A more detailed write-up of my experiences of this years Berghaus Dragons Back Race will follow shortly but for now, here is a brief photo diary of my five-day journey from Conwy Castle in North Wales to Llandeilo in the south.

In all, we covered 320km and climbed over 15,000m as we made our way across some of the roughest and toughest terrain the UK and not just Wales has to offer. It was an emotional and painful journey at times but was well worth it to be able to reach the finish, call myself a Dragon Slayer and receive my dragon trophy.

Pre-Race in Conwy

Dragons Back 2019: Kit Packed And Ready To Go
Dragons Back 2019: Race Registration
Dragons Back 2019: Queue For Race Registration
Dragons Back 2019: Giles At Race Registration
Dragons Back 2019: Conwy Castle and The Start
Dragons Back 2019: Conwy Castle and The Start
Dragons Back 2019: Giles Trying To Look Relaxed
Dragons Back 2019: Race Briefing
Dragons Back 2019: Race Briefing
Dragons Back 2019: The Dream Team - Marcus Scotney Coaching Team

Day One: Carneddau, Glyderau and Snowdon Massif – 54km / 4,000m ascent

Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: The Start in Conwy Castle
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: The Start in Conwy Castle
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Conwy Castle Disappearing Behind Us
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Monday Morning Rush Hour!
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Clouds Slowly Lifting on The Carneddau
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Rocky Traverse in The Carneddau
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Clouds Clearing Over The Carneddau
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Final Ascent in The Carneddau
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Descent to Ogwen with Tryfan and Glyderau Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Descent to Ogwen with Tryfan and Glyderau Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Descent to Ogwen with Tryfan and Glyderau Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Descent to Ogwen with Tryfan and Glyderau Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Giles, Jez and Gethin Approaching The Ogwen Support Point
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Giles, Jez and Gethin Approaching The Ogwen Support Point
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Giles, Jez and Gethin Approaching The Ogwen Support Point
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Giles, Getting Ready To Leave The Ogwen Support Point
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Ogwen Support Point with Tryfan Waiting Behind
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Descent Off Tryfan with The Glyderau Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Descent to Pen-y-pass with Snowdon Horseshoe Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Gethin and Jez At The Start of Crib Goch Traverse
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Crib Goch Traverse with Snowdon Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Giles On The Crib Goch Traverse
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Crib Goch Traverse with Snowdon Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Crib Goch Traverse with Snowdon Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Crib Goch Traverse with Snowdon Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Gethin and Jez on The Crib Goch Traverse with Snowdon Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Gethin and Jez on The Crib Goch Traverse with Snowdon Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Jez on The Crib Goch Traverse with Snowdon Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Crib Goch Traverse
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Views From Crib Goch Towards Our Final Climb of Day One
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: View Back to Crib Goch
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Crib Goch in Evening Light
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Camp One Appears In The Valley Below
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Crib Goch in Evening Light
Dragons Back 2019 / Day One: Final Views of Snowdon as We Descend to Camp One

Day Two: The Moelwynion and Rhinogydd – 59km / 3,350m ascent

Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Dawn at The Overnight Camp
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Climbing Cnicht with Views Into The Moelwynions
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Giles On The Summit of Cnicht
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Descent from Cnicht
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: View Back to Cnicht with Day One’s Route Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Summit of Moelwyn Mawr with Cnicht Beyond
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Descent from Moelwyn Mawr
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Descent to Day Two Support Point
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Climbing Through The Rhinogydd
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Climbing Through The Rhinogydd
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Climbing Through The Rhinogydd
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Jez on The Final Summit of The Day
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Final Summit of The Day
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Descending Towards Camp Two
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Descending Towards Camp Two
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Two: Cadair Idris and The Start of Day Three in Evening Light

Day Three: Cadair Idris and Into Mid-Wales – 73km / 3,300m ascent

Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Approaching Cadair Idris
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: In The Cloud On Cadair Idris
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: The Pointless Ba$tard Cairn at the end of The Out and Back
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Steep (Painful) Descent with Machynlleth in the distance
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Climbing Away From Machynlleth and the days Support Point
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Climbing Away From Machynlleth and the days Support Point
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Rolling Runnable Terrain to the South of Machynlleth
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Sunset over Mid Wales
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Sunset over Mid Wales
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Final Summit of The Day
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Sunset over Mid Wales
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Final Summit of The Day
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Final Summit of The Day
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Three: Sunset over Mid Wales

Day Four: Mid Wales and The Elan Valley – 69km / 2,400m ascent

Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: First Sight of The Sun on the Climb Out of Camp Three
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: Rough and Boggy Crossing to The Wind Farms
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: Eerie Views and Creaks and Groans of The Wind Farm
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: Flyby from the RAF
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: Crossing to Cerrig Llwydion
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: Climbing Above Caban-coch Reservoir
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: The Elan Valley
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: Summits of Drygarn Fawr and Fach
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: The Pain of The Road Descents
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: The Pain of The Road Descents
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Four: The Elan Valley

Day Five: The Black Mountain – 64km / 2,100m ascent

Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Giles At The Start of The Final Day
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Giles At The Start of The Final Day
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Crossing The Dam at Usk Reservoir to The Support Point
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Approaching The Black Mountain
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Giles Approaching The Black Mountain
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Crossing The Black Mountain
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Jim Mann Approaching The Summit Checkpoint
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: After Five Days The South Coast Appears!
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Our Final Summit Checkpoint
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Passing Under Carren Cennen Castle
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Giles at The Finish
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Giles at The Finish
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Giles at The Finish
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Giles, Carmine and Stuart - The Norfolk Dragon Slayers!
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Dragon Slayed!
Dragons Back 2019 / Day Five: Dragon Slayed!