Welsh 3 Peaks Challenge – Climb the 3 highest mountains in Wales within 24hrs, or as we did it run it all the way up and down!
The Story – Coming up to the longest day of the year in June 2015, myself and two friends that have grown up together in Exeter, Andy and Joe set off from Devon up the M5 towards the Brecon Beacons. Joe was ourt designated driver, he was the most important member of our team as without him it would have been a totally different and much more unpleasant experience. We were lucky enough to be staying with some of my family in South West Wales. They set us up nicely with a pasta party the night before the run was due to start.
In the morning we all stirred pretty early around 6.15am, the nervous excitement running through out veins, after a carb heavy breakfast we set off from Llanwrda towards the first mountain, Pen Y Fan, the highest mountain in Southern Wales, 2907 ft or 886m above sea level. We arrived to a bustling car park, with many walkers and a few organisers. The path up to the summit looked clear, it is long drag all the way to the top, and if the weather is clear you can see it all, and it is relatively straight. We managed to make our way to the summit in 29mins, and as we arrived the cloud and mist came over and we couldn’t see a thing. So our pictures at the summit do not represent the unbelievable views that you get form there (I have since ran up it again since this trip and it was breath taking). We did not stay at the top for long, just headed back down in 20mins, so up and down in 49mins, very pleasing for the first mountain. We knew it was only going to get harder, and it did!
After a 2hr 15min drive we arrived at the southern end of Snowdonia National Park at Cadair Idris, standing at 2,927 feet or 892m. This mountain immediately hit us, with the initial climb over tricky terrain, and incredibly steep following the river up to above the tree line. When we exited this when then saw the mist come over us again, and this would sit with us on and off for the entire ascent, only giving us glimpses of the spectacular vistas. It was really tough running, scrambling and climbing all the way to the top which took 1.5hrs. Here we rested and got a snack in us, and then began the descent down shale rock and very tricky terrain. But we did manage to descend in just 50 mins which was really pleasing, and to top it off we go to see some amazing views as the weather cleared for us. So two mountains down and we had only been going 6hrs 15mins. We got back in the car and refuelled and headed to our overnight accommodation in Beddgelert.
Now in hindsight I wished we had then climbed Snowden that afternoon as we had plenty of time. But our booked time with the organisers was for 9.30am start. So we woke up, had a good breakfast and drove to Llanberis where we checked in. We started our climb up the Pig Track, which was absolutely beautiful, we were blessed with fantastic views and blue skies all the way until we reached the summit. This was all runnable, unlike Cadair Idris but it was very tough nonetheless with very steep sections and technical and as you neared the summit more and more people which was the biggest hurdle. In the end it took us 1hr 3mins to reach the summit of the highest mountain in Wales, something that I am very proud of. Unfortunately at the top we again could not see anything, so we descended pretty quickly until we found a break in the sky which gave us a wonderful place to take in the views and have a snack. The run down was technical in places, with it being slippery under foot, with plenty of lose rocks and very uneven. We got to the bottom in 50mins so up and down in under 2 hours, and it was only the last half a mile which gave me some blisters as we had road on that section and I find that a struggle on my feet as I mainly run off road.
The joy and satisfaction to be back at the bottom and to have completed the challenge was absolutely brilliant, and all I aid of the charity Prostate Cancer which we raised £450 for.
The Dartmoor Crossing –