{"id":1252,"date":"2003-07-05T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2003-07-05T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tonsleyevents.co.uk\/wp\/?p=1252"},"modified":"2026-08-04T00:11:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T23:11:53","slug":"c3po-2003","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tonsleyevents.co.uk\/wp\/past\/2003\/c3po-2003\/","title":{"rendered":"C3PO 2003"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

“Challenging Three Peaks Ordeal”<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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The ultimate in gauntlets was laid down during a rather testosterone fuelled conversation between the A shareholders 8 months previously. “Come on let’s see if we can do the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours – bet you can’t”… The Tonsley “Challenging Three Peaks Ordeal” (C3PO) was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Momentum, support and interest then gathered pace over the next few months and by July the scale of the planning had overtaken Operation Desert Storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tonsley Challengers were as follows: Chingu, Georgie B, Henri, Niki, Woolfy, Floody, Rob, Pete, Mark, and the support crew made up of Robert (senior) and Joe (withdrawn Challenger due to injury) who would drive, cook, clean and be emergency support to the Challengers over the 24 hours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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><\/strong> 38.5<\/strong> kilometres (24<\/strong> miles) horizontal walking
><\/strong> 3,407<\/strong> metres (11,178 <\/strong>feet) vertical climb
><\/strong> 700<\/strong> kilometres (435 <\/strong>miles) driving<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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16:00 – Ben Nevis<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

We had decided to do the official thing and touch sea level at either end. This would mean we did it properly and would set a somewhat sterner test for the Challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the 26th July the weather was stunning and following a briefing, bang on 1600hrs the team touched the water and set off in the minibus to the foot of the highest peak. At the youth hostel the team set off up the side of the mountain with great spring in the step. Base camp followed progress with binoculars all the way up the mountain and kept in contact using the two-way radio system. With a short cut or two and a bit of scrambling the team made it up and down in good time. With hot food prepared and dry clothes at the ready the team boarded the bus for the drive through the night from the highlands of Scotland to the Lake District of England.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1600<\/strong> – Water touch start, sea level – Fort William
1607<\/strong> – Depart foot of Ben Nevis
1852<\/strong> – Arrival Ben Nevis summit
2111<\/strong> – Arrival foot of Ben Nevis<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n