News
17/03/2008
Scouts climb Everest - in two hours in Cheshire
While the rest of the UK were taking part in the
Sport Relief Mile last week, one Scout Troop were taking on an extra special mountain of a challenge.
The Scouts of 2nd Bollington Scout Group intended to climb the equivalent of Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis, the three highest peaks in Britain. They had the vague ambition of topping Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, if they really went for it.
But with surprisingly mild weather, 17 Scouts and one Beaver slipped their boots on and stormed the challenge their Leaders had set them - climbing up the hill to local landmark White Nancy as many times as possible from 6:30 to 8:30pm..
Assistant Scout Leader Mildred Ross said: ‘We thought that we had set a pretty tough challenge, hill walking in the dark on a continuous route with only head-torches and the distant lights of Macclesfield and Manchester to illuminate the scene, but the Scouts rose to the challenge regardless and outdid themselves.
‘All of them were fantastic and climbed White Nancy a total of 131 times between them. As a team the Scouts climbed the equivalent height of Everest from Kathmandu - this meant that they climbed a total height of 7,493m altogether!
‘I don’t know what we can come up with to top the roof of the world! I am particularly proud of the Scouts who have difficulties and have done their best in a big way - they are a credit to the Troop!’
The most ascents in two hours were done by Lily and Georgie with 11 circuits of White Nancy. Just for good measure, Lily and Josh, the newest two Scouts were invested - certainly an investiture they will never forget.
It’s too early to say how much money the Scouts have raised for their efforts but they are confident of reaching their £500 target.
The Scout Group would like to thank all those who have sponsored the Scouts, the volunteers who helped on the night, and the landowners for their support.
Sport Relief and Scouting have a history of working together that means 25% of the money raised will go towards the Scout Group itself, so that it can fund more activities for its young people.
For more information on how Scouting's partnership with Sport Relief visit scouts.org.uk/sportrelief/
