggest having fresh kit for each mountain as you will sweat a lot and the weather on all 3 mountains is changeable to say the least! I would suggest also having 2 pairs of boots broken in so that you always have a dry pair for each mountain.

The kit you should have:

• Base Layer - lifa/Dry Flo etc
  
• Mid layer - Micro Light Fleece
  
• Mid layer - Walking Trousers (lightweight and quick drying)
  
• Outer layer - Waterproof Jacket
  
• Outer layer - Waterproof Trousers
  
• Woolly Hat/Sunhat (weather dependant)
  
• Gloves
  
• Walking socks (at least 3 dry pairs for each mountain plus a spare dry pair in your rucksack)
  
• Boots with ankle support (Trainers, fell running or approach shoes are no good as the terrain can be quite rocky)
  
• Rucksack
  
• At least 1 litre of water (water pouches / camelback etc are the best for water on the go)
  
• Food to eat whilst walking (easy access and high energy - bananas, Kendal mint cake, Jelly Babies, Jaffa Cakes etc.)
  
• Head torch - part of the 24 hours will be in dawn, dusk or even night
  
• Walking poles x 2 (takes strain and pressure off knees and legs)
  
• Compass & route maps for each mountain
  
• First aid kit including blister treatment
  
• Whistle
  
• Sunscreen
  
• Insect repellent
  

Although network coverage can be patchy on the mountains you should also ensure that at least 2 of the team have fully charged mobile phones with sufficient calling credit for emergencies.