wooden spoon | part two

THE CHALLENGE: Climb the 4 tallest peaks in the UK, Scotland and Ireland separated by 850 miles of driving and 120 miles of ocean crossing in 3 days in the quickest climb time. 

THE FIELD:  63 teams of 4 including one designated driver 

DAY ZERO : WEDNESDAY JUNE 25: after 3 hour drive north of Glasgow to Fort Williams, met up with our UK counterparts,  the JD Engineering team and did a 3 hour practice hike up the back side of Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest peak. Frontal assault on Ben Nevis was tomorrow. 

DAY ONE:  Started  the race late afternoon up Ben Nevis, 6 miles 4500 vertical feet.  Peak snow covered and in clouds..sleet and rain  and dense cloud last 1 mile of race. We finished in a time of 4:26 which was 38th out of 63 teams 

DAY TWO:  5 hour drive to Mount Helvellyn. 3 miles and 3200 vertical ft. no snow on top but top was in clouds . very cold and very windy. Last mile was on an exposed ridge with 30 + mph winds>>finished in 2:30 and placed 40th  /  63 .. then got back in car and drove 3 hours to Mt. Snowdon, the highest Mountain in Wales. Again top was cloud covered and windy finished with atime of 3:03 and placed 34th  / 63.. then drove 3 hours to catch the 2:30 a.m ferry to Ireland;

DAY THREE:    From ferry,  a 3hour  drive to Mt Carantouhill the highest mountain in Ireland… again rain off and on and sleet and snow at top; encountered the most difficult part of the race with a 1 mile climb up “the devils ladder” a steep ascent up a loose rock strewn  waterfall gulch; we finished in a time of 4:01 and placed 24th out of 63..our best finish yet!! 

That night: the awards celebration!! 

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO JD GREEN AND THE WOODEN SPOON!… THIS EVENT RAISED 460,000 Pounds for the children! 

http://gallery.mac.com/curtjohnson5 

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