Snowdon 7 in 7 challenge : 7 ascents and descents of Snowdon in 7 days to raise funds for the Llanberis mountain rescue and in memory of my Mum.

 

 

This is a copy of an original blog post I made in June 2019, and is written to follow on from my original 'Intro' post about this challenge. I never did get round to writing an individual post for each days challenge sadly , as time went on and details faded. This is a copy of a short blog I wrote about the week and posted in my 'A return to Snowdon' blog which is dedicated to my Mum.

I always promised I would return to Snowdonia each year and indeed to Mums spot overlooking Llyn Padarn, Llanberis and Snowdon. This year two years on from Mums death was going to be no exception.

In 2018 along with Dad I returned to Snowdonia to stay at the farmhouse Mum and Dad enjoyed their last couple of holidays together in. It's a lovely farmhouse on Dinas Farm, only a couple miles away from what was Mum's favourite beach Dinas Dinille.

In 2018 we stayed the week there exactly one year on from when Mum passed away, hence why we went that week to pay our respects on the mountainside at Mums spot.

I also used the week to train for the 2018 fundraiser I did in Mums memory. You can read all about that in the previous chapter, Chapter Six.

Now June 2019 and two years on, we returned to the farmhouse again for another week so that we could pay our respects and enjoy some holiday time in the area whilst thinking of Mum.

I have promised to do a fundraiser each year in Mums memory in Snowdonia if possible each year and this year I decided that as I loved the mountains so much just like my Mum, that I would incorporate this with a week of going up mountains. But it had to be something significant in order to become a worthy fundraising challenge to get people to donate to the chosen charity, the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team.

That is where I decided on the mad idea of not going up Snowdon once, but 7 times! There was just enough time to travel there, do 7 days of climbs and travel home too.

I don't drive but thankfully Dad still can, and time allowed me to be dropped of at Pen y pass on the way through to the farmhouse at a reasonable time on day one for me to still get up Snowdon and down again by tea time ready to be picked up by a rested Dad.

The fundraising link was set up on Just Giving in the months prior to the event and shared as often as I could without annoying friends and family. Getting donations is getting harder and harder nowadays, and challenges have to be harder and harder to compete with other peoples causes, as your family and friends don't have endless amounts of money for donation links.

As per usual the London marathon had been on in April and a lot of peoples donations had headed that way, so I tried to plug my link from the end of April onward after payday. As I said donations were slow, and to be honest disappointing for such a hard challenge. I did however rely on the fact that a lot of people don't donate until the week before, during or after the event.

I am a strong believer of paying forward or indeed paying back, so I donate to people I know who have donated to me in the past in the hope that they will return the favour each time we all go out and put ourselves out there for a good cause.

This year as the week progressed the donations started to come in nicely, but it was a big donation from my Dad that enabled me to achieve a decent target. As always my Dad is my biggest and most generous supporter and I am truly thankful for this.

If it wasn't for Dad driving me there and indeed to Snowdon each day for my climb and descent, then none of this would have happened.

Another aspect of this challenge was me using it as a tool to help me deal with my often day to day struggles of anxiety and social anxiety, something my Mum also struggled with in her later years.

Having something to focus on in the months leading up to the challenge is a vital aid and a distraction from what can be a mundane and anxious daily life. Having a focus and a cause also give you a self worth, something vital for anyone who struggles with any mental health issues, especially any that can involve depression.

Thankfully for me depressive periods are short and infrequent and are not something I need medication or treatment for. Thankfully my physically active lifestyle can help me soldier on daily with regular sessions of fresh air and getting out and about in the great outdoors to help relax any stresses and anxieties. This is something a week in Wales up mountains is actually quite vital for, to create live long memories and experiences to remember in the future and to remind myself what I am capable off despite any mental health issues.

The carefully crafted plan was to climb to Snowdon summit each day for 7 days hopefully via a different route each day to make it more difficult, varied and to give myself a true all round Snowdon experience. Also to take a good amount of photo's to help maintain future memories and to be able to look back on. Routes where chosen the night before subject to forecast weather conditions. This allowed me to choose the most scenic routes on the clearer days to enable better pictures.

I also wanted to be able to share the photo's about to encourage people to get out up the mountains and to de-stress a little from their busy lives. I especially wanted to share them on the new Facebook group and mental health project 'Mountains for the Mind' which is a project run by Trail magazine and Mind the mental health charity, a very valuable charity indeed.

I would also be writing blog posts about the experience on several of my blogs, especially the mental health based ones as I am keen to try and help those in need wherever possible, however possible.

