Sunday The Boy was up bright and early and declared that he'd like to do anotherwalk. We decided to go to Pen y Fan (I am told the F is more of a soft V sound) via the ridge of Cefn Cwm LLwch. I was just as unfit as the previous day and found I was puffing even harder than the previous day while making the ascent to the amusement of my menfolk who have mountain goat chromosomes in their genetic making. Then we followed the idge to Corn Du and descended via the Tommy Jones memorial (a 5 year old who got lost and died of alone of exposure in 1900). We carried on down to Cwm-llwch and got back to the road to finish the loop. For those f you into umbers that's 11km and a high point of 886m to the highest point in South Wales. The site is very popular and the path erosion is a witness to its popularity raising the usual questions about path maintenance, access restriction etc. However even the number of people making their way to the top cannot detract from the amazing beauty of the site and erosion may be a small price to pay for giving people he chance to admire it. Once at the top, the surrounding views have a big woah factor. No camera can capture the panorama, the volumes (certainly not one with me behind the lense anyway). But here's a litle taster of what can be seen Question: why is it whenever I go walking I always spot people wearing completely inappropriate footwear for the area (top of the week-end had to be sandals - yep, I'd love to see their toes at the end of the journey) and groups of people without even a bottle of water amongst themselves, let alone a map, a compas, something warm in case the weather turns when they reach the top and enought of a first aid kit to at least have something clean to put on a wound if somebody slips and cuts themselves. I may be one of the neurotic over cautious people who carry a bag the contents of which only 30% will be used but I'd hate to think I was putting someone's life at risk just through sheer stupidity and lack of basic equipment.
South Wales week-end part 2
8.6.04 23:41
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(9.6.04 19:03) the sheer stupidity of the average brit when it comes going walking will never cease ot amaze me. Dartmoor rescue must have wonderful tales of trolllips in silly shoes and skimpy tops with exposure. we are the alli blanket family with water and boiled sweets minimum sensible shoes and a waterproof.The only injury we have ever had is a broken tooth from the sweet! |
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(10.6.04 11:09) You'd have loved our packed lunches and the gizmo we got for The Boy to make sure he drinks enough. It's like a drinking tube that fits to the water bottle so he can drink on the move. I am not sure its just the brits as I have seen girls in flip flops in the Pyrenees. |
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(11.6.04 09:27) think they want to be saved really like in baywatch, though a mountain don't get many in bikinis do they.......? |
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Lisa (17.6.04 15:38) Gorgeous! I love South Wales. Re: people in inappropriate walking gear, I have seen women in high heels trying not to break their ankles walking around the Lake District. I mean did they not realise that their day out would entail walking up really, really steep and rocky paths?? |
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(17.6.04 17:33) Got rescued by coastguards in Cornwall a few years back, the chap in his dinggie really thought he was on baywatch. We did not ask for help - some people who had spotted us a long way off thought we were in danger which we were not but that's another story. Lisa, the thing is you'd expect them to realise that when they got to the car park and took their first look at the path. |
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tony Zimnoch / Website (17.6.04 18:22) The Ref is God or Devil (or both?) Yours In Sandals Tony |
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(18.6.04 17:59) It's been ages. Are you lost somewhere? Should we send out a search party? |
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(21.6.04 23:20) nah, just too busy having a social life, it takes over a bit. |
