What we'd do different next time

That is if there is a next time. It's one of those things you are only likely to do once, but that's not going to stop you talking about it for weeks after you've returned. Whenever anybody is talking about it in the hills or in the pub, you can always gleefully say "Oh yeah, I've done the Three Peaks Challenge... there's nothing to it really!"The reason why you wouldn't do it again is because deep down you know how hard it was, but you're not going to let other people know that.

Since the trip I've gained much confidence through the character building nature of trudging up mountain after mountain with a heavy pack on my back, with the prospect of no proper sleep for a day in the back of my mind. It's given me the added incentive of getting back out there and taking on other such events like the coast-to-coast or eventually the Lands End to John O'Groats bike ride. Until then though talking about it and not doing it suits me down to the ground.

Next time?

• I would probably take gaiters in case of colder conditions. On Ben Nevis especially, the snow entered my boots, which was probably the reason why I suffered from blisters so early on

• I’d take some compact binoculars as the views from Ben Nevis are spectacular on clear days, (saying that I never wished I had some at the time.)

• I would have a smaller camera kept in waist rucksack pocket, (so much easier!!). I had to keep taking the whole rucksack off to get my camera out, as it was a large size zoom camera. Unless this is something you must take, it's much easier to just reach down to your side pocket and pull out a standard 35mm job. Many a time I would not bother taking a picture, purely because taking off a heavy rucksack every 5 minutes was to much effort!

• I would have a bigger car and a helper. Our Fiat Punto was just a bit too small for the 3 of us, and none of us are particularly that big. It may look OK when you pack the car to leave for Scotland, but when it's 3.00am in the morning everything just gets slung in the back of the car and methodical packing goes out of the window. Someone also has to help with driving and sort out the rucksacks, and food and drinks whilst the competing members of the group are either sleeping, walking or attacking each other! REMEMBER you are going to have to be with these people in close proximity for 24 hours or more. It's important that you get on with them to start with. A liberal spraying of deodorant after each mountain wouldn't go amiss either. Our car had to be fumigated after we returned home, and the disused banana skins peeled off the rear car mats.

• I would make up a 5 litre container of energy drink before the walks started, which would be left in the car rather than have to mix up a small water bottle with energy drink every time. This is both convenient and saves time.

• I would do the trip in late June or July when good weather is much more likely. Our trip in April could have easily been fraught with terrible conditions. As it was the weather was great, but you can’t guarantee it. A week after we finished our weekend trip, Ben Nevis was covered in snow storms with sub zero temperatures!!!

• I would do some sort of training, e.g. running as well as weights. The beer that had been consumed over my preceding university term had greatly reduced my mountain goat climbing abilities, and the approach of "I'm hard enough to do it without training, it's only one day after all", really isn't the right attitude to have.

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