Everest & Island Peak 2010 Challenge

As part of our training we have teamed up with a friend who knows the Brecons like the back of his hand. Matt is used to plenty of physical endurance work and promises to put us through our paces. With only 6 weeks until the mountain trail challenge, we need every bit of help and motivation. Then, 4 weeks later its the big one for Cancer Research UK in the Everest region.

Friday evening, we drive up to a pub alongside a road in the mid of the black mountains. It's 9pm and on the back of a hard working week- Daz and I are feeling a little apprehensive for the trek ahead of us. After meeting up with Matt, we sample a pint of the local tipple whilst pawing over the maps agreeing the route.

The rain has held off on the journey up from Northampton but now threatens to open up- perhaps starting as it means to carry on. We finish of our pints and head back to the cars to pick up the rucksacks and head off to walk to our first rendezvous point. The packs are pretty heavy as we have food, drink and camping kit for 2 days unsupported in the mountains.

"You don't want to be messing around up there in the mist"

As we leave the pub, the landlord offers us some words of caution and shows us some photos of some steep ledges and escarpments. "You don't want to be messing around up there in the mist", he says. "How are you going to walk up there in the dark?" he asks, as if probing our credentials. Matt pipes up; "Oh, we'll be OK. We'll take it steady, one foot in front of the other. Find a suitable basha spot and camp up for the night". Seemingly convinced, the landlord offers his farewells and we depart.


First camp was approximately 4km away. We headed up past the old caving club, around the quarry and up towards the tree line. The rain had now started to fly at us along with an increasingly determined wind. Stopping behind a fallen stone wall, we put on our waterproofs and take a checkpoint on the map. We've taken a wrong turn at that last gate, not a problem, just need to track back and pick up the trail again. We decide to pick up the pace a little and begin jogging on the flatter pathways.

After a few hours, and dodging several pot-hole entrances, we arrive at our first RV- a small clearing in a wooded area. We are south west of Fan Fawr and some distance from Story Arms- our main objective for the Saturday walk.

We set about raising camp, treading down the boggy grass, unrolling our sleeping mats and putting up our protective covers. Bivvy bags and sleeping bags make up our outdoor hotel luxuries! The rain begins to hold off- its wet in camp, best just to get used to it. We sit down on our packs and enjoy a beer- thanks to Daz and Matt for smuggling these through! Just what was needed before getting our heads down. It's now 1 am- we are up early to head out for the big one on Saturday.

Saturday AM to follow...

We wake up pretty much about the same time as the sun and forest wild life rise. A fairly good nights sleep- all things considered. Matt and I were out like lights and had good sleeps. Daz on the other hand spent much of the night slipping down a slope in his sleeping bag and rolling over between some hidden rocks. Not quite the Hilton!



We get our personal admin in order and begin to pack down the camp. Today, everything is wet. I decide that wet is normal and dry is a bonus/ luxury. This is a good option as trousers, boots and feet were far from dry as we trudged through marshy soggy ground.

We decide that we'll march on a few miles before breakfast- perhaps a mistake as the route ahead is big land, steep inclines and descents with heavy going under foot. We will need the energy for this- well I certainly will!




We decide that we'll all take our own routes on this leg, at our own pace. Matt heads off on the high pass, bearing around the side of the Fawr and picking up a trail. Daz heads closer down nearer to the resevoir and then takes a sharper descent route. I head pretty much between the two trying to pick up good trails and ground where possible.

We decide to run a little on the down hills, just passing the cattle grid, I manage to turn an ankle. Quick sharp pain, nothing serious but I could feel it. Time to get the paracetemols and Ibruprofen out! That should sort it out for a few hours.


At this stage, my thoughts begin to turn to how much physical preparation we have done already for Island Peak (imja tse). Is it enough? Should we be doing more, different training etc. A steep hill shakes me back to the situation as a begin to feel the thigh burn. I know we need to do more physical work, but how can we fit it all in around our demanding jobs and family lives? A dilema, one we discuss as a group on the return leg.

This leg would beva good chance to practice our own navigation skills. Practicing feature navigation we mentally build a picture of the terrain and tick off passed features such as streams and escarpments. This helps with getting a good feeling for where you are in the landscpe and linking this back to the map.

Matt's experience,prep and fitness pays off, he sets a blistering pace and soon dissapears over the ridges and out of sight. I can see Daz begining a steep ascent of the side of Fan Fawr. I must be at least 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile to his left and need to turn west soon to get on the right bearing to pass through the saddle and head towards Storey Arms. My trail appears fairly well trodden so I think i'll make up the distance and catch Daz up as his route looks heavier under foot and perhaps slower. True enough, Daz and I converge on the hill overlooking Storey Arms. Here we stick together, deciding to run in the last down hill down to the Car park. Concentration is needed here, one foot in the wrong place with these heavy packs on our backs could mean a painful injury and a cancelled trip!

In the car park- a much needed cup of tea was waiting. Matt, arriving ahead of Daz and I was catching up with his rest and was chilling on his unrolled sleep mat.



Matt offers us some yoda-like advice on running which lightend the mood..."running is like walking, only faster". Wise words indeed - surety under foot is improving but I think Daz and I need to run more up and down hills!
Return leg to follow....