2. 2010

Vegan 15 Peaks Challenge, Snowdonia, in June.

On Saturday the 5th of June I joined seven other completely crazy vegans in an attempt to climb all 15 Welsh peaks over 3,000 feet in a single day. In total we covered around 43 km and ascended some 4,000 m, in just over 20 hours. We climbed all 15 peaks and even did one of them twice! (That was my team-mates' choice - did I mention they're barking mad?). The full story and pics are at vegan15peaks.info.
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  • 0415 start, Pen y Pass, Snowdonia

    0415 start, Pen y Pass, Snowdonia

  • 3 Approach to Crib Goch

    3 Approach to Crib Goch

  • 4 Crib Goch view by Lupine

    4 Crib Goch view by Lupine

  • Crib Goch climb briefing at Bwlch Moch. Photo: Lupine Adventure.

    Crib Goch climb briefing at Bwlch Moch. Photo: Lupine Adventure.

  • 8 Crib Goch climb Andrew T

    8 Crib Goch climb Andrew T

  • 14 Crib Goch climb Kirsch

    14 Crib Goch climb Kirsch

  • Pete, one of our Lupine Adventure guides

    Pete, one of our Lupine Adventure guides

  • Andrew T and the team on Crib Goch summit

    Andrew T and the team on Crib Goch summit

  • 17 Crib Goch summit group

    17 Crib Goch summit group

  • On the knife-edged ridge we encountered another team at around 05:30, creating a minor traffic jam. They'd slept the night on Mt Snowdon to get an early start (but we still beat them!) Not the easiest place to pass...

    On the knife-edged ridge we encountered another team at around 05:30, creating a minor traffic jam. They'd slept the night on Mt Snowdon to get an early start (but we still beat them!) Not the easiest place to pass...

  • Lee on Crib Goch

    Lee on Crib Goch

  • Navigating the knife-edged ridge with care

    Navigating the knife-edged ridge with care

  • Lee on the ridge

    Lee on the ridge

  • Olaf on Crib Goch

    Olaf on Crib Goch

  • Afanc, a demigod of the rains, was imprisoned in this lake, which also apparently hides Excalibur within its depths

    Afanc, a demigod of the rains, was imprisoned in this lake, which also apparently hides Excalibur within its depths

  • Crib Goch pinnacles. The path runs along the ledge at the top of the cliff to the left.

    Crib Goch pinnacles. The path runs along the ledge at the top of the cliff to the left.

  • Andrew T strikes his signature pose atop Carnedd Ugain summit

    Andrew T strikes his signature pose atop Carnedd Ugain summit

  • Andrew K atop Carnedd Ugain summit. Mt Snowdon is behind - our next stop.

    Andrew K atop Carnedd Ugain summit. Mt Snowdon is behind - our next stop.

  • 43 Carnedd Ugain summit Lee

    43 Carnedd Ugain summit Lee

  • Enjoying the unaccustomed solitude atop Mt Snowdon - 3,560 feet (Wales' highest peak) at about 0730. Within hours it would be besieged by thousands.

    Enjoying the unaccustomed solitude atop Mt Snowdon - 3,560 feet (Wales' highest peak) at about 0730. Within hours it would be besieged by thousands.

  • 50 Snowdon summit Andrew T

    50 Snowdon summit Andrew T

  • Our long descent to Nant Peris's valley was briefly lightened by the appearance of this Welsh cyclist, pushing his bike to the top of Mt Snowdon. It was wonderful to feel briefly sane.

    Our long descent to Nant Peris's valley was briefly lightened by the appearance of this Welsh cyclist, pushing his bike to the top of Mt Snowdon. It was wonderful to feel briefly sane.

  • Elidir Fawr approach. About to begin our ascent of the Glyderrau range.

    Elidir Fawr approach. About to begin our ascent of the Glyderrau range.

  • 53 Elidir Fawr ascent Olaf

    53 Elidir Fawr ascent Olaf

  • Knackered after a long ascent on the summit of Elidir Fawr. Great views though!

    Knackered after a long ascent on the summit of Elidir Fawr. Great views though!

