Stob Bàn; not Ben Nevis. Photo: Boon Low CC BY-ND 2.0
A group of hapless Three Peaks Challengers climbed the wrong mountain and got lost on another.
The six, from Cricklade in Wiltshire, set out to walk up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in memory of their friend Wayne Wilson, who died from leukaemia.
But the challenge got off to a bad start when, instead of heading up Britain’s highest mountain, they took a wrong turn and ended up summiting Stob Bàn, the 999m (3,278ft) munro 6km (3¾ miles) away in the Mamores.
Ben Nevis, the mountain Team Wayne should have walked up
Undeterred, the six boarded their minibus and headed south to Wasdale Head to tackle Scafell Pike.
Sadly, all but two of the team had to turn back due to various injuries, leaving the pair to attempt the summit in darkness. By midnight, the walkers had still not returned. One had left his mobile phone in the minibus and the other had no signal, so their worried colleagues rang 999.
The mountain rescue team explained that, with their equipment and in the benign weather, they would be safe spending the night on the mountain. A second call to mountain rescue confirmed their assessment, but at first light two of their injured companions set off up Scafell Pike to try to find them.
The would-be rescuers were told by a walker that he had seen the pair, Mike Murray and Carl Wright, heading in the wrong direction and they did eventually turn up – on the wrong side of the mountain, in Eskdale.
After that, the attempt on Snowdon was abandoned, and the team headed for home.
Despite their mishaps, they still managed to raise almost £10,000 for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
Team member Damien Davis said after the event: “It’s safe to say that we got lucky. We’ve had some advice from a former member of the Royal Air Force mountain rescue service who has advised us to ensure we are properly prepared before we try anything like this again.
“Rest assured, we will make sure we have learned the necessary skills, gain the right knowledge, and get a competent experienced team member along with us – not to mention making sure every single member of the team has a compass and map.
“No-one came to harm and we can all enjoy a chuckle at our mishaps – but we need to remember that people do sustain serious injuries and sometimes worse on our mountains.
“If anyone else is thinking of attempting the Three Peaks Challenge, please, please make sure you are properly prepared.”
Mountainlass
10 May 2011In my opinion, all 3 Peak teams should donate part of their sponsorship to the local Mountain Rescue Teams - call it an insurance! I spend the majority of my summer weekends on my own while my husbamnd in Wasdale MRT is out looking for lost 3 peakers - the majority of these incidents are aviodable with proper hill knowledge and equipment, but the teams all too frequently underestimate the challenges of these mountains.
Alternatively, 3 Peakers should employ the services of local trained guides.
Steve
10 May 2011You would think that with all that money they raised and the time and effort gone into raising it they would have organised the trip better. How anyone could mistake Stob Ban for Ben Nevis I don't know. Did these people even have a map?
Glad to see the rescue team left them to get themselves off the mountain. I read too often about people getting lost without adequate equipment, then ringing to be rescued at the drop of a hat. People should be able to get themselves out of difficulty, its hard to get truly lost in this country with roads and people everywhere!
Swaleyp
11 May 2011Hi,
I agree with Mountainlass with regards to the donation.
Having read the news of on this incident, I have my views on this having successfully completed the challenge twice, once alone with support and leading a team with support.
I cannot state enough how much prep you need. Maps are increadily important no matter whether you personally know the mountains in question well. I carried a full map of Snowdon, even though I have climbed it 20+ times previously. I am not an expert & I wont teach anyone how to suck eggs on this occasion, but dont under-estmiate this challenge. Never take anything for granted. The route on Scaffel can be dis-orientating if you hit an energy wall. Hoever, team-work is incredibly vital.
The MRT have better things to do, but thankfully no one got seriously hurt and hopefully a lesson is learnt.
Best wishes
Chris Gaskell
12 May 2011Climbed the wrong Munro and couldn't follow their own path back from the summit of ScaFell Pike. Heading into the hills is a responsibility people should take seriously and *not* even give thought that there are rescue teams - these should be a last resort. Good on Wasdale MRT not to go running after them at the first call.
Agree massively with the comment above stating using a local guide would be a good idea.
ciclistaloco
17 May 2011Speaking as an experienced hill walker, I have to wonder how these people can navigate their way to sit the right way round on a lavatory.