Back to the daily plan and the descent each day would always be down the Llanberis path so that I could have a gradual descent to save my knees a lot of damage and so that I could walk into Llanberis and get some food from a cafe etc as a treat and for my tea.

Eating as soon as I came down from Snowdon was vital to start getting my energy levels back up for the next climb the next day. I would also consume a Tailwind protein recovery drink each night to help repair the muscles etc overnight.

I am a plant based eater so don't eat meat and dairy. So the protein recovery drink was a vital element and I had several portions of peanut butter on toast each morning and a 2nd breakfast of porridge with oat milk to power me up the mountain each day.

I did find that once at the summit each day I didn't really need any food and often went straight down again after a few pictures, especially the few days the cafe was closed at the top.

On days the cafe was open I would just buy myself a cup of hot coffee to warm me up again nicely ready for the descent, I also had a few chat's with people about what I was doing, which was nice. As a sufferer of anxiety it can be hard to start or even engage in some conversations, but I had a captive audience as they were genuinely in awe of what I was doing. This helped spur me on tremendously.

I always carried a bottle of Tailwind energy drink for the climbs and a bottle of water for the descents and a couple of snacks if I ever needed them, especially as water isn't available at the Summit cafe unless you buy it in a plastic bottle. Best to be prepared and take your own rather than get up there and it is shut.

One thing I will say is as a sufferer of anxiety and social anxiety I was able to gain a sense of self worth and pride back this week, something I often lack as life washes over me. As the week progressed and after a failed attempt to walk into a busy Pete's Eats on my own I actually managed to go in on day three I think it was, and I am so glad I did as the food was great. I was able to walk straight in no worries on subsequent days too once that anxiety of a new place had been broken. The power of the mountains to rebuild our strengths is truly amazing. If I have gained anything this week it was this.

My main blog site 'The Gru' has links and access to all four of my blogs which cover different but also related blog subjects of fitness, mental health via running, mental health via mountain walking etc and of course this blog. I also post plant based recipes on there too which people find really helpful. I've managed to create a few core tasty dishes for new starters to the plant based meal.

Another emphasis of this challenge was to get up each day to the summit as quick as I physically could, as in I would run or jog some sections if possible to improve my time. I would also be taking lots of photo's too though and not stopping the clock as I did so, so every minute was vital for me.

On my descents I would record the time too, but the descents were not a race as I was supposed to use them as the start of my recovery ready for the next day.

I did however jog down on Day one and Day two in a very respectable 51 mins on Day one , and 53 mins on Day two.

On Day three however I decided to be sensible and ensure I hiked it at a responsible pace. Believe it or not this was the day I twisted my ankle as I went right over on it. It was painful for 5-10 minutes but as I continued on it did seem to ease. It did however start to egg up whilst sat outside the cafe in Llanberis afterward, and that night it was not looking good, but I was feeling positive about the lack of pain.

I was very fortunate it went down again the next day and from that day forward ensured I wore my walking boots every day to ensure my ankle was adequately supported, and I ensured I didn't do any more jogging either up or down.

I did still go over on it a few more times during the week whilst standing on rocks etc, but thankfully I survived each time. Mum was definitely watching over me every step of the way!

 

So how did I get on and how long did it take to do each route?....

This is the break down of the week and the ascent times for each route up to the summit:

Day one - The Lliwedd path - 4.28 miles - Total ascent time to summit 1hr 55mins.

Day two - The Miners path - 4.86 miles - Total ascent time to summit 1hr 30mins (I jogged a bit).

Day three - Rhyd Ddu path - 3.7 miles - Total ascent time to the summit 1hr 22mins.

Day four - Llanberis path - 3.86 miles - Total ascent time to summit 1hr 26mins.

Day five - Watkins path and South ridge - 5.77 miles - Total ascent time to summit 1hr 54mins.

Day six - Snowdon Rangers path - 3.97 miles - Total ascent time to summit 1hr 24mins.

Day seven - Pyg track - 3.49 miles - Total ascent time to summit 1hr 23mins.

 

Of all the ascents it is hard to say which was my favourite. Rhyd Ddu and Rangers had great views and vistas of that side of Snowdon and the valley and indeed the splendid mountains on the opposite side of the valley and all the lakes etc, not forgetting the lovely road approach to Bedgellert.

Watkins also had a nice wood at the start and a lush green valley approach alongside the river/stream and waterfalls as you make your way up towards the final climb up to Snowdon itself, but beware the final shale ascent at the top section of Watkins.