  • 56 Elidir Fawr descent group

    56 Elidir Fawr descent group

  • 58 Y Garn approach

    58 Y Garn approach

  • 59 Glyder Fawr approach group

    59 Glyder Fawr approach group

  • 60 Glyder Fawr approach John

    60 Glyder Fawr approach John

  • Andrew K just loves to reach the highest point. Here on Glyder Fawr summit.

    Andrew K just loves to reach the highest point. Here on Glyder Fawr summit.

  • Castle of the Winds approach. This 200 foot high nest of jagged rock is a perfect haunt for the Welsh Red Dragon. We didn't venture in.

    Castle of the Winds approach. This 200 foot high nest of jagged rock is a perfect haunt for the Welsh Red Dragon. We didn't venture in.

  • Balancing atop the Cantilever

    Balancing atop the Cantilever

  • Descent of the treacherous Bristly Ridge scree slope. Tryfan is in the distance - our next stop.

    Descent of the treacherous Bristly Ridge scree slope. Tryfan is in the distance - our next stop.

  • Atop the pinnacle of Tryfan are two even narrower pinnacles named Adam and Eve. The brave can jump between them, but it's a very long fall if misjudged. Andrew T didn't miss and is still with us.

    Atop the pinnacle of Tryfan are two even narrower pinnacles named Adam and Eve. The brave can jump between them, but it's a very long fall if misjudged. Andrew T didn't miss and is still with us.

  • Brief pit-stop at Lake Ogwen carpark. The car carried water, food and fresh mountain guides! Photo: Lupine Adventure.

    Brief pit-stop at Lake Ogwen carpark. The car carried water, food and fresh mountain guides! Photo: Lupine Adventure.

  • For those with the time and courage, it was an opportunity to examine one's feet.

    For those with the time and courage, it was an opportunity to examine one's feet.

  • 79 Black Ladder Cliffs

    79 Black Ladder Cliffs

  • 80 Kirsch on the Caneddau

    80 Kirsch on the Caneddau

  • Being elite vegan athletes, we deliberately chose to climb the mountain behind the camera twice - once before our side-trip to Yr Elen here, and one on the return. Claims that this was a mistake and that we can't navigate are, of course, completely false. To add even more challenge we left all our torches and packs on the mountain behind. We then had to run (limp or stagger) to Yr Elen's summit and back before darkness caught us.

    Being elite vegan athletes, we deliberately chose to climb the mountain behind the camera twice - once before our side-trip to Yr Elen here, and one on the return. Claims that this was a mistake and that we can't navigate are, of course, completely false. To add even more challenge we left all our torches and packs on the mountain behind. We then had to run (limp or stagger) to Yr Elen's summit and back before darkness caught us.

  • 81b Final stretch by Lupine

    81b Final stretch by Lupine

  • Calculations revealed we were within minutes of beating the 15 peaks time of one of our Lupine guides. And so Iain and I ran the last few minutes to Foel Fras - our final summit. We reached it 50 seconds ahead!

    Calculations revealed we were within minutes of beating the 15 peaks time of one of our Lupine guides. And so Iain and I ran the last few minutes to Foel Fras - our final summit. We reached it 50 seconds ahead!

  • Thoroughly knackered after completing the official 15 peaks route in 17 hrs 30 mins. But we still faced a 90 minute walk off the mountain!

    Thoroughly knackered after completing the official 15 peaks route in 17 hrs 30 mins. But we still faced a 90 minute walk off the mountain!

  • The funnest part of any challenge has to be the carbohydrate loading - and re-loading, as here, the morning after

    The funnest part of any challenge has to be the carbohydrate loading - and re-loading, as here, the morning after

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    Enjoying the unaccustomed solitude atop Mt Snowdon - 3,560 feet (Wales' highest peak) at about 0730. Within hours it would be besieged by thousands.
    50 Snowdon summit Andrew T.JPG
    Our long descent to Nant Peris's valley was briefly lightened by the appearance of this Welsh cyclist, pushing his bike to the top of Mt Snowdon. It was wonderful to feel briefly sane.