No Lakeland Fells today as I'm on a bit of a time schedule plus the forecast favoured the Welsh mountains this morning. It was cloudy when I left home at 5:00am but the further west I drove the more the skies cleared and by the time I had reached Conwy dawn had broke leaving blue skies for as far as the eye could see. I arrived at Marchlyn Mawr Reservoir access road at 6:45am finding the parking spaces unusual busy but with that said, there wasn't another soul around and I was able to kit up in peace and quiet with hazy views of the Welsh coastline in the distance.

A pair of croaking crows parted the silence as I locked my boot before beginning the 400ft, three-quarter mile leg strechter up the access road towards Marchlyn Bach Reservoir from where I'll begin my ascent on Elidir Fach.

I marched steadily up the access road and by the time I had reached the right turn for the reservoir I was steaming, mainly due to starting the walk double layered so off came the long sleeved baselayer now that the morning temperatures were starting to rise, I also pulled out my buff which I wrapped around my left wrist which would allow me to wipe the sweat away, I was oozing in it.

Elidir Fawr came into view as the sun continued to climb into a cloudless sky causing a further increase in temperature the higher it climbed. Gaining Elidir Fach is always a steady plod with 900ft to gain before the ridge is reached proper, gaining its parent peak Elidir Fawr always seems the easier option personally. The breeze was a huge welcome as I kicked it down a gear and plodded towards the summit shelter.

I left Elidir Fach in great spirits heading for one of two paths that ascend directly onto the summit plateau. It's a steady ascent steepening half way through but by that time the summit rocks are in view enticing the walker to keep going.

It was here I was passed by two local girls in descent who switched from their local dialect after hearing my Lancashire 'morning' the girl in tow apologised for taking her time in descent, I tried to laugh it off by saying 'I'm much the same' which really isn't that far from the truth.

With my breath regained I was able to soak my view over Foel-goch, Y Garn and The Glyders, jeez the cloud rolling down the back of Foel-goch was mesmerising.

I turned east and began rock hopping over boulder to reach the summit shelter while noticing three lads in ascent, happen we're going to reach the summit at the same time.. The young lads had a couple of minutes on me and were stood on t'other side of the shelter which, on entering the shelter I instantly knew why. "It's covered in dead flying ants" one lad shouted "aye I replied" and I joined them. Two of the lads were stood up whilst one was sat down - One of the lads explained that they were walking the Welsh 3,000 footers so I replied "Oh I'm about three quarters through mine" but I soon learned that they weren't walking them in separate walks, they were doing the Welsh 3,000 footer challenge today.

That's 14,000ft of total ascent spread over 30 miles, my jaw almost dropped out of my mouth. I had nothing but pure admiration for the trio who I learned had already scaled the Snowdon Range after setting off at 4:00am "how long have you given yourselves" I asked? fifteen hours but we're on track to complete in twelve one replied, that said, one of the trio was complaining that he was feeling sick his mates just laughed it off.

I'd taken a nasty twist to my left ankle during my descent of Carnedd y Filiast so severe it almost twisted my knee at the same time half expecting to hear the snap I somehow arrested the inevitable and walked it off, my ankle I thought, must have rubber joints, I had been especially lucky although while typing this bruising is starting to appear along with some swelling, although unsightly it's my bodies way of healing.

I took the descent easy, forgetting about the discomfort at times as my nose was filled with the scent of heather. I had made great time almost completing the walk in less than four and a half hours before I'd get back to the car passing just three walkers in the opposite direction. My view of the Welsh coastline returned still tinged with haze but extensive nonetheless. With less than a mile to go the feeling of cheating the walk played on my mind 'why didn't I summit Foel-goch' playing over and over but all I had to do was rewind just an hour where my view was of mountain paradise the silence split only by a dozen squabbling ravens below.