16/04/2016 – Snowdon Training

Saturday 16th April Snowdon Training

Good Day!

A quick 10 miles on the bike to Shepton Mallet and return before driving over to West Wick….

Next weekend 150 of us are taking part in Snowdon Hike for Nepal Earthquake One Year Anniversary and as a training prequel to the hike next Sunday I am continuing my cycling as training fitness, and Jason Smith and I decided we would get in a bit of hiking exercise. So we decide we would spend a few hours climbing and walking Crook’s Peak

For a variety of reasons we didn’t manage to catch up with each other and I decided to go it alone,. Driving to The Webbington Hotel & Spa beneath Crook’s Peak I parked the car, put my boots and weather clothing on. By leaving the car park and walking along the lane, to the right there is a path upwards through the bracken, this route is the steepest and shortest to get up to the summit. The clouds were thick and rain was in the air, the wind was cold and blowing strongly. Having got to this point I decided to backtrack to the car park and leave my Nikon in the car, it was too big to run the risk of being caught in rain, and, having left my small rucksack at home, I didn’t want to risk it getting wet. It really did look like the heavens were about to open up. Getting back to the path it was a steep scramble and with all the wet weather we had been having it was muddy and slippery under foot. after a few of hundred feet I joined the bridle path which took me to the plateau beneath the Peak, so it was about half a mile to get up to the summit.

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Its always nice getting to the top of Crooks Peak, even tho it is not “High” in terms of altitude, you have a fabulous view of the surrounding Somerset countryside, looking across to Brent Knoll and Brean Down there are an abundance of places to see and activities to enjoy.

Somerset  Tourist information here: Visit Somerset

I met a group of teenage girls and teachers at the summit, on an orienteering day heading towards  Lyncombe Lodge via parts of the (West)  Mendip Way (Home of the famous “Mendip 31 Challenge”) a gruelling 31 mile trek across the Mendip Hills.

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I felt very elated and at this point felt very close to God…….it was an amazing feeling :-) ………………Leaving the top of Crook’s Peak I  headed across to the “Trig Point”  used in the Good Run Guide where you will find Maps and routes for running this area. Downhill and then up a steeper incline that will certainly make your legs feel like they have been used :-)

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Looking across to the Cheddar Reservoir the views are stunning

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heading down now towards the Car Park that is at the Top of Shute Shelve. Stopped off and then headed out onto the A38 down to Cross and Compton Bishop This would lead me back to The Webbington Hotel & Spa and finish off the walk.

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A good hike up the steep side of Crook’s Peak, all the way across to Shute Shelve down to Cross and Compton Bishop and complete the circuit 8.5 miles. Happy with that. Should stand in good stead for next week.

Look up to the Mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He wont let you stumble, your Guardian God wont fall asleep Psalm 121:1-3 How minute we are when comparing ourselves  to his creativeness……..

Amazingly the weather changed, there was not the rain that threatened at the start of the hike, the sun shone, Gods timing is always so perfect, and allowed me to observe his glory in the surrounding. Things earlier had looked discouraging, but am learning that when you have faith and keep persevering you WILL see reward and blessings from Him…………………..

Am grateful to Pastor Rick Warren for the passage today:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).