The Challenge
This year the Challenge is to climb 24 of the Lake District’s highest peaks in 24 hours. It’s an extremely tough physical challenge involving about 4,000m. (13,000ft.) of ascent over a distance of about 51 kilometres (32 miles).
The team will start very early on Saturday 30 June negotiating 10 of the peaks including Red Pike, Great Gable and Scafell Pike (the highest mountain in England at 978m.(3209ft.) before they finally descend in the evening having covered around 28 kilometres (17.5 miles) .
But this is only Stage 1, and rather than putting up in a comfortable hotel for a night’s rest as usual with this challenge they will be transferred about 5 miles by mini–bus directly to Kirkstone Pass for the start of Stage 2.
Stage 2 involves another long trek on mountain ridges starting with Red Screes and with the highest point at the summit of Helvellyn at 950m. (3117ft.). The mileage covered will be around 23 kilometres (14 miles). This section will be made tougher by being undertaken at night and without a long rest after Section 1. The final summit – Great Dodd – will still be about two and a half miles from the end of the challenge which will be reached early Sunday morning.
This is one of the toughest challenge routes in the UK and will be tougher still by being undertaken as a continuous trek without a night’s rest between sections.
Section 1 – Which is 17.5 miles long and includes England’s highest peak of Scafell Pike
Section 2 – Which is 14 miles long and includes the spectacular Helvellyn peak
The start of the walk with Buttermear, Read Pike High Stile and High Crag on the left of the photo
A picture of the 2010 3 Peaks Team with Great End, Scafell Pike and Lingmell
Start of Section 2 Kirkstone Pass and Red Screes
