Thank you for registering for The Ben Nevis Charity Challenge Saturday 17 June 2017 Image: Nilfanion CLIMB BEN NEVIS CYCLE 25 MILES CANOE LOCH LOCHY The Ben Nevis Charity Challenge is managed by Dream Challenges. If you have any questions about the challenge or your fundraising please don t hesitate to get in touch tel: 01590 646410 email: events@dreamchallenges.co.uk For more information go to: www.actionforcharity.co.uk DreamChallenges @dreamchallenges #BeenThereDoneNevis #dreamchallengeready
The Challenge The challenge is for a team of four to complete a 12 mile walk to the summit of Ben Nevis and back, two cycle legs totalling 25 miles and a canoe section on the spectacular Loch Lochy. Although some teams will complete the challenge in around seven hours we expect most teams will take much longer. Teams are required to check in for the event between 4.30pm and 7.00pm on Friday 16 June 2017 at The Nevis Centre, An Aird, Fort William, PH33 6AN. Start times will be given to each team and following registration all team members are required to attend the event briefing at 7.15pm. Accommodation in the Fort William Area If your team wishes to stay in the Fort William area before and/or after the Ben Nevis Charity Challenge, information on all types of accommodation can be found online at www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/ This is a large event so make sure you book early. Fastest team awards are given on the overall time it takes a team to complete the challenge from the time a team starts until the time a team finishes. Fastest time awards will only be made to a team in which all four team members complete all sections of the challenge. A non-refundable registration fee of 195 per team is required to participate in the Ben Nevis Charity Challenge. You must then choose one of the following two options to fund your participation in the event: Option One Select the charity of your team s choice and fundraise a minimum of 1,600. Providing you have raised 1,000 of the funds by 17 April 2017, the charity you are supporting will pay the event costs ( 600) on your behalf and you will be confirmed on the event. The outstanding funds should be paid in by 17 July 2017. Option Two Pay the event costs ( 600 per team) by 17 April 2017 and then fundraise as much as you can for the charity of your team s choice.
The Event The Walk Ben Nevis is a classic mountain walk that on a clear day offers spectacular highland views. The route will use established paths for the 12 mile return journey. The walk starts at The Nevis Centre. The total amount of ascent for this walk is 1,345m / 4,412ft, so NOT a walk in the park. From The Nevis Centre the first mile and a half is on public footpaths along Glen Nevis Road to the Youth Hostel, then directly onto the path from where you start your climb of Ben Nevis. The path takes you up to the summit via the Red Burn, Five Finger Gully up to the North East Face and on to the Summit Plateau. The descent is very straightforward and follows the same path in reverse. Mountain marshals will be stationed at key points along the route to help to ensure your safety. At the transition area at The Nevis Centre, teams will change into cycling kit before starting the first cycling section. The Cycling The cycling is approximately 25 miles in total, split into two sections, the first being approximately 15 miles and the second homeward leg being 10 miles. The Cycle routes are entirely on road except for a small section of gravel approaching the canoe section, so we would recommend a road or hybrid bike.. Event marshals will be stationed at key points on the route to ensure that the cycle route is fully completed. However, you will be responsible for finding your own way round the course as signposting will be kept to a minimum and marshals cannot be placed at every junction. You will therefore need to carry your map with you. A route card will be issued at the event check-in on the Friday night. Your bike must be well maintained and in good working order a thorough service beforehand is recommended. You should carry a puncture repair kit and pump and you are advised to carry a spare inner tube as well. All participants MUST wear a cycling helmet. There will be a cycle mechanic on hand at The Nevis Centre and Gairlochy to assist with minor bike adjustments and repairs.
The Event (CONT) Cycling the first leg The first cycling section starts at The Nevis Centre. The route initially follows the A82 north out of Fort William before turning onto a quiet minor road at Torlundy. The route then follows an undulating course parallel to the River Lochy before turning east to climb steeply out of the valley and back onto the A82 at Spean Bridge. Staying on the A82 out of Spean Bridge the road climbs steeply for about one mile to the impressive Commando Memorial before turning onto the B8004 to drop downhill to Gairlochy. In reaching the Caledonian Canal there is a short section along the tow-path before dismounting to check in at the lighthouse that marks the southern tip of Loch Lochy. The Canoeing The canoeing section takes place on the beautiful Loch Lochy which is one of the chain of lochs that makes up the Caledonian Canal in Scotland s Great Glen. On arrival at the canoe start you will be shown to your rafted canoes and given some rudimentary instruction on how to paddle it by the canoe safety team. You will then be shown the route around the loch which will all be visible from the shore. You do not need any previous experience of canoeing, but you should be able to swim in cold open water. Although a canoe capsize is unlikely, it is not impossible. Teams will be given buoyancy aids and paddles as well as two open Canadian canoes tied together to form a raft. Qualified canoe instructors will be supervising this section of the event and manning safety boats. Cycling the second leg On completing the canoe section of the event you will return to your bikes before cycling back to Fort William along the B8004 through The Great Glen and following the route of The Caledonian Canal. On reaching Fort William you will turn onto the A830 before re-joining the A82 for the last mile to The Nevis Centre where the finish line awaits. When all four team members have crossed the finish line the clock will be stopped. A hot meal along with teas and coffees drinks will be provided at the finish. A presentation of awards will be held at 7:30pm at The Nevis Centre.
