Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Trail100 Challenge?

We aim to have at least one team of walkers on the top of each Trail 100 mountain between 12 noon and 2.00 p.m. on Saturday 6 June 2009.

Why are we doing it?

To raise as much money as possible to support WaterAid's work to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene training to the disadvantaged billions of people in the developing world who do not have these basic human rights and to provide a fun day out for many hill walkers. We raised over £200,000 in 2008 and we plan to beat this in 2009.

Which mountains are included in the Challenge?

Trail magazine selected a list of their favourite 100 mountain walks in the UK in 2007 and it is all the mountains on this list we aim to climb on the day of the Challenge.

Can we pick a mountain that is not on the list?

There is nothing to stop you carrying out a sponsored walk for WaterAid and indeed we welcome such initiatives. However this is a specific event and to participate in it the mountain must be one of those in the Trail list.

Is there a limit to the number of teams per mountain?

Yes there is. To protect the environment, to avoid disturbing the farmers and others connected with the location, to maximise the possibility of covering all hills/mountains and to spread the event we set a maximum per location. The mountain owner has the authority to vary this in exceptional circumstances but we will try to avoid doing this if at all possible.

What happens if the mountain I want is full?

This will happen very early for the popular mountains such as Ben Nevis and Snowdon. Therefore you should register as soon as you can even if, at that stage, you do not have the final composition of your team. However, it is inevitable that many mountains will fill up as the registration process continues. Therefore it will be easier for you if you consider one of the less well known but still stunning mountain walks - they are all good ones! This will be particularly true if you want to walk a mountain with a larger group. We will try to accommodate everybody's wishes but cannot guarantee to achieve this.

How much experience do we need to take part?

This depends on the mountain you choose. Some of the smaller hills such as the Worcestershire Beacon and Roseberry Topping are relatively straightforward and should be within the capabilities of most reasonably fit people. On the other hand, other mountains are challenging climbs and should not be attempted by inexperienced teams.

We have provided a simple 1-3 grading scheme for each mountain but please bear in mind that weather conditions could make any of the climbs difficult on the day. There are also many different routes up the mountains, some of which may well be more difficult than our grading indicates. As with all Challenge events like Trail100, your team will be better prepared if you have done some preparatory hill walking before the day.

Above all, please do not select a mountain unless you are sure that it is within the capabilities of you and all your team members. It will be your responsibility to gauge which is the most appropriate for your team. We cannot accept responsibility for this and, by registering for the event, you accept that you are responsible for every aspect of your team's safety.

We are often asked whether teams can split up during the walk. The reason that we set a minimum team of 4 is so that, should an emergency make it necessary, the team can split in two so that some can get help and others stay with an injured member. A minimum team of 4 means that no one needs to be alone if this happens. We therefore request that you stay together at all times during your walk.

What equipment will I need to take part?

You can see a recommended kit list here. You may well not need every item on the list for every team member (e.g. a map for everyone), depending on the mountain you choose, but you should have sufficient of everything within your team.

How accessible are the mountains?

Many are easily accessible but there are some, in Northern Scotland and on the islands, that are relatively difficult to get to. We know that this was an issue last time and are particularly keen to ensure that they are covered this year. For a list of those mountains that we are particularly keen to get teams registered for click here.

How big is a team?

A team needs to be between 4 and 7 participants. If you have 8 or more just make two or more teams.

I don't have a team of 4 - is there any way of linking up with others to make a team?

The best way to find partners to make up a team for the Challenge is to post a request on Trail magazine's messageboard at www.livefortheoutdoors.com. There is a separate thread for The Challenge. This is also the best place to discuss the Trail with other participants, arrange evening get-togethers etc (login required).

Alternatively, for 2009 we have set up a Trail 100 page in Facebook, and you may wish to use this to network with other participants (login required).

Is there an age limit for participants?

We believe that, as a general rule, participants should be over 18. However, we are willing to consider teams with under 18s as long as that they belonged to a centre with an Adventure Activities Licence under the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority or will be walking with someone who holds an Adventure Activities Licence.

Can I do any of the climbs by mountain bike?

No. Trail100 is a walking Challenge. However, there are a number of mountains which are very remote and mountain bikes can be very useful to get closer to the foot of the mountain and cut down what would otherwise be a very long walk.

Will you provide any information regarding the mountain and how to get there?

There is general information on the web site for each mountain including, for example, the grid reference of the mountain. However, we do not provide detailed information on how to get there or on the route to use to climb the mountain. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with all the necessary information regarding routes to and from the location, parking, paths to and from the summit and any other relevant data.

Can WaterAid help with finding and booking travel and accommodation?

Unfortunately we cannot help with this.

What is WaterAid's attitude to the environment?

WaterAid is totally committed to minimising the effects of its Challenge events on the environment. This is why we organise events on a number of mountains rather than the most popular walks and one of the reasons for limiting the number of teams per location. WaterAid fully supports and complies with the Country Code, National Parks Regulations and The Institute of Fundraising's Code of Conduct for Outdoor Events. 1% of the profits from WaterAid outdoor Challenge events is returned to the communities affected by the event in line with The Institute of Fundraising's Code of Conduct. In our case this is usually given as a donation to one or more mountain rescue teams. We are also very keen to encourage participants to travel by public transport wherever possible. Many of the mountains are readily accessible by bus and train. Please consider this option when making your plans.

