Walk in the dark, snow and ice

Meeting below Neuadd Reservoirs, twelve determined members of Gwent Mountaineering Club for the Pen y Fan Horseshoe walk in the dark, snow, ice and fog. The Club’s 2025 Wolf Moon walk was about to begin.

Mustering at dusk, a kit check ensued. Everyone needed sufficient personal kit (warm clothing, headtorch and spare batteries, food and drink) as well as either crampons or snow spikes for this extended walk in the dark.

Setting off for the climb out of the valley, it wasn’t long before compacted snow and rivulets of water ice appeared on the stone steps. Donning spikes, the group continued upwards to meet the path northwest along the edges of Graig Fan Ddu and Craig Gwaun Taf.

As we climbed further, a search incident involving the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team and a helicopter was unfolding in the valley below us. This was the first of two incidents that evening. In neither case were we involved nor called upon for information or assistance.

Several early ‘technical stops’ began to hold us up. It wasn’t long before it became evident that winter skills were a bit rusty, or for some, an entirely new experience. It’s been a long time. Twelve years we reckoned, since these hills had been under proper winter snow cover with sub-zero temperatures prolonged over many days. Adjustments to clothing, straps and spikes boosted confidence. We were soon on our way again.

The narrow ridge of Cefn Cul came and went. Steep slopes drop off into the dark to either side. Traversing Bwlch Duwynt, this col is often bleