A group of Welsh piemakers are going the extra mile to raise money for a children’s cancer charity. Nick Bishop talks to some of the intrepid souls who climbed the tallest mountains in Britain.
Mount Snowdon, viewed from the Watkin Path. Also visible is Llyn Lyndaw reservoir and the popular Miner’s track. Evidence of copper mining can be seen all over Mount Snowdon.
In the South Wales Valleys, it seems they like a challenge. The Caerphilly piemakers Peter’s Food are raising huge amounts of money for charities, but not just through raffles and tombolas. They’ve sent six piemen to scale the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales.
The hike, known as the Three Peaks Challenge, has raised £17,500 for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent. Today, the total raised by the company stands at over £20,000.
Looking back on their mountain adventure, team leader John McAughtrie, the company’s National Accounts Manager, is very modest about their achievements. “It was a good effort all round,” he says, humbly.
The climb had to be completed in three days in late September. The team began at Mount Snowdon in north Wales. They then proceeded to Scafell Pike in England, before finishing in Scotland with the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. Normal practice is to start here and finish at Snowdon, but our Welsh team decided to start in the land of their birth.
The six men had just three months to get themselves fit enough for the adventure, which would be completed over three days. John acknowledges that many hardy souls do manage to complete the trek in 24 hours. “That’s something consistently attempted by maniacs,” he laughs.
The three day challenge is still incredibly demanding. Even those with good levels of fitness would find it very tough. In total, the three routes are over 42km (26 miles) in length with an ascent of more than 3,400 metres (11,150ft). Or, as John puts it, “the total distance covered would see 16,893 of our sausage rolls stood end on end!”
Peak 1: Mount Snowdon, Wales
Mount Snowdon was conquered on 24 September 2007. As the team started their climb, they were presented with beautiful panoramic views of the surroundings. But their easy start was not to last long as gentle slopes gave way to steep inclines with rocky crags and loose debris. Despite the obstacles, the team managed to reach the summit in a very respectable three hours.
For John, Snowdon brought one of the best moments of their incredible adventure. That moment came not from the breathtaking views, which were eventually obscured by the weather, but from four pensioners they met during the descent. Kitted out in identical gear purchased from the same shop, this friendly crew would become known to the group as The Yeovil Four. They were very moved when they heard about the piemen’s fundraising efforts. “When they heard our story, they immediately put their hands in their pockets and gave us £20, ” marvels John. “Who says humanity has lost its heart?”
Peak 2: Scafell Pike, England
While this peak in the heart of the Lake District was the lowest of the three, it proved to be the toughest challenge. “We assumed it would be a doddle,” John says, chuckling. But its lack of height was deceptive. Scafell Pike had the steepest inclines and the toughest conditions. As the team began, they were faced with a 45 degree slope, a hot sun and that most typical of mountain foes, a cow. The docile creature absent-mindedly blocked their path, refusing to budge. But when the animal did eventually move, there were some more pressing problems ahead. In the last quarter, the climbers faced a 50 metre, 70 degree path from hell. At the finish, the six piemen sprawled on the floor, exhausted.
View from the summit of Scafell Pike. The summit bears a monument to the men from the Lake District who died in WW1. Photo by cloudsoup
Vital ingredients: team spirit
Team member Ken Blackman says that during the most testing times, the piemen were grateful to be part of a tight group. “If you had to do it yourself, the challenge would be ten times harder,” says Ken. “But if you’ve got people with you, especially friends, then you can help each other through it.” It’s more fun, too, he says. “In our group, there were a lot of laughs and jokes all day,” remembers Ken. “It was a brilliant experience.”
An overcrowded challenge?
One of the biggest challenges for Three Peaks adventurers is the travelling. Our team had to drive for many hours, weaving through long lines of cars packed with other climbers. As John says, “success in the challenge is, to an extent, dependent on the state of the traffic.”
