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3 Peaks Challenge Success - 04/04/2011

To mark our 60th Anniversary with a bang Explorer Scouts are climbing the 6 Peaks of Great Britain. Each peak represents 10 years of Scouting at 4th Golcar.

 

On 2nd April 6 keen budding mountaineer Explorer Scouts conquered the 3 Yorkshire Peaks in one day!

 

After months of training and day walks the 3 Peaks Challenge  finally arrived. Penyghent (694m), Whernside (736m) and Ingleborough (723m) 27 miles over wet boggy moorland and rocky paths.

 

We drove up on Friday evening, set up a lightweight camp and cooked supper on our new jet boil stoves at Holme Farm in Ribbesdale. Due to the thunder, lightning and heavy rain we didn't get much sleep on the Friday night and woke up to a wet and muddy start.

 

We left the campsite at 7:30am and summated our first Peak Penyghent in a matter of hours, despite the driving rain and high winds the spirits and enthusiasm were still strong as we started heading back down through bog after bog, some requiring more skill to cross than others! The bogs and streams were very swollen and deep after the rain the night before. We met our Support Crew at 12noon where we filled up our water and refuelled.

 

We pushed on to Ribblesdale Viaduct where we had a quick lunch stop and warm drink. The weather had started to brighten up and the views were spectacular! In glorious sunshine the group started to climb Whernside and we could see for miles even as far as the sea!  It was a steep decent down before we met our support crew again to refuel with an energy bar and water.

 

The last peak in Ingleborough was insight! It looked daunting but thankfully the path to the peak was all paved with stone slabs. There was a zigzag steep climb up to the summit which even had fresh spring water at the top bubbling straight from the ground.

 

The sun was setting and the views were spectacular! Everyone was in high spirits and buzzing with the success! We had a four mile gradual decent back to the campsite and the last hour was done by head torch as it quickly got dark. We then arrived at the campsite for a well deserved tea!

 

 

Thank you to all the leaders that helped and supported this event! A massive thanks to our Support Crew -  Bob and Kev we couldn’t have done this without you!

 

Well done to all 6 Explorers who completed this challenge you are a credit to the group and an inspiration to others. Bring on the National 3 Peaks!