How do I register a team?

Go to the registration page and complete the form. You firstly select the mountain you want to climb and then give us details of yourself and all your team members. Make sure that you have all the information you need to hand before you start the registration process. Once submitted a Mountain Owner (who is a WaterAid employee/volunteer) will approve or reject your registration, with reasons if necessary. Once approved, it is your responsibility to keep it up to date and to register any changes as soon as they occur.

Why do I need to register?

There are several reasons for this. It facilitates monitoring and controlling the number of teams per hill/mountain thus enabling us to promote those that are not proving popular. It gives us the information that we need if there is a requirement for us to communicate with individual teams or more generally. Unfortunately accidents do happen so we need contact details so that we can manage any such incident.

When should I register?

As soon as you can, to increase your chances of getting the mountain you want - places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Why do I have to complete personal details for all team members?

We need to know everyone who is taking part in case there is an incident on the day, so that we can give the emergency services the information we may need. Also, in order for WaterAid to claim Gift aid on sponsorship monies, Inland Revenue rules mean that we must have home addresses for anyone who claims Gift Aid on their sponsorship. As this is worth an extra 28% to WaterAid it makes a very significant difference to the amount we can raise and therefore to the number of people we can help.

Does the number of places shown available on the website refer to teams or team members?

The number shown is the number of team places still available, not the number of participants.

Can I get access to make changes to my team after I have registered?

Yes. When you register the team co-ordinator will get an automatic email with a username and password so that you can edit your team's details when you need to. Make sure that you keep your username and password safe. Even if you don't make changes to your team you will need to go back online to submit a route card before the event.

What do I use the Team ID number for?

You will receive a team ID number when you first register. You will need this to log back on to the site to make changes and to submit your route card. You will also need it on the day when you contact the Challenge Call Centre - it will help both us and you to provide everyone with a quick and efficient service.

Is there a minimum sponsorship amount?

Yes there is and it is £50 per participant. We will not turn less away but we would ask that you try to achieve this, as a minimum. A lot of time, effort and cost goes into organising an event like this so it is essential that we receive the required amount of sponsorship or we will run at a loss.

Do we have to raise at least £50 each or can it be averaged out over the team, e.g. at least £200 for a team of 4?

The total sponsorship money can be averaged out across the whole team. You may indeed prefer to ask for sponsorship as a team rather than individually. This is very easily done online using JustGiving.

Do I have to use JustGiving online or can I use paper sponsor forms?

You can download a paper sponsor form here and make as many copies as you want. If you are unable to download the form please email us at trail100@wateraid.org. However, setting up a JustGiving sponsorship page is very easy and can be much the simplest way to raise funds. In particular, those who sponsor you pay directly online to JustGiving so you do not have to collect monies after the event, which can often seem more difficult than the event itself.

JustGiving charges 5% to process donations - would it not be better for WaterAid not to use them?

JustGiving makes a charge of 5% of donations to cover the costs of maintaining the website, charges associated with collecting monies via credit and debit cards and with claiming Gift Aid on donations where appropriate. Were WaterAid to do this itself it would cost considerably more in fees and salaries. JustGiving's services provide the most cost effective way for WaterAid to collect your sponsorship monies and get them quickly to our beneficiaries.

Where do I send sponsorship money?

If you use JustGiving the money will be automatically collected and forwarded straight to WaterAid. If you use a paper sponsor form please send the form and a cheque to: - FREEPOSTRLZG-YTUU-TUER, WaterAid, 47-49 Durham Street, LONDON SE11 5JD. This address is also printed on the sponsor forms.

Do you accept corporate sponsorship?

Within reason and providing it comes from an ethical source we will accept sponsorship. Corporate organisations can either sponsor a team a mountain or even the whole event.

What can a corporate sponsor expect for their money?

We will feature significant corporate sponsors in our publicity and recognise them in our reporting. Within reason, and providing it is tastefully done within the relevant guidelines, we will enable you to badge the mountain you have sponsored. For £250 a mountain, you can have your logo displayed on the Trail 100 website, both against the mountain and on the sponsorship page. We will also guarantee a place for one team if you sponsor a mountain, even if the mountain is full. If you are interested in corporate sponsorship please email us at trail100@wateraid.org.

Can I reserve a mountain without completing all the personal details?

We would prefer that you get all the details you need together before you apply for a team place. This will be easier for both you and us. However, we do accept that it may be difficult to get all the information you need quickly so you can complete the details as far as you can and arrange to return to complete the forms at another time. Please note, however, that your team application will not be approved until we have all the information we need and we will delete your application after a reasonable time if the information is not provided, although not before contacting you.

Will there be t-shirts produced for participants?

We know how popular specially designed t-shirts are for events like Trail100 and we would love to be able to provide them. However, it would cost at least £15,000 to print and post t-shirts to all participants and we do not feel that this is a good use of your hard-earned sponsorship money. If you know an organisation who may be willing to sponsor the production of t-shirts, please contact us at trail100@wateraid.org as soon as possible - we would be delighted to make this happen.