3 Peaks challenge in October

(Alex) said:

Hi,

I was thinking of doing the 3 peaks challenge (with a group of people)
during the first or second weekend of October.

Could anyone offer advice as to how feasible and/or safe it is to be
climbing that time of the year.

Thanks in advance,

Before the predictable starts......

NOt advised in a 24hour period - you will be out in the dark a lot,
those doing that usually play in June/July - Bloody daft idea anyway
as I am sure others will tell you.

As 3 separate trips should be OK, but depending on the weather, Ben
Nevis in particular could be affected by snow. - probably will be
snowy on top.

Of course that time of year is often stormy - but in a year like this
would you notice any difference with summer?

Richard Webb

Alex said:

Hi,

I was thinking of doing the 3 peaks challenge (with a group of people)
during the first or second weekend of October.

Could anyone offer advice as to how feasible and/or safe it is to be
climbing that time of the year.

Thanks in advance,

Alex

Which 3 peaks? Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough & Whernside? Ben Nevis,
Scafell Pike & Snowdon? Or do you have something else in mind?

This question is likely to generate strong opinions on the subject, both
pro & anti. Have a look at http://www.3peaksdiary.co.uk/index.html
which 'attempts to highlight the bad and the good side to the challenge,
so that everyone may benefit'

--
Dave McLaughlin

[censored] Sapiens Non Urinat In Ventum

Thanks for the responses. The peaks are 'the' 3 peaks: Ben Nevis,
Scafell Pike & Snowdon.

Appreciate that it will be dark during some of the time, is it still
'safe' given cautious climbing and the fact that the routes are well
marked. Also which would be the most sensible order (North-South or
South-North)?

cheers,

Alex

Quoted message said:

Appreciate that it will be dark during some of the time, is it still
'safe' given cautious climbing and the fact that the routes are well
marked. Also which would be the most sensible order (North-South or
South-North)?

Dont know.. They are almost as daft as one an other..

Decide which hill you would rather do while knackered - Snowdon or
Nevis and finish on that. However bearing in mind that outwith times
of lying snow, Snowdon has an easy descent to Llanberis while Nevis
has a few nasty navigational traps on it, I would go for North South.

Getting off Snowdon in the dark while tired is probably a far easier
end to your trip than getting off Nevis.

Another advantage is that your walk up Ben Nevis will show the wonders
of neighbouring peaks and you will want to stay and do some of those
instead of slogging off down the A82 and motorway :-)

Richard Webb

spongebob said:

The routes are not well marked, it's quite easy for example to get
lost in the dark on Scafell if you're doing it from Seathwaite. People
have died on Snowdon and Nevis from straying off route. If your night
nav is good then ok, but don't assume it will be easy to stay on
route.

I am new to this group and no expert, but I have been to the top of
Nevis and certainly wouldn't want to do it at night, especially
without knowing the lie of the land, the top part is deceptive even
during the day.
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

"Alex" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the responses. The peaks are 'the' 3 peaks: Ben Nevis,
Scafell Pike & Snowdon.

Appreciate that it will be dark during some of the time, is it still
'safe' given cautious climbing and the fact that the routes are well
marked.

The routes are not well marked, it's quite easy for example to get
lost in the dark on Scafell if you're doing it from Seathwaite. People
have died on Snowdon and Nevis from straying off route. If your night
nav is good then ok, but don't assume it will be easy to stay on
route.

Graham

[email hidden] (Alex) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I was thinking of doing the 3 peaks challenge (with a group of people)
during the first or second weekend of October.

Could anyone offer advice as to how feasible and/or safe it is to be
climbing that time of the year.

Thanks in advance,

Alex

Whats you and your friends level of experience? Are you suitably
equiped and know how to use it? Would you or whoever is leading be
happy to take up a group in awful conditions/at night on mountains
where a navigational error could be fatal?

From your question, I suspect the answere is no. I`m not knocking the
Three Peaks, i`ve done it myself but suspect you would have a safer
and more enjoyable time doing it in say, June/July when there is no
need to walk in the dark and the weather should be better. If you do
decide to do it, do Nevis in the light.

(Of course it goes without saying that you will have two drivers, not
count the motorway driving/speed, be well equiped, leave the residents
of Wasdale in peace, etc...)

Ed.

