Director of Operations Andy Thomson Completes 10 Peak Challenge.

If you have kept up with the news of MSL recently you will know that Andy Thomson, and Darren Pitt were involved in our MSL Mudders challenge, running, jogging, sliding and overcoming obstacle for 12 miles of gruelling terrain. Check more info here.As if being covered from head to toe in mud was not enough for our illustrious director and engineer, Andy & Darren decided to undertake a further challenge. 20.1 miles of more gruelling terrain which finally rendered Andy's knees useless, all money raised was for Crohns & Colitis UK.Read on below for a great write up:Perhaps as you were basking in the glory of Super Saturday or SensationalSunday, you clean forgot that, this weekend, an even greater Olympian challengewas being executed with quiet determination in what turned out to be the darkand satanic hills of the Lake District. Owing to sickness, family illness andoutright fear, our numbers were reduced to just nine plus our trusty guide, Nev.Our illustrious driver, Audreas, deposited us at Buttermere in time to begin ourwalk at a gloomy 7am on Saturday morning. For those of you interested in thedetail, we climbed Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag, Haystacks, Green Gable,Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Great End, Esk Pike and Bowfell. For thoseof you who are observant that makes 11 peaks, not 10 peaks! We were advised that wewere taking on a 17 mile trek but the GPS trail actually logs 20.1 miles,probably because of the amount of zigzagging required on some of the ascents andthe length of the walkout to our bunk barn in Langdale. Therefore we feel thatthe 13 hours 20 minutes logged for the walk by the first three to reach the baris a very reasonable time (in fact so was the 14 hours 30 mins logged by our lastman in, Tommo, whose badly swollen knees required emergency medical attention inthe form of several pints of beer after 8300 feet of vertical ascent).You can take a look at the complete route taken here:

To show you just how much we put ourselves through, particularly those teammembers who did not bring waterproof trousers, I attach pictures: before thestart at Buttermere (07.00); on top of summit 1, Red Pike in the mist (08.27);on top of summit 6 (formerly 5), Green Gable (12.15) in the rain and on thefinal summit, Bow Fell (18.37)...yes it took us until 20.20 to get down fromthere for our pint. For those of you who require timed photographic evidence ofour reaching every summit, before you make your generous donations to our noblecause, these can be supplied!I'm pleased to say that yesterday we reached our target of £2000 but if you havenot already donated and feel that our travails merit a donation to the veryworthy cause of Crohn's and Colitis UK, then please follow the link below. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/DESIGN-DISPLAYThanks to all of you who have already donated, it is much appreciated.And some photographs of all involved.