Snowdonia Challenge

Dolwyddelan Station to Capel Curig
4.2 Miles

So,the final leg and Take Five were still chasing a top ten place. At the beginning of the day the team had found out that they were in 10th and so far with no navigation mistakes and a fast pace for the first leg there was a conviction that we would make it one way or the other.

The afternoon route followed a similar path to one taken in a previous year, but the opening half was all uphill. Not steep, but grinding. It didnt help that at one point the check point marshall was chasing us as he had moved off the co ordinates where he was supposed to be. Still, this didnt deter Take Five as they pushed on. Choker took the opportunity eat some flies and then.... well.... choked. Either that or the tears were from the joy of walking uphill.

The rest of the team struck up a conversation and enjoyed themselves as Choker gasped and croaked in an attempt to answer the endless stream of questions sent her way.

Once over the brow of the hill Take Five assumed Kamikaze mode and hurled themselves down a twiting, uneven track at breakneck speed. In fact it was a miracle no-one did break their necks. Even Stumbles held it together long enough to reach the bottom alive. Then it was full speed to the pub Tyn-Y-Coed, the traditional last stop of the challenge.

Everyone felt that they'd given it their all and there was hope we had made the top ten. Alas, it was not to be. Eleventh!!! Amazingly frustrating, but Take Five were only a few minutes off tenth. Darn that bog. But it was still a great finish and the tered crew were pleased as punch. A substantial improvement on the 16th place of the previous year. As is often the case there is a sense of disappointment that the walking had come to an end. Despite the trials of the event and the fact everyone was tired, to a person the team wanted to continue. An indication of the team spirit that had accompanied everyone for the duration of the event.

Betwys-Y-Coed to Dolwyddelan Station
6.1 miles

The start for this leg was right in the town, next to the church. From the map Take Five knew the first leg would involve some steep climbing up through the woods. With careful attention to detail, the team picked its first martyrs.

Last year the final day was a full on sprint. This time things looked more difficult, but for certain everyone was going to be going flat out for the final day. Taps, Mole Grips and Loser led the way charging upo the first steep incline, then speeding up the first steep incline, then walking up the first steep incline, then stumbling and finally groaning up the first steep incline. Taps took the opportunity to lose about a stone in effort. All questioned Loser's un-erring ability to find yet another shortcut which wasnt.

"Look everyones gone left, so lets go right" Loser stated logically as the grass got higher and the bushes thicker. The team finally came out behind the first checkpoint. "IN YOUR FACE!" Loser shouted with good grace at his team mates. Mole Grips joined in the sporting conduct, laughing at the teams that had missed the checkpoint and encouraging them with comments like "Oh dear. Have you gone wrong. Never mind. We didnt...". Taps ability to join in the banter had disolved after he had almost killed himself on the first hill, going various shades of pink and red and adding to the watertable.

It wasnt long though before a combination of lucky navigating and bravado saw Take Five making good time on the descent to the station at Dolwyddelan. Overtaken at one point by a group of speed walkers, the team proved that brains beats brawn every time but taking a hidden shortcut and coming out in front of the speedsters (yes finally a shortcut that worked!). The quizical looks from the speedsters said it all as they overtook Take Five for the second time in ten minutes.

The walk through the valley was very beautiful, not that anyone had much time to appreciate it. Snowdonia really does offer a bit of everything. At the changeover it was almost like a relay race, with Taps taking over support duties and Stumbles and Choker adding a boost in pace for the team.