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4 Peaks 4 New Beginnings

New Beginnings Charitable Foundation, based in Kilkeel, brings hope to Ugandan children. In a population of 30 million, most of Uganda's (known) 2.3 million orphans have little or no hope of freedom from disease, adequate shelter and prospects for the future. In June, a team from Kilkeel, Dromore and County Kerry embarked on 'The Four Peaks Challenge' to support New Beginnings continuous fundraising efforts. Skippered by Robin Annett, team members Warren Redmond, Tom Knox, Derrie O'Sullivan, Jonny Marcus, Andrew Annett, John McKee and Keith Bingham climbed the four highest mountains in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Rodney and Ewa McBride took on the equally, if not greater, logistical challenge of programming, driving, and fuelling the team's exploits. The challenge was to climb Ben Nevis (1343m), Scaféll Pike (965m), Mount Snowdon (1085m) and Slieve Donard (850m) during a weekend. The 'Three Peaks Challenge' is a popular event which excludes Slieve Donard but the team thought they'd go one better. Perhaps next time the team will attempt five peaks in five countries including the Republic of Ireland's highest peak, Mount Carrantuohil in Killarney (1039m). After making the journey to the Scottish Highlands, a brief overnight respite and a hearty breakfast of porridge with dates, the eight-man team set out at 6am to climb every inch of the huge bulk of Ben Nevis. It was a misty morning with a few bouts of showers but the team headed up the Pony Track, zig-zagging their way up to the peak. Snow on the top made for some great photos and it was a novelty to be at the highest elevation on European land for hundreds of miles. The New Beginnings flag was unfurled in the mist - one down, three to go. The team had also unwittingly become the newest members of the 'Munro-bagging' club! The summit survival shelter built on top of a ruined observatory (1883) provided ample respite for a cup of tea from the biting zero degree temperatures. [Editor note: A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 feet (914 m). Munros are named after Sir Hugh Munro (1856–1919), who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munro's Tables, in 1891. There are 88 Metric Munros which are Scottish mountains over 1000m with a topographic prominence of over 200 m (656 ft). The best known Munro is Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles. The practice of 'Munro-bagging' is to climb each of the Munros. Extracted from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munro] After five hours walking, the team arrived back down at base at 11am and prepared for the long journey south to the Lake District and Scaféll Pike. Bacon baps certainly helped line stomachs for the journey. Leaving Fort William, past Glencoe, Loch Lomond, and onwards to Glasgow and the Scottish Borders, the journey made for beautiful viewing even if mildly unpleasant on the vernacular! A couple of stops were required for refreshments and much needed leg-stretching. It was a quiet journey south, if occasionally interrupted by the less-than-tranquil music collection on board. Quite a few hours later, the team entered the Lake District, passing Whitehaven and Sellafield nuclear power plant on the way. Had the sat-nav had its way, the team may have ended up at Whitehead or Ballylumford! The roads became narrower and the villages more remote as Scafell Pike (965m) beckoned. After a brief camping respite during darkness, the climb began in earnest from Wasdale Head at first light 5:15am. The team made short work of the climb arriving at a calm and sunny Scaféll Pike peak by 7am. After the obligatory photo with the New Beginnings flag and a very pleasant descent, an 8.45am breakfast of eggs, bacon and sausage baps soon replenished depleted reserves. After a quick round up of gear, it was all hands onto the bus again and on the road south west to Wales. The journey skirted Manchester, Liverpool, Chester and then went deep into North Wales. All didn't go to plan with road diversions and forced stoppages causing scheduling difficulties. A delay in Kendal town allowed the team to sample Kendal mintcake - famed for providing Sir Edmund Hillary with sustenance when he conquered Mount Everest. Mount Snowdon was also used in training for the 1953 ascent of Mount Everest so it was an apt, if unplanned, addition to the adventure. So - mintcake on board - onwards into Snowdonia National Park. Rolling countryside soon became mountainous with some picturesque villages. Snowdon is perhaps the busiest mountain in the British Isles with some 500,000 people climbing each year. It has a variety of routes up and down, including a railway line from Llanberis (5 miles). Needless to say, a train journey wasn't in the itinerary for the team as they opted for the Pyg track route to the summit. Setting out at 6pm, the weather was slightly more intolerant than the previous treks and the route required some scree-scrambling, but all was well with the peak reached in under two hours. Wet and windy at the summit, the team didn't stay long, except to have a quick photograph and get moving again! On the descent, the weather cleared and some fine weather was enjoyed by all - it was a beautiful evening to be walking in Snowdonia. Set against a magnificent backdrop of the mountains, Electric Mountain was visible - with its hydroelectric station disguised inside a disused quarry. The team's leg power may have been depleting but spirits were recharged in the knowledge of three down and one to go. On arrival in Llanberis, the team tucked into extremely welcome cheeseburgers at 10pm. Some much needed refreshment was also found in a local hotel before departing at midnight for the 3am Holyhead to Dublin ferry journey. Some sleep was found on board the ferry before arrival in Dublin at 6am. Most also slept on the journey from Dublin to Newcastle, except for a stop in Kilkeel for breakfast and a photo outside New Beginnings HQ. The team arrived at a sunny Bloody Bridge car park to commence the familiar climb up Slieve Donard at 8.45am. The final customary unfurling of the New Beginnings flag took place and the descent was completed by 11:30am. Four out of four conquered and challenge completed. While each mountain was spectacular in its own way, the Mournemen of the group remarked that Slieve Donard was the only mountain which truly "swept down to the sea" - who could disagree with the beauty on our own doorstep! Some snacks and coffee awaited the team in Newcastle before the final bus pickup journey home. The team gathered thoughts on climbing four peaks with a cumulative elevation of nearly 14,000 feet and journeying 1000 miles overland. A video of the team's challenge '4 Peaks 4 New Beginnings' may be viewed on YouTube - https://youtu.be/VcWhDA4Layo Walking was the easy bit. Credit to Robin and those in the background who worked to make it all possible. Sponsorship has been very generous and it is hoped that a total of over £3,000 will be realised to help Ugandan children. New Beginnings thanks all who contributed and supported in any way. Anyone who would still like to pledge can do so via New Beginnings - www.newbeginningscharity.org or via their Facebook page. Keith Bingham