The calm before the storm

After a fairly uneventful drive the Peakisness team arrived in Fort William and settled into their hotel. Unfortunately, the further north they drove, the worse the weather became and while we are enjoying bright sunshine, they already have wind and light rain to contend with.

Views from the hotel in Fort William

After a team photo shoot, registration took place at 12:30 today where they were tagged (to ensure no cheating) and they were given their start time.

For Safety reasons, all teams have a staggered start time, and at 15:57 today, the challenge officially starts for the Peakishness team, with the first climb being the northernmost and highest peak, Ben Nevis. Thereafter, they will drive to the 235 miles (approximately) to Swirls Cricket club which is at the base of Helvellyn in the Peak District.

Ben Nevis  is Britain's highest mountain at 4406 ft (1344m) and the walk to the summit is a little over 5 miles. Mist covers the mountain most of the time so if you think the Peakishness team are off for a 10 mile summer stroll, Think Again! Snow covers the mountain for 8 months of the year, often into June and July, with average temperatures of -1 degrees C. In previous years, the average climb time for Ben Nevis was over 4 1/2 hours and the team are hoping to be off the mountain before the weather worsens.

Once the climbers set off, John, the driver will set up camp in preparation for the team to return. They will be expecting a dry change of cloths and a cuppa when they come off the mountain. He will also have the car refuelled, and hopefully manage to catch 40 winks ahead of his 5 1/2 hour scenic (in the dark) drive.

Ahead of the 15:57 start, the waiting is always the worst and while some members are quite laid back, others are fidgeting with nervous tension.

Good luck to you all! We are behind you.