A day as an assistant mountain leader began with an early breakfast at the Ingleton youth hostel, followed by a short bus journey to Horton where we got out into a field which doubles as car park. The clients all headed over to the start banner and the challenge began under low cloud and fog.

The pace was quick and rapid progress was made through the mist up the initial steep slope, then a more gentle slope passing a few rock bands to join the main ridge where we had a breif rest stop. Then up a steep slope, through some simple rock steps and onto the final easy slope, up to the trig point at the top of Pen-y-Ghent.

The view from the top was a hazy one – lots of low fog and thin cloud, but the way forward was easy to see with the other peaks visible in the distance. With clothing adjusted and photos taken we began the long and easy descent from the top. Once on the level the path undulates its way down the valley, across a river and then up onto a small section of tarmac road which took us quickly down to the first checkpoint.

The checkpoint was stocked with ample amount of snacks and drinks which everybody was happy to eat and drink. All the participates seemed to be in good spirits, some a little slower than others but everybody was OK to continue.

I left the checkpoint at the rear of a larger group, the route took us across the valley floor close to a picturesque rail viaduct, up a steep slope which strung the group out; but the slope soon relented with the track following the rail line. The weather was still overcast, but humid and warm and with reasonable visibility. I received a call on the radio to wait for a few other participates who had left the checkpoint a bit late, but who were ahead of the leader at the back, when they caught me up we all contiuned up the valley crossing streams as we went.

The route crossed the railway and the path steepened as it came close to the waterfalls at force gill. Here the pace of the group I was with slowed, and we made slow but steady process across the slope towards Whernside.

The final steep slope onto the ridge was tough for some of the participants but with gentle encouragement we made progress onto the ridge, where we found a strong breeze which felt quite chilly. Everybody I was with made the top, we had a short break and began the descent down towards the next checkpoint.

Unfortunately, one of the participants had a flare-up of a previous knee injury which was not helped by the relatively steep descent; the rest of the group with choose to stay with us when given the option of continuing with a faster group, and it was becoming apparent that the challenge for us was coming slowly to an end.

We made the final checkpoint and the challenge finished for the three participants with me. We got ready to be transported back to the start at Horton to meet the others coming off the final peak, the weather had finally cleared and everyone finished with champagne and sunshine – a good day out.