 Those are the dates, we know the route, so who's coming and can we thrash out some plans?
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 I'm coming.
Regarding plans. I am easy.
I just know not to bother with a summit bivvi on Snowdon to start. I think a (very) early start and a plod through the day would fit the bill.
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Did you know the record is 03:27:20 ? Good luck.
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 I really hope that record's 3 weeks, 27 days and 20 hours...
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Amazingly its 3 hours, 27 minutes and not in a helicopter either.
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 I'm keen, but I may not be able to get away from the mister and the kids. However,the way we did it last time worked well.
As Alex says, a very early start (4:00 or 5:00 a.m.) at Pen y Pas, with checkpoints/support vehicles with drinks and snacks, and where people can stop if they want a shorter challenge.
I'd suggest these should be at Nant Peris just before the awful slog up Elidr Fawr, and on the A5 near Tal y Lyn Ogwen between Tryfan and Pen Yr Ole Wen.
I'd expect the whole thing to take between 13 and 18 hours for normal mortals.
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To be honest I was looking more towards 18 hours than 13.
Hopefully my toe will be fully recovered by then. Lets see what this weekend does to it.
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Is this the route that you're planning on taking ? If only I could get away from my family responsibilities for the weekend...
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 If only I could get away from the Dolomites for this weekend...
Wrong word, but: Enjoy.
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Looking at it probably yes.
Like I said I am easy, but to stimulate a proper debate about the final route we should take...
Up Snowdon's Pyg Track and then back along Crib Goch, down it's North Ridge and then up Elidir Fawr onto the Gylderau.
I think that we should go down the side of Tryfan and across the road and up the East Ridge of Pen Yr Ole Wen to get onto the Carneddau.
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I think up Crib Gogh, to Snowdon, along by the railway until you can drop down to the road near the start of the track up Elidr Fawr.
I agree with Drew on Tryfan & Pen Yr Ole Wen; down via the Heather terrace for interest, then up the East ridge of PYOW via Fynnon Loer.
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 I'm free!!
ANd as mentioned before, more than happy to provide the intrepid with moral and physical support along the route.
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Alison, I was thinking of the other side of Tryfan, down the scree run. Not great but fast and gets it over with. Also closer to Idwal Cottage for a cup of tea and a proper toilet stop ;-)
Also well said that man, Darren!
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 If all goes according to plan, Andy and I will be along, with Rach offering to do some support and refuelling in the valleys.
If the weather obliges, we're going for the bivvy start. To be honest if the weather's lousy I'm heading directly for Pete's Eats for a monster omelette (made, presumably, from vegetarian monsters).
We were planning on some gentle trotting but nothing spectacular!
There is a very entertaining book called "The Welsh 3000ft Challenges" or something of that elk by Ron Turnbull and Roy Clayton that has a wealth of good information re routes and variations. It's only £6 and worth it for the inspiration - it's also very funny in places, like much of Turnbull's writing.
Generally those wanting the faster times start on Snowdon, do C-y-Ddysgwl and Crib Goch before backtracking to Bwlch Glas and descending into upper Cwm Glas. Then down to the Pass and along to the Elidir, round the Glyders and along the scree below Bristly Ridge to Tryfan. From the summit, the fastest descent is down the W gully from the summit - brutally steep though.
Disturbingly enough the fastest time from tryfan summit to the Oggy road is about 7 minutes! Donnely took a lazy 13 mins when he set the new record time in 1988...
From the road the quickest way is up the horrible path from Oggy Cottage to Pen yr Ole Wen summit, but as you say the east ridge variant is much more pleasant. After that it's self explanatory to Drum.
Now, if only it was as easy to do as to type it's in the bag already! Doh.
Hope it's not as hot as it is today or we'll be in trouble!
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Andrew - are you sure it isn't the Welsh 1000m race which did have a fastest time of 3:37:56 in '96?
Colin Donnely took 4hr 19 in 1988 for the 3000s, as far as I know that still stands. If someone's beaten it by nearly an hour they would have been superhuman....
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 I'm in too.
I am not bothered about the bivvy either, and am happier to start earlier. If we go S-N, I'd also recommend doing Crib Goch on the way up, makes for an easier and quicker descent.
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I can see the idea behind a summit bivvi, and see it's benifits, but personally I see it as more of a challenge to do it in "one go". I tried it last time and you have to get to the top very early to get a good bivvi spot...I didn't last year and it put the kybosh on the whole event.
The real purists start from the south of Snowdon and go up it up the Gladstone (or whatever it's called) path. Personally an early start is my favoured option.
I think that the more the merrier and the more different styles of doing it the better. Some may favour a quick run, starting later, others may want to opt for a slow plod. It's down to each person individually isn't it.
Maybe all the OM-ers undertaking this this weekend (or just out walking in Snowdonia that time) could have say a red cloth hanging from their rucksack so others undertaking the challenge could see someone else who is doing the walk...and then it'd make the completing of it easier as we wouldn't be in one big group geting frustrated or guilty or whatever AND would make meeting up in the pub at the end of the day a lot easier.
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Alex, if you go down the scree on the west side of Tryfan to Idwal Cottage, you'll end up going up the south ridge of Pen yr Ole Wen, which is a slog. I think it's morale boosting to keep the ascents interesting, and I liked your idea of the east ridge scramble up Pen yr Ole Wen, which is fast and fun. The walk in from there starts at Tal y Lyn Ogwen at the foot of the north ridge of Tryfan. The heather terrace is fast and direct to there from Bwlch Tryfan. I know you have to retrace your steps a bit to get to the Bwlch, but it doesn't take long, and you'd have to go back a bit to get onto the screes the other side too.
The support vehicles should be strategically placed with tea.
I like the idea of a red cloth. I think the group will be too big and too varied in speed and aspirations to even think of staying together. I expect people will naturally split into small groups of people similar to themselves, so an identifier is a good idea.
I think there should be a check-in, check-out system so that the support crew have some idea of who is taking part. There should be a way of knowing if people are missing or overdue, even in a loosely organised event like this.
From previous experience, people will turn up who cannot navigate, are inappropriately equipped and are expecting to be led. This may be at odds with the aspirations of more experienced participants. Some thought needs to go into the handling of that. Either people should be advised that they must take complete responsibility for themselves, or there should be a organised led party.
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What about OM providing a bib or sash with "www.outdoorsmagic.com" on it for each participant. Loads of free advertising and we'll certainly recognise each other then !!
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