The Welsh 3000s Challenge | A solo attempt at the hardest day hike in Wales

My successful solo attempt of the Welsh 3000s challenge.
The Welsh 3000s challenge involves attempting to summit all 15 mountains in Wales above 3000ft within 24 hours.
All 15 mountains are located in Snowdonia National Park and are spread across three mountain ranges: The Snowdon Massif, The Glyderau, and The Carneddau.
The 24-hour time limit starts when you reach your first peak and stops as soon as you reach the last. Depending on the route you take the challenge is around 40-42km in length and involves 3,100m of elevation gain.
However when you factor in the hike up to the first peak and the descent down from the last peak, the challenge is over 50km in length and involves nearly 3,700m of elevation gain.
My attempt was undertaken solo on the 28th August 2022, setting off from the Pen-y-pass at 4:30am with my wonderful partner and dog providing support.
I started the challenge at 5:30am on Crib Goch and despite vlogging the entirety of it by myself, I still managed to complete the route 14 hours 42 minutes. In total I had walked over 50km in just over 17 hours!
A detailed guide to the Welsh 3000s: ohwhataknight....
A blog post on this challenge: ohwhataknight....
Follow my Journey
Instagram: / ohwhataknight_
TikTok: www.tiktok.com...
My Camera Gear
Camera - Sony A7IV
Main Lens - Tamron 28-200m F 2.8 -5.6
Microphone - Rode Video Mic Go
Action Camera - GoPro Hero 8
Drone - DJI Mavic 2S
Peak Design Camera Clip
Neewer Mini Tripod
Timestamps
00:16 Peak 1 - Crib Goch
01:30 Peak 2 - Garnedd Ugain
02:20 Peak 3 - Snowdon
04:46 Nant Peris
05:35 Ascent of Elidir Fawr
07:00 Peak 4 - Elidir Fawr
07:55 Peak 5 - Y Garn
09:40 Peak 6 - Glyder Fawr
10:55 Peak 7 - Glyder Fach
11:55 Peak 8 - Tryfan
12:55 Ascent of Pen yr Ole Wen
14:35 Peak 9 - Pen yr Ole Wen
16:10 Peak 10 - Carnedd Daffyd
16:42 Peak 11 - Yr Elen
17:47 Peak 12 - Carnedd Llewellyn
19:12 Peak 13 - Foel Grach
19:22 Peak 14 - Carnedd Gwenllian
19:40 Peak 15 - Foel Fras

[@grahamfp4068]

Well, a wonderful video. It was my 82nd birthday on the 18th April 2024. 60 (yes sixty) years ago as a member of the RAF Valley Mountain Rescue team, I was asked to guide some members of a visiting team from St Athans around the 14 peaks. From drop off at Pen y Pas to pick up on the Conwy road it was 13 hrs. If I had a drone to play with we would not have made it. I recall tripping on the final trek to the road and just lying there, literally 'flat out; not wanting to get up! I missed the celebrations that night, just crept into my sleeping bag keeping my legs straight to avoid cramp! So this week (18/4/24) I celebrated that and my birthday by going up Snowdon and dow with my wife. Up the PYG track down the Miner's, I think I was the oldest man there?t different nowadays, but what a great job you have done here!"

[@Ant-66]

Sensational video, deserves a million views, you wont see better footage of Snowdonia than this. You should be proud of this video Chris as well as completing this brutal challenge.

[@lewismadden3547]

For someone who has found a love of the outdoors and had begun to visit Snowdonia on my own this video was unbelievable. A personal thank you for the inspiration.

[@amandamunns]

Well done! I tried it last weekend and made it as far as the end of the Glyderau. Hats off to you for completing it, while filming too!

[@dreamerlotus]

Incredible effort there, the views are beautiful. Well done to your Mrs for making breakfast too 😊

[@adamblackford5377]

Top lad! been watching for over a year now and full of top picks of wales and useful info

[@danielramenaden5388]

This is awesome footage. Great stuff.

[@petercollins7848]

Crackin’ video Chris and a really tough challenge completed! You certainly put some effort in there! I did 3 of those 3000ft peaks years ago when I was 60, now in my 70s still doing a bit - Langdales in Cumbria last year. The outdoors, in whatever way you can do it is the best medicine to keep you going whatever age. Great drone footage too, as others have said. You are a superb ambassador for beautiful Wales!

