The Three Peaks Challenge was a great opportunity for anyone who wanted to do that little bit of walking in exchange for raising money for a great cause.

The walk started off well and with the first peak, Pen-y-Ghent, in sight everyone’s spirits were high, with many scrambling ahead over the rocky path to get a better view. The walk up was rocky and a little bit of climbing was necessary in places, but on the whole it was a successful climb, with nobody seriously injured and a happy group photo at the top (with a digger, which I’m not sure how anyone got up there).

The descent was less steep but treacherous, with rabbit holes and rocks that threatened to throw us all down a very long drop. Luckily, we were all seasoned climbers and everybody made it down without incident. By this point the weather had taken a turn for the worst, and fog was closing in as we approached the second peak, Whernside, and at the top visibility was appalling.

We all had to stay very close together and trust the map reading skills of our leaders to make it through the dense fog. The clouds finally broke as we approached the top and our journey was slippery and muddy, resulting in a lot of falls and scrapes. Luckily we all made it to the top and as we began descending the fog cleared, and we could all wander the slopes on our own without need to stay within touching distance of one another.

The final stretch was in sight, but with weary feet we had to call off our climb of the final peak due to the worsening weather, and despite all of the slips and the falls everyone was sad to leave the job unfinished.

With our efforts we managed to raise a whopping £974.97, all of which have gone to Meningitis Now, and we’re hoping next year to double our fundraising (and hopefully have better weather!). It was a fantastic experience for everyone involved, and I hope that many more people will want to take part when we next attempt it.

Report by Bryn Davies

 

• Diary date

LADY Lumley’s Sixth Form open evening is on Thursday, December 4, at 6.45pm for 7pm, for prospective students and parents/carers to look around and talk to staff and students.

A spokesman said: “It is always really popular.”

Phone 01751 470024/061 or email acharlton@ladylumleys.net