Lliwedd is a tough one and involves a climb with some scrambling, but if you like ridges then it's a really good one to try and it gives the most spectacular views in multiple directions including across the horseshoe to Snowdon summit and down to Llyn Llydaw also.

Miners has a long pleasant more gentle approach and I jogged most of that, but then you hit a steep climb upto the Pyg track, but it's over relatively quickly. Miners and Pyg both have great views up to Snowdon summit and it's steep cliffs etc and plenty of views over the many bodies of water at Snowdon including King Arthurs alleged final resting place. The Pyg track apparently is the shortest route and has the least climb overall.

My daily walks down into Llanberis itself at the end of each descent were all a treat, especially my visits to The Pantri for coffee and cake and the odd pack of Welsh cakes too.

My visits to Pete's Eats for my tea were superb as was my Hummus roll with salad and their wonderful chips to die for, not forgetting the massive mug of filter coffee!!!

Just being in Snowdonia for the week allowed me to feel like I was spending time with Mum and I found myself on multiple occasions saying to myself 'Look at that view Mum' as I knew she would truly appreciate them. I am only sad I never got to climb Snowdon with Mum in my earlier years. But I know she will always be with me every time I return to Snowdon.

Several visits to the lakeside after my descents were an ideal opportunity to sit and reflect and remember Mum and our many happy family holidays at Llanberis, and indeed at a holiday cottage on the other side of the lake Llyn Padarn where we took multiple walks along the hillside and down through the wooded hillside past the slate museum etc and down into Llanberis itself.

I could see all this from the bench at the lakeside next to the lakeside car park at Llanberis. I could feel my troubles melt away and my inside filling with replenished treasured memories freshly recharged and topped up by my time with my Dad that week, and my time up and down that wondrous sight we call Eryri, Snowdon to you and me. Long may it be my second home along with it's bustling haven of Llanberis.

I now have a 100% organic cotton clothing online store via TeeMill. All profits from designs on my store go to charities. Some of those charities are mountain rescue teams in Wales itself. Please take a look and share around if possible, and hopefully consider a purchase.

https://shoutoutwear.co.uk/

 

Sometimes we must sit and ponder, and admire the wonder!

 

As some of you will know if you have recently read my last two 'Fitness with Gru' blogs, I recently went to Wales for a 7 day trail running adventure.

It was a joy to finally get back to Wales after it being locked down and I was in Wales for not one but two back to back trail running breaks, but I had two afternoons inbetween were I could take myself back off into the mountains for a bit of mental recuperation.

After saying my goodbyes to the great bunch of guests and fellow trail runners who departed at lunchtime on Thursday, I now had my spare time as the accommodation was being given a professional clean by the accommodations cleaner and it was made covid safe again ready for the new guests.

I decided I would stay out of the way for the rest of the afternoon to let the cleaner do her job and at the same time Geoff the trail running event organizer and his Chef Carl went off to do another mega food and drink shop (emphasis on drink as it was now the weekend!).

I had always planned on going up Snowdon at some point in my time between events, and today was a clear day. I was a bit tired after that mornings trail run with the previous guests, but I decided to go for it as it was clear on the mountain tops, and I needed a clear view for personal reasons.

Those that know me well will know that when my Mum passed away in 2017 we spread her ashes as requested in a particular spot on the hillside overlooking Llyn Padarn and of course Snowdon...

 

Every year in June I along with my Dad would go to Wales for a week to stay in the holiday farmhouse Mum and Dad used to stay in at Dinas Farm. We make a point of visiting 'Mums spot' and paying our respects.

When there for the week I usually do a personal and difficult charity challenge in the area to raise much needed funds for the local Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team. Last year I did 7 ascents of Snowdon in 7 days taking in a different route each day.

Sadly this year with the lockdown we were unable to go back in June, so when the Focused Performance events came up it was an ideal opportunity for me to at least be in Snowdonia I jumped at the chance.

To be honest I found the inability to get to Wales with my Dad really difficult mentally as it is something I really look forward to and being up the mountains of Snowdon and her surrounding mountains is a vital escape for me. It's a time I feel a oneness with my Mum while I'm up the mountains and just being in the area brings many happy family memories flooding back from our time there as a family. I also cherish the time with my Dad in a place I know he loved going to with my Mum.

This was the reason I needed a clear day and views from the top of Snowdon. I couldn't get to my Mums spot as it was too far away on foot, and with the covid situation I didn't want to be on any local buses etc, but I could get up Snowdon whilst thinking about her and being with her in spirit at least, and I could actually see the spot on the hillside near Llanberis where we spread her ashes from the top of Snowdon.

