Lookout

Charity Peak Challenge
by Senior Aircraftman Brettell
Personnel from RAF Waddington and RAF
Boulmer set down a challenging task.
Consisting of Flight Sergeant John Hughes,
Sergeant Lisa Cavill-Eardley, Corporal Peter Todd
and Senior Aircraftman Andrew Brettell, the team
aimed to raise money for two separate charities;
The Matt Hampson Foundation (£295) and the
Lions Club Alnwick Branch (£400).
The challenge was walking/running 3 peaks in the Lake District; these
being Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and Skiddaw, with a goal to complete
within 12 hours. This was achieved, with a total time of 11 hours 10
mins (including travelling to and from start points) and a climb time
of 9 hours.
As the morning began, the base of Helvellyn was layered with thick
fog. Thankfully, half way up we broke through and were welcomed
by a cloudless blue sky and spectacular views. As we pushed ahead
with the rising sun we reached the top of Helvellyn within an hour,
breaking into a morning jog on our descent where we encountered
for the first time others who seemed bewildered by these strange
people jogging in the opposite direction at such an hour.
We drove to our second climb and were faced with Scafell Pike
looming overhead with, we would soon realise, its many false
summits. The peak began with a gradual climb on a well-maintained
gravel path, which we were soon missing as the terrain became
difficult and at times hazardous. Working together we climbed higher,
leaving the greenery and the first false summit behind, we entered a
section covered in large boulders; no paths but the relief of the true
summit now in view. This excitement was short lived as we realised
that to reach our goal we had to descend and scale two further false
summits before the final stage climb. This sounds trivial, but when
your body is aching and cramp’s setting in, each step affects your
already drained energy levels. With the guidance of Peter Todd and
sheer determination, we successfully completed our second ascent in
a time of 1 hour 57 minutes and began our descent, encouraged by
the thought of one final peak.
At last, Skiddaw. This 686 metre climb; although the smallest would,
for me, become the most painful. I would soon realise my body was
now running on fumes. We set off with the sight of most people on
the peak now descending as our team began. As the sun was setting
and dark clouds appeared for the first time, we struggled up the slope
feeling the burn. We climbed step after step until we reached the
summit 1 hour 30 minutes later. At this point we were all suffering
and my legs were in agony, cramp surging through them. The relief of
transiting downhill was a blessing. We descended quickly with the sun
dipping and finally finished our challenge 11 hours and 10 minutes
after the start with a mixture of feelings from pride to pain. “Now
where’s that pint!”
Helvelyn Scafell Pike Skiddaw Totals
8.64km 16.96km 10.10km Distance – 35.7km
Ascent – 770m Ascent – 1060m Ascent – 686m Ascent – 2516m
Descent – 785m Descent – 1062m Descent – 712m Descent – 2559m
12 THE LOOKOUT