Mind Hike 2016 FAQs
How do I get a place?
There is an application process for this event, places are limited and we also need to make sure that all applicants can complete the challenge safely. You will only be asked to pay the registration fee and commit tothe sponsorship amount if you were offered a place.
The registration fee is £85 with £850 sponsorship to raise.
Contact our Events and Community Fundraising team with any questions.
Will there be celebrities?
No, next year’s trek will be just for Mind supporters, famous or not (we won’t necessarily turn down applications from any celebrity supporters if they wish to apply!)
How big is the group?
For each of the two teams, our minimum group size is 20 and the maximum is 40. There will be fully qualified mountain leaders and a dedicated support team for each team.
Why is the minimum sponsorship £850?
Mind Hike, unlike some of our other challenges, are overnight treks which as a result do cost more. We work in partnership with an organisation that makes sure the challenge is well organised and safe, and has expert team leaders, qualified in first aid and overnight challenge experiences. We also have to provide accommodation and food included in this experience, which is factored into the cost of the challenge. It is important that we recoup these costs in our sponsorship to ensure we are not losing any charitable income. Of course we would never want to exclude anyone from taking part in this event based on cost, and we provide lots of support to make reaching this sponsorship achievable, including training days for this event. If you have any questions about this please contact Alexa at
What is included in the cost of the expedition?
The following items are included in your expedition: full leader team and full support team, relevant back-up vehicles, group first aid supplies, 2 night’s accommodation, all meals whilst on the challenge and water whilst trekking.
What is not included in the cost of the expedition?
The following items are not included in your challenge and will be at your own expense: dinner on Friday night, activities not mentioned in the itinerary, personal spending money, snacks on the challenge, any drinks you may want over and above what is provided in the way of drinking water.
Are there any cheaper less challenging events I can take part in?
Yes, we have a whole list of events that vary in sponsorship and difficulty level. You can visit our website here to to have a look at the challenges you could take part in.
What kit will I require?
Precise details on what to pack are provided in your kit list. It is extremely important that you read this carefully and bring everything marked as essential. As this challenge involves walking at night a good quality head torch and spare batteries are incredibly important. You will leave your main bag at the hotel while you complete the challenge. For the challenge you will require a small rucksack that you can carry your waterproofs, spare tops, snacks and water and any other personal equipment.
What will the accommodation be like?
You will be accommodated in a hotel in Wrexham. Accommodation will be in same-sex, twin share rooms. Accommodation is provided for both Friday and Saturday night. On Sunday morning there will be the opportunity to return to your room to rest and freshen up. Check-out will be 12pm on Sunday.
What if I need accommodation the night before or after the challenge?
You are provided with accommodation on both Friday and Saturday night. However, we can give you the details of your hotel in order for you to book any extra nights required. Please contact the office on for more information.
Will my valuables be safe?
While we will do everything to provide adequate safety for the group and security for your possessions, the general rule is that if you don’t need it, don’t bring it. This includes jewellery, necklaces, rings and even watches. Any valuables such as driver’s license and money should be kept on you at all times. Any valuables and equipment not needed for treks can be left in the hostel, but is done so at your own risk.
Who will be leading the group?
We employ experienced and fully qualified mountain leaders to accompany and lead you. These leaders are also first-aid trained. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group. They will be carrying full safety equipment and first aid kits with them at all times. Leaders will work on a rotation basis throughout the 24 hours to ensure that they are fresh and able to deal without danger of fatigue.
How fit do I need to be?
This is a long, sustained event over 24 hours and requires a high level of fitness. The ideal training for walking in the outdoors is, naturally, getting outdoors and trekking. All participants should ensure that they have experience of walking in more remote outdoor environments. Most training should be part of an ongoing lifestyle but if this is not the case then you should begin training 2-4 months prior to the challenge and gradually build up as suggested. Remember to use the walking boots that you will be wearing on the challenge in order to get them worn in.
There is no substitute for walking in the hills so try to get out on a weekend and train in an area preferably with hills. You should progress to training with your boots on from week 4 at the latest but preferably from week 1. The more you exercise before the expedition, the more you will get out of it. Also see your Charity Challenge Fitness Training notes.
What type of footwear should I be wearing?
The choice of walking footwear is incredibly important and should not be decided on price alone. The terrain is uneven and can be very rough so it is vital that you use a pair of strong canvas or leather boots with good ankle support, not trekking trainers, for your challenge. Not only the boots but the socks that you wear are also very important and it is worth investing in some good pairs of socks that do not cause blisters. Wearing your boots and socks during your training period on and off the hills will inform you of whether they are suitable for the challenge.
What happens if I fall ill, can’t keep up or there is an emergency?
Each of the leaders will have a mobile phone and a radio at all times during your trek in case the emergency services need to be contacted. The event is not run as a race and there is always a large discrepancy in people’s walking abilities, however the leader’s decision is final in the event that he feels someone is not able to safely complete the challenge within the time. A full support crew will be on hand to help deal with any trouble that anyone has completing the challenge.
What happens if I get injured?
The trek itself is being run by Charity Challenge. There will be members of staff on each trek. They have first aid training. In addition, there will be a support vehicle that will meet the groups at spots along the route – should someone get injured this can be called to help.
How many breaks will be taken during the trek and for how long?
The timing of breaks is quite liberal and there will be constant breaks for 10 minutes of every hour when ascending and descending the peaks in order to maintain a healthy and steady pace. The exact times and places of your breaks will very much depend on the weather and the well-being of your group.
What food and drink is provided?
On Saturday and Sunday (the day of the challenge) all meals are included. This will include breakfast on Saturday morning, a packed lunch and a cooked dinner in the evening. Meals during the trek will be served at checkpoints setup along the route. A celebration lunch is also included on Sunday. You should take any extra snacks you need to keep you going during the challenge, such as nuts, energy bars, chocolate and trail mix.
Please note that dinner on Friday night is NOT included. The hotel is well served by local restaurants.
What shall I do about spending money?
You may wish to carry some money with you on the challenge as we will pass towns with shops. You will also need some money for any celebration drinks on Sunday lunchtime. We would advise you take an average amount of £50 excluding your joining and returning home travel costs.
What is the weather likely to be like?
As you know, the weather in the UK can be highly unpredictable. Please ensure you bring clothing for warm sunny walking weather and sudden wind and downpours should they occur.
What do you do to protect the environment?
At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism, and work closely with local conservation bodies and the National Trail rangers. By ensuring that all rubbish is disposed of responsibly, and following guidelines on environmental protection and respect, we aim to limit our impact on the natural environment.
For more information, please visit our Responsible Tourism pages, where you will be able to view a list of the projects that we currently support