 Geoff kindly dropped me off at the bottom of the Watkins path and I set off up the mountainside and tried my best to achieve what would hopefully be a fastish pace for me as the complete Watkins path was the only route I didn't take in last year (apart from Crib Goch) as I diverted up over to the South ridge last time.

I can't tell you how good it feels to step out off a car at the beginning of a days walk with all your kit on and the freedom to roam as you please, in a time that you please up a great route and mountain.

Within a few minutes of walking and jogging and snapping pictures , my phone crashed and just sat on the welcome screen. I wasn't impressed and pondered the disappointment of not being able to take memories of the route and indeed the day ahead.

I couldn't take the battery out to reset it as it was an interal battery.

After a little further on and severely disappointed I stopped and chanced trying to discover which button press combination would enable a reset. After multiple goes and a bit of swearing I finally hit the right combination and photo's recommenced prior to the waterfalls.

I managed to jog a few of the early bits prior to and alongside the waterfall sections, but my legs were suffering a little from that mornings activities and indeed the week so far. 

I continued on with little 50 metre or so efforts and then walked again and repeated when not too steep.

The waterfalls and scenery was nice and clear and I had a good and warm day for my walk/climb ahead. Once across the little bridge beyond the waterfalls over the main stream I was now in new territory as I had turned left and gone towards the South ridge from here last time.

 

The path levelled a bit and I jogged a little more in small sections and it was now getting pretty warm with the jogging too.

I was thoroughly enjoying testing myself physically and now mentally, as I refused to just walk when I had already challenged myself to get up there as quick as I physically could in line with the ascents I did last year of the other routes as quick as I could. 

After passing the remains of the old buildings and stopping briefly to look back at the views to Yr Aran, I now started the more serious ascent of the Watkins zig zags, it soon became apparent that doing this half way through a trail running holiday, with two runs a day including one this morning was not a good idea and sure as hell wasn't going to be easy.

 

 

I did get a few funny looks as I attempted to slowly jog bits, but I realised that my energy levels would not sustain this effort level without serious lactic acid build up and muscle failure. That is a posh way of saying I'm not fit enough to do it!

As I continued up the zig zags I chose to fast hike as quick as I could and after a ropey 10-15 minutes I started to feel normality in my legs and knew from there that was my best pace and course of action.

I would sustain a decent effort and then stop and take pictures as I went, a formula I have already liked as the combination doesn't lose you too much time overall.

 

At one point I considered going across to Lliwedd to get some pictures then back down to continue the Watkins across and up to the summit of Snowdon. But I knew my energy levels that day would probably not sustain it with the South Ridge descent I had planned afterward.

Next up was the final stretch of Watkins and the infamous shale path. I knew they had been working at putting stone steps in from the top last year, but had no idea how far they had got. It didn't look like they had progressed any further to be fair than June last year, but it's a slow progress with weather an all, and likely they haven't been working on it this year with the covid-19 situation etc.

Last time I went up this section on my Lliwedd ascent on my 7 in 7 challenge I had managed I think 25 mins to get up that section, as I was knackered and likely it included photo stops a many. This time I was chuffed to have made it up in 15 minutes with a few less photo's.

 

At the top of Watkins it was now across and up to the actual Snowdon summit and to be honest I was knackered at this point, yet determined not to be passed by anyone going up.

I finally made the top in 1hr 33mins of actual moving time and not too many un recorded breathers to be fair, and I was really happy with this.

Now was the time I had been waiting for, the view down to Llanberis, Llyn Padarn and indeed the spot my Mums ashes where spread. I could see the area from the summit and was thankful for the clear view.

 

It was a vital time for a mental reset. Just being up there allows me to put my past behind me and to erase my troubles which are mostly mental ones. I can't stress enough how invigorating it is being up there with the feeling of being on top of the world for a change.

Just the feeling of self worth and self belief after suceeding in getting up there is something I would recommend to anyone with any issues including and especially mental health ones.

We condemn ourselves to misery so many times by doubting our worth and our abilities in our day to day lives. Being up on that mountain or any mountain positively reinforces our self belief that we are indeed capable of great things and we are indeed sat on top of that mountain looking at the world below our feet....

