My Story
Update on the adventure: Starting off at 5:30 from Pen Y Pass in less than ideal weather conditions, the intrepid duo made their way up Snowdon's PyG track to the foot of the infamous Crib Goch. From here it was a tough scramble to reach the 923m peak, the first of the day. Then followed a nerve racking 30 mins as we made our way along the slippery, wind swept knife edge ridge with 1000 foot drops on either side. After this it was hard climb up a scree slope to reach the second peak Garnedd Ugain ay 1065m before moving on to Wales's highest peak Yr Wyddfa, or Snowdon as it is sometimes known! Then it was a punishing descent down the Llanberris path, then the railway line until we dropped off the side of the mountain down a very steep gully at Llechog and down to Nant Perris. A quick bite to eat and then, after what already felt like a big day out in the mountains, it was up the side of Elidir Fawr, the much quarried mountain that towers over Llyn Peris. This grueling 3-hour climb really took its toll and it was a well earned rest and lunch sat in the shelter at the top. By now the weather had begun to clear a bit and we could see the awesome mountains around us, noting where we had been and where we were going. Refreshed from our break and knowing that one of the hardest sections was now behind us, we set off down from Elidir with a spring in our step. It was then that disaster struck. A nagging knee pain turned into a full blown injury and our descent was slowed to a crawl. We pressed on hoping to walk this injury off, but by the time we reached the top of Y Garn, our sixth peak, it was clear that our day was over. Discretion being the better part of valour we made an agonising descent down the Cwm Cyld buttress to Ogwen. Nursing an injured knee, this took more than 2 hours, it normally takes less than 30 mins! We reached Ogwen Cottage around 8:30pm and after 15 hours walking, covering over 12.5 miles of mountain terrain and a total climb of more that 6660 feet, our day was over. Disappointed not to finish but none the less pleased with the performance of two 50 something year old bodies we decided there and then to return over the next few week to complete the challenge, albeit in more manageable stages. We will keep you posted. So, the plan is for Steve Shields and I to do the Snowdonia 3000s. This is 15 peaks over 3000 feet and 28 miles distance. Usually this is attempted over three days however we will be doing it in one day. The pictures so far are of a training walk including Cadair Idris completed on the 17th of April 2021. The main challenge will be in June 2021 I will be adding more info and pictures along the way. More detail of the walk: The idea is to summit each of the 15 peaks over 3000 feet (915m) within the Snowdonia mountain ranges within a 24hr period, this requires walking a total distance of 28.2 miles (45.4Km) with a total climb of 12802 feet (3902m) across mountain terrain. Start at Pen Y Pass, elevation 350m Crib Goch 923m Garnedd Ugain 1065m Snowdon 1085m Drop down to Nant Peris car park 145m then up the second range to Elidir Fawr 923m Y Garn 947m Glyder Fawr 1001m Glyder Fach 994m Tryfan 917m Drop down to Ogwen Cottage before climbing onto the Carneddau range for the final leg Pen Yr Ole Wen 978m Carnedd Dafydd 1044m Carnedd Llewelyn 1064m Yr Elen 962m Foel Grach 976m Carnedd Gwenllian 926m Foel Fras 942m before dropping down via Drum to the car park at Abergwyngregyn, that the walk over! Thanks for your interest and of course please donate. Gavin Moore Runs www.gmkbatteries.co.uk and works for 3PLUK Steve Shields is an Arboricultural Consultant Shields Arboricultural Consultancy
