Welcome to the Race across the Peaks!
Get ready for a trig pillar challenge across our lovely Peak District! From Friday evening to Sunday noon, your task is to bag as many of the qualifying trig pillars across the Peaks as possible. But, you have to be at the right checkpoint at the right time, or you will lose points. In other words: a Race Across the Peaks!
This is what it entails:
In a pair (or group of three), you will spend the weekend racing from trig to trig. But don’t be fooled, because this challenge is not about hiking speed. Instead, it’s a planning challenge! Can you find the most efficient routes on foot and by public transport? Will you go for the easiest trigs or the ones worth the most points?
The point value of each trig pillar and the location of the mandatory checkpoints remain a secret for now. You will find out all you need to know at the start of the challenge. Are you up for it? And more importantly: is your team winning both the price and eternal honour?
Please read the FAQs below before signing up!
Cost: £15 per team
FAQs
How do we win?
You win by scoring the most points during the challenge. In case of a tie, the team that reaches the final checkpoint first wins.
How do we keep track of the trig pillars bagged and points earned?
Using the Polarsteps app, you can track your route and indicate your modes of transport (e.g. walking, bus or train). At each trig pillar, you upload a photo of all of your team members with the trig. More about this will be explained after signing up.
What navigation are we allowed to use?
Both paper maps and GPS maps on your phone are allowed. Note that we won’t provide you with maps, so get all geared up - or mapped up :) The group can lend you paper maps (limited availability), but it is your responsibility to ask for them ahead of the Race.
What modes of transport are we allowed to use?
Aside from walking, you are allowed to get around on the following modes of public transport: bus, tram, metro and train. Not allowed is the use of bicycles, motorbikes, cars (this includes taxis and hitchhiking) or any other form of transport.
Where do we sleep?
That’s up to you! You can sleep at home, in a tent in the Peaks or anywhere else you think is an efficient location. To make sure you do get some sleep and everyone is safe, there is a cut-off point in the evening after which no more trig bagging is allowed.Trig pillars recorded after the cut-off point will not be added to your score.
Where do we eat?
That’s also up to you! You can decide to stop at a pub or go back home, but we recommend you bring packed lunch. There will be an option to join the group for a meal at a pub (at your own cost), but we’ll share more about this later.
Why do we have to pay?
The sign-up fee is mainly used to make sure we can give out a fun, worthwhile prize to the winning team. We will also use the money for printing instructions and providing everyone with a small keepsake to remember the challenge by.
Can I participate on my own?
No, you need to sign up as a pair or a group of three. We recommend doing it as a pair, otherwise you’ll have to share the prize between three people instead of two. Although participating is at your own risk, we don’t want anyone going out on their own because of safety reasons.