Everest Training - Brecon Beacons August
Friday Night
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.
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...
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...
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