The Lakeland 3000's Sunset Challenge with Professional Mountain Leaders

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Is this challenge the next big thing? We think so! Imagine something as hard as the National 3 Peaks, but requires far less driving and has a much much smaller environmental impact - say hello to the L3K Sunset Challenge!

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This challenge has been adapted from the traditional Lakeland 3000's in 24 Hours Round. We thought there was a place for something which ticked all the same boxes, eliminated some of the more tedious elements of the full 24 hour challenge and visited some of the best possible routes up the peaks.  Select this challenge if you feel you could complete back to back traverses of Skiddaw, Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and Scafell all before the sun sets! This challenge is best suited to those who have completed the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, the Lakeland 24 Peaks or the National 3 Peaks Challenge. This challenge can also be completed over the course of 2-3 days should you not want to have such an intense challenge. This challenge also makes a perfect alternative to busier challenges such as the National 3 Peaks Challenge as the statistics in terms of what is walked is pretty similar - and you don't have to spend over 10 hours driving either! Join Lakeland Mountain Guides on this original challenge!

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Terrain: Rough & Rocky   Duration: Approx. 16 hour Walking Day

Route Stats: Miles - 24  Ascent - 2800m.      Start Location: Cockermouth

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We meet at approximately 4:30am in Cockermouth just as dawn is breaking. We will drive eastwards for a short while to the bottom of the Ullock Pike Ridge on Skiddaw to start our challenge. There isn't much of a warm up as the ascent starts immediately but it's all worth it once established on the excellent ridge line overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake. The summit of Skiddaw is reached after tackling the final scree slope and with it our first summit and smallest summit of the four 3000's. We will make our descent to Keswick via Jenkin Hill where we will be met by the support vehicle for some breakfast.

After our break you will be transported to Glenridding where you will start your ascent of Helvellyn. Not only will you get to climb Helvellyn, but you will do it the best way possible - via Striding Edge! After the scramble along Striding Edge you'll arrive on the summit of Helvellyn - the third highest mountain in England. The descent off of Helvellyn will be down to the Thirlmere side of the mountain where we will again be met by the support vehicle, fed and watered. Our final in challenge drive takes us down the Borrowdale valley to Seathwaite Farm. Our next target is Scafell Pike, which will be approached via the Corridor Route. With the highest mountain in England now under our belts we make our way to Scafell with the aim of reaching the summit cairn by sunset. A variety of routes can be taken to reach the summit of our final peak, but one thing is for sure, by this point your legs will be tired! Upon reaching the summit we will celebrate the completion of the challenge and descend steadily down to Wasdale where we will be met one final time by the support vehicle. At the end of the challenge you will be transported back to Cockermouth (which we will hope to be back to for between 0030 - 0100). 

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This is no light challenge as it is essentially 3 day walks in one go. It is best suited to those with good walking experience and high level of fitness. The beauty however, is that after each of the sections you can retire from the challenge easily. With such a challenge there is always the possibility of people having to retire due to fatigue or injury but we will ensure you get off the hill safely and back to your vehicle as readily as possible.