The latest challenge we’ve set to stay motivated and push ourselves during training is to complete the Welsh 3000’s in a few weeks time.  This means we will have climb to the top of all 15 mountains over 3000ft in Wales within the space of 24 hours, without using any form of transport.  The length is about 24 miles, but due to all the ups and downs it tends to be over 30 miles in total.  It has been described as ‘commonly underestimated’ as on flat ground this would be an easy distance to cover, but due to the terrain and the need to ascend and descend constantly as well as navigate in poor weather that makes this challenge difficult. 

Last weekend we completed the Glyder section to familiarise ourselves with the route before we go for the whole shebang!  So we parked at Nant Peris and got our legs warmed up on Elidir Fawr – a first for both of us.  Not the most spectacular of mountains, definitely more of a starter than a main course, but the view from the top was pretty good nonetheless.  

On the way up Ellidir Fawr

View up Ellidir Fawr

Summit Ellidir Fawr!

And on towards Y Garn

We then made our way round to Y Garn, passing only a couple of fell runners and appreciating the peace and lack of tourists!  We figured Snowdon would be pretty busy with it being the only day it hadn’t poured down in weeks!  Good ole British summer time!

Checking our route

Sunmmit Y Garn!

And on to Glyder Fawr!

Some fog coming in

Summit Glyder Fawr!

Then  in Patch Exped tradition, we had to go slightly off course at one point!  We did think we were at the summit of Glyder Fach and have some pretty good pics of Steve at the top!  However, from his vantage point Steve could see he was in fact on a pinnacle – but unfortunately not the highest one!  Doh!  So we scrambled onwards, passing a few interesting rocks and made it to the proper summit! 

Looks good - but not actually the summit of Glyder Fach - doh!

Yee haa!

Snooze on the summit of Glyder Fach!

We also stopped at the famous Cantilever (a large stone which appears to be precariously balanced).  Having watched a group of Scots anxiously shifting along the rock to see if it would hold them, we decided to give it our best shot at making it move and show them what us locals can do!  But it didn’t budge!  Maybe next time!

Cantilever carnage!

It was then on to the main meal – Tryfan.  This is one of our favourites!  The first mountain I dragged Steve up and where he first caught the bug.  Ah memories!  A mountain which can be climbed or scrambled – there are a number of interesting routes and on reaching the summit Adam and Eve are waiting – two large rocks of which it is a test of the nerves to see if you can jump from one to the other.  Unfortunately, conditions were not good enough for us to attempt it on this occasion (!).  Hmm…..

Scramble up Tryfan

I don't Adam and Eve it!

It was then back down and a cup of coffee while we waited for the bus to take us back to the start!  Well, we could have walked but we were late for my mum’s roast dinner!  And the bus journey was probably the scariest experience we’ve had in Snowdonia to date!  The driver was obviously training for a rally car event and also attempted to break the land speed record which was quite frightening considering the number of sharp bends – I’m sure we were actually on two wheels at one point!  A useful service – but use at your own risk!  

Oh my goodness!

Assume the crash position!