Three Peaks Challenge

In July 2011, along with my son Jamie (16), we climbed Ben Nevis (4409ft, 1344m), Scafell Pike (3209ft, 978m) and Mt Snowdon (3560ft, 1085m), the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales respectively. Our target time was 24 hours. Our challenge began at the foot of Ben Nevis on 14th July at 16.35, and ended 23 hours and 55 minutes later at the foot of Mt Snowdon. We had trekked over 26 miles, ascended over 9800ft (2900m), and I had driven over 500 miles!
Photographs from the challenge are shown below.






The towering Ben Nevis (4409ft, 1344m) ... in better weather than we experienced ...



Jamie on the trail up Ben Nevis ...

... at the summit of Ben Nevis (4409ft, 1344m) in 2 hours 30 minutes. The last 1000ft of elevation was in rain and cloud with visibilty down to 20m. There was snow on the ground. We descended in 2 hours, and were making good time ...

... we drove through the spectacular Glen Coe, but the road was closed at Rannoch Moor due to an accident. We lost an hour, having to back track and detour via Oban.

We started our climb of Scafell Pike in the dark from Wasdale Head. (... this is what it would have looked like with a wee bit more light!). In less than an hour the dawn was welcomed and the views were beautiful.

We reached the summit of Scafell Pike (3209ft, 978m), in 1 hour 45 minutes. We descended in 1 hour 30 minutes.

We ascended Mt Snowdon using the Miners Track from Pen-y-Pass.

We reached the top of Mt Snowdon (3560ft, 1085m), in 2 hours. The weather deteriorated on the way up and we endured heavy rain and gusting winds. The visisbility dropped to 20m.

Jamie, shows limited enthusiasm for, "what will we do next?" ... We had descended in 1 hour and 30 minutes, running much of the way following the mountain railway line and then picking up the path to Llanberis.

Wet and happy in Llanberis at the foot of Mt Snowdon. We had done it with 5 minutes to spare!