I spent the next half an hour max taking photo's from around the summit and had a snack bar and uploaded a few pictures to social media. I sat and quietly thought about my Mum and how much I wish she had made it up to the summit with me in real life, as she loved Snowdon and it's surroundings so much yet I'm not sure she ever got to the summit as me and my brother were always with her and we weren't old enough or keen enough to want to take that challenge on.

After half an hour and getting cold I donned multiple layers and set off for a descent via the South ridge. I have been up this before but in atrocious wet and windy weather and couldn't see any further than 20ft ahead at any point. But this time it was clear and I was going down this time with views abundantly lay before me.

 

It was great fun to try and jog a few bits. It was tough terrain in parts for foot placement but trail running experience helps a lot and confidence.

I did have a fair few iffy moments were my ankle almost rolled and my mid height trail running boots with ankle support certainly saved me many a time.

I continued taking photo's as I descended, or stopped and took photo's I should say and I now have some clear photo's for my collection.

Once at the bottom of the South ridge I tried to find a route I had seen on a picture of Snowdon previously that led towards the Rhyd Ddu path but more directly down towards and around the back of Yr Aran and towards the road that takes you back to Beddgelert and to my accommodation. 

 

I lost the path in the remains of a bit of a slate quarry as I was too far too the left, and over to the right seemed too far off track. It turned into a cross country adventure to say the least and the navigation training I had received earlier in the week certainly helped from this point, especially when my GPS clearly didn't know where North was!

Thankfully I had line of sight of where I wanted to end up and an A to B bearing would have been the norm, but I could see the road at all points anyway eventually, so slowly found my way around Yr Aran and Craig Wen and down to the road and just had a mere 0.9 miles back to base.

 

 

I was actually amazed to see my GPS route for the descent and my cross country effort as I felt like I was wandering all over the place, but my GPS route video actually shows a fairly linear route. 

Here are the links for my Ascent via Watkins and another for my Descent via South Ridge 'Relive' route video with pics for those interested :

 

Watkins ascent:  https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qV8E2rr3O

South ridge descent:  https://www.relive.cc/view/vZqNPEZBw3O

 

After returning home safely to base I met up with Geoff and Chef Carl who had returned with new supplies and a fairly chilled evening ensued.

As the next batch of guests were not due to arrive until Fri teatime I decided to get out of the way again on Fri afternoon and took I myself off on two of the routes we had done earlier in the week including, the first one along the far riverbank and along the Aberglaslyn pass from Beddgelert and the second one up Mynydd Sygyn again. 

 

 

This time I tried to get a little higher up Mynydd Sygyn than the normal path that goes more directly over towards the descent to Llyn Dinas. 

There were several clear routes on the map and they all eventually led you up to the ridgeline of Mynydd Sygyn, some spots where higher than others. It was exceptionally windy up there and getting cold and my target was being able to see down into Beddgelert and snap a picture of our accommodation so I could say  'I can see my house from here!' and post the pic on social media back to my trail running colleagues etc.

 

 

Again I enjoyed the stress free freedom of being out there alone and deciding there and then what I was going to do, and the mental relief it gave me was a tremendous boost, especially in reestablishing self belief in oneself. Time in the mountains is a great source of help, relief and often recovery from mental health issues and it is one we need to do as often as possible.

After this was a cracking descent down to Llyn Dinas as I traced my way along the ridgeline to the descending path I had previously done earlier in the week with my running friends on the holday.

 

 

From Llyn Dinas I added a little run out to the Nant Gwynant cafe/coffee shop for a well earned and yes actual VEGAN friendly cake, but only just, as it was the last slice (clearly a market for it) and I sat outside and chilled in their spacious outside seating area.

I set off back for the accommodation along the road but sadly lost my GPS lock at that point and it would not reacquire a signal, so although I did 9 miles overall which my watch did record, it didn't record the route on the route video beyond the cake stop.

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed my route that day and the previous day up Snowdon and the freedom to choose where I went and when I went, along with the mental freedom of exploring the great outdoors and all it's rewards.

Please do and try and get out there when you can, especially as we suffer through our various lockdowns and restrictions of movement and freedom, our mental health has and will continue to take a battering.

Look after yourselves and if you haven't already been fortunate enough to have climbed your own mountain, then start with a local walk in the outdoors, enjoy what nature has truly given us, that which hasn't been fully tainted by mankind yet as we continue to abuse life around us.

Join a local walking or rambling club and bit by bit you may well get the chance to sit and ponder, and admire the wonder around you!

