This time tomorrow I will be on top of Snowden setting up camp.  Then on Saturday at day break we will be off to do the other 14 peaks in the 15 Peaks Challenge.  Wish me luck, it is not too late to sponsor me.

 I have not had much time to BLOG with doing several training weekends on the mountains and three days a week at the gym.  The walk is taking place this weekend, we climb Snowden on Friday the 19th, sleep at the summit and then start off at day break on Saturday,  to cover another 14 peaks all over 3000 feet high, (hopefully) before dark.

From Thursday to Saturday last week, I stayed in Breacon with my family, my good friend Nigel and his two sons, and Ted and Alice Waldron.  Ted had kindly offered to give me a few pointers for the Snowden 15 Peaks Challenge by taking me on a 20km hill walk.

We had a great time camping, real open fires at night, lovely farm with ponds and ducks.  The newest member of the family, BEN the dog had great fun.

Just got back from a Scout Camp and training exercise.  Walked from Brierley Hill to Kinver on Friday night and set up camp just as it was getting dark.  Had a great Night out under the stars with Nigel, Ian and the scouts.

Next day, packed up and hiked to the camp near Kidderminster Safari Park, going zig zag routs cross country to build up the miles.  I think we did about 16 miles on this walk.  It was tough going at times as the path would suddenly change from stiles and rough pathways, to barb wire, electric fences and 6ft nettles where the farmer had forgotten about the public footpath rules so his animals could graze and his spuds could grow I guess.

Got a few injuries when an old rusted through fence collapsed on me, after I had helped a few others over.  Several puncture wounds (barbed wire) later and with aching ribs from the landing, I am OK, but a little wiser and less trusting of ancient gates.

Today the scouts came back by bike to the HQ at Blakedown and I came back with Justine and the boys who picked me up to give them a chance to meet all the scouts.

Great weekend so CHEERS guys, really a great bunch of friendly and helpful kids, and leaders.

You can still sponsor my SNOWDEN WALK, details below…

https://www.charitiestrust.org/members_data/event/frankpeaks/index.html

We started to do some proper hill walk training this weekend.  On Saturday morning we started a climb at 8am to the top of Snowden. Starting in the car park at Pen-y-pass we climbed for six and a half hours doing the entire Horseshoe walk including the assent to Snowden via Crib Goch, which is an amazing high level exposed ridge.  We stopped at the summit of Snowden for lunch, then went down the scrambling descent of scree slopes continuing along the mountain range curving back to the car park.  We had to park a few miles from the car park as it was so busy, which added a good warm up to the hike.

All I can say is that the experience was hard, and probably not the best first walk to do for any one new to climbing and hill walking.  I did it though, and I know with more practice and preparation I can do it faster and more methodically.  I also learned a lot about what to take and what to wear, which was very useful.  I will add some pictures when I get a chance.  If any one knows how many miles the walk is, I would love to know.  I think we did a total of five peaks on this walk, three of them being ones over 3000 feet, that we will have to do for the Welsh 3000s / 15 peaks challenge.

I did all the normal exercise routine yesterday and today.  Also spent the day at the allotment on Sunday, digging and replanting all the strawberries, which was good exercise.  Today though, Justine was kind enough to take the boys out with Janet so I could walk from Brierley Hill to the canal  lock just outside Kinver.  Then I  got on the main Wolverhampton canal and walked to the Bratch Lock in Wombourn before meeting up with Justine at the Railway walk car park.  I managed to out pace all the other walkers I passed and every canal boat going my way, just to make sure I was going fast enough.

I managed to meet up with Kevin for a quick pint, and later we all met up with Rachel and Christian for a swift half before putting the boys to bed.  Good day all round, and really nice weather, actually got sun burn, brilliant!

Today I started to gear up my training so that as well as doing all the normal sit-ups, bench presses and all that, I walked from Brierley Hill to Dudley Zoo. 

This might sound like not much work, but it is about 3-4 miles to Dudley, I would normally have driven, and when I got there I did two circuits of the Zoo and Castle including all the steps and castle tower, some of which with a child on my back.  I met with Justine and the kids in the car park and we had a really nice day out, plus I got the extra exercise.  I just hope I can find the time to keep up the training when I go to visit Spen and Debbie in Weymouth/Portland this week.  If not Snowden will be harder work on Saturday.

It all still feels a bit unofficial, but more official than last week, so progress is limited.  Things are slowly falling info place.  Thanks (yet again) to Richard for his advice and the loan of a proper hiking waterproof, which is brilliant and something I would not get much use out of if I had to buy my own,  much appreciated mat.

I am still awaiting details of the charity side of things.  I know we are generally walking for Acorns Children’s Charity, I would also like to raise some money for Sense.  As soon as I have the details I will be tapping you all for a sponsorship/donation.  I will, if possible, set up a system on-line via one of the charity sponsoring web sites.

Lets call this the official day one as far as the blog goes and I will add as much info as I can on (I hope) a daily basis.  I would also like to thank Spenser for not being miffed that we are cutting our visit short by a day, so I can get to the Snowdonia thing, and to my brother Tony for the same reason, as I have had to put off a visit to him in Bristol on my way home.

http://www.welsh3000s.co.uk/