Your questions answered How fit do I have to be? The Ben Nevis Charity Challenge is an exciting adventure race. It is achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness, who are prepared to put in plenty of training beforehand. The more you train, the more you will enjoy the challenge. Do you have to carry your own equipment? Each team will be required to carry appropriate clothing and safety equipment whilst climbing Ben Nevis. We recommend that you remove all sweaty clothing and replace it with dry clothing before starting the cycling section of the event. What about bikes? You need to provide your own bikes and we would advise using a road bike for this challenge as all of the cycling is on road. It is of course fine to use a hybrid or mountain bike. Your bike must be well maintained and in good working order and a thorough service before the big day is recommend. You should carry a puncture repair kit and a pump and you are advised to carry a spare inner tube as well. There will be a bike mechanic on hand to deal with any serious repairs. Do I need canoe experience? Canoe experience is not necessary for this challenge. Your team of four will use two Canadian style canoes, which are tied together to form a raft. The canoes and buoyancy aids are provided. Qualified canoe instructors will be on hand. Do I need special equipment? It is essential to come prepared with the correct equipment for the challenge and know how to use it. How we support you For the cycling, you must wear a helmet and have front and rear lights fitted to your bike, in case of poor visibility or if you start or finish in the dark. For the mountain section, you must be equipped and clothed properly for hill-walking, remembering the weather in the Highlands can change suddenly and drastically. You must wear walking boots or shoes designed for mountainous terrain (trainers are forbidden). Your team must have a map, map case, compass and first aid kit. Each person must have a survival bag and whistle. You must have extra thermal layers, hat, gloves and waterproof top and trousers. You must carry a torch (front bike light will suffice). All specialist equipment for the canoe section will be provided. How does it work? To take part in the Ben Nevis Charity Challenge you are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee of 195 per team of four (not per person) when you sign up for the challenge. You then have two options to fund your participation: Option One Minimum Sponsorship Select the charity of your team s choice and fundraise a minimum of 1,600. Providing you have raised 1,000 of the funds by 17 April 2017, the charity you are supporting will pay the event costs ( 600) on your behalf and you will be confirmed on the event. The outstanding funds should be paid in by 17 July 2017. Option Two Self-Funding with Sponsorship Pay the event costs ( 600 per team) by 17 April 2017. You are then asked to fundraise as much as you can for the charity of your team s choice (or make a donation) but there is no minimum sponsorship requirement. In return we provide qualified event marshals, first aid support, certificates, medals, trophies for winning teams, t-shirts and event refreshments. Dream Challenges are here to help you achieve your challenge and will help you all the way. We are on hand from the minute you sign up to help you liaise with your chosen charity and to answer any questions you might have about the challenge.
Make your team a winner Everyone who takes part in The Ben Nevis Charity Challenge will receive a medal and certificate. However we also have trophies for the fastest teams and the best team spirit. The awards on offer are: Fastest Team 2nd Fastest Team 3rd Fastest Team Fastest All Female Team Fastest Mixed Team (One or more female participants) Golden Oldies (only teams with a combined age of 180 plus can enter this one!) Best Team Spirit (triumph over adversity, good fun, supportive to each other and other teams etc) HALL OF FAME Fastest Team 2016 Scrambled Legs 6hrs 1min Event One 2015 Character Builders South West Ltd 7hrs 15m Event Two 2015 Technip Take it Further, Faster 7hrs 3m 2014 Fast Lane 6hrs 10m Fastest Mixed Team 2016 De Ramsay Lions 8hrs 27mins Event One 2015 Vera 2 8hrs 50m Event Two 2015 Happy Feet One 9hrs 32m 2014 Oxfam Strollers 8hrs 9m Best Team Spirit 2016 De Ramsay Lions Event One 2015 Akela Event Two 2015 Provisio for Tom s Trust 2014 View Finders Fastest Female Team 2016 Here come the Roaders 10hrs 43mins Event One 2015 The Shamrock Roses 10hrs 42m Event Two 2015 Glasgow Blondes 10hrs 47m 2014 Lancashire Lasses 9hrs 26m Golden Oldies 2016 Scrambled Legs 6hrs 1min (181 years young!) Event One 2015 Vera 1 9hrs 1m (200 years young!) Event Two 2015 Taking it Further 7hrs 46m (188 years young!) 2014 Strollers 8hrs 25m (181 years young!)
Rules of the event 1. All team members must present themselves and have the team s event log signed by marshals at the start and finish of each event section and by the finish line marshal. 2. Timings for the event will be recorded as follows: a. Overall Event Time: is the total time taken to go from the start of the event to the end of the event, having completed all sections i.e. it is sum of the time taken to complete each section plus all intervening periods, changing time etc. b. Section Time: is the time taken to complete each section. The time starts when all team members check in for the section and finishes when all team members report in at the end of the section, having completed the set course or route in its entirety. c. Times are recorded when the last member of the team arrives at the timing point (i.e. when teams are complete). 3. Teams must remain together throughout the event in such a way that all team members can communicate easily with one another. 4. Marshalls instructions must be followed. Teams or team members are asked to leave the event by a marshal they must do so immediately. teams will be awarded a time for each incomplete section equivalent to the average time for that section achieved by teams so far (if no teams have completed the section in question, then the average time from last year s event will be used.) 6. If you present yourself ready to start a leg, but you have to wait, for whatever reason (for example a canoe raft is not available, or the event has been temporarily suspended), then the time you wait will be deducted from your team s overall time for the event. 7. The latest time that teams will be allowed to start the canoe section at Loch Lochy is 5:30pm. 8. If any team member retires from the event or a section of the event, for whatever reason, the remaining team members may continue at the discretion of the senior marshal responsible for that section of the event. Only complete teams of four however will be eligible for fastest time awards. 9. It is essential that at least one member of each team is able to navigate on a mountain using a map and compass. 10. Teams must have all items listed as ESSENTIAL on the Kit List in order to participate in the event. 5. If the event is stopped or suspended, and there is no prospect of a section being completed as a result,