13/14th July 2013- Snowdonia

Saturday morning, I parked at Capel Curig and started walking on what was a very sunny and very hot day. After passing Plas-Y-Brenin I headed up the path up Mel Siabod. After my first load of sweating I reached the trig on the summit which had fantastic views of Snowdon, which looked closer than it actually was.

Snowdon from Moel Siabod

After the grassy descent to Pen-y-Gwryd I headed up the Miner's track to the pass between Glyder Fach and Y Foel Goch. At the pass I had some lunch and enjoyed my first good view of Tryfan. After eating I headed onto Glyder Fach where there seemed to be people everywhere. After admirring a stag party getting onto the cantilever stone I reached the summit and headed over to the higher summit (by 5 metres) Glyder Fawr.

Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr

I reached the summit of Glyder Fawr and after scrambling off the rocky summit I headed down past Llyn Idwal where I got view of my next ascent of Pen yr Ole Wen. After going round Llyn Idwal and down to the road crossing I started the ascent up Pen yr Ole Wen. The ascent is a tough stretch with a lot of height gain in little distance but after some scrambling I made it to the top enjoying a rare breeze on a very hot day.

Pen yr Ole Wen

I carried on and made it to the top of Carnedd Dafydd and after talking to some very tired Welsh 3000er's, I decided to find a place to camp. I settled on a pitch on the grassy side of Cefn Ysgolion Duon. After pitching my tent I cooked my dinner and ate my cous cous with a great view of Tryfan, The Glyders and Snowdon in the background.

Pitch off Carnedd Dafydd

I woke early on Sunday and poked my head out the window to see it was looking like another pleasant morning. But after having breakfast and packing away, the cloud started to cover the top of Carnedd Llewellyn. I walked over to Carnedd Llewellyn which was in cloud cover and after reaching the top I walked to the top of Yr Elen.

Yr Elen

I walked back over the top of Carnedd Llewellyn and then down via Penywaun-wen. As I lost height I came out of the cloud and had it was another hot sunny day. I ascended up Pen yr Helgi Du after a little scramble reached the top and then up Pen Llithrig y Wrach to reah another summit with great views all around.

Pen yr Helgi Du

I walked off the top down to Llyn Cowlyd reservoir and after going a difficult way down due to the bracken and rocky slope, I reached the waterside. I walked round the reservoir and then started trudging up Creigiau Gleison. It seemed a long hot walk but I reached the northern top and then walked over the higher southern peak of Creigiau Gleison. I headed down the western slopes through long grass until reaching the bridleway which I followed back to Capel Curig.

Llyn Cowlyd

Trip Stats
Day 1 14.8miles 7370ft ascent
Day 2  12.8miles 3130ft ascent

29th June 2013- Lake District 10 Peaks short

5am start we we're released on the fells. It was light and already looking to be a good day, with just a bit of cloud on the top of Helvellyn. From Swirls car park about a hundred runners and walkers headed up the path to the top of the first peak. After 55 mins at a scout's pace Imade it to the trig at the top, but despite the views I didn't hang around as the running along the ridge and then down off the mountain was brilliant as I passed walkers and less courageous (or idiotic) runners.

Path up Helvellyn

After the first checkpoint (stocked with food and drink), it was the boggy run up the valley to Greenup Edge and then onto peak 2 High Raise. From Higher White Stones I ran down the hillside passing more people walking and running the 10 peaks.

High Raise (High White Stones)

After the run past Rossett Pike and Angle Tarn I walked up onto peak no 3 Bowfell , where there seemed to be 10 peakers everywhere. From Bowfell over Esk Pike (no 4) to the next checkpoint at Esk Hause.It was then onto Great End (no5), Ill Crag (no 6), Broad Crag (no7) and then into the cloud on Scafell Pike (peak no 8). I ran off Scafell Pike and then along the corridor route passing two runners who caught me back up on the way up Great Gable as I started to feel fatigued. At the top of Great Gable (no9) it was claggy, so I picked my bearing and headed off down to the next checkpoint at Beck Head.

Haystacks and Buttermere from the Moses Trod path

After the chekpoint it was a good run along Mosses Trod Path and I looked back and I had lost the two runners who had been with me up until Beckhead. After a long run I made it down to the last checkpoint at Honistor Pass, I turned down hot food but drank a coke with electrolyte mixed in, before heading off on the last leg.

On Dale Head Peak 10

It was a long slog up Dale Head (peak no 10) but after reaching the top it was a a descent into the valley and then along a track to the roads with what felt like  long run/walk to the finish at Keswick. I made it to the end in 9 hour 33 minutes and 22 second,s and was told to my suprise I had finished in 4th position.

Race Stats 30 miles and approx 3000m (9840ft) ascent

Location	Leg	Total
P1 - Helvellyn	00:51:16	00:51:16
FS1 - CP South Thirlmere	00:34:56	01:26:12
P2 - High Raise	01:20:53	02:47:05
P3 - Bowfell	01:15:57	04:03:02
P4 - Esk Pike	00:20:08	04:23:10
FS2 - Esk Hause	00:08:10	04:31:20
P5 - Great End	00:14:18	04:45:38
P6 - Ill Crag	00:14:11	04:59:49
P7 - Broad Crag	00:09:29	05:09:18
P8 - Scafell Pike	00:12:48	05:22:06
P9 - Great Gable	01:14:02	06:36:08
FS3 - Beckhead	-----	-----
FS4 - Honistor YHA	-----	07:38:08
P10 - Dale Head	00:38:09	08:16:17
Finish - Race HQ	01:17:05	09:33:22