Lakeland 4 x 3,000's Fundraiser for the "Brick Kilns Schools"

AN ACOUNT OF THE LAKELAND FOUR THREE THOUSAND EVENT FRIDAY 5TH JUNE 2009 UNDERTAKEN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE BRICK KILN SCHOOL PROJECT OF THE ABASEEN FOUNDATION

PARTICIPANTS Jayne and Mitch Richardson, Dave and Sarah Lobhan, Helen Bingley, Julie Collins, Patrick, Sue Wakeman, Roz Smithson, Joanne Inman, Arshad Javed

SUPPORT TEAM Steve Smithson and Ditch Richardson

START TIME Midnight

TARGET FINISH TIME Within 24 hours

DISTANCE 46 miles

ASCENT 2,000 feet

ROUTE From Keswick up Skiddaw to Borrowdale up Scafell and Scafell Pike to Esk Hause to Angle Tarn to High Raise to Steel end up Helvelyn to Keswick

AN ACCOUNT OF THE EVENT

Following training and planning for approximately  three months everyone arrived at Moot Hall in Keswick early and we were off at 11.45pm – 15 minutes ahead of time.

SKIDDAW

We could not believe our luck; we ascended Skiddaw with a full moon that reflected spectacularly in Derwentwater Lake. The going was good, everyone was going well and we were well ahead of time. As we approached the summit the weather conditions deteriorated dramatically to thick mist, snow, blizzard and freezing conditions. The team pulled together, stayed calm and we navigated down from the summit without incident. The descent was uneventful and we reached Steve in the car park with 11 bikes at the ready to cycle 9 miles to Seathwaite.

SKIDDAW TO BORROWDALE

We set off from the car park one hour ahead of schedule down the steep road descent to Keswick and the rain started. All seemed well until suddenly loud shrieks and screams were heard by all and it became apparent that Roz was hurtling down the road at high speed unable to control her bike. At 3 am disaster struck for Roz, she realised that a crash and physical damage was inevitable and she attempted to minimise the damage by avoiding hitting a gate and trees and crashing into the grass verge. Crash she did!!!!!!!!! However due to her amazing initiative she landed in the road and did not impact with the gate and trees at high speed - a very brave lady (some of the team estimated her impact speed at about 40 miles per hour!!). The team ran to her assistance and fortunately we had 2 qualified doctors, a physiotherapist, 2 qualified nurses and an occupational therapist in the team. We will spare the gory description of the injuries, suffice it to say that Roz was taken to hospital by our support team and she has sustained a broken right ulna (lower arm), lost several teeth and has much swelling and bruising. Her helmet saved her head and no head injuries were incurred and due to the cold and wet weather the protective clothing (ruined) prevented injuries to her body. The bike and helmet were also ruined due to the impact.

The team were much shaken but Roz insisted that we carried on and so carry on we did. Within 5 minutes the team found glass in the road when several members cycled over it resulting in one puncture. No problem we thought as we had everything in the support vehicle and Steve is trained in bike maintenance – but of course Steve and the support vehicle had gone to transport Roz to hospital. By chance some of the team had spare puncture repair kits and bike spanners on them and so, in the pouring rain, the puncture was repaired. This gave the team a bit of down time for reflection on what had happened to Roz. We were all very quiet and subdued.

Puncture repaired and onwards for Raspberry Porridge and bacon and sausage at Seathwaite.

The support vehicle was now back in position and the back of the Luton van provided wonderful changing facilities for all the team as well as hot tea and porridge.

SCAFELL AND SCAFELL PIKE

20 minutes and we are off again, we have lost the hour that we originally gained and were now on our original time schedule. As we progressed up the ascent of Scafell and Scafell Pike it became clear that the weather was deteriorating. We reached Sty Head tarn and the Corridor Route and despite being absolutely wet through and the wind blowing cold and hard everyone was going extremely well and we were now receiving text messages from the hospital about Roz’s condition which confirmed that despite horrible injuries she was going to be OK which had a warming effect on all of us.

In front of us we could see Scafell and Scafell Pike covered in fresh snow, snow was falling, the temperature was below freezing and we had to make a decision. A helicopter flew overhead – a reminder of what can happen if you make a wrong decision in these conditions. The team took a few minutes to come to the conclusion that it would be too dangerous to attempt these 2 summits. There was much talk of sponsors and the funds required for the Brick Kiln schools project.

We decided to ascend each of the remaining peaks to the safest height possible and then find an alternative route instead of the summits to move on to the next peak. We were now at the point where we could ascend no further safely towards Scafell and so we moved off from the Corridor Route to Esk Hause where there was a shelter to take a rest.

ESK HAUSE TO HIGH RAISE

We trekked across to High Raise in wind, rain and sleet, drenched through to the bone but in good cheer and going well. When we reached High Raise we could not hang about as the conditions had worsened still further. The rain was relentless. We then got sight of Helvellyn which was covered in a serious snow storm – this was June but everyone agreed it felt like mountaineering in December – and we came without crampons and ice axes!!!!!!!!!!!!

HIGH RAISE TO STEEL END

As we descended to Steel End, where our support team were eagerly waiting for sight of us, we could see Helvellyn again; in front of us and the storm growing angrier by the second. We now had to come to terms with the fact that despite all the training, preparation, being very fit and making good progress it was probably not safe to attempt to ascend Helvellyn today!!!!!!!!!!

STEEL END

The sight of friends and family eagerly awaiting our arrival was very moving and more news of Roz, who had gone home by now, was wonderful. This was followed by huge helpings of pasta soup, hot tea by the gallon, samosas, pakoras and the most delicious chocolate malt bread.

Once fuelled up with food and adorned with dry clothes we had to make the decision about Helvellyn. The decision was really very easy to make in the circumstances and so after 30 miles and 7,000 feet of ascent we all decided to retire for this year.

Those of us present who have completed this challenge before concluded two things:

1. Had the conditions been in our favour everyone in the party would have completed the challenge in a good time.
2. The challenge we actually undertook today was much harder than completing the whole thing in good conditions.

TO OUR SPONSORS

We did our best and for the benefit of the Brick Kiln children we hope you will be generous and consider still honouring your pledge.

We managed to avoid what happened in Snowdonia on the same day – see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8087297.stm

Many thanks for your support.