2nd Louth and Manby Scouts take on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, June 2019

When Adrian suggested we do this again for this summer’s scout  hike challenge, my first reaction was really? After everything the weather threw at us last time?? We started in sunshine, after a rotten nights sleep on the worlds most overcrowded and noisy campsite, which clouded over to become rain on Pen y Ghent ( 694m ), hail, sleet and snow plus gale force winds on Wernside  (736m) and Ingleborough (723m).  Summer it was not!!!!

The group is raising money for the new scout hut to be built in Louth, and as we raised a lot towards the Japan World Scout Jamboree last time it seemed like a good idea to repeat the process.

After several months of planning, ( including choosing a different campsite! ), and practice hikes, the weekend of our attempt  finally arrived. And the forecast looked good!!

Everyone was up and ready to set out at 6.30am, with the first group heading out on time. Groups 2 and 3 were all away by 7.15am. The weather was already warm at this point.

Group 1 made the summit of Pen y Ghent at 8.30am, to be followed half an hour later by group 2. Group 3, our youngest and least experienced scouts also made it to the top but were delayed by the number of people attempting the 3 Peaks  - Marie Curie Nurses Charity had 200 walkers out that day, and Alzheimer’s Dementia walk had a staggering 350 !! Our scouts had to queue to reach the summit!! Groups 1 and 2 continued on the route, in rising temperatures, while our younger members descended from the summit back to the camp site for a well earned rest and cool drinks.

By the time the groups reached the Horton in Ribblesdale viaduct, a further 10km into the route,  the temperature had reached 30 degrees.  And there’s no shade  either! After a drinks and food stop, all water bottles refilled and the leaders weighed down by carrying extra water, those that wanted to carried on, summitting Wernside in the late afternoon.

By the time the groups had reached the ice cream van at the foot of the hill on the other side, we had to make a decision. It was getting late in the day, the sunshine and heat were taking a toll, and thunderstorms were moving nearer according to the weather app. At this point, our amazing scouts had covered 30 km and been out for 10 hours.

As a group, we made the decision to stop, and get an air conditioned lift back in the car to the campsite. Although all were disappointed, it was the right thing to do.  After a fantastic BBQ cooked by our support team, there was just enough energy left for a game of football before the need to sleep took over!

Hugh thanks to Adrian Beech, Nicky Turner, Alan Dale and Richard Limmer for keeping the groups safe on the hill, Abby Kingswood , Hazel Brown and our wonderful cook Chris Carden for being the best support team ever! But the biggest thanks must go to the 17  amazing scouts, who were a credit to themselves and their leaders and should be super proud of their achievements.

The mountains will be there next year and so will we, to give it another go. I wonder what the weather has in store for us this time?

Jan Waite
ACC Activities
County Mountain Activity Advisor.