Welsh 3000 (15 peaks - 30 miles - 12,000ft – 1 day).
It all began on a weekend training run with Jo and John when we found ourselves discussing what shall we do next? From this initial question, and post a couple of emails and some tinkering with suitable dates there soon followed hours of pondering how best to attempt the challenge which finally culminated in 28 pages of planning instructions and route card which led to the Hay Hotfooters Welsh 3000 Challenge being born.
 
We have now completed the first training weekend in the Snowdonia National Park with a further training weekend planned for the end of June followed by the actual Challenge on 8/9 Jul 2010. Nine Hotfooters proudly stepped forward to take up the Welsh 3000 Challenge (Jo, Lily, Ange, Charlie, John, Tim, Martin C, Ashley and Carl) and two have kindly given up their time to support the team for all three weekends (Jules and Shaun).
 
In summary the Challenge is based on ascending the 15 peaks of the Snowdonia National Park in less than 24hrs: Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), Carnedd Ugain, Crib Goch, Elidir Fawr, Y Garn, Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach, Tryfan, Pen yr Ole  Wen, Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewelyn, Yr Elen, Foel Grach, Garnedd Uchaf, Foel-fras.  This involves covering approx 30 miles over very difficult and sometimes very dangerous ground, 12,000ft of ascent, 12,000ft descent and hopefully all under 16hrs!
 
Weekend 1 (Day 1)
 
Now that we are safely back I can honestly say it was the best weekend I have had in many many years - A great team effort, fantastic weather conditions, no mishaps and above all hours of banter. The weekend started off in Hay at 0700hrs where we all gathered (on time) prior to departure and headed off towards our one stop en route, the Little Chef, Dolgellau, for a pre-weekend bacon roll and coffee.  We then made our way to Bens Bunkhouse, Nant Peris for what would be a fantastic stay (thank you Rob and Karen).
 
Once we were unpacked and sorted the team was shuttled off to Pen Y Pass to commence its ascent of Snowdon via the Miners track. The forecast was for snow above 600metres ( Snowdon is 1085m!) and poor visibility, however, there was no snow and we could see the summit from the pass some 4kms away.  The only issue was to be the wind – with the route from Snowddon back down to Nant Peris via a knife edge ridge it was going to be a difficult decision whether we continue along the planned route or descend via the railway line.
 
The route to the summit of Snowdon was quite spectacular and for the most part fairly easy going. Jules had joined us for the day as she had bought a fantastic wee rucksack and needed to christen it. Lunch on Snowdon was somewhat chilly and windy to say the least but then we discovered you can stand in the Snowdon caf̩ and eat your lunch РDoh!
 
The ascent from Snowdon to Nant Peris, via Carnedd Ugain, Crib y Ddysgl (1500m ridge line) and Crib Goch is very difficult in that on both sides you could fall several hundred feet whilst balancing on a couple of rocks for the majority of the ridge.  It was quite a relief when all 10 of us got off the mountain without incident.
 
Once back at Nant Peris it was just a short jog back to the bunkhouse (though some felt the pull of the local pub en route and duly disappeared inside!).  Day one was now over and it was into Llanberis for a conveyor belt Indian meal (they get you in, feed you up and kick you out quite unceremoniously!).  Once back at the bunkhouse our fellow residents (some chaps from Manchester who just happened to peddle to the bunkhouse from Manchester and pop up Snowdon ) decided to provide a singer and guitar for our entertainment.  This was post the Hay Hotfooters own games which saw Charlie and Jules dual it out to see who could get their nose closest to the carpet and pick up a piece of card at the same time without using their hands (Charlie won but it was her game after all!).  This game was followed by what can only be described as musical spoons Ange has shown a new side to her nature by deciding that nothing would stop her from getting a spoon at any cost – Nothing!!
 
Weekend 1 (Day 2)
 
Having decided all the games, food and small glass of wine from the previous evening was all too much the team were allowed an extra hour in bed prior to the next training leg of the Welsh 3000 (18kms and 7hrs!).  However, we did manage to get going by 10am (post Tim making sausage sandwiches for everyone) and were at the first summit, Elidir Fawr by 11.45am and ahead of schedule.  At this point I ought to mention that there were no clouds and it was a gorgeous sunny day with just enough of a mountain breeze to keep you cool.  Halfway up Elidir Fawr we came across a lone walker actually completing the Welsh 3000 that day (he started at 3am!). Running allows you to start at 5am.
 
The remaining summits for this day included Y Garn, Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach and finally Tryfan before descending down in to the Ogwen valley for our well deserved lunch of soup and pasta and for a lucky two my M+S pork pies which were kindly distributed before I could get my fruity brown sauce on to them!  My other lesson for the day was 1.5lts of water is no where near enough for this section as I found myself sucking on air after 3 hours instead of my Lucozade sports drink.  Thanks to Ange’s driving the route back to Hay on Wye was uneventful.
 
All the above for £27! (bunkhouse, fuel and food costs).  Next time its sleeping overnight on the summit of Snowdon which I know Ange is really looking forward to or not - I always forget which it is!  This will be followed by the Carnedds' section and an easy run on the Sunday.
 
It’s not too late to join us!