Nearing 10:30, we reached the base of Scaffel Pike. After a few minutes stretching out our muscles and using the toilets, our team piled one-by-one back into the van, setting off for our final peak. So long, England. Snowdon, bring it on.
Snowdon, Wales
After a long drive through the countryside of England, we began to see the roadsigns change around us from English to Welsh. The time was drawing near - excitement rose as we realized how close we really were to being finished. Along the way, we had encountered a number of setbacks that led to increased driving time, leaving us now with about two hours of climbing time for Snowdon. The 3 Peaks standard for Snowdon is four hours, and we had agreed that if we did not meet the actual 24-hour deadline, we would still credit ourselves with completing the challenge as long as our total hiking time was under 14 hours.
Black rock and forest green grass painted the landscape as we hugged the edges of mountains, winding our way towards the start. A few of us decided to go as quickly as we could on Snowdon, trying our hardest to still complete under the 24-hour deadline. As we arrived at the base of the trail, we quickly jumped out of the van and started on our final ascent. Our legs were sore and tired, our bodies telling us to stop, but we pressed on.
I had decided to stow away my camera for the sake of time, so unfortunately I did not take any pictures on Snowdon. The beauty that surrounded us here was, in my opinion, the most astounding of all the peaks. Clouds swirled above us around the looming peak, and vast green valleys stretched for miles. After climbing up what was probably the biggest incline of the hike, we crossed through a small tunnel and I was met with a view that took my breath away. Merely a few feet in front of me, a steep drop-off extended hundreds of feet down to the valley floor, and I was surrounded by towering mountains. I frequently checked my watch, looking with dread as every precious second ticked by. As I neared the summit, the time read 18:25. I figured I would have around 30 minutes to try to make it all the way back down the mountain.
Finally, I reached the top. The view was impossible to comprehend, especially in such a brief time. I only had about 2 minutes before I had to start back down. I drank as much water as I could, ate some chocolate, and started the descent. I passed Brian and he shouted out how much time I had, encouraging me to give it all I had. I am so thankful for the team that we had, all offering encouragement and a healthy dose of competition, pushing each other beyond what we thought we were capable of.
There were many moments on the way down that I considered giving up on the run, especially once I realized I could not make the deadline. However, I knew that the rest of the team was not giving up, and I wanted to give it all I had. I thanked the Lord for a body that functioned, for the opportunity to push myself to new limits. The trail seemed to go on and on, but finally, I neared the finish. As the end came into sight, I gave it all I had. At last, the 3 Peaks Challenge was completed! I laid down, resting, knowing that I had given my all and pushed myself to the max. One by one, the rest of the team finished, all crossing the finish line with a satisfied smile and wide eyes. We all celebrated with some much needed Subway, and then settled in for the ride home.
Although we were right back to the real world the next day, we wouldn't forget what we had experienced out on the mountains. There is nothing like that feeling of utter "smallness," that reminder that there is far more out there than your own life and world. We remembered that this life is not about us, and that is what made the whole thing worth it.
From time to time, we all need to be reminded just how small we are.
