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Link CCTV Systems complete the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge
13 September 22
On Sunday 11th September, Link CCTV Systems completed the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, having raised £2,237 (so far) for the British Heart Foundation. Taking on the challenge were 9 members of the Link CCTV Systems team; Ryan Mitchinson, Craig Smith, Kenny Day, Jacky Stones, George Kingston, Dawn Nicholls, Richard Walford, Bradley Smith and Steve Hodgkins.
The Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, which must be completed within 12 hours, involves a 24 mile walk, 5200ft of ascent in the Yorkshire Dales. The Link team, made up of a mix of experienced walkers and novices completed the challenge in just over 10 hours.
To begin, the team set off just after 6am at Chapel le Dale, led by a guide (John) from the Yorkshire 3 Peaks company, who checked each participants kit and briefed the team on the challenge ahead. John led the team to the first peak, Ingleborough (723 metres), which was summited around 7:30am, where the group were met with spectacular views of the Yorkshire Dales covered in fog.
The challenge continued, and the team descended Ingleborough, heading north towards the second mountain peak, Pen-y-Ghent. On the approach towards to the second peak, the Link Team had the opportunity to top up their water, use the toilet and make the most of the flatter, comfier terrain, before the climb to the foot of Pen-y-Ghent. Just after 10:30am, the team started their ascent of Pen-y-Ghent (694 metres), a tricky climb with the steepest rock face the group had faced to this point. At the summit, the team took a few minutes to take in the magnificent views, before descending and marching on to the third and final peak, Whernside.
The distance between Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside was the longest between any of the peaks that the Link Team faced on Sunday but was a welcome walk, as it gave them the opportunity to make up time on flatter, softer land, and come into close proximity with some of the wildlife and animals. This walk, around 8 miles long, also brought the team past the famous Ribblehead Viaduct, and included a final drinks and refreshment stop, where each participant was greeted with a hot drink and a slice of cake. Once refreshed, the Link team pressed on to the final peak, and started a long and progressively steep climb. Buoyed on by a combination of breath taking views, encouragement from colleagues, and the fuel of many protein and energy snacks, Link reached the summit of Whernside (736 metres), the tallest of the 3 peaks, at around 3:20pm.
Then begun the trickiest of descents, where climbing down rocks of all shapes and sizes, pointing in all angles, was the only way of reaching flat land. This treacherous descent took its toll on the Link Team, obliterating the ankles and knees of participants who needed rest, but could see the finish line in sight. Mustering up the last of their energy, the Link Team pushed through the pain of twisted knees and painful blisters, completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge just after 4pm, notably the first group to finish out of those taking part on that day.
A brilliant accomplishment by all, and an extremely proud day for Link CCTV Systems with over £2200 raised for the British Heart Foundation, a worthy cause which means a lot to many of the Link Team. What started as an idea to raise money for charity whilst incorporating a difficult challenge, resulted in overcoming the monster challenge that is the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge. 24 miles, 5200ft of ascent, and completed by Link CCTV Systems with just under 2 hours to spare. Certainly, a day that the participants won’t forget and one that sprung a question among the group, what’s next?
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