I should try and go a bit earlier in the year when the evenings are
lighter for longer. Go north to south starting with Nevis
mid-afternoon. This will put you on Scafell in the early hours. Park
at the Wastwater car park (it's a much shorter trek to the summit than
from Seathwaite). You'll be up & down in the dark but that needn't
worry you - Scafell isn't difficult to navigate
Back down the M6 (pausing for an indeterminate time in the bloody
Thelwall traffic jam and get to Pen-y-Pass late morning.Up & down the
Pyg track and you've done it - you'll even have time for a brew at the
top.

If the weather's grotty on Nevis take a bearing at the top of the
zig-zags - it's easy to carry on too far and end up in the gully
ahead!

Good luck.

If it helps your planning our timings for the hills (up & down again)
were:
BN 4hr 40min
SF 3hr.30min
Sn 4hr.15min

In article <[email hidden]>, jhiker

URL: said:

I should try and go a bit earlier in the year when the evenings are
lighter for longer.

Better still, don't do it at all.

"Robbing Peter to pay Paul"

<URL:http://www.thebmc.co.uk/safety/advice/articles/issue28_3peaks.pdf>

Mike
--
o/ \\ // || ,_ o Mike Clark, "An antibody engineer who also
<\__,\\ // __o || / /\, likes the mountains"
"> || _`\<,_ // \\ \> | Cambridge Climbing and Caving Club
` || (_)/ (_) // \\ \_ <URL:http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/cccc/>

In article <[email hidden]>, Mike Clark

URL: said:

In article <[email hidden]>, jhiker

URL: said:

I should try and go a bit earlier in the year when the evenings are
lighter for longer.

Better still, don't do it at all.

"Robbing Peter to pay Paul"

<URL:http://www.thebmc.co.uk/safety/advice/articles/issue28_3peaks.pdf>

Mike

and also

"OUTDOORSmagic Insider - Three Peaks Challenge - A Local's View"

<URL:http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article.asp?UAN=1505>

Mike
--
o/ \\ // || ,_ o Mike Clark, "An antibody engineer who also
<\__,\\ // __o || / /\, likes the mountains"
"> || _`\<,_ // \\ \> | Cambridge Climbing and Caving Club
` || (_)/ (_) // \\ \_ <URL:http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/cccc/>

Alex said:

Appreciate that it will be dark during some of the time, is it still
'safe' given cautious climbing and the fact that the routes are well
marked.

Define "safe"... People have fallen off the top of the Ben before now,
including ones that generally knew what they were doing.

Further bear in mind the links Mike has posted, and beyond that further
bear in mind that a large component of the "challenge" is driving like
numpties when dog tired, as there's a lot of distance to be covered. I
wouldn't say that's high on my list of "safe" things.

Put another way, why not think of something which is just as challenging
but doesn't cause the problems highlighted in the links Mike posted?
You can have more opportunity for a good time, spend less on the
logistics and so earn more for your charity of choice.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"jhiker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I should try and go a bit earlier in the year when the evenings are
lighter for longer. Go north to south starting with Nevis
mid-afternoon. This will put you on Scafell in the early hours. Park
at the Wastwater car park (it's a much shorter trek to the summit than
from Seathwaite).

Which is *exactly* contrary to the ICFM and National Park guidelines, which
were put in place to prevent disturbance to Wasdale residents by groups of
people arriving/ leaving in the early hours after years of complaints and
some people getting to tje point of threatening violence.

Rob

Just a gentle reminder to those wishing to undertake this challenge -
don't cheat. Completion is worthless if you (like 99% of those who try
it these days) cheat and leave out the first and last sections. So don't
cheat - start and finish with your feet in the sea.

The rules for the challenge were laid down long before the professional
fund raisers lit upon it as a useful way of separating the punters from
their hard earned cash while making a very good living for themselves
and as neither any motorway nor the Ballachulish Bridge existed back
then I think it is morally reprehensible to use either on this
challenge. OTOH neither did the national speed limits so feel free to
read the round traffic sign with the diagonal black bar as originally
designed (as a derestriction sign) and ignore those silly socialist
limits.

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 39 summits
New - 22 (Marilyns 8, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 11)
Repeats - 17( Marilyns 6, Sweats 12, Wainwrights 11)
Knackered knee - 4 times