Scafel Pike

Boy, that was tough! I managed to climb it yesterday, taking 9 hours in total. (set off at 6:50am on a Saturday to get there)

I definitely had the stamina but lacked a little 'direction'! I went the wrong way going up so it took me 4 hours to get to the top. When I got to a certain point, the weather lifted so I could see where I was going. Tired but determined, I could see the Pike in the distance, it took about another hour to get to the top.

Coming down was a nightmare, I got lost because the weather came in, and I couldn't see a thing. At one point, I didn't know which way to go, so I sledged down the snow to a point where the weather was clear, and then I could see the way back.

Well, I can now start to build a list of peaks I've climbed in order to train for the Himalayas: Scafel Pike, Great Whernside and good old Winter Hill.

My dad and sister!

Map of Zaskar Mountains

Here is a map of where I am going. I've learnt more about where I'm going in the past 24 hours than I have in the last 7 weeks!

Going well...

Well the secret is out and there is no going back! Sponsorship has started which is a great feeling. However, this week's cold hasn't helped. Itching to get out to train but haven't been able to. And what my sister and dad are doing is truly inspirational (see justgiving.com/teampeter).

I love this quote...

A quote from George Mallory (Everest Mountaineer):

"So, if you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge...and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself, upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. This is what life means and what life is for."

Don't Write Me Off

http://www.dontwritemeoff.org.uk/

I must be mad!

I must be mad!

I can usually be seen teaching children at All Saints Primary, in Hesketh Bank, but on August 14th I will be leaving for the Himalayas and trekking 71 kilometres to raise money for The National Autistic Society. I've never even walked up Ben Nevis, but now I'll have to take on high altitude and 5 days of continuous trekking.

It will all be worthwhile if I succeed in raising £3,000 for The National Autistic Society. My five-year-old nephew, Peter, was diagnosed with autism two years ago and the charity has been a constant support ever since for my sister's family. When Peter was diagnosed with autism it was a very difficult and confusing time for my family. They didn't know much about the condition and had no idea what sort of help or support was available for Peter.

But they were put in touch with The National Autistic Society and they have been amazing. They helped my sister’s family talk to the local education authority about how best to help Peter and put them in touch with other parents with autistic children. They have always been there whenever they've needed advice or support. The National Autistic Society has done so much for my sister’s family, now it's time I did something for them.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

What is autism?

http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2493

Video: February Training