Been there done that!

Well the W3P2P went as planned, started, did it, finished and all is well in my world except there is a missing challenge looming. Details of this epic trek and bike ride are blurred at times as we went a pretty frenetic pace, except when eating bacon sarnies, and once we were dropped at the right start point the timetable went pretty much as the one in my diary which reads

1am Snowdon
4.30 am bikes
8.30 am Cader Idris
12 noon bikes
8pm Pen-y-fan
11 finish aim for

actual timings match planned, started 1am in Llanberris and got to Snowdon summit at 2.30 am.

 Stats for Snowdon section
Peak height 1085 metres
Llanberis path is 5 miles long and has 3199ft or 975 metres of ascent.
Graded by Mountain Rescue as a hard mountain walk and guidelines of 3 hours 15 in daylight are given as time taken to summit.

We took the Pyg Track down again a walk graded by Mountain Rescue as a hard mountain  walk over rugged terrain (big rocks, streams, dead climbers) and this was a descent of 2372ft or 723mtrs, time again given as a guide of 3.5 hours in daylight.

Our totals were 3 hours 10 minutes climb descent combined. Calories 1580 av HR rate 112 peaked at 152.

Pen-y-Pass to Cader Idris

This was a fast ride of around 50 miles, very cold at 4.30 am ish when we set off but we made Cader Idris by 8am. Combined timings for whole bike route listed below but calories used 2100 av HR 126 max HR 157.

Cader Idris stats

This was nasty and rated a moderately difficult climb to the summit, nasty in so far as the legs were starting to get tired, that we had to walk past a closed café that should have sold us breakfast and that to get to the top involved a tortuous route through boulders and a climb/descent before the peak. Distance was 6 miles there and back and the total height gain was 3218 ft or 981 metres. Rewards were aplenty, found "new" route to the peak without losing height or extra peak bagging, the views were fantastic as it was a clear and sunny day, Spotty the Bernese Mountain Dog ate my share of ships biscuit (flapjack) and when we got down after 3 hours toil (guides state allow 5 to 6 hours) we had bacon sarnies, coke and 4 cups of tea. Totals 1257 calories average HR 108 max 139.

Cader Idris to Pen-y-Fan

A long slog on the bikes via Llangurrig |(I think) Rhayder, and Built Wells. Stats for bike ride as  a whole and includes a few mins extra for stops.

Total distance cycled 144.44 miles in 9 hours 47 mins 6 seconds average speed of 14.76 moh max speed of 37.26mph calories used from Cader to Pen-y-Fan 4000, ascent on bikes 7640 ft descent 7391 which is proof that our Downhill all the way mantra was inaccurate.

Bonked big time on section after Builth and before Brecon and had to be saved by cakes and sweets. Average HR was 114 max was 170 but the max was achieved when feeling ill not through exertion!

Bike used was a Boardman Team 3 racing bike, alloy frame and it behaved perfectly, faultless performance, no punctures, barely a sore bum. (Could not sit on bike for 3 days after)

Last bit, assault on Pen-y-fan

We had been blessed with fantastic weather all day, sunshine, not too hot, bit of a stiff headwind between Rhayder and  Builth but all was good. As we prepared for Pen-y-Fan ascent descent the weather turned nasty. Light drizzle in car park and a bit of a breeze turned into gale force winds near summit and horizontal armour piercing water droplets. The torch could not penetrate the murk and we were reduced to snails pace to keep on path and not walk off cliff edge. Height gained 2402ft or  732metres. 5 miles, time taken 1 hour 40 mins in dark, guides state 3 hours in daylight and its rated a moderate mountain walk. Calories 1310 hr average 134 max 155.

Finish in car park to cheers and a much needed bag of fish and chips at 11pm.

Totals 22 hours start to finish.
Calories used 10247
Average HR 118.8 Max HR 170
Total ascent 16459ft
Total Distance 167 miles

In all a good effort and a great challenge.

Go on do it, you know you want to!