The number of cars around these picturesque peaks has attracted the ire of some local residents. Records show that in 2007, a whopping 29,000 people climbed the Three Peaks. Some residents have complained about irresponsible behaviour from climbers who throw litter out of car windows, or dangerous driving caused by tiredness. Residents also claim that the popularity of the Three Peaks Challenge is putting an undue burden on local mountain rescue teams, who are overstretched.
But the climbers say that the most serious risk posed to residents, dangerous driving, can be easily prevented by teams having a designated driver who is not a climber. Littering and poor behaviour is committed by only a tiny handful of individuals, and only an unfortunate few need to be rescued.
Moreover, climbers say that most of the money raised on The Three Peaks Challenge goes to very worthy charitable causes. As the difficulties are so rare, the huge benefits outweigh the costs.
Peak 3: Ben Nevis, Scotland
View from the UK's tallest peak. Ben Nevis translates from Scottish Gaelic as Mountain of Heaven. Photo by lawmurray
The imposing Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in the UK at 1,334 metres high (4,408 ft). Conditions can be tough, and icy winds are a common adversary. However, the now experienced piemen coped well with the hazards, finding it less of a challenge than the smaller, steeper Scafell Pike. Though John admits that perhaps they were buoyed by the sense that they were about to complete their challenge. “Once we got two-thirds of the way, we realised how close we were to the end of the whole thing. We were on a high,” he says. And on reaching the summit? “There was a mixture of elation and exhaustion. But mostly elation,” smiles John.
John is still very humble about the amazing efforts of his team of piemen. But he does eventually acknowledge, in his own laconic way, that their achievement was pretty impressive. “When I think we only had three months to transform ourselves from soft, squidgy piemen into tough, enduring mountain men, I suppose we did quite well,” he laughs.
The Three Peaks Challenge
| Mount Snowdon, Wales | |
| Height of Mountain: | 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) |
| Length of route*: | 12.2 kilometres (7.6 miles) |
| Normal completion time **: | 4 hours |
| Scafell Pike, England | |
| Height of mountain: | 978 metres (3,208 ft) |
| Length of route: | 15.4 kilometres (9.6 miles) |
| Normal completion time: | 5 hours |
| Ben Nevis, Scotland | |
| Height of mountain: | 1,344 metres (4,408 ft) |
| Length of route: | 14.8 kilometres (9.2 miles) |
| Normal completion time: | 5.5 hours |
* There are several routes available to prospective mountaineers. The measurement here denotes the length of route taken by our team of piemen.
** ‘Normal completion time’ denotes the expected time for both ascent and descent.
More about CLIC Sargent
CLIC Sargent is a national charity helping children with cancer. They provide specialist health and social care, including trained doctors, nurses, play specialists and support workers.
The charity also offer the opportunity of family holidays at one of their impressive resorts, where expert support is on hand all the time.
Since conquering the Three Peaks Challenge, our team of pieman have achieved another incredible feat, raising thousands for CLIC Sargent. The team cycled across Ireland, from Cork to Dublin, in three days. Well done, guys.
A group of Welsh piemakers are going the extra mile to raise money for a children’s cancer charity. Nick Bishop talks to some of the intrepid souls who climbed the tallest mountains in Britain.
In the South Wales Valleys, it seems they like a challenge. The Caerphilly piemakers Peter’s Food are raising huge amounts of money for charities, but not just through raffles and tombolas. They’ve sent six piemen to scale the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales.
The hike, known as the Three Peaks Challenge, has raised £17,500 for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent. Today, the total raised by the company stands at over £20,000.
Looking back on their mountain adventure, team leader John McAughtrie, the company’s National Accounts Manager, is very modest about their achievements. “It was a good effort all round,” he says, humbly.
The climb had to be completed in three days in late September. The team began at Mount Snowdon in north Wales. They then proceeded to Scafell Pike in England, before finishing in Scotland with the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. Normal practice is to start here and finish at Snowdon, but our Welsh team decided to start in the land of their birth.
The six men had just three months to get themselves fit enough for the adventure, which would be completed over three days. John acknowledges that many hardy souls do manage to complete the trek in 24 hours. “That’s something consistently attempted by maniacs,” he laughs.