Relive route video here for most of the above afternoons run up and down Mynydd Sygyn via the Aberglaslyn pass: https://www.relive.cc/view/vPv4MZjKQRO

I now have a 100% organic cotton clothing online store via TeeMill. All profits from designs on my store go to charities. Some of those charities are mountain rescue teams in Wales itself. Please take a look and share around if possible, and hopefully consider a purchase.

https://shoutoutwear.co.uk/

 

Introduction to 7 days of peace of mind & soul in Snowdonia.

Welcome to my 2nd post on my newest blog 'Mountains for my mind'. This blog will concentrate purely on the mountains and their benefit in helping with our mental health.

For many the name of this blog will sound familiar as I decided to start yet another blog format when a new initiative was set up by Trail magazine and Mind the mental health charity along with the help of a few other sponsors.

The new initiative titled 'Mountains for the Mind' was aimed at encouraging people to get outdoors more and in particular to get out and about in the great mountain ranges we have in the UK.

It is well known by many who suffer some mental health issues that getting out helps tremendously, and getting out up into the mountains for many brings with it a peaceful calming of the spirit and of the mind and brings with it a vital escape from the madness and pressures of normal daily life, especially if you live in a town or city.

A web page and Facebook group of the same name has been set up by Trail magazine and Mind and already quickly people have started posting photo's and memories of their trips into the mountains, and began to open up about their past, their problems and in many cases their personal mental health issues. A place where privacy is respected and openness respected and welcome has been quickly born.

I wanted to call my blog Mountains of my mind to reflect on the often epic struggles I have with my Anxiety and the struggles to climb the mountains of my own mind. Sadly the title was already in use, so I have had to go for Mountains for my mind.

On a good note though this made it tie in more with the initiative by Trail magazine and Mind, and my title Mountains for my mind helped emphasize the way I help deal with my problems by using the mountains as a cure, as opposed to concentrating on the negative of seeing them as a hurdle in my mind regarding my issues.

I hope you can and will enjoy my future blogs, although they won't be too regular as I don't get the chance very often to actually get to any mountains.

Thankfully as the title of this blog post indicates, I actually did get to the mountains recently and for a very good cause.

Every year at the beginning of June along with my Dad we return to Snowdonia to pay our respects to my Mum who sadly died in June 2017. As requested we spread her ashes on the mountainside in Snowdonia overlooking Llyn Padarn and Llanberis and in the distance Snowdon itself.

I had many happy memories on holidays in the area when I was a child and a teenager and it is like a second home to me. I also set a fundraising legacy up in my Mums honor titled 'WWMD - What would Mum do?' loosely based on the religious saying What would Jesus do?

The emphasis of the title was to remind me to be a better person and to think of what Mum would of done in my situation when ever I am in a situation or even in an argument. My Mum was a far kinder hearted and forgiving person than me, and I have always struggled to live up to her example.

The answer to the question What would Mum do? was also 'Fundraise and help others'. Which is why I set up the fundraising legacy, because I had been a long term fundraiser with my charity runs and challenges in the past and decided to carry this on by choosing charities I knew my Mum cared for.

Last year I spent the week in June in Snowdonia training for a 50 mile ultra marathon in Snowdonia that Sept and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. It was also the first time I had actually gone up Snowdon and indeed it's surrounding mountains, and I fell in love instantly again with my new pastime, hiking and walking (and a little running) the mountains of Wales.

I chose to fund raise for Lupus UK and the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team the first year I did a fundraising challenge in my Mums memory (the Mt Snowdon 50 mile ultra) in 2018. Mum had had Lupus and suffered a lot with it, and it was only after she died that I really looked into it and how bad a condition it can be, and it has no known cure. I also found out my Mum suffered from Anxiety particularly over her illnesses, and I never recognized this at the time as I just thought she was over thinking everything.

I in recent years discovered I had Anxiety too and it was getting worse, and I am starting to get to grips with it now on a daily and weekly basis. It has improved quite a bit since I changed jobs to help remove the subconscious stresses and strains from my workplace, that I didn't know at the time were the cause of my troubles.

The week in Wales last year made me realize how much the mountains help regather our peace of mind and a calming of our soul. I despite all the training I did that week loved every minute of being out in the mountains on my own and over coming the challenge of that day. This greatly helped me regain a bit of faith in myself and regain a bit of self respect after starting to feel a bit of a failure not being able to deal with daily life too well.

My day at the Snowdon ultra went well and I finished it, and I loved being out there for the entire 23.5 hrs it took me to complete it! I felt at one with the mountains and with the memories of my Mum while in the area she loved so much. It was worth all the pain of the event itself.

