Down and Dromore 4-Peaks Challenge completed
Last Sunday evening a group of 24 hikers were greeted by friends and family as they returned from the summit of Slieve Donard. This, however, was no ordinary hike as the group had just safely completed the gruelling 4-Peaks Challenge.
The group climbed the 4 highest peaks of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland in one weekend. They started with Ben Nevis on Friday, Scafell Pike and Snowdon on Saturday (yes, two in one day!) before travelling back to Newcastle to climb Slieve Donard on Sunday afternoon.
The challenge involved a lot of miles walked, metres climbed, hours on buses, sore limbs and precious little sleep. However, not only were the group able to summit each mountain safely but also raise thousands of pounds for church projects.
To give you an idea of the achievement, not to mention the determination involved, here are a few stats from the weekend:
4 peaks climbed totalling 4,261m or almost half the height of Everest!
18-22 hours climbing and 46km of walking.
18 hours and 1,437 miles in the mini buses.
Only 16-17 hours sleep over 3 nights.
90,000 steps on average per person or just over 2 million for the team.
If that whets your appetite, contact Andrew who may consider doing it all over again next year (if his legs ever recover)!
The intrepid climbers came from 9 parishes. Congratulations to (in no order of hiking speed): Lynn Wilson, Helene Steed, Frank Dillon, Michael Dillon, Benjamin Irish, Liz Given, Lucy Burden, Rachel Irish-Colligan, Wendy Gardiner, Christine Connolly, Iain Uprichard, Andy Williamson, Peter Smith, Stephanie Duke, Jill Hamilton, Alison Annett, Eben Grobbelaar, Jana Walsh, Scott North and Simon Newell.
With special thanks to our drivers (who also climbed): Stuart Paulin, Andrew Frame, Tim Burns and Andrew Brannigan.
Pictured above and below: The summit of Donard and the foot of Ben Nevis, the first peak. More photos on the Down & Dromore Facebook page.
