Our Outdoor Adventures: Sun 20 Feb 2011.....Glyn Tarell C 690m(2,263ft)

Brecon Beacons in Wales.....

the planned route in a clock-wise direction

Our route started from the Storey Arms Centre down the Taff Trail up to the small forest just before Carno; up the southern boundary of the forest to continue up the eastern face of Pen Milan on a bearing of 2,402mil in a south-easterly direction until we reached the Tommy Jones obelisk; and then on a bearing of 4,065mil to descend in a south-westerly direction back down to the Storey Arms Centre. The red line on the map denotes our planned route.

KL & GS at the start on the Taff Trail

This was a excellent circular route of just over 5miles with a steep climb up the eastern face of Pen Milan.
The only defined part of the route was the 2mile section down the Taff Trail, where the remainder of our route was "off path/road" avoiding any known or established pathways.

a westerly view from the Taff Trail

Along the Taff Trail and on the climb up Pen Milan it remained overcast but clear with spectacular view all along the way.

GS heading up Pen Milan

Young GS lead the climb up the eastern face of Pen Milan with confidence, surprising both KL and I who found ourselves tagging along behind him. His endurance, stamina, and will-power continues to amaze us.

Unfortunately the photographs do not accurately reflect the true gradient of this face of Pen Milan. The section we climed was in excess of a 60deg pitch!!!

GS, KL, & the boys at the top

However, when we reached the top of Pen Milan / Glyn Tarell C, there was a layer of mist across the mountains restricting visibility to just about 100m. From here on, this was the case most of the way on our decent back down to the Storey Arms centre.

We stopped briefly for a break of hot soup and rolls at the boundary of the forest before the climb up Pen Milan, and again at the Tommy Jones obelisk.

The obelisk in the memory of Tommy Jones we passed on route commemorates a very sad storey:

GS, "the boys" & I at the obelisk

Tommy Jones, a five-year-old boy who died on the mountain in august 1900. The son of a Rhondda miner, Tommy lost his way near Cwm Llwch Farmhouse while visiting his grandparents, starting a twenty-nine day search which aroused nationwide concern. His body was found at the spot marked by the obelisk. Tommy had died from exhaustion and exposure, but how a small boy managed to climb so high remains a mystery.

A detailed storey of the incident may be viewed at http://www.breconbeacons.org/visit-us/about-the-brecon-beacons/victim-of-the-beacons

The obelisk, a useful landmark in misty conditions, was paid for by the proceeds of a memorial fund started when the jurors at the boy’s inquest waived their fees.

GS & KL top of Pen Milan / Glyn Tarell C

On our decent we found a discarded laminated "piece of paper", which we presumed was used as a map by a party who had visited the area. All it depicted was a 3D artists impression of the Central Brecon Beacons with a route highlighted over the ridges of prominent peaks such a Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn, etc. etc... and seemed to be a cover page of a brochure respective to the Brecon Beacons!!

KL & GS at the obelisk

It is extremely concerning to see that there are people out there, who through lack of experience or ignorance, are willing to risk their lives and those of others with them, in such unpredictable terrain.

GS on our decent

With the combination of KL on GPS and me on compass/OS Map, our navigation to key waypoints and maintaining course on the planned route proved extremely accurate.

All in all another brilliant excursion, thoroughly enjoyed by all.