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PINNACLE OFSUCCESS - BUTNEVER AGAIN!By Martin Latham, Lodge ofPeace No 149 – punishing butproud!SEVEN walkers and two drivers, allmembers of the Lodge of Peace No 149,set off to attempt the National ThreePeaks Challenge during the weekend of 2July this year. This challenge involvesclimbing the highest peak in Wales(Snowdon 3,560 ft), England (Scafell Pike3,209 ft) and Scotland (Ben Nevis 4,409ft), in a time of no more than 24 hours andon this occasion was to raise funds for theSpecial Care Baby Unit at the RoyalCalderdale Hospital.We were to begin at the base ofSnowdon at 9.30am on Saturday, so weset off for our hotel in North Wales at teatime on Friday with the view to having anice meal and a glass of wine beforeretiring early ready for the following day’strials. Perhaps we forgot to change ourwatches when we crossed the borderbecause the next thing we knew was thebar was closing and it was 1.00am localtime. Suffice to say that we had a goodnight which showed on a few faces atbreakfast the following morning.At the starting point it was so busy wecould not get into the car park but after aquick team photo we were off with theother maddening throngs heading for thesummit. We made good time upSnowdon with the whole team reachingthe top intwo hours. Another photo, toprove we had done it, and we were on ourway back down. We were already aheadof schedule and 3 ½ hours after setting offwe were back on the bus heading off toour next destination.Scafell Pike is located on the easternside of the Lake District so the journeytakes you off the M6 below Kendal andyou have to follow the coast road as if youare going to Whitehaven. Much to thedispleasure of the drivers but to the reliefof the walkers the bus had a speed limiteron it. This limits it to a maximum of only60MPH, not how fast it can get there!The journey therefore took a little longerthan we had planned so another goodeffort from the walkers was going to berequired as the trip up to Ben Nevis wasto take a good six hours. Scafell Pike isthe smallest of the three peaks but Ibelieve it is the most difficult.As we arrived at the foot of the hill thehelicopter rescue team were just takingsomeone away and while we were on ourway up and down itthe mountain rescueteam were called outtwice to othergroups. Two of ourteam struggled onthis hill because ofnot drinking enoughliquid. The weatherwas so hot it wasvery easy to getdehydrated.Anyway, with aconcerted effort weall managed to getback to the bus in four hours, which gotus right back on schedule.The Buckingham Partnership LtdProject Management, Quantity SurveyingSimon BuckinghamConsultant19 Chilver DriveTongBradford, BD4 0TS01274 684472 / 07825 760152simon@sbuckingham.co.ukwww.sbuckingham.co.ukThe drive to Fort William is one of themost scenic journeys I have ever madebut unfortunately we were on a tight timeschedule and the thought of stopping offen route to admire the views was never anoption. The team of walkers werebeginning to stiffen up nicely in ourcramped surroundings and were trying toget a few hours of much needed sleepbefore the last and greatest challenge.Thankfully, our drivers knew of ourpredicament and proceeded to throw theRegistered in England and Wales 06705126Picture shows, from left, Paula Wood, of thespecial care baby unite, Des Holden, Mike Cox,Hugh Crossley, Mark Storer, Lodge of Peacemaster, Austin Moore-Kelly, Andrew Schofield andMartin Latham at the cheque handoverCHALLENGE TO COME AND JOIN USARE there any Brethren out there with sales and marketing skills or with an aptitudefor compiling reports/proof reading.White Rose Masonic News needs to strengthen its marketing and advertising teamand also provide support for the editorial operation.Lodge members with appropriate skills and experience are invited to apply tobecome part of our advertising and editorial teams.The White Rose team face several challenging but achievable objectives for atwice yearly publication which is distributed free to every member in the Province.If you feel you can help, please contact:WR Masonic Activities Ltd chairman Colin Dentcolin.dent@dentsteel.co.uk Work: 01274 607070 Home: 01274 602292White Rose Editor John B Gledhilljb.gledhill@btinternet.com Home: 01484 644408White Rose marketing and advertising chairman J Stuart Cadmanstuart@jsc-consultants.co.uk Mobile: 07710 451873 Home: 01274 873426LODGE of PEACE No. 3988 Meeting on the 4th Monday, except August, 2nd Monday in July & 3rd Monday in December.Masonic Hall, Hoyle Court, Baildon BD17 6JS PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS PAGE OF THE WHITE ROSE MASONIC NEWS12