The Coldstream Challenge is a one off endurance event
organised by a group of friends with the objective of
raising money for both the Help for Heroes charity in
the UK and the Wound Warrior Project in the US. It
starts in Coldstream in the Scottish borders on the 18
June 2010 and over the next six days the seven
“athletes” cycle over 300 miles and walk nearly two
marathons over 18 mountains in the Lake District and
North Wales.
"...
over the next six days the seven “athletes” cycle
over 300 miles and walk nearly two marathons
over 18 mountains in the Lake District and North Wales
..."
The
team ....
We are a group of seven friends from London that are
perhaps slightly naive to think we can complete this
bespoke endurance event. When explaining the event to
people more athletic they look us up and down and with a
wry smile say “That’s going to be tough!”. We’re going
to try and prove them wrong and in doing so, with your
help, raise cash for Help For Heroes and the Wounded
Warrior Project. More detail on the team can be found
here.
"...
When explaining the event to people more athletic
they look us up and down and with a wry smile say
That’s going to be tough! ..."
The
Help For Heroes charity ....
Help for Heroes is a UK based charity and was founded in
2007 to help the wounded Servicemen and women returning
from Afghanistan and Iraq. The message of the charity is
simple: “We are strictly non
political and non critical; we simply want to help. We
believe that anyone who volunteers to serve in time of
war, knowing that they may risk all, is a hero. These
are ordinary people doing extraordinary things and some
of them are living with the consequences of their
service for life. We may not be able to prevent our
soldiers from being wounded, but together we can help
them get better.”
So please dig deep and sponsor us!
"...
we believe that anyone who volunteers to serve in time
of war, knowing that they may risk all, is a hero ..."
The
Wounded Warrior Project ....
The Wounded Warrior project is a US based charity set up
to provide aid to severely injured servicemen and women
of the US services. The mission of the Wounded Warrior
Project is to honour and empower wounded warriors and it
does this by raising awareness, helping servicemen and
women to assist each other and providing programs to
directly assist the severely injured. More information
can be found at the charity website
www.woundedwarriorproject.org
"...
the reason we’re pushing ourselves so hard?
So we don’t feel guilty asking you to donate to our
charities. ..."
The Coldstream Challenge is an endurance event over six
days where we experience the following:
* Cycle over 300 miles across southern Scotland, via the
Lake District in northern England to the peaks of
Snowdonia in north Wales
* Climb 18 peaks over 3000 feet in two days covering
over 40 miles on foot
Day one is a gentle start as we have to travel up from
London to Coldstream in the Scottish borders. That
afternoon we ease ourselves into the challenge with a
cycle for 30 or so miles west along the border with
England, stopping at Hawick for an overnight stay. The
second day sees the challenge step up a level as we
cycle over 85 miles to Ambleside (the Lake District)
where we stay in the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Day three
is out of the saddle and climbing Scafell Pike, Great
End and Bow Fell. Days four and five see us cycle the
170 miles from Ambleside to the foot of Snowdon in North
Wales.
And this is where the real action starts. In the evening
of day five, tired and hopefully injury free, we leave
the bikes, get the rucksacks and tents on our backs and
climb to the top of Snowdon where we set up camp for the
night. After a sleepless night on the roof of Wales we
wake at 05:00 on day six to start the Welsh 3000, a
challenge in itself where we climb the 15 peaks over
3000 feet in Wales. Thankfully they’re not too far apart
and the total distance is just shy of a full marathon.
This will be a significant achievement after five days
of extreme exercise.
The reason we’re pushing ourselves so hard? So we don’t
feel guilty asking you to donate to our charities.
Please donate now by following
this link.
Daily break-down of the route:
Day 1 –
Cycle Coldstream to Hawick
Friday 18th June 2010
* Travel from London to Coldstream
* Cycle 30 or so miles west towards Ambleside, stopping
at Hawick
Day 2
– Cycle from Hawick
to Ambleside
Saturday 19th June 2010
Route
* Hawick, Scotland via Carlisle to Ambleside, England
* Distance 90 miles
* Estimated time 7 hrs
Day 3 –
Scafell Pike, Great End and Bowfell from Langdale
Sunday 20th June 2010
Outline of route
* New Dungeon Ghyll – Rossett Gill – Esk Hause – Scafell
Pike – Great End – Esk Pike – Bowfell – Three tarns –
New Dungeon Ghyll
* Total distance 11.2 miles
* Total Ascent 4600 feet
* Estimated time 5 to 6 hours
Day 4 & 5
– Cycle from
Ambleside to Snowdon (AND ascend Snowdon)
Monday 21st June to Tuesday 22nd June 2010
Route
* Ambleside, England via Liverpool to Pen-y-Pass, Wales
* Distance 274km (over two days)
* Estimated time 12 hrs 40 mins (over two days)
In evening of Day Five arrive in Pen-y-Pass car park and
with overnight kit climb Snowdon via Pyg Track
* Camp on summit in preparation for Welsh 3000 (see
welsh3000s.co.uk)
* Distance of approx 24 miles plus descent from Carnedd
range
* You need to be fit to walk in 24 hours although a very
fit walker can do in times below 12 hours. The record
stands at 4 hours 20 minutes for a fell runner….
Only dangerous section is Crib Goch with steep drop offs
either side
Day 6
– Welsh 3000
Wednesday 23rd June 2010
Snowdon Section
* Walk begins on summit of Snowdon
* Walk ridge to Garnedd Ugain and Crib Goch (dangerous
summit)
* Descend to Nant Peris where support vehicle is waiting
with food etc. Drop off camping gear and join up with
those doing Option 1.
Gylders Section
* Climb Elidir Fawr – Y Garn – Gylder fawr – Glyder Fach
– Tryfan
* Descend to road and meet support vehicle at Glan Dena
car park
Carnedd Section
* Climb Pen yr Ole Wen – Carnedd Dafydd – Yr Elen –
Carnedd Llewlyn – Foel Grach – Garnedd Uchaf – Foel-fras
* Descend to Abergwyngregyn
Summary
of the route:
