Over the past week i have been working for More Adventure completing the ultimate 3 peaks challenge. The ultimate 3 peaks challenge is like the normal 3 peaks challenge but you have to cycle between the mountains working out to be 470 miles of hard cycling and around 10,000 meters of height gain. Take one challenge then make it a lot harder, for me this is the right way to do this challenge, human power all the way.
I was rock climbing in North Wales the week before with Sarah Jane and we had been blessed with amazing weather, going up rock climbing on Cloggy when its bone dry is something to remember, especially when you can wear a t-shirt and not get cold. I really hoped that this weather would last into the next week. Cycling up Glencoe with a head wind would be a nightmare especially when it is me on a bike.
Tom Shooter company owner of More Adventure picked me from Betws y coed on Friday 20th June and we started the journey north picking up Ben Coles on the way through. We would be a team of three wise men with legs like pistons, true grit and determination, never to be defeated by a hill……or so i hoped.
[su_slider source=”media: 3838,3839,3840″ width=”780″ height=”400″ speed=”800″]We stopped several times on the way up, one at the Beghaus shop in Gretna that i highly recommend – cheap outdoor kit is always a crowd pleaser. We arrived in Glasgow with plenty of time to spare and checked into our motorway side luxury travel lodge and took a tour of Morrison’s. For some reason i got side tracked at the deli counter and thought it best to buy multiple combinations of samosoas for the next days lunch rather than a sandwich. Something the group on the next day would take the piss out of me for.
To be fair to the travel lodge the room was very comfortable and did the job, allowing three grown boys to sleep the night. The next day we were up early and went to meet the group at the expedition centre.
As the group turned up so did the bikes, all in bike bags with wheels off, derailleurs hanging by the way but this wasn’t my problem this was Bens. He had to put the bikes together while Tom and Myself walked up Ben Nevis. I know what job I would of rather had and anything involving 16 bikes, allen keys and people possibly moaning about the torque wrench setting on their crank – yes I would rather walk up Ben Nevis 3 times a days then do that. Well done Ben for volunteering – get your mountain leader qualification and we can play paper, scissors, stones next time for the job.
We started at the foot of Ben Nevis and snapped photo of the group as we began our journey. I have never seen so many people on Ben Nevis, maybe this was due to it being summer solstices or due to the event that was being run in the car park, either way the path was crowded. We stuck together and at the half way point I whipped out my Indian selection much to the surprise of the group who were more than happy to help themselves despite their laughter at the start.
The atmosphere in the group was good and the pace was fast. I stopped as we reached the snow line and briefed the group on techniques for moving on snow and also making them aware of the massive cornices that were still present from the enormous amount of snow that had fallen in the winter and had left cornices still hanging 12ft over number 4 gully. We reached the summit and posed for the summit photo.
The next day was the first cycling day, starting in Fort William and riding to Paisley, just south of Glasgow – a total of 104 miles and some long but steady hills. The weather gods had been kind and the conditions in Glencoe and Rannoch Moor were superb, making the day a real treat. The only thing that didn’t was the weight of my bike. The group where fast, most of the group were either iron man athlete’s, ultra runners or in the world series at some sport that involved your lungs burning…..hhmmm …where did this leave me. Probably somewhere at the back I here you say…but no. After ditching my pannier rack, the picnic hammer, a half kilo of cheese, a spare wheel and enough cereal bars to power the British army through the 3rd world war I was light and ready. This had taken me till lunch time on the first cycling day to figure out but a lesson now that I will remember for ever and think “light is fast”. A lesson for everyone for everything!!!
The cycling was superb and the pace fast. Most of the time we were averaging 19 mph and considering you are going to do this every day for the next 7 days, that’s fast.
The next day was more of the same, slightly more towny but still a 100 miles of cycling, a load of banter and a sit down meal with the team, a few beers, two maximum as we were athletes.
The next day saw us leaving Scotland, from the fair town of Grenta and we dragged ourselves away from the Berghaus cheap shop saddled up and rode into England. Our mission today was some what different as we had 50 odd miles to ride into England and into the Lake District climb Scarfell (the highest mountain in England) and then get back on the bike again and ride back to Keswick again.
What a day – I will start with that. The ultimate 3 peaks challenge – the ultimate day, just in It’s own right. We crossed the border into England and as we headed toward the Lake District the mountains came into view and what a view it was. Lord of the Rings could have been filmed that day, right there and then, wow. The hills rolled, the paced stayed fast and the group was happy. We all ate some food in Keswick and cycled the 11 miles to start our climb up England’s highest mountain.
The climb up the mountain was gorgeous. The group were starting to feel a few niggles, few knees were hurting and walking poles were out. We summited at around 5pm and took it steady on the way down, trying to get the group to eat, to concentrate and not twist an ankle.
The next day saw me in the van being the support driver, sorting the luggage, taking photos, filling water bottles and generally sorting out everything that doesn’t involve peddling. The roads were not in the best condition apparently and I had chosen well to have the turn in the van.
Cycling into Wales and heading towards Snowdonia wasn’t quite as nice as the Lakes due to the large number of grotty sea side towns with run down amusement arcades, over weight people stood around eating chips and smoking fags. Maybe it was because of these reasons that i had my finest 20 miles averaging 24 mph all the way till lunch, spurred on but the thought of not getting fat and ending up in a council flat. That said as we turned south and headed towards the mountains the scenery turned gorgeous, the weather superb and that feeling of nearly there and to top it all i got married to Ben on a bike – not just a 3 peaks challenge.
I made a slight mistake when i thought there was a rider behind me and turned around to make sure they were ok only to realise that after 2 miles of back tracking that there was no one there. Shit. Now all on my own i cycled leisurely towards Betws-y-coed happy that i could jolly along and after 5 miles i saw all the group waiting for me and looking confused. My story of lost riders and back tracking didn’t help my case but we all cycled together into Betws and that was lovely.
The last day saw the group the group cycle 11 miles to Pen-y-pass and then we made a dash for the summit via the Pyg track. The grouped asked how long it would take to get to the summit and i said it would be 2 hours. At 2 hours and 1 minute we arrived on the summit of Snowdon and i gave myself an instructor pat on the back. I tried to lift the spirits of the group with a mass cheer and a few hand throws,the weather was a little grim but the summit was ticked.
We all dived into the cafe on the summit, got warm and ate sweats. A steady pace down the mountain was needed as the legs were tired and thoughts were drifting. Once down off the mountain we had the 11 miles of cycling back down to Betws-y-coed were beers, cheers and celebrations began. The group did amazing well, a really good bunch of people and what a 3 peaks challenge.
