3 Peaks Challenge
This year has seen the first S. Anselm’s 3 Peaks Challenge. Officially the National 3 Peaks challenge involves climbing the three highest peaks, respectively, in England, Wales and Scotland within 24 hours. Our challenge was for a small group of Year 8 pupils to attempt to climb each peak within the academic year and considering the age of the children attempting it, it was to be by no means easy! Indeed, many adults would find it very demanding.
We started back in September when we travelled up to the Lake District for our first peak, Scafell Pike. Standing at 978m, it is the highest peak in England. We stayed at Wasdale Head campsite that sits at the end of Wast Water, a truly stunning place to visit if you have never been there. We woke up on the day of the ascent to find that it was rather windy, so windy in fact that we were a little concerned that our challenge may be over before it had really got a chance to get going. We started the ascent, still unsure whether we would actually be able to complete it but thankfully, as the day progressed the wind subsided and we were able to reach the summit of Scafell Pike where some fantastic views greeted us over the surrounding area.
It was the first time I had really had an opportunity to get an idea of the ability of the group and I was certainly not disappointed, in fact quite the opposite! From the beginning they were able to walk well together as a group, support each other and set an excellent pace throughout the day.
The second part of the challenge took take place over the Easter holidays. We travelled across to North Wales where Snowdon lay in wait. We camped at Dolgam campsite in the shadows of Moel Siabbod where the children were able to relax and even managed a little fishing in the river that ran through the campsite – even if the fish were only an inch long!! Once again, the weather looked like it wanted to play its part, with the morning of the ascent looking decidedly damp. With a little trepidation the group started up the Watkin path as thankfully the weather eased through the day. The end of the Watkin path is notoriously challenging, particularly for inexperienced walkers but they dug deep and reached the summit, part two of the challenge done!
The final part of our challenge was the big one, Ben Nevis, the highest peak in all of Great Britain, standing at 1344m it is almost 300m bigger than Snowdon! Staying at the Glencoe Youth Hostel we were extremely lucky to get a glimpse of the truly spectacular area, with the Pap of Glencoe looming over us and Loch Leven stretching out ahead of us. It seemed that throughout the challenge, the weather wanted to play its part and it was to be no different on this occasion. Driving to Glencoe we came through some heavy rain and strong winds. It would have been a huge shame to have not been able to attempt the mountain but I am delighted to say that the weather gods were shining on us and gave us a small window in which to start the walk. On the ascent the group showed how much they had developed over the year and set a very brisk pace. To make the experience that much more memorable, the top 300m of the mountain was snow capped, something every member of the group loved. It provided a lovely finale to the challenge and with the final few steps I’m sure it was dawning on everyone quite what they had achieved. It took us 7 hours to get up and down Ben Nevis, a truly remarkable pace by a truly remarkable group, considering that the members of the group were only 13 years old!
My hope is that members of the group may have found a new passion and will find themselves pursuing it in the many years to come. The way in which each of them performed and took to the challenge then this would certainly appear to be the case. Congratulations to Emma H., Lily S., Nancy S., Olivia C., Paddy D., Freddie H., Kevin H. and Jack H.
Of course these trips would never have happened without the support of other members of staff and as such I would very much like to offer my sincere thanks to Mrs Taylor, Mrs Brewster and Mrs Lings who gave up their time so willingly and came along on the respective trips.
The team: Emma H., Lily S., Nancy S., Olivia C., Paddy D., Freddie H., Kevin H. and Jack H.
JEJW
Posted on
Mon, May 23, 2011
by DEY