Snowdon

Martin, Andy and Marcus decided that they wouldn't attempt Snowdon, since we would be under severe time pressure

We arrived at Pen-y-Pass with exactly four hours left. I was ready to go the moment we stopped in the car park. Tom fiddled for several minutes changing. Jeremy arrived 5 minutes after us and ran to join us from the car. Richard was nowhere to be seen. The next few minutes were like a Brian Rix farce. I said to Tom that I was starting and that they should catch me up. Tom set off to catch me up. Jeremy, thought I had joined up with one of the other Challenge teams and was heading up the Miners Track when in fact I had gone up the Pyg Track. Jeremy, ran after Tom and convinced him I was going the other way. So they went up the Miners Track. I kept looking behind expecting them to catch me up at any moment, but they were nowhere to be seen.

I ascended Snowdon on my own. This was fine at first, because the weather conditions were reasonable and I could go at my own pace. I made good progress, stopping every half hour for a drink of water and a piece of Kendal Mint Cake. By the time I got to the zig zags the conditions had changed it began to rain, the wind picked up and the path became less well defined. I guessed my way to the summit and had to summon every ounce of energy I could to make it to the trig' point. It was hard and how I wished that the Challenge could end at this point. I was soaked again and feeling very cold.

I set off on the descent with two hours left, I knew I could descend in time, it was the only thing that kept me going.Within 5 minutes of starting my descent Jeremy, Tom and Richard appeared in the mist. I agreed to wait at the top of the zig zags so we could descend together. It seemed an extremely long five minutes before Tom reached the monolith at the top of the zig zags. I set off down immediately, Tom, Richard and Jeremy in my wake.  Jeremy, convinced me that the Miners Track was the best way down. We picked our way down the zig zags and as soon as we got to the made path I jogged and walked as fast as I could. I wanted to make absolutely sure I finished within 24 hours.

Needless to say I was relieved to get back to the Car Park at Pen-y-Pass, 23 hours 40 mins after starting the ascent of Ben Nevis, and even more relieved to soak in a hot bath in the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel. Tom finished in 23 hours 43 mins, and Jeremy and Richard in 23 hours 47 mins.

Never, ever, ever, ever again!

Well at least not this year.......