The 24 Hours

Blow by blow (or stomp by stomp) account of the challenge -

Saturday 4pm - Ben Nevis.
Stomachs lined with a mcdonalds form Fort William we set off, an hour earlier than we had previously planned, but what harm could it do we thought (you'll see what harm later) we were just so keen. I quickly came to realise that i would probably never regret a mcdonalds as much in my life as i did that one. It sat heavy in my belly, which was heavy enough on my body as we tramped onwards and upwards. it was pleasently sunny after all our worrying, and as you can imagine i was horrifically sweaty. Ed had declared himself fit to walk, but was lagging quite badly after the first hour or so. I tried to be nice, aware that we still had 23 hours ahead of us to try and stay friends for, and with my cheery encouragement we reached the top (1344 metres) after 2 hours 45 minutes. The last 300 metres were caked in cloud and were cold and uncomfortable, and i didnt actually notice the top until i was on it. We had a quick photo stop (although there was not much to see through the fog) and then set off down again. The plan said we had 5 hours for Benny N (we're cool enough for nicknames again now) and after 4 hours and 50 minutes we were 10 minutes from the bottom. Or more I was 10 minutes from the bottom. Eddie was lagging pretty badly at this point, claiming "major injury" in the form of tired legs... Dad met us near the bottom to escort us back to the car, and could hear us before he saw us, to the tune of "Ed! PLEASE keep up!" As it happened we made it back to the bottom at exactly 9pm, so i was happy. Tired but happy. Ed was not happy. Claiming everything from groin strain to irregular heartbeat, mam panic-diagnosed altitude sickness, but after about 15 minutes of his none stop complaining had to admit it was probably just tiredness from unacustomed excersise. The wounded soldier did not like that.

9pm - 2am. Drive from Ben Nevis to Sca Fell Pike.
I slept most of the way, but form Mam and Dads reports Ed complained most of it. I did wake up when the car physically left the ground over a large bump in the twisting back roads of the lakes, where Dad raced (in a safe and legal fashion!) with another three peaks driver he had befriended while waiting for us.

Sunday 2am - Sca Fell Pike.
In the small and awkward car park, Mam ans Dad dropped us off and disappeared down the country lane to turn the car around and set up camp to wait for us. As soon as they were out of sight Ed made a great show of limping and whinging, until I couldnt help but snap "Are you going to do this then or not?!" At that point little Eddie, overcome with agony, as well as being tired and grumpy (the little princess usually doesnt get up til noonas im sure youre aware from previous blogs) flipped. "Go on your bleeping own then" was something along the lines of his furious yells. He launched the map at me with all the strength his little arms could muster and stormed off to wait for the car (he was so angry he even forgot to limp... must have been an adrenaline rush or something). I stood there for a couple fo minutes probably, staring dumbstruck at his retreating back. It was pitch black (as the harm done by our setting off up Ben Nevis early was that we arrived here at 2am not 3am, so dawn was no where near as breaking as it would have been) and as i stared from the map, to my surroundings, and back to the map, i knew i didnt have a clue even what direction to walk in. Thinking it was all over (and honestly furious with Edward for ruining it) i too had to turn tail and head back to the car. Dad describes the scene he saw in the headlights on returning back to the car as "hideous" i was in the center of the beams of light (i dont know and couldnt give a monkeys where Edward was in the scene, he probably wont make it in to the movie at all after his little performance) face screwed up like a monster, wailing. he opened the car door to a "Daaaaaaaaaaaaad! wahhh!" The sullen look on Edwards face must have said it all, and grasping that Eddie wouldnt do the walk, and for safety (as well as i dont mind admitting map-resding-in-the-dark-competancy) reasons i couldnt do the walk alone, was the moment my father became my hero. Despite being written off the challenge with weak knees, despite having not done any training since his write off in April, despite not having his knee braces or trekking poles with him, despite the fact that he is 52 you know, he strapped on Eds 3 sizes too big walking boots, and did Sca Fell Pike with me. Heroic music should have played, as we gave Edward withering looks and strode off into the night, victory snatched from the jaws of defeat. However, following my birthday (see the blog) you must still remember that this is me and Dad we're talking about here, and in the darkness, as is our way on Sca Fell, of course, we missed the path. My awe was only heightened though as we scaled the bare mountain side, Dads super human effort getting us to the top (978metres) on time, and as the sun rose, we could only laugh at the blinding obviousness of the path we managed not to spot. Our journey down, on the newly discovered path, was flawless and even dads knees held up, getting us down again by 6am, perfect timing on the 4 hours allocated by the plan, and in actual fact even quicker than that, allowing time for Edwards histrionics. I have never been more impressed or proud of my Dad, who undoubtedly saved the challenge there.

