- Preparing you for the ultimate team building challenge
Peak Fitness is the organisation which arranges corporate outdoor team building challenges, involving mountain climbing and hill walking. We take groups of people either from the same company or from different companies and help them work together to achieve feats - and peaks - they never would have thought they could!
In 2009 we will be helping groups to tackle the famous Three Peaks Challenge.
Peak Fitness is presented by:
Carl Garton PT/ST, IIST
- Ex Royal Marine
- Ex Competitive Canoeist
- Personal Trainer and Sports Therapist
Lee Farmer ML/ SPA
- 201st Briton to summit Mount Everest
- Qualified mountain leader and member of British Mountaineering Council
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
The Three Peaks Challenge
This involves scaling the three highest peaks in Wales, England and Scotland – Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis.
A popular way of tackling the challenge is trying to complete it within 24 hours – including all the travelling! However this is not obligatory! It is more practical to do it over a long weekend. The conventional order of climbing is Snowdon first, a four hour drive to climb Scafell, then a five hour drive to Ben Nevis, to finish with the most demanding climb of the three. The end is at the Hotel bar when you are presented with your certificate and T shirt.
How hard is it?
The difficulty of the challenge should not be underestimated. To put it in perspective, it involves around [26] miles of tough walking/ascent and descent, which will typically take between 15 and 22 hours [actual climbing time]. There is typically a 25 – 40% failure rate, mostly due to improper or insufficient training. You cannot do it on the back of ‘normal’ fitness, and you cannot do it alone, that’s why we have developed this course. But breathtaking scenery, fantastic camaraderie and a huge sense of achievement are your rewards for completing.
Why do it?
Here are some of the ‘people’ benefits
- Develop teamwork skills
- Enhance personal development
- Build physical fitness
- Develop long lasting friendships
- The perfect way to de-stress
- Sense of achievement and enjoyment
Potential corporate benefits:
- Strengthen cohesion amongst your participants
- Brand and company promotion
- Promotion in local media
- Raise money for charity
- Improve health and wellbeing of your staff… leading to:
- Improved work productivity and reduced absences
- Camaraderie in difficult economic times
Tell me about the course
Peak Fitness provides an eight-week training course to get you and your colleagues to a level of fitness which will enable you all to complete the challenge together. We run weekly after-work exercise and conditioning sessions, weekend walking/hiking days and help you with your nutrition. We then do the challenge with you!
What are the training classes like?
They are specifically designed to get you ready for mountain walking, teaching you every aspect of the process. We work with you on tailored exercise classes, fitness tests and nutritional advice. We also take you to the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia, to practise the basics of climbing safely in the mountains.
I’m not that fit so can I do it?
Yes! Our course is ideal for people who are not used to hill walking – the whole point is that we provide manageable and fun sessions which enable you to get to the right level of fitness. You don’t need to be a super athlete. It’s not a race against the clock. You just need determination, enthusiasm and willingness to work as a team.
What time of year do we do it and how do we fit in the exercise?
We run three eight-week courses between Spring and early Autumn, when the evenings are light enough to train outdoors. We come to you on convenient days for a weekly after-work exercise session, and for the weekends away. We also give you a personalised schedule to follow. The challenge itself is ideally attempted between May and the end of September.
What about equipment, clothing and food?
We will provide you with a comprehensive equipment and clothing list and advise you where to buy it without it costing an arm and a leg! We will also tell you what to bring in the way of energy food. Some specialised items will be provided for you: all this will be made clear in our information pack
Who will help us with the challenge?
Qualified fitness trainers and mountain leaders who know their stuff! The trainers will take you through specific exercises you need to prepare you for mountain walking. All the mountain leaders have completed the National Peaks many times and are rigorously trained in mountain navigation, safety and first aid. You will need two non-climbers to act as safety/support crew.
What about general organisation, travelling and accommodation?
Depending on the number of participants we will suggest your company hires a mini-bus or coach for the challenge. You must provide drivers, who should not be climbers, to drive you from venue to venue and act as your logistics /support crew. You will need accommodation for both climbers and drivers at either end of the challenge. We will help you organise all this. For those groups that want an ‘all inclusive’ package, we can provide all of the above at an additional cost.
What do we get for completing?
There are a range of incentives, prizes and rewards for keeping you going! They range from certificates to spot prizes, trophies, goody bags and souvenirs.
What if we want to tweak any of the above arrangements?
It is your trip, and we will be as flexible as possible, tailoring the arrangements to suit you. If you have any particular wishes or requirements we will do our best to accommodate them.
I’m keen to rise to the Three Peaks Challenge – where do I start?
We’ve given you just a flavour of the challenges you will expect to face, but there is obviously a lot more detail we can give you. You will have lots more questions, so please contact Carl Garton on info@fitfarm.co.uk or 07770 421261. We will send you our full information pack, including guide prices, itinerary and smallprint, or we can arrange a meeting to discuss in more detail.