PEN-Y-FAN

BRECON BEACONS

Wednesday  28  November  2001

Wednesday 28 November just happened to be Paul Saunders  43rd birthday. He wanted to do a birthday walk, so he arranged with Fran and me to go to Pen-y-Fan.  Most paths to Pen-y-Fan had been opened on November 16 after months of closure due to the Foot & Mouth epidemic.

Paul and I got to Storey Arms at about 10.15 am expecting to see Fran waiting. Alas, no Fran and still no Fran at 10.45 am. A telephone call ascertained that Fran's vehicle had broken down and unfortunately she couldn't join us. A great pity.

We kitted up and proceeded to ascend via the path to Y Gyrn. The weather was quite nice and on the way up views west opened up to us  Fan Fawr being most prominent.  The path construction here is quite comfortable, easier underfoot than the Pont-ar- Daf path!  Photographs were always in our minds and as Paul strode briskly upwards I managed to get a photo for him.  We deviated from the "popular" path to the path which took us to the summit of Y Gyrn. After crossing the stile, a lovely view of Pen-y-Fan was presented. The walk down the slope between the peat hags was very nice, and soon we were rising again towards the Tommy Jones Obelisk.  The weather was now just beginning to deteriorate, becoming colder and the wind increasing.  At the Obelisk we stopped for some food. It was at this point I gave in to the conditions and had to put my coat on to fend off the cold wind which was blowing from the direction Storey Arms.  Llyn Cwm Llwch below presented one of the last decent photos of the day.  Looking towards Corn Du, the view was grim with the cloud now obscuring the top. We all but gave up continuing to the summit, but Paul's desire to have some birthday cake on the summit of Pen-y-Fan kick-started us into continuing.  We could only see about 30m ahead, and as the slope increased, my right heel started giving trouble by lifting in my boot.  We stopped while I put on another sock - this solved the problem.  Routinely Corn Du, shrouded in low cloud, was conquered and the inevitable summit photo taken.

Pen-y-Fan was our next objective, we were unstoppable now so off we went in the mist .  Paul just had to stand atop the summit cairn and again a photo taken. The wind by now was quite strong, so we proceeded to the eastern edge to gain some shelter so that Paul could eat his birthday cake.

Celebrations over, we returned by taking the path just below Corn Du heading for Bwlch Duwynt. We met a fellow walker, who had passed us earlier on his way down!  He was David Brice, and was retracing his steps to Pen-y-Fan so that he could backtrack his ascent route, as he was uncertain of the path down from Bwlch Duwynt.  he joined us on the return to Storey Arms.  We descended through the cloud, and by now the light was beginning to fade slightly. While I had the opportunity I took a photo of David and Paul.  David then took one of Paul and me.  We got back safely to Storey Arms, but not before the rain started.

A good day out in a variety of conditions.