6am - 10.15am. Drive from Sca Fell Pike to Snowdon.
As Dad collapsed mam took the wheel to get us to Wales for the last leg of the challenge, with daylight not being an issue i'd be fine to tackle Snowdon alone. Edward was sheepish, as well he should be, and me and dad, well we were plain knackered.

10.15am - Snowdon.
I was dropped off at the car park and the others drove off, making their way to the Snowdon Mountain railway base station, where they would get the train up to meet me at the top, and off i went. As i scrambled over rocks on the initial incline i honestly wondered whether i could do it, as i was overtaken by a group of burly welsh men i was galvanised to go on, and picked up the pace. It was then that Mam decided to call me to chat about the train (i know, time and a place mother) and i almost lost sight of my galloping welsh inspirations (i treated them as the greyhound at the dogs track treats the hare, except i merely wanted to keep up with them, not eat them) I got Mam off the phone and leaped over a style to follow them. I noticed that i was basically the only female on the mountain at this point, and my burly welsh hares were far from unique in this setting. After following them doggedly up a steep route for half an hour or so i plucked up the breath to ask them if they thought we were anywhere near half way there (as according to the plan i should be at the top in just over 2 hours) "Well youre nearly at the top of the knife edge" came the reply, my puzzled face must have triggered the further response "you do want to do the knife edge and then Snowdon dont you?" With a sick feeling in my stomach i whimpered "This IS Snowdon isnt it?" Of course, left to my own devices i had climed half the wrong mountain. Luckily this 'Knife Edge" was a pre summit to the actual Snowdon summit, (an extereme one, which explained all the burly locals) so i had merely to slither a little way back down bare grassy mountain side and i'd be back on the right path, the helpful welsh fellas pointed it out to me, God bless them. the slithering was much easier said than done, and i can report now that i am probably one of not may people who can say that they have slid down a bank of Mount Snowdon on their backside. Iwas back on the right path, and still on time despite my little excursion, but my legs were weary. the muscles that allow a person to put one leg in front of the other seemed to have had enough, just at the last scramble appeared up ahead. It was nigh on vertical, with wide zig zags in the path making it walkable. screw this, i thought, and just about flung myself onto all fours to physically clamber up the last push. Making it to the top (1085metres) after 2 and a half hours, i looked around triuphmant, and promptly burst into tears. A kindly tourist came and gave me a piece of chocolate and i pulled myself together. My knee was now roughly the size of a football and i literally could not put one more foot in front of the other. At this point a lovely man working as a guide mentioned that a lot of people classed getting to the top of each peak as the challenge, so if he was me he would stop the clock there. So there you have it, i cant lie, i got the train back down Snowdon (leaving dad to step in again and give me his seat and walk down, although taking the much gentler route that i was not aware of) and have firmly planted myself in the school of thought that says getting to the top is the main thing, not down again, and clocking in at 20 hours 35 minutes.

The Big Day

It's today! Although most of the action will technically take place tomorrow, with only Ben Nevis being done tonight, Sca Fell in the early hours of tomorrow morning and Snowdon later in the day - all in 24 hours though (i hope) We're setting off to Scotland soon (not sure how soon as Eddie is still in bed...) and ive had a hunk of apple strudel ans ice cream for breakfast, so looks like we're as ready as we'll ever be, cue the A-Team music as we stride out...

Day 202 (IT'S TOMORROW)

Today is Friday the 13th, notably an unlucky day if youre supersticious, but it may well be the best Friday the 13th ive ever had. The weather has cleared up, Grandma and i won £15 at the bingo (which all the bingo ladies agreed should be donated, see www.justgiving.com/onestompatatime) and me and Ed managed to get proper little route cards done for each mountain (luckily he can read maps...) I didnt want to risk pulling a muscle on this traditionally unlucky date, and so have not done a walk today. In fact the next time I walk will be the beginning of the ascent of Ben Nevis (im all formal and respectful of it again now that the challenge is ominously close) tomorrow. We will be beginning at 5pm, hoping to be up and down Ben Nevis by 10pm, the trusting Mam and Dads driving will be starting up Sca Fell Pike by 4am Sunday morning, to be back down and in the hands of the parents behind the wheel by 8am, getting to Wales to start Snowdon by 1pm, to compleet by 5pm. 24 very full hours ahead of us. I'm now going to stuff my face with pasta, as im sure im going to need every carb i can get! Wish us luck, and if you havent heard anything by Monday morning i might not have made it... or am just to stiff to hobble from my bed to the computer to type anything, and thankyou everyone who has read this, i hope youve had as much fun (or in fact considerably more fun at some points) reading about this as i have had doing it. And to everyone who has donated, I love you.

