Three Peak Challenge charity hikers are driving local Lakelanders
to distraction says today's Guardian.
Unfortunately for the residents of Seathwaite at the base of Scafell
Pike, the normal timings for the Ben Nevis / Scafell Pike / Snowdon
epic mean that minibuses and coaches roll up in the early hours of
the morning before waking residents with engine noise and reverse
beepers and disgorging hordes of chattering walkers. Already there
have been incidents of 'peak rage' with locals hurling abuse at
walkers. The latest incident involved around 100 walkers from a
Birmingham
primary school fund raising group.
Protests have led to the Park authorities reissuing a code of
practice agreed with charities last year which lays down a number of
conditions, including a stipulation that walks begin between 5am and
10pm. Unfortunately, although some groups have dropped the Three
Peaks altogether, many of the smaller charities seem unaware of the
code.
No-one can reasonably object to charities raising money, but the
whole Three Peaks circus has attracted huge amounts of flak as a
cause of erosion and the mere mention of the name on UK walking news
groups and forums is the spur for, er, energetic objections. To many,
the idea comes close to prostituting mountains.
Incidentally, the other Three Peaks - Ingleborough, Whernside and
Pen y Gent - in the Dales has been blighted by serious erosion
problems with the result that many conscientious walkers choose not
to hike the route at all.
What exactly is this infernal Three Peaks Challenge: The
aim is to climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales
within 24 hours including the driving. The total ascent in metres is
approximately 3,020 metres, the total distance walked is around
38.5km.
