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General Outline Location: Snowdonia National Park Fitness level
Three Day Challenge Event For this weekend we will break the route into three natural legs - the Carneddau, the Glyderau and finally the Snowdon massif incorporating the infamous traverse of Crib Goch (not suitable for people with a fear of heights). Price per person: £175
One Day Event - The King of Challenges! We will meet Friday night and the team will be briefed on the task ahead. Saturday morning will start at 0400 commencing our day's challenge with the infamous Crib Goch. This will be the first of our fifteen Welsh 3000s . . . Price per person: £120
... and if you manage to complete this mighty challenge inside one magnificent journey and taking no more than 24 hours you'll be eligible for a certificate. For details of this and how to join the list of finishers see www.14peaks.com.
Two Day Challenge Event Broken down over two days, with the right weather, this can be an easier option than trying it all inside one day - but beware, covering this distance in a weekend with full packs still remains a tough nut to crack! And even though we call this a two day event - we still set off Friday night and wild camp out on the hill in order to get the most of Saturday. If you are just looking for a weekend of hill walking with some wild camping our Sunset on Scafel Pike may be a wiser idea - or still with some bite to it is our English 3000s trek. Price per person: £160
The fifteen mountains of Wales are all (conveniently) located in Snowdonia. They are: Snowdon 1085m, Garnedd Ugain 1066m, Crib Goch 923, Elidir Fawr 923m, Y Garn 947m, Glyder Fawr 999m, Glyder Fach 994m, Tryfan 915m, Pen Yr Ole Wen 978m, Carnedd Dafydd 1044m, Carnedd Llewelyn 1064m, Foel Grach 974m, Garnedd Uchaf* 976m, Foel Fras 942m. *Garnedd Uchaf is the 15th peak and is contentious as such. Some say that a mountain must be at least 3000 feet (914m) above sea level and require at least 50m of re-ascent from it’s closest relative plateau… But Garnedd Uchaf is only 46m above it’s nearest saddle. Others will argue a mountain is any peak over 610m and needing 30m of ascent – and in this category Garnedd Uchaf fits the bill! Outline strategy for success:
Some thoughts on Equipment and Wet Weather Preparation It has been known to rain occasionally in Wales - and it could be that this is the greatest challenge that you'll be facing on the hill. Bad weather just needs the right mind-set combined with the best preparation - and it can be overcome! Let’s start with a guiding principle: NOTHING IS WATERPROOF - and this begins with your expensive Goretex coat and extends to the boots you'll be wearing and to the sack you'll be carrying. It's worth at this stage being paranoid about this. In addition steer clear of all things cotton and whatever you use make sure it's comfortable. Your rucksack will need 2 waterproof liners - one for the whole sack plus one for your sleeping bag/dry kit - also make sure that your hat and gloves live in their own wp bag - and the same for your wallet/mobile phone. If you're camping you should carry 2 x small towels or flannels - one is for yourself and one is for drying the inside of your tent. Also useful for drying yourself and for taking care of your feet is some foot talc - weighs next to nothing and is a real treat!
Some people refer to this as the Fifteen Peaks Challenge – or refer to the fifteen Welsh 3000s. It’s true – there are 15 peaks that are 3000 feet or higher and Garnedd Uchaf is the “fifteenth peak”. But for it to count as one of the three thousanders it needs to have a relative height gain of at least 150 feet above its nearest ground – and alas Garnedd uchaf only requires around 100 feet of height gain. Hence we will walk by it but not bother walking the 30m or so to touch its summit. The question now (summer 2010) is whether or not Tryfan is in fact a 3000er after all…? It’s actual height has been brought into question. It could be that this challenge becomes the 13 peaks … plus Tryfan!
You may also be interested in visiting this superb website dedicated to the Welsh 3000s . . .
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