The three day challenge is still incredibly demanding. Even those with good levels of fitness would find it very tough. In total, the three routes are over 42km (26 miles) in length with an ascent of more than 3,400 metres (11,150ft). Or, as John puts it, “the total distance covered would see 16,893 of our sausage rolls stood end on end!”
Peak 1: Mount Snowdon, Wales
Mount Snowdon was conquered on 24 September last year. As the team started their climb, they were presented with beautiful panoramic views of the surroundings. But their easy start was not to last long as gentle slopes gave way to steep inclines with rocky crags and loose debris. Despite the obstacles, the team managed to reach the summit in a very respectable three hours.
For John, Snowdon brought one of the best moments of their incredible adventure. That moment came not from the breathtaking views, which were eventually obscured by the weather, but from four pensioners they met during the descent. Kitted out in identical gear purchased from the same shop, this friendly crew would become known to the group as The Yeovil Four. They were very moved when they heard about the piemen’s fundraising efforts. “When they heard our story, they immediately put their hands in their pockets and gave us £20, ” marvels John. “Who says humanity has lost its heart?”
Peak 2: Scafell Pike, England
While this peak in the heart of the Lake District was the lowest of the three, it proved to be the toughest challenge. “We assumed it would be a doddle,” John says, chuckling. But its lack of height was deceptive. Scafell Pike had the steepest inclines and the toughest conditions. As the team began, they were faced with a 45 degree slope, a hot sun and that most typical of mountain foes, a cow. The docile bovine absent-mindedly blocked their path, refusing to budge. But when the creature did eventually move, there were some more pressing problems ahead. In the last quarter, the climbers faced a 50 metre, 70 degree path from hell. At the finish, the six piemen sprawled on the floor, exhausted.
Vital ingredients: team spirit
Team member Ken Blackman says that during the most testing times, the piemen were grateful to be part of a tight group. “If you had to do it yourself, the challenge would be ten times harder,” says Ken. “But if you’ve got people with you, especially friends, then you can help each other through it.” It’s more fun, too, he says. “In our group, there were a lot of laughs and jokes all day,” remembers Ken. “It was a brilliant experience.”
An overcrowded challenge?
One of the biggest challenges for Three Peaks adventurers is the travelling. Our team had to drive for many hours, weaving through long lines of cars packed with other climbers. As John says, “success in the challenge is, to an extent, dependent on the state of the traffic.”
The number of cars around these picturesque peaks has attracted the ire of some local residents. Records show that in 2007, a whopping 29,000 people climbed the Three Peaks. Some residents have complained about irresponsible behaviour from climbers who throw litter out of car windows, or dangerous driving caused by tiredness. Residents also claim that the popularity of the Three Peaks Challenge is putting an undue burden on local mountain rescue teams, who are overstretched.
But the climbers say that the most serious risk posed to residents, dangerous driving, can be easily prevented by teams having a designated driver who is not a climber. Littering and poor behaviour is committed by only a tiny handful of individuals, and only an unfortunate few need to be rescued.
Moreover, climbers say that most of the money raised on The Three Peaks Challenge goes to very worthy charitable causes. As the difficulties are so rare, the huge benefits outweigh the costs.
Peak 3: Ben Nevis, Scotland
The imposing Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in the UK at 1,334 metres high (4,408 ft). Conditions can be tough, and icy winds are a common adversary. However, the now experienced piemen coped well with the hazards, finding it less of a challenge than the smaller, steeper Scafell Pike. Though John admits that perhaps they were buoyed by the sense that they were about to complete their challenge. “Once we got two-thirds of the way, we realised how close we were to the end of the whole thing. We were on a high,” he says. And on reaching the summit? “There was a mixture of elation and exhaustion. But mostly elation,” smiles John.
John is still very humble about the amazing efforts of his team of piemen. But he does eventually acknowledge, in his own laconic way, that their achievement was pretty impressive. “When I think we only had three months to transform ourselves from soft, squidgy piemen into tough, enduring mountain men, I suppose we did quite well,” he laughs.
