Challenge Catch Up .... Three Peaks Challenge

God this seems forever ago!
Ok ... at the start of August, I set out with six challengers - Dave, Dan, David, Chris, Dummy and Andy - in an attempt to do the Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours.

23 hours and 59 minutes later, we completed it!

It is a really good challenge, and definitely one I would recommend trying if you enjoy trekking. It was such a nice experience to do as a group, and we made a real weekend of it.

We completed it about 3 or 4 weeks after the summer solstice, when you can actually do all the walking in daylight (we walked for 2 hours up Scafell Pike in the dark), but I would say it's still easy enough, and if you do have to do some walking in the dark, make it Ben Nevis is the path down is really clearly laid out.

We got extremely lost on Scafell Pike, and ended up having to hike up a really scary scree run, something I would definitely not advise! And we weren't the only team to get lost on that hill that morning!

My advice - make a weekend of it, go up to Fort William on the Friday, start around 5 or even later on the Saturday night, then do Ben Nevis, bomb it down to Scafell Pike, get the beast over and done with, and then negotiate the tourists on Snowdon!

Whatever you do, don't forget to fill the car with petrol like the boys did!!! Ooh and get yourself at least one driver - Laura was invaluable :)


Charly xxx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkerWMISdG4&feature=channel_page

Watery Challenges!

As promised I am attempting to write this blog a bit more frequently.

So ... I am on Day One of Challenge 10 - Learning to Sail. I'm still aching from Challenge 9 - Learning to Wakeboard, and I didn't even technically wakeboard! I spent two hours being dragged around on a knee board. I'm definitely looking forward to getting up on my feet though, and getting behind a boat!

But for now I'm on a boat. I'm down in Southampton doing my Royal Yachting Association 'Competent Crew' qualification, well technically I'm now in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, after my first day of sailing. The weather has been pretty bleak - grey and rainy, but no wind! Hardly ideal for sailing, but have learnt heaps already - SO much to remember!

So far I think my most successful part has been navigation, which is a relief, as I'm doing my Mountain Leadership training next week and I have a feeling map reading and compass bearings are going to feature highly during that.

By the looks of things June is going to be a really exciting month. In addition to the two courses I've already mentioned, I'm also doing a Bushcraft course, and I have lots of random day challenges planned. Hopefully should be squeezing in indoor sky diving, zorbing and ice-climbing either this month or next month. I've also signed up for the Leukemia Research and 'Banana Man Chase', Pirate Rampage in Dorset.

The most exciting thing has been a spontaneous last minute challenge which I'm really excited about - a friend from school who I literally haven't seen for at least 6 years messaged me on Facebook to ask if I'd like to join her on the Brighton to London cycle ride! So I now have just 2 weeks until I'm cycling in the 54 mile race :) Brilliant! That is JUST what Challenge Charly is all about - you guys challenging me, and ideally joining me on the challenges.

At the moment I am especially looking for challengers to join me doing the Three Peaks Challenge - Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, all within 24 hours. I'll be doing the walk the first weekend of August - if you fancy joining me, either message me on the blog, or on YouTube, or via the Facebook group.


And if a random challenge has just sprung to mind, then let me know! I get inspiration for challenges everywhere! ... literally 2 days ago I caught a clip of Jordan and Peter Andre doing the Rally Master challenge at Brands Hatch and it looks brilliant! Just trying to work out when I can fit it in :)

Charly xxx

Still to come ...

Just to give you a taster of some of the challenge ideas for the next 6 months ....

- Three Peaks
- Mount Brandon (in Ireland ... Brandon is NOT a person!!)
- Ice Climbing
- Flying Lesson
- Coasteering
- Indoor Sky Diving
- Zorbing
- Wakeboarding
- Windsurfing
- Aerobathon
- Pirate Rampage!
- Bushcraft Week
- Learn to Sail
- Mountain Leadership Course

Any other ideas?! Then get in touch! And come join me on the challenges!!