The Three Peaks Challenge - Tips

To anyone reading this and considering doing the three peaks themselves I would offer the following thoughts to consider:

• Do it in a group. You’ll then have people around to egg you on when you feel like quitting and congratulate you on reaching the peaks and completing the challenge.
• If you have the freedom, try and plan it when the weather’s nice.
• Start Ben Nevis at about 17:00 and you’ll get a good 5 hours sleep before having to climb Scafell Pike.
• Make sure your waterproofs are waterproof before you start the challenge.
• Make sure your drivers know exactly which route you’re taking.
• If possible, walk each of the routes prior to the challenge. Although you don’t really need a map for any of the routes, knowing which path to take when the route splits saves you having to faff around getting the maps out and figuring out where you are and which way to go.
• Have your food in an easy to reach pocket. Having to stop and take off your ruck sack every time you feel hungry means you just don’t bother which in turn means you’ll be suffering later on.
• Make sure your support team know what food and drink you want when you get down off the peaks.
• I found there was a mobile phone signal (Vodafone) about half to 1 hour before getting down from each peak. Phone and let your support team know when you’ll be back so they can have the food cooked and everything packed away prior to you getting down.
• Have enough clothes with you so that you’ll always have something dry to get into when you get down off the mountain.
• Wear proper sports underwear. I used the Helly Hansen boxer shorts which dry off really quickly. Had I worn normal boxers I imagine I’d been chaffed red raw with how wet I got.
• A pretty obvious one but, wear proper hiking boots. With how tired I was feeling I’d have probably broken my ankle a few times on Snowdon had I been in trainers or walking shoes.