[@ohwhataknight]

Diolch Peter for your kind words. I hope to be as fit as you are when i get to your age. And I agree the outdoors is the best medicine.

[@stephenhiggins8821]

Amazing video and achievement I really enjoyed that thank you for sharing your hike 👌🏻👏🏻

[@rickeeling]

Awesome man, pretty much identical to mine last year. Tryfan to PoW was the killer. I'm off again this summer, determined to chip an hour or two off it. Pen y pass 4 Crib goch 5.28 Garnedd Ugain 6.13 Snowdon 6.31 Elidir Fawr 10.04 Y Garn 11.15 Glyder Fawr 12.19 Glyder Fach 12.52 Tryfan 14.19 Pen y Ole Wen 17.09 Carnedd Daffyd 17.41 Yr Elen 18.51 Carnedd Llewelyn 19.28 Foel Grach 19.57 Carnedd Gwenllian 20.19 Foel Fras 20.49 carpark 10.3

[@naturesquest1]

Wow 👌 such great video with amazing shots. So beautiful 😍 good effort. 👍 I always wait for your video.

[@gregcooper2719]

I’ve followed you on insta for a while but never seen your KZbin before! This is incredible, I have so much respect for anyone who completes this challenge, completing one major range in a day is a feat in itself! Love the story of this, and the drone footage is incredible! I was meant to be in Snowdonia tomorrow but a knee issue that started last week had me seeing an oncology specialist yesterday who’s booked me an MRI… I think other climbing the odd peak or 2 in a day, my only involvement in the 3000s would be driving the support car for someone else!

[@eprohoda]

Omg. amazing shots. faewell, Chris!

[@edo.69floyd40]

Well in Chris good going there pal 👏 Footage was amazing. Going to give it a go in May or June. That was a good insight on what's in store 👍

[@mctfitnesshomeworkouts7790]

Completed the Welsh 3000 on Sunday just gone with a friend. This vlog really inspired me to do it. So much detail. Your guide was also bang on too! I had your voice in my head on the way round 😂 Thanks Chris, this deserves a million views 😍

[@sergeram1436]

Wonderful wonderful video, this has brought back so many memories , i bailed out the first time i did it, carried too much gear but completed it on 2nd attempt this was 25 years ago.Well done Chris , absolutely stunning video

[@BritainsfullofPostTurtles]

Fantastic video. Great content. Fantastic all round.

[@MicroFourNerds]

Really enjoyed this! Loved the Misty footage. It would take me a year to hike what you did in a day 🤣 very well done

[@James-ec7qx]

Awesome video. Crazy you carried a drone, go pro and massive camera with you too, good effort!

[@MrMas9]

Really incredible video dude! Amazing effort and so many beautiful shots

[@martw.5938]

:OOOO UNBELIEVABLE! WELL DONE, MWSH!

[@billykemp5327]

Well done Chris, once again a great video put together with fantastic views and editing skills. I completed the 3000's back in June 2013 and to this day its the hardest hike Ive done.

[@BaqPaqJaq]

Great video. Spooky start in the dark fog! Love the drone shots (my channel is hikes and drones too 🤣). The views you had are totally worth that hike. Look forward to your next epic edit 👏👏👏

[@benjyjohns]

Brilliant Adventure!! All that whilst filming! some guy! Well done mate

[@mikeyburnsmb]

Top work on this video, love it mate. Going off to do it in 2/3 weeks with two mates to raise money for multiple charities. Doing exactly the same route you've done similar timings (we hope!)

[@AWalkInTheWild1]

one of the best videos ive seen on here, well done its superb

[@johnstevens4905]

Great video Chris and absolutely stunning views.

[@anthonyryall6145]

Attempting this on the weekend!

[@honourandvalour]

wow stunnng well done mate give ya self a gold star :) glad you had the weather on your side

[@adamradford2285]

Amazing achievement and really well filmed. I’m not fit enough to do this but my goal is to hike all 15 eventually. I’m on 8 so far.. thanks a lot for sharing

[@michaelpennington147]

That route down Glyder Fach (11:20 in the video) is soooooo underestimated. This is what brought my Welsh 3000s to an end. 😩. Great video though, I used this endlessly whilst preparing for my attempt.