Now in 2019 and with June fast approaching I had another week with my Dad lined up for June in Snowdonia, and I was keen to get out and about again in the mountains. But I also had to come up with a fundraising challenge I could do while I was there, as being there to remember my Mum was the sole purpose of the week, and fundraising in her name was key.

I came up with the idea of going up Snowdon each day we were there, i.e.7 days. Therefore the Snowdon 7in7 challenge was born. I figured it sounded hard enough for people to think I was mad, and hard enough for people to donate to the charity I was fundraising for (This time the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team as the sole charity).

I was confident I could do it after the week I spent there last year training for the 50 miler I climbed 21,000ft+ that week. My issue would be any problem with my knees, as they are my weak point. Too much running and training and I develop problems, too little and I can't get the distance done.

I find having an event or challenge ahead to strive for or look forward to gives me a sense of purpose to go on, and to put up with my troubles. Now having the mountains to look forwards too along with their challenge I had found a new way to help deal with my daily Anxiety problems and any bad days I have.

I have now learnt that my bad times do come in small doses and tomorrow is indeed another day and from experience so far I have always been better the next day. The daily monotony of my work can cause me strife, and I have to use my spare time to do something positive like train for my events and challenges, or to just get out in the outdoors in my time before or after work.

This helps me break the cycle of work day in day out, and a descent into a depressive state if I feel I'm at work all the time and doing nothing else. I am currently struggling with this again at present, and I know I need to get out more on sunny and bright days, so that my memories of the day are not just a day at work.

Anyway, June 1st 2019 and I was finally in Wales for my Snowdon 7in7 challenge with my Dad. Dad was kind enough to drive there and be my daily taxi service to whichever route I was going to do that day. Due to time constraints I had to be dropped off on day one after our 3 hr journey there as we travelled to our destination in Dinas. So he dropped me at Pen y Pass where I was going to take on the Lliwedd route for Day 1.

Day 1 - Ascent of Snowdon via the Lliwed route...will follow soon as I write one blog post a week for each of the 7 ascents, detailing the day, my thoughts, how it helped me and of course some of my favourite pictures from the day.......

Note: As you may have noticed I never did get round to writing the blogs detailing my ascent and descent everyday as I left it too long, and details became sketchy. I have however posted a copy and paste of another blog post from another one of my blogs 'A return to Snowdon' which was a full version of the week, and all dedicated to my Mums memory. I hope you check it out.

I now have a 100% organic cotton clothing online store via TeeMill. All profits from designs on my store go to charities. Some of those charities are mountain rescue teams in Wales itself. Please take a look and share around if possible, and hopefully consider a purchase.

https://shoutoutwear.co.uk/

Same mind, same challenges, but battling it from a different perspective.

 
So it will soon be spring 2019 and as the years pass, so does my youth, my middle age and my ability to run lots and lots for charity, leisure or for my sanity and mental health (mostly the later).

During 2018 I ran less due to my knees slowly but surely not being able to do all the training I really should of been doing in order to satisfy my lust for bigger and better running challenges, and fund raising challenges suited to my abilities.

My biggest challenge in 2018 as many of my friends, family and various blog followers will know was the final realisation of my dream to finally get to, and complete a 50 mile ultra marathon. I had tried to get to the start line of one several times, but knee issues or other injury held me back time after time.

I've never been one to attempt something under prepared or under trained, so after less training and less events overall I enabled my body to recover enough to get me to the start line of the GB Ultras Mount Snowdon 50 mile ultra in Sept 2018.

In order to help get there I undertook a weeks running, hiking and walking up mountains in Snowdonia in Wales in June 2018 whilst on holiday with my Dad. We were there to remember my Mum who had died sadly a year earlier, and we had spread her ashes on the hillside overlooking Llyn Padarn,, Llanberis and Snowdon earlier that year.

On this week of training I undertook a run, walk or hike up a mountain or various mountains almost every day as training for the Snowdon ultra that would be in that area. I took on all the sections of the route in order to familiarize myself with the route visually, as opposed to just on a piece of paper i.e. a big map.

One thing I discovered or rediscovered was my love for the mountains, and their ability to free the mind and soul of all it's troubles, the freedom once up there was amazing and the views helped reinforce my belief that the natural world isn't our enemy, it's ourselves, our lifestyle at times, our often misguided priorities of career, wealth and ownership of shiny new things.

None of which are things we can take with us. The mountains will be there a lot longer than you and me, and I was just a speck on that landscape, albeit hopefully a welcome one.

