VantagePoint takes on the National Three Peaks Challenge

There are many events such as this, the USA has the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge , Australia the Peaks Challenge Falls Creek and in the UK, it is called the Three Peaks . For those a little more hardcore it is the Three Peaks in 24 hours. And so it was for a team from VantagePoint when the desired to take on the challenge and raise money for the mental health charity Mind.?

Three Peaks takes on the three highest peaks of Scotland, Wales and England. For Team VantagePoint the planning began long before and very soon a total of 22 volunteered to take on the challenge, such is the commitment of VantagePoint staff. The entire event was to raise money for the mental health charity, Mind .

Every year, one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem. But hundreds of thousands of people are still struggling. For over 70 years Mind has been providing?advice and support?to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign?to improve services, raise awareness, and promote understanding. We wanted to support this charity and what better to challenge ourselves physically.

?06:24

The event proper began at the foot of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest peak at well over 1,000 metres. From base to peak and back again totalled 9 miles and, to stick to our target of 24 hours it had to be completed at a fast pace. The team split into two, one dedicated not just to achieve the target but to force the pace and set personal records for the ascent and descent.??

10:34

The first team finished the climb at 4 hours 10 minutes. For the second team to scale the peak and return would impact our departure time and have repercussions across the entire operation. Team before Individual. The team took the decision to return early and not achieve the peak. It’s perhaps a reflection of the people at VantagePoint that they work together as a team to focus on the overall objective. Thought it would have been a great achievement for all to claim the scalp of Ben Nevis, personal achievement gives way to team achievement and a focus on the overall objective remains key.?

Distance walked 14.62 km

Height achieved 1,221 m

Fastest time 4 hours 10 minutes

Calories burned 1,881

Team VantagePoint was made up from across the company, senior managers, new joiners, consultants, sales, and administrative staff. True to an effective team it was left for those with the best knowledge and experience to make key decisions and consult with their fellow team members. Tough decisions in any business are never easy to make and accepting them often harder. For VantagePoint this is how we operate, no tough decision is avoided and whatever we may feel personally it is all about the project at hand that matters above all else.

Living on a diet of water, isotonic drinks, flapjacks, sweets and protein bars, the team headed off in two minibuses the 250 miles south from Ben Nevis to Scafell Pike.?Roads permitting 6 hours was our objective. Some talk about the first peak, but mostly to refresh, replenish and sleep.??

Scafell Pike in Cumbrian, at 928 metres is sizeably smaller than ‘the Ben’, but equally challenging, nevertheless. The mountains of Scotland provided breath-taking views through the clouds across the Grampian Mountains and for Scafell it was the calming views of the Lake District to inspire us.

18:09

Having lost one climber at Ben Nevis due to a minor fall the team was still focussed on its key objective as it set out once again. For Scafell, the second peak too took its toll with three climbers returning early, knowing they would not complete the climb in the time needed or would simply not be able to complete it in a safe manner. Despite our commitment to the task, safety is always paramount.?

21:07

The first to complete Scafell returned in a quite stunning time of 2 hours 58 minutes!

The remainder of the team all achieved the peak before returning to the car park in the dark, head torches ablaze. We were still within time. If the traffic and roads were kind, we could make the 178 miles in 5 hours. If the time sounds slow then it’s because of the country lanes and small roads. Despite all this still it was possible for everyone to sleep as we journeyed through the night.

Distance walked 8.57 km

Height achieved 928 m

Fastest time 2 hours 58 minutes

Calories burned 928

Arriving at Snowdon the team was prepared. We had a small window to work in and the chances of success for some was still not assured. For many it was the achievement to climb all three alone that was enough. Leaving in the dark of night head torches ablaze, after a safety briefing two groups formed, one to attempt the ascent alone, one to complete the ascent and beat the clock. The advantage of starting at 3 a.m. meant the descent was in early daylight, making it much safer.?

03:33

Five combatants waited patiently unable to take on three of three due to fatigue or injury. But, this is a team effort and nobody felt a failure we were all here for the team and all here to raise money for mental health charity Mind. We were all winners.

07:09

The first group arrived at 3 hours 36 minutes, missing our deadline by a mere 45 minutes. We had not failed. We had set out to complete the Three Peaks in 24 hours. We had achieved the key objective of conquering perhaps the UK’s toughest climbing adventure.

Distance walked 11.22 km

Height achieved 780 m

Fastest time 3 hours 36 minutes

Calories burned 1,312

Had we missed a target? – Yes. But we had achieved so much more. We had raised, and will continue to raise, money for a good cause, something that affects so many people. We worked tirelessly as a team and have shown ourselves to be a significant force when it comes to taking on the toughest of challenges.

07:55

The last members of the team arrived back at our Snowdon base. When they left it was dark, views of other hills and lakes obscured but the view coming down as dawn rose across Snowdonia National Park was something to remember, if you could just look up long enough.??

Our mission completed it was time for a well-deserved rest and a time to reflect and congratulate. It had been a challenging 24 hours and one we will never forget.

VantagePoint works to ensure the office of finance is empowered with systems and processes tailored to the specific needs of each client. Using a holistic approach, we listen to your unique set of challenges and help you create a people, process and technology solution that meets the demands of your business. With over 50 years’ experience the team works tirelessly to establish trusting relationships with our customers. We focus on the office of the CFO: this allows us to be experts in creating value-generating finance functions that support your business aspirations.

More than that, VantagePoint is a company that does things, that makes a difference, and brings passion and commitment to everything it does. What an amazing team!