Day 201 (2 days to go)

The weather perked up! I havent checked on Big B yet (Ben Nevis, am i getting too pally?) but the sun is certainly shining here! I was woken by it at 5.30am, which i was almost glad about since at least it wasnt raining, and i joyfully scrambled up Roseberry Topping (in 15 minutes) and was so in the zone i could have turned around and taken on the big 3 there and then. It was muddy, and im sure the big 3 are still uncomfortable today (if it has indeed stopped raining in Scotland and Wales too, that is three countries the weather would have to stay constant accross, big ask i know) but by Saturday it should be fine as long as the sun stays out like this... crossing EVERYTHING for that.

Days 197, 198 and 199 (and 200)

Well I was right (but then again aren't I always) the hard work began. I have swum (in the pool and practically swum in puddles after some questionable weather) I have run (with the children, after the children, away from the children...) I have climbed, I have skipped, I have jumped, I have danced. The 3 Peaks may well be nothing compared to a weekend with 3 under 8s (and its not even as though I was in charge of them!) Today then I'm not home yet, but on the home straight with training, so decided to kick start the last few days with a super energetic run (I know, who am I and what have I done with Rosie) this is mostly because I figure if I do 4 miles at a run its the equivalent of 8 miles at a walk, and not getting lost over a 4 mile stretch is hard enough over foreign terrain - my plan for the unfamiliar mountains is aim upwards, so hopefully there won't be a problem there. You'll be pleased to know that I did it, it would seem that boot-camp Butlins has had no adverse effects, and was actually pretty fun (in its own way)

Sorry this post became delayed amongst the balckberry/email/technophobia... doesnt make me worried about relying on my parents to drive me between mountains when they cant cut paste and upload at all or anything... anyway today seems to be the bleakest of them all, even worse than the day the dog tripped me over, even worse than the day the dog pulled me over (struggling to think of days that were bad that dont involve that blasted dog somehow) as even though i have huffed, puffed, sweated gallons and cursed dad for ever having this idea, ive come to strangely enjoy it, which is where the problem may lie. I have no qualms about going it alone on the mounatins, after weaklings Dad and in turn Ed have had to drop out, and im amazed and chuffed to have raised £285 so far (keep going everyone, the page is www.justgiving.com/onestompatatime thankyou) however, having overcome my love of chocolate and hatred of excersise that had been standing in my way before (in the movie this may be the montage moment...) there is one thing even i cannot control. The weather. Today torrential rain has prevented me from leaving the house, and yesterday Ben Nevis was declared "shut". I am three days away from the Big Day and strangely have never been more up for it than i am now, even on the first day when i was basically blinded by my own optimism. However, i have devised a plan; Ben Nevis, which was going to be my starting point, is the only peak of the three on privately owned land, therefore is the only one i can be physically prevented from having a crack at. Therefore on Saturday we will consult the weather, and if it looks like Scotland is not on we'll change tack and nip to Wales instead to start with Snowdon, in the hopes that the weather will clear by the time we reach Ben (i feel i can drop the "Nevis" like we're pals) and worst case scenario at least i'll have done 2 out of 3. Fingers crossed for the sun coming out though...

Day 196

This morning Martys mam, auntie and I acted quickly. After making the daddies get up with the boys (Marty's 2 young cousins are also here at Butlins) first thing, we sent them off swimming while we walked to the market. It was only 4 miles, and not at speed, and there was a shopping break in the middle, but technically I am on my holidays, and I get the feeling the daddies won't put up with us disappearing and enjoying ourselves in a child free manner for too long, so the hard excersise is probably about to begin...

P.S thankyou to Mam and Dad, who through the miracles of technology are receiving these posts via email from my blackberry to upload from the computer (as technology does not seem miraculous enough to allow me to post it straight from blackberry without a middle man, or maybe that's just my flimsy grasp of it)

Days 194 and 195

Yesterday i was embroiled in a random trip to Wales (such is the spontaneous nature of student life) so I took a rest day. I know this is not the time to take my eye off the ball but this could not be helped, and I think I can make it on a skipped day, although these may  be famous last words.
Today I am at Skengess Butlins with Marty and his family. We travelled there today so I had time for a proper walk in Kings Lynn today, and fully expect to make a spectacle of myself around the Butlins site tomorrow and Sunday, so look forward to that!
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