[@melaniefrost6553]

Well done Chris !! 🤗 Your drone footage is the best in showcasing the magical beauty Wale's has to offer ..You capture it all so perfectly ..Your girlfriend is a star ✨ too for helping you complete ✅👍 your journey ..Looking forward to the next one 😊

[@stevegoody3744]

Great effort, fantastic film.

[@stevenbunney3621]

Outstanding video footage and great information. Keep up the great work Chris 👏👏

[@blindskaterkev]

Stunning footage and captured the beauty and journey so well. Fantastic job Chris 👏

[@dianeiles6348]

Incredible achievement Chris and beautiful footage! Wow! Thanks you!

[@luketreharneTi7s]

Incredible edit Knighty! 🙌

[@Point5TV]

Great video, taking time to get thoes shots while doing the 3000's is extra special. Nice one!

[@TheAbc1400]

Wicked video, really shows off the beauty of wales! Keep up the good work!

[@ervinslens]

Absolutely gorgeous solo adventure my friend, shots and atmosphere are gorgeous. Well done 🔥🔥

[@abbeydurrans2266]

Good job fella 👍

[@erolhassan5346]

Nice vid

[@garethjames1254]

Nice views

[@toonburg111]

Epic challenge completed once again mate. Awesome video as always 👍

[@inforahulanand]

great video

[@rebeccayeates7258]

Amazing footage Chris! Really enjoyed watching this. Thank you for showcasing our beautiful country!

[@The-Sketchy-Dude]

Nicely done dude. Your videos give me inspiration and awesome tips, especially car parking etc. Thanks dude 🍻

[@BrianMaiden-o9c]

Fantastic achievement and a brilliant video, Well Done Chris my mate!!!

[@hikesome]

Great shots and a wonderful production Chris! The scenery looks stunning out there and congrats on summiting!

[@alihire]

Great work. I’m planning this for this summer. Although I am going to do it in “reverse”. Wild camp atop Foel Fras and then get going at daybreak. Dump gear in my car on the A5 before heading up Tryfan and the Glyderau.

[@jameseastwood4984]

Interesting, do you know why people usually do it from the Snowdon end? Is it to avoid being on Crib Goch at night?

[@alihire]

@@jameseastwood4984 starting on Snowdon is the more traditional way and the only route considered for record attempts (I will just be glad to finish). I’m doing it in reverse for a few reasons; 1. I’m really familiar with the Snowdon range and the Glyderau. But less so with the Carnedd side. I don’t want to get lost in the dark over that side. 2. Starting at Foel-Fras means that by the time I hit the A5 I’ll have completed nearly half of the summits without having done much elevation gain. It’ll be a moral booster for me. 3. Given that I’ll have all my wild camping stuff with me until I can dump it at the car, starting that end means I don’t have to carry it along Crib against the flow of traffic. There are downsides though. Mainly that my ascent to Crib, Garnedd Ugain and Snowdon will be done at the end, when I’m at my most tired.

[@theunknownfishermanuk8060]

Brilliant video mate, I’m attempting it this May. After watching this I want to do it tomorrow lol

[@anthonyryall6145]

Did you complete it?thinking of tackling it in the next 2 months

[@theunknownfishermanuk8060]

@@anthonyryall6145 yes mate we did in 18hrs and 33mins

[@skyvlogger]

Very good video 👍

[@andrewg344]

Fantastic ❤

[@jasonculleton9061]

Great video! Doing this July 23

[@Rattalicious1]

Absolutely outstanding 👏

[@lewismellings6442]

Brilliant video mate 👍🏻

[@jasonculleton9061]

Great effort Chris! I’m planning on doing this next summer. Is there a map of the route and what’s the best time of the year? I would imagine close to the longest day? 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@ashleyderevnin7933]

I would call them the Welsh 914s.

[@garethjames1254]

You must knackered lol

[@aammmarcin]

Brilliant. What coat are you wearing?

[@ohwhataknight]

Its by a brand called Fohn which is on Wiggle

[@harryc1567]

Do you use strava so I can steal the route?

[@lean2281]

You are an animal