monty wrote:What is it with you "holier than thou" people. You are quite happy to climb or walk routes of your own choosing but then report disparaging comments on a walker that wishes to take part in a walk of their choice however many hills it includes.
The Ben Nevis race every year attracts approximately 500 runners so I suppose you would like it cancelled due to the erosion it creates??
I was in Wasdale last year and never heard anyone complain that I was there to walk??? In fact I do believe they were quite happy to accept my payment for food accommodation and beer.
Taking your remarks to the extreme, Ben Nevis would be closed to walkers for 90% of the year due to the erosion caused and huge amounts of money raised for charitable causes would no longer be raised.
I have seen deposits and rubbish left by walkers in the hills but that is an entirely different issue and rubbish left by the wayside is symptomatic of the casual neglect and irresponsibility of the chosen few.
Get a f..... life and live and let live.
P.s. I will be leading a large party in the three peaks challenge this year.
Monty, I see your point, but I don't feel there's anything wrong with people adding their opinions to the debate, both for and against the challenge. As electricfly states, stomper has the experience to have made an informed choice in taking it on. But people newer to mountain walking will be reading the thread, so it should be good for them to see both sides of the argument.
Regarding erosion, what you say is completely valid. One of the alternatives two of us have suggested, the Yokrshire 3 Peaks, has had numerous paths re-routed or re-made due to environmental damage. Personally, on different occasions, I've climbed Snowdon by the Miners' Track, Scafell Pike by both the Corrridor and Wasdale routes, and descended Ben Nevis by the Mountain Track, thereby adding wear and tear just like any National 3 Peaks walker.
So I sincerely wish you and your party the best of luck with the challenge this year. But it's not something I intend taking on, purely due to personal preference.