The Black Combe Challenge 8th July 2008
The morning of 8th July began with rain and low cloud on the west Cumbrian coast. Oh dear, not good news for the 100 or so five to ten year olds attempting to summit the peak of Black Combe today at just under 2000ft from sea level. A few frantic phone calls later and an easing in the size of rain drops saw the first of numerous school buses disgorging hordes of children at Whicham Church. Most were dressed already in rainwear ranging from the classic dark green to the not so classic bright pink. All were carrying a rucksack or lunch box of varying size carrying food and drink of unknown nutritional value! Shortly, we were off, shuffling down the lane to our base camp, a single tent manned (or womanned!) by a couple of teachers doing sterling work to entertain those who couldn't make the attempt, counting them all out and .... making around two million jam butties for the end of the descent.
Probably around two hours later one large group was on the summit, celebrating their success under the Buddhist prayer flags with one big cheer and a lengthy tucking in to their "carefully chosen mountaineering nutrition packs"! (How do you get strips of cheese to look like chips, and how can you eat them with tomato sauce on them?) A second group emerged from the mist and we were almost complete for those who could manage it.
The descent was completed in good time with no "casualties" and thankfully the rain kept away for the duration. The jam butties were the best I've ever tasted, I met an old school mate from the 1950's half way up, we all had a good time and everyone probably had the best night's sleep in ages. What more could you want?
The morning of 8th July began with rain and low cloud on the west Cumbrian coast. Oh dear, not good news for the 100 or so five to ten year olds attempting to summit the peak of Black Combe today at just under 2000ft from sea level. A few frantic phone calls later and an easing in the size of rain drops saw the first of numerous school buses disgorging hordes of children at Whicham Church. Most were dressed already in rainwear ranging from the classic dark green to the not so classic bright pink. All were carrying a rucksack or lunch box of varying size carrying food and drink of unknown nutritional value! Shortly, we were off, shuffling down the lane to our base camp, a single tent manned (or womanned!) by a couple of teachers doing sterling work to entertain those who couldn't make the attempt, counting them all out and .... making around two million jam butties for the end of the descent.
Probably around two hours later one large group was on the summit, celebrating their success under the Buddhist prayer flags with one big cheer and a lengthy tucking in to their "carefully chosen mountaineering nutrition packs"! (How do you get strips of cheese to look like chips, and how can you eat them with tomato sauce on them?) A second group emerged from the mist and we were almost complete for those who could manage it.
The descent was completed in good time with no "casualties" and thankfully the rain kept away for the duration. The jam butties were the best I've ever tasted, I met an old school mate from the 1950's half way up, we all had a good time and everyone probably had the best night's sleep in ages. What more could you want?
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