There were only twenty four hours. What’s the plan?

It was a ticking clock. A challenge.

England’s Coronavirus rules were strict. No overnights allowed, no pubs or restaurants open.

No rest. No refreshment. Only a return to where we began.

We were on an island. The borders with Wales and Scotland closed.

Where in England could we go? What was possible?

The Peak District! That’s only three hours away!

A Three Peaks Challenge, you say? Can it be done in 24 hours?

A challenge worthy of its name. Who’s in?

Andy, Bryce, Soren from the work bubble. Let’s go!

Prep the evening prior. It will probably rain.

It’s England. It will rain.

Early rise. Load the truck.

Bryce is at the door on time. Drive away while the city sleeps.

The miles pass. Who are these other travelers on the road?

Where could they be going? Will the trail be crowded?

More miles pass. No second guessing now.

Parking lot is nearly empty. Yes, it’s raining.

First steps into the park. Uphill.

It’s a plateau. No trees to stop the wind.

It’s July, but the wind feels like September.

Across the gloomy moor. The stony path to Mordor.

Soren quips, “If I take one more step this is the farthest I’ve been from the shire.”

The peak of Kinder Scout looms. We pass it by.

The haze gets thicker. Sense of direction is muddled.

Came across another hiker. “Don’t get lost in the mist,” she warns.

She steps off the trail. Her cackle swept away by the wind.

Reached Bleaklow Peak. First summit.

Rain batters our faces. Unwise to linger.

Retreat to lower ground. Cold lunch.

The next marker. Only a kilometer away.

Higher Shelf Stones. The second peak.

Nearby an aircraft’s wreckage. From 1948 the B-29 “OVEREXPOSED”

There’s a memorial. There’s a plaque.

Back across the moor. One final summit to bag.

A lonely sheep grazes. It looks out of place, like a civilian on the battlefield.

Kinder Scout rises above the plateau. An imposing walk.

Vertical staircase. Legs burnout finally.

Small steps and large breaths. The final push.

Nothing stopping the wind up here. Lean in and brace for gusts.

Final summit. Third peak.

Find shelter. A pile of boulders.

Deep in the rucksack. A cold beer.

Sweet taste of success. Float down to the truck on a cloud.

17 miles over 9 hours. It rained.

Stretch out the legs. Cram back in the truck.

Three more hours to drive. Clock ticking.

The shadows get long. The minutes pass quickly.

Home. COVID dash complete.

Rest. Return to Isolation.