Three hills in half a day? How hard can it be? Yeah, why not? Let’s do it! After very little thought, 438’s creative team foolishly accepted the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on behalf of The Joshua Tree – a local charity supporting families affected by childhood cancers.
Getting in several practice walks over weekends leading up to the longest (and hottest) day of the year, we finally set off from Horton-in-Ribblesdale at 7.30am with our daypacks packed (thanks for the kit list and survival guide Danny) alongside hundreds of underprepared hopefuls with the same crazy idea. All the kind donations were in and the talking was over.
Walking the walk
Spirits were high and legs were fresh as we climbed towards the summit of Pen-y-ghent. With one done and two to go, we were on track to finish with a good time. The sun really did have its hat on, and everyone was sweating like an influencer with zero likes. The trek to the second hill, Whernside, seemed never-ending, so we stopped for a much-needed lunch break.
By now, heads were down and regrettably, common sense kicked in for one of our team who was still recovering from the flu. The threat of thunder and lightning was also looming, but we didn’t get this far for nothing, so kept going.
Knees to chest
Refuelled with food, water and a plethora of pain relief, we ploughed onwards and upwards, motivating each other and taking comfort in friendly encouragement from fellow hikers like “the last one’s definitely the hardest!” As knees twinged more and more, we asked again…whose bright idea was it to do this?
Feeling like the walking wounded and after a few false sightings, the peak of Ingle‘bruh’ at last came into view. Menacing thunderclouds soon closed in for dramatic effect, treating us to lightning strikes and raindrops the size of ping pong balls. Following the questionable distance of signposts on the long descent, we eventually arrived full circle 12 hours and 24 miles later.
Summit to be proud of
Showered and grinning with exhaustion, we had just enough energy to order pizzas and raise a glass or three in celebration. Also managing to raise over £2,500 for an amazing cause like The Joshua Tree made the soggy socks, bulging blisters, knackered knees and tender tendons worthwhile. We’re already looking forward to our next big challenge, but for now, climbing the stairs is an achievement!