I have struggled with Anxiety in some form most of my life, but never truly recognized it or understood it or been really crippled by it until the last 3-4 years or so. Running has helped me escape for a short while while the run itself is on and for some hours afterward or if I'm lucky a few days, hence why my blog 'Running for my health'  will continue.

My escapes on a run in my nearby seaside landscapes will still be my quick escape locally when I can, but they are no match for being up a mountain.

I have managed to get some grasp on the illness by recognising it's signs and it's demand on my daily strength and or happiness, and have managed to some extent to keep it's power over me fairly minimal. This was done mostly by recognising it's triggers and getting away from them, i.e. my previous job and years of constant pressure, be it from work or from personal expectations at work.

Changing jobs helped me refocus my efforts in life and affect change by personally making a change for the better by removing my aggressors ability to attack me daily with pressure, self doubt and feelings of worthlessness, whether intended or not.

Now in a new job at a gym around health orientated, friendly and chilled people I was able to focus on my personal daily happiness and concentrate on my overall personal goals, mainly raising money for good charity causes with my physical abilities,with an ability to run like most people, but also to suffer slightly tougher terrain, longer mileage and longer time wise than your typical flat half or full marathon etc.

As I said earlier I managed to achieve my ultimate running goal in Snowdonia, but I don't believe my knees really have the ability to let me do 50 miles or more very often, and certainly not without a price. It has taken from Sept 2018 to March 2019 for me to feel my knees are OK to carry on with challenges, albeit in a new form.....

Therefore the new blog 'Mountains for my mind!'. It reflects the up and down challenges that my mind can often put in my way, but also reflects my ability to tackle and conquer the challenges and the effort required to top them.

If I can do it, then we can all do it and the rewards are great if we try. If we can do it once, we can do it again and must remind ourselves when possible.

I have seen recently a new project from Trail Magazine and Mind the mental health charity and a few other businesses involved called 'Mountains for the Mind'. 

That project is an active encouragement to get people to recognize the benefits of getting out in the fresh air and up hills, mountains and just the general outdoors to find some inner peace, or peace of  mind, especially one that has or is suffering any kind of mental illness or trouble.

I for one after being up lots of mountains last June daily for a week, felt a new found love and appreciation for life and just wanted to get straight back up them the next day. I only planned on a few days up them, but ended up doing 92 miles and 21,600ft of climb over the week.

By the end my knees were a little sore and myself a little tired to say the least, but I was buzzing, and look back regularly at the 500+ photo's I took while up there.

But the big take home for me was despite the sadness of the reason I was there, I re found my love for the mountains, but most important the ability to escape my troubles, and to be able to recharge my soul and mind for the daily battles ahead.

Just like going out running, you get the escape, the feeling of freedom, the rush of endorphins if you are lucky, and a realization that you are truly capable of more than you think.

Being able to push on through your troubles, the tiredness and the effort to get through the dark clouds and reach the peak or the summit, and to look around to see the wonders around you that have been shielded from your view for as long as you can remember is a great blessing, and one you can relive it as often as you manage to get out there.

Just try to remember that when you get through one of your bad days or when you manage to get up that hill or mountain with all the struggle it entails, that you did get through it, you did get to the top, you did manage to stick your head through that dark cloud and say 'I did it!, I did it'. But mostly remember it was not a one off, if you have done it once, you can do it again!

Make that change, join a fell walking club or get a group of friends together with a car or two and see if you can all go together for the day, enjoy the social time in an open but not oppressive social setting with no pressures. If needs be start with a walking or rambling club to build strength and fitness or endurance for mountain climbs, they aren't all as drastic as Snowdon, Ben Nevis or Scafell after all.

Go to the Mountains for the Mind Facebook group and join that for inspiration, look up the Mountains for the Mind website for inspiration from the organizers/promoters of the new initiative.

Click here for the Mountains for the Mind official website.

Purchase one of their new 'Mountains for the Mind' t-shirts just released to promote the initiative (all profits go Mind).

I for one at some point am going to join my local fell walking club subject to being off when they go obviously.

I have also given myself a new fundraising challenge for the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team by trying to climb Snowdon 7 times in 7 days when I return to Wales again in June 2019 with my Dad, to remember and honor my Mum once more. This as always will give me life purpose and drive me on daily to help others.

I hope you can follow me on my personal journey through this fairly infrequent blog, as I face the mountains for my mind, and strive to get out there hopefully with regular doses of mountains as a new way to help deal with my Anxieties, and I hope you can also get out there and feel some of the benefits.