 OK so in the past many people have been accused of over stating the effect the 3 peak challenges have to the areas they use. Well in an attempt to highlight the actual impact and reality of these events, I will be keeping a diary online on my web site , supported by photos where needed to show the effects in Wasdale. Hopefully this will get some of the organising charities to rethink their involvment, who knows. The diary will be updated daily (although most events are weekend based not all are)and can be found at www.felltreks.co.uk
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 Go for it Guy. Best of luck to you.
How about letting the print magazines know what you are doing?
But try to keep an objective state of mind...otherwise you'll just get yourself REALLY depressed.
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 Trail did something about the three peaks challenge, in that they took part in the 4 peaks (inc. the Irish one), but they did mention that it wasn't good for the areas they go to. It's not like it aids tourism in the slgihtest.
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 So, Drew, are you saying that they did it then said, this is bad, don't do it?
Confused.
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Guy Sweetheart - the hyperlink on Felltreks to your OM article isn't.
A hyperlink, I mean....
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oops will sort out chuck
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 Nooo, I'll do it, wait a minute...
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The Trail story didn't really make much of a comment on the impact of the three peaks things either way except that it was very clear that they had a good time. The thing they did was organised by, erm, the Wooden Spoon Society, I think, some bunch of rugby players from memory and tackled Helvellyn instead of Wasdale for environmental reasons.
I remember being a bit taken aback by the idea of an environmentally responsible challenge that involved driving around in motor vehicles. The whole article seemed a bit unchallenging in my opinion, they didn't really question it at all.
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And what a depressing thing the first few entries in the diary are... Blimey.
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Jon - how do you get into Felltreks to sort out his HTML? Got a secret password?
OM bit is fine...
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On Felltreks where it says '3 peaks article' Jon...I know you're all-powerful BUT
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Guy.
That is really depressing, and it'll only get worse.
I whole-heartedly support everything and anything that you do.
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 This sort of thing should be featured in ALL the outdoors media, it's a problem that needs to be thought through properly, with all parties concerned, many of the people taking part probably don't realise the impact they are having on the environment and local communities
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Well said Dave.
Guy make sure you send an email to TRAIL and TGO (sorry tgo) to get a bit more publicity on this one.
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 I really cant belive the Parking in the MRT only bit and refusing to move because they were doing a "charity event". Bet they'd complain if the team took longer to reach them dos they had to park elsewhere!
What is it with somepeople. Would deffo e-mail any print outdoors magazine for more publicity. Good luck!
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righoh the link should work now!
Jon and everyone, glad you have looked at it, hopefully it should read a bit better during the week than it has to date :)
I just thought that one way to get people to take notice would be if they could see what actualy happens.
So I will try to be as unbiased as poss, if people do things well I will endevour to report that in as much detail as the bad ones. To this end I will probably update the diary at the end of each day and not as soon as I get in to work , in order not to get me writing it up in a bad state of mind after just picking up litter or some such.
I hope it is all good news but I very much doubt it.
If it does nothing else it may get people thinking?
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 Ditto to all Alex(F) says.
Have just read your article Guy, and agree that the best approach seems for some self-regulation by the charities/groups involved so that the numbers per annum are limited.
In this instance, surely there has to be some common sense applied for the long-term future of the whole area and I should have thought it is exactly the kind of abuse of right that needs the involvement of the media and the local MP.
If noise etc.,in the middle of the night is causing a 'disturbance of the Peace', doesn't this become a Police matter?
Don't wish in any way to be a kill-joy as in all truth the 3 peaks challenge is something I've thought of doing myself. Now I've been 'enlightened', I promise Scafell & its Pike will be tackled in summer,.... from Langdale.
Is there anything we (on OM) can do as a group? A petition etc.,etc?
Good luck
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 Well done Guy, you're onto something here. I think charities should be made aware of the impact they are creating. In the Trail article they deflect criticism by talking about a responsible attitude, not all minibuses are 'official' charity attempts, there are always a few 'bad apples'etc. I have thought for a long time this is just not good enough and is corporate fundraising spin. Part of the problem is the corporate attitude to raising money many charities have adopted. Charity fund raising is now a business. Indeed many charities are going to rely more on these kind of events as they have made disastrous investments in the stock market and precious charity money is now lining the pockets of 'city' fat cats.
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I thought that the Trail article was a bit of a cop out actually.
They were too wrapped up in the "lets have fun out on the hills" and not enough about "what impact does our fun have?"
As for "self-regulation" I think it's obvious that this has failed. But how it's regulated without being draconian is hard. Remember you can't stop people from going out there.
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William
Thanks for reading the article, I should point out I don't want to stop anyone from climbing Scafell Pike , All I ask for is that the big event organisers and charities recognise the damage they cause and do something else instead! and leave the true beauty of the Pike to those who wish to enjoy it, not just use and destroy it in the name of money making by trudging up it in a swarm of hundreds in the middle of the night, stoping only to shit in the Wasdale hedgerows, dump their rubbish by the road side and drive off at breakneck speeds to "DO" the next mountain !
I believe (all be it through second hand info) that Langdale, and Seathwaite have similar problems to us all summer long due to 3 peakers!
ah well I promise to try and remain unbias and report only what I see in Wasdale. Be it good or bad!
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