THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE

In July, our intrepid Languages Leaders and staff set out on a charity fundraising mission more challenging than any they’d yet faced. To climb the legendary and magnificent Three Peaks. A journey of some 28 miles, mostly uphill. Lewis Murphy describes the trials, tribulations and glory of an unforgettable journey.

THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE

Yorkshire’s Three Peaks. A magnificent landscape combining the best of all the elements, forming beautiful mountains and hills, scintillating lakes and lush green fields. For miles around there are no built up areas to be seen, providing an uninterrupted panorama of Yorkshire at its best.

At 6:45am we stood in Horton in Ribblesdale, on a street corner by a pub. All three peaks were clearly visible, though clearly quite a distance away. 16 of us, armed with huge backpacks and a strong wills, stared in awe at what seemed to be an unforgettable trip ahead of us. And it would be unforgettable…

We set off for the first peak at exactly 7:30am, along one of the last paved roads we would see for quite a while. We began our climb, and instantly realised – this would not be easy.

The path to the first peak cut through multiple fields, each at a generous slope, with a few small climbing sections before reaching the main part of the peaks path. Going through a gate at the end of the last field, you’re met with a daunting sight - the almost sheer climb up jagged outcrops of cold, hard rock. With a large backpack, you’re lifting almost double your weight at every step, but eventually the peak is in sight. You might look back to see others grasping at the ground to keep steady, but everyone in our group made it up safely.

At the top, we were engulfed in cloud, having reached high into

the sky. Through the mist, we saw the first peak marker, a large cuboid rock, which marked the summit of Pen-y-Ghent.

We stopped at the top for a short time, and found ourselves gazing across the immense valley between each peak. The second, and furthest peak was barely visible from where we were, and so we all knew what was about to come.

After that short respite, we began walking again, now blessed with downhill and mostly flat terrain, the sun rising high and strong above us. Before reaching a designated stop and the final stretch to the second peak, we passed cows, people, and a lot of grass, all the while making great conversation and having fun listening to each other’s stories. At the stop we drank, ate, and laid in the grass to make as much use of the time as possible.

Whernside, the second peak, was much more challenging than the first, as we were already tired from the completed distance. As we approached, we could look back and see Pen-y-Ghent, diminished in the distance, and sigh in relief knowing we were getting through it.

At the second peak, we stopped again to look over what we’d done and what we had to do. In the valley between the second and third peaks was a small set of cafes and shops, which clearly had the right idea to set up a rest station there.

In the building heat, we continued down, stopped, ate, and moved on. The final stretch was finally appearing.

By this point, the group tackling a shorter distance had finished, and we remaining walkers were quickly losing energy, but not resolve. We tackled the gently sloping terrain to reach the toughest part of a brilliant journey – the rock climb up Ingleborough.

With collapsing legs and tired arms, to reach the final peak you have to haul yourself up a near vertical cliff, which stretches almost to the height of Ryburn’s building. Multiple times I found myself almost falling back down to the ground, but just managed to grab hold in time.

But, the effort was more than worth it. By this time, the sun had begun to set, and so from the final tip of Ingleborough’s peak we watched the golden glow of the evening illuminate our path. We saw everything we had done, the distance we had made and the seemingly impossible climbs we had achieved.

The feeling of pride was immense. Everyone here was happy, no matter how exhausted they were. All that was left now was the downhill race back to the start, on that street corner by a pub in Horton in Ribblesdale, my own goal to get a time of 10 hours.

Even with my legs giving way, checking the time, I found myself running down the street. Rain had begun falling and the cold drops restored my energy to full. I ran down the road, crossed over to the corner and checked the time. It was 5:30pm, exactly 10 hours since we began.

I looked up to the first peak, to where the journey began, and from the rain came a rainbow.

A beautiful way to end a brilliant day.

THE INTEGRAL HEART FAMILY

Our intrepid adventurers managed to raise over £850 for the Integral Heart Family in Guatemala, a charity closely linked with our Languages Department. Education costs a lot of money in Guatemala, and the charity helps less privileged children get an education and a better life. Over the past two years, Ryburn has raised nearly £2000 for them. If you’d like to donate to our fundraising total, see the Languages Leaders.

You can read about Guatemala and the charity in the Winter 2018-19 issue of VIBE, available in the Library or on our website at www.rvhs.co.uk/vibe-magazine

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

If Lewis’s tales of adventure have inspired you, maybe you’d like to have a go? The Languages Leaders are planning another Three Peaks Challenge this summer. The full distance is a match for the fittest, maybe those who’ve already enjoyed Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. But there’s also the option of a shorter route, and it all raises money for a brilliant cause.

Speak to the Languages Leaders or staff if you’d like to find out more.