Page 38 - AMA Summer 2023

MISCARTICLE
second peak. We were already a man down, as Liam had food poisoning from an M6 service station delicacy whilst on route to Cumbria. Myself and Scott made our way up Scafell Pike at around 0255hrs. Even though Scafell Pike is the smallest of the 3 peaks, it was not the easiest. We took the direct line, via Brown Tongue route, from Wasdale car park.
The most challenging part of this peak was navigating through darkness, and the sheer fact it is an incline the whole way up, with no flat parts. The total elevation gain was 908m, which was more than Snowdon, over a shorter distance of just 9km, there and back. The ascent was completed in darkness but the sun started to rise on the descent and I could see the beauty of the Lake District everywhere.
We completed this peak in 2 hours 51 minutes. It is safe to say that, at this point, my legs were cramping and my body needed sleep. The subsequent drive to Scotland seemed like a daunting task but we took a quick food and toilet break and then proceeded to Ben Nevis.
conclusion of our challenge. The full length of the trail is 15km, there and back.
We started the last peak at 1240hrs. The first section of the track is fairly easy under foot, with slight inclines and great views of the surrounding glens and mountains. It then starts to zig-zag and forms into a long section of steps to the saddle by Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe, also known as the Half Way Lochan, at around 570m. We were informed by a hiker on his way back down that, instead of following the traditional route up and around the saddle, you can go slightly right and down a dip which takes you to the side of a small stream, formed by the next checkpoint: the Ben Nevis waterfall. This route is a bit tougher as the incline back up is more arduous but it takes around 1.2km off the route – so I would say it’s down to personal preference in the end.
From this point forward, I was on my own, as my friends had decided they could no longer carry on. I ventured the rest of the 700m, determined that I would finish the challenge with time to spare. This last 700m seemed to drag on forever. It ascended up the west flank of Ben Nevis in a series of bigger but less steep switch back tracks across the face of the mountain’s west side. As the switch backs mellowed out, the final 2km of the route leaves about 200m of ascent before reaching the weather station that marks the summit. This section was easy underfoot but, depending on the weather, it can be dangerous as exposure
to the elements become increasingly present. As you approach the summit on your left side, there are 2 large cliff edges that anyone could easily fall down, so take care.
I finally reached the summit at 1541hrs and immediately set off on the return route. I took the exact route back down but with a few bursts of shuffling to get it done quicker. I arrived back at the car park at 1752hrs with a huge smile on my face and an unbridled sense of achievement.
SUMMARY
This made my time for completing the challenge 21 hours and 52 minutes. I was completely shattered but was optimistic about the few pints I had waiting for me after a quick shower. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case as I only managed one before going to bed. All in all, it was a great experience and I would do it all again, although there are some things I would change.
Personally, I loved this challenge! The satisfaction of completing it was amazing and I would encourage anyone to try it. Of all the 3 peaks, Snowdon was the easiest, Scafell Pike was the hardest and Ben Nevis was the longest. All the routes are straight forward, and the quickest routes for the challenge, in my opinion, are Snowdon’s Pyg Track, a direct line to Scafell Pike via Brown Tongue and the popular mountain (tourist) trail to Ben Nevis.
The Ben – conquered!
PEAK 3: BEN NEVIS
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland and the United Kingdom. The summit towers at an impressive 1345m and is the highest land mass in any direction, for 459 miles. Ben Nevis stands at the western end of the Grampian Mountains, in the Highland region of Lochaber, close to the town of Fort William. Surrounding peaks include the other famous Munros of Aonach Beag (1234m) and Carn Mor Dearg (1220m).
We arrived at Braveheart car park (PH33 6TE), situated just outside Fort William, at approximately midday on 17th September 2022. After a quick leg stretch and water and food replenishment, we headed towards the mountain track (sometimes called the tourist or Pony Track) that would take us to ‘The Ben’ and the successful
38 / ARMY MOUNTAINEER
LEE’S TOP TIPS...
• Carry enough food and water to sustain you for the whole challenge. Taking extra, just in case.
• Take comfortable footwear for the long drives between peaks.
• Tape your feet. You’ll be covering around 30km of mountainous terrain.
• Route markers ease navigation when the weather comes in. Speed is a defining factor in this challenge.
• Plan your journey: the order of peaks, each mountain route, and even the road routes. Significant time can be lost if the roads don’t work for you. And always plan for the weather.
• Car parks can be expensive. Pen-y-Pass costs a whopping £20. Alternate, cheaper options are available but the walk will be longer.
• Take communications in case you get lost or detached from your group.
• A head torch is essential. At least one peak will be done at night.
• Travel light, don’t encumber yourself with unnecessary comforts.
• A designated driver would improve performance allowing more time to rest between peaks.
• Ensure you are physically able to complete the challenge.