What are the Welsh 3000's?

The Welsh 3000s are the 15 mountains in Wales with a height over 3,000 feet (914.4 m). Geographically they fall within three ranges, the Snowdon massif, the Glyderau and the Carneddau but close enough to make it possible to reach all 15 summits within 24 hours, a challenge known as the Welsh 3000s challenge.

The total distance with walk in to the start point on Snowdon and walk down from the finishing point on Foel Fras is roughly 50k!

An introduction...

Those that know me well know that my Mum died in 2017 and that we spread Mums ashes as requested in Snowdonia, over looking Llyn Padarn and Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon itself.

We usually return with my Dad each year in June to pay our respects, and I try and do a fundraiser in Mums memory each year while there, or at another time during the year in the area.

As I don't drive and don't really have friends who do big challenges in Wales as such, doing the Welsh 3000's without any experience there or route knowledge over the usual 24hrs solo is not really doable yet for me at present, as I would have no support, no resupplies and I am not fully familiar with the route and all it entails.

I also have limited capabilities with my knees as I'm now 53 and have done some pretty hard wear and tear on them already, so can't smash out miles and miles of mountain training for the challenge, and it's flat where I live on the coast. I need to approach it tentatively and safely.

So I came up with a novel approach....

A fundraiser of three parts!....

The plan was originally to do it over three days, then another time over two days, and then finally take it on over one day.

Part one was for me to do in three sections, as training over three days while in Wales on holiday with my Dad, while we paid our yearly respects to Mum at the spot her ashes are spread in Wales.

Sadly, my Dad passed away in the holiday cottage we were staying in while we were in Wales for that week, as I was there for training.

I did manage to complete the first two sections on my own, but just didn't feel right staying any longer to take on the third section.

Part two was to be at a two day, Welsh 3k event at the beginning of July 2021 with a fab running company called Focused Performance, led by Geoff Brierley and his team.

This was to enable me to learn the route fully and get great advice from Geoff himself, who has won his mountaineering club's version of the event 7 times!

Due to poor weather, we didn't manage to do the first of three sections as it was too dangerous as a group. So I didn't get to complete the route, but we did mange to get the second and more importantly the last section done, that I hadn't done back in June due to my Dad passing away.

Part three is now a 'bucket list' challenge for me, for me to complete the entire route within 24hrs. Either solo or with others as part of a led group. There is currently no date set for this as I deal with the loss of my Dad, and change of priorities. But believe me it will one day be completed when the time is right.

The intention has always been to complete the Welsh 3000's three times, over varying days, it's just ended up being a struggle getting a full completion in.

June 2022 update: 

I booked on to return again July 2022 with the Focused Performance team again to take on the full route again over three days as a hike as that's the format of the event I was going on. The weather was really poor and not safe for us as a group on any of the days to complete any of the three sections completely. 

On Day One We did get Crib Goch done and a rarely used 610 descent off the side of Snowdon down to Nant Peris, which is another important speed route learned. We also got Elidir Fawr done on Day Two from section two before the worst of the weather hammered us and the group had to turn back, while I continued on a bit further to get Y Garn in too. Day Three was an even worse forecast and just not safe to be on unsheltered mountain tops, so we did a leisurely forest hike elsewhere instead.

2024 update: 

Currently I've got a three day attempt as a hike with Focused Performance and other guests booked in for June 2024. Fingers crossed we will get the weather this time to get all three sections done on the one weekend.

I'm still hoping to do it as a 24hr attempt in the future. 

I am also still donating money to this page from time to time via profits from Snowdonia themed clothing I design for the trail running firm Focused Performance.

Outro:

My current intention is to go on a guided 24hr version of this event when we have fully sorted everything out regarding my Dad, and indeed my Mum and Dads house, which is currently my priority.

I am asking you to carry on supporting me in this challenge by encouraging me and hopefully by donating to the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team in memory and remembrance of my Mum and now Dad who was my biggest supporter and donator in every challenge I took on.

As always, thank you in advance and in anticipation for your kind support.

Leslie Jackson.

Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team is one of the busiest in the UK with an annual callout rate of over 220 incidents. Based in and around the
Snowdon area the team is made up of about 50 volunteers from all walks
of life who are all experienced mountaineers. As a registered charity,
we rely entirely on your donations to carry out the work we do in
helping other mountain users.