If you are looking for a challenge...

Looking for a Challenge? Feel that one mountain just isn't enough? How about having a go at the Prostate Cancer Research Centre 3 Peaks Challenge?

Pen y Fan

The cumulative effect of 2864m (9397 ft.) of ascent and about 35km (20miles) of hill walking plus 180 miles of driving on Welsh rural roads makes this a demanding and arduous Challenge. Completing the challenge successfully will require participants to have confidence in their physical fitness as well as experience and knowledge to safely navigate both ascent and descent routes on each of the mountains. We will however deploy highly experienced Mountain Leaders on each of the 3 Peaks to provide help or support where required.

Cadair Idris

Participants will have to plan their arrival at the start point for Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons and the onward driving routes to Cadair Idris and then to Llanberis. The typical average driving time (without any major hold-ups) from Cardiff to Pen Y Fan is about 1 hour and it´s sensible to allow 2.5 hours to reach Cadair Idris and a further 1.5 hours to arrive at llanberis.

Snowdon

You will either provide your own transport (and driver) to complete the course or if you prefer you can opt to use one of the mini-buses (including an experienced driver) we provide at an additional cost of just £25. Teams or individuals may take part in this challenge event but those participating on their own or without a driver may want to make use of the mini - bus service.

Everyone taking part in the PCRC Welsh 3 Peaks Challenge will be provided with a comprehensive Information and Support Pack including durable laminated (all weather) mapping for each of the 3 peaks to aid navigation for ascent and descent routes.

About Prostate Cancer Research Centre The Prostate Cancer Research Centre researches the causes of and treatment for prostate cancer and the Centre needs to raise funds to continue with this research to help improve the survival rates and quality of life for men affected by prostate cancer. Our research focusses on three key areas: understanding development and progression of the disease; identifying men who will benefit from treatment; and the actual treatment of the disease. (Registered No: 802545) For more information, see http://www.timeoutdoors.com/Challenges/Closed/PCRC-Welsh-3-Peaks-Challenge?cmp=newsletter_43_challenges

Great Images of the Island Race Now Available

For the second year, the Island Race (Anglesey Half Marathon) was a great success yesterday, Sunday the 3rd of March. The start was the crossing of one of North Wales' most iconic landmarks, the Telford Suspension Bridge. The bridge was closed to vehicles for the event, as was much of the course. Most of the runners thought this quite exceptional, which bodes well for next year. You can see a video below and purchase a series of individual photos here. Unfortunately Peter didn't compete!

Hurrah for Private Enterprise

Mike Smart, the gentleman who set up Treksmart (geddit?) has launched an innovative Walking Festival in May at Llangollen. Details can be seen on http://www.treksmart.net/llww.html

Other walk leaders are Sarah Jones and Chris Grier. The walks can be booked online and paid for by credit card or Pay pal.

It's a wind up!

Another great gadget that I have come across is a shower proof radio that you can power by the sun or you can wind it up. What makes it specially handy for walkers is the integrated high power torch and the ability to charge up other devices using the hand crank. You wouldn't want to carry this up a mountain, but if you were a camper I can see that it would be very useful. See www.gadgetsUK.com

Ramblers Launches a Library of Walks

The Ramblers have launched a new online library of walking routes as part of a new look website for the charity. There are 1000 walks online with OS mapping and GPX data together with route cards. The site aims to be a one stop shop for all things walking.

For example, this is an illustration of the GPX data available for the Aber Falls Walk. Information available for walkers is getting more plentiful every day, and this is good news.

Life Boats kept busy in 2012

The latest RNLI statistics reveal that the charity and its volunteers were busy in Wales in 2012. Lifeboat crews across Wales spent 10,993 hours at sea in 2012 rescuing 925 people. The busiest station in Wales was Trearddur Bay with 65 launches. They rescued 73 people during the year, a 35% increase on the previous year. Meanwhile, it was the volunteer RNLI crew at Rhyl who rescued the most people in Wales with 80 people saved. To learn more visit www.rnli.org.uk.

Photos courtesy of the RNLI

Calling all old Gaffers

When I was in Holyhead last summer doing preparatory work for the Cruise Project, I came across a sailing event organised by the Old Gaffers Association. No, not a bunch of pensioners, but an organisation dedicated to promoting gaff rig (a type of old sailing boat) which was in danger of disappearing when the group was founded in 1963. A Gaff Rig is where the main sail has 4 sides rather than the triangles you see on most modem boats. The 'gaff is the wooden pole across the top of the sail. It's a pretty old type of rig, and early in the 20th century it was largely replaced by the triangular Bermudan rig, which was thought more efficient. 

You will get a chance to see these marvellous boats in 2013 because they are to sail along the Welsh coast in May to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Gosh, is it really 50 years since 1963 and the Beatles and all that? To celebrate this landmark in the history of the preservation of traditional gaff rig these lovely boats will be out on parade! Members will be sailing their boats round Britain all summer long and they will be joined by Old Gaffers from the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Some members will complete the Round Britain Challenge which is a 4 month long circumnavigation of Britain, calling at many Ports, whilst others accompany the Round Britain fleet on part of its way in their area in the form of a Relay carrying tokens from area to area.

The association's main website is at http://www.oldgaffersassociation.org/index.htm, and the page dedicated to their 50th anniversary celebrations is at http://oga50.org/