Three Peaks Challenge 18-19 June 2008

Red Watch at Edinburgh Airport Fire Service are pleased to announce that their team of firefighters have successfully completed the 3 Peaks Challenge, climbing the 3 highest mountains in the UK within 24 hours, whilst wearing full firefighting clothing and breathing apparatus.

Our total time was 23 hours and 29 minutes.

The weather on the trip was quite variable, with the guys having to contend with rain on Ben Nevis, with snow on the summit, Scaffel Pike was overcast and sitting at around -3c with wind chill. Mount Snowdon was very hot and sunny on the way up, but nearer the summit it got misty and we experienced 40mph gusts of wind on the top.

A big congratulations to Les Mason, Pablo Evans, Mike Bianco and John Meadley who completed the walking, and Ian MacLellan who did the driving.

A big shout out also goes out to Jeff 'The Duke' Gilmour who was........there.

There were many a laughs along the way, including Les getting cramp on the summit of Ben Nevis, and falling through a cattle grid in Llanberis. Its safe to say that his days of beating Mike and Pablo in 10k's and half marathons are over, he is embracing middle age at 27.

Pablo took a huff when Jeff managed to break one of his walking poles, so much so in fact that we were on the verge of calling a mountain rescue team to save all the other walkers who had become trapped under the massive dummy that he spat out!

John 'Norris Cole' Meadley done a splendid job of carrying all the spare equipment for the team, but his Mother Goose natterings about us putting on hats and gloves almost earned him a one way ticket off a cliff.

Its ok mum, your boys can look after themselves!

And no trip away with Ian would be complete without a visit to a 'suspect' 70's nightclub where he could feel 22 again. Although his inability to hold his drink/bladder, and ability to walk into a kebab shop and forget to pay, must be an indicator of impending old age.

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who assisted in us our event, especially BAA Edinburgh Airport, Morrisons Supermarkets, Tesco, ASDA, Radio Forth, and all individuals who pledged sponsorship either through this website or on paper based sponsor forms.

You can check out some of the pictures from the day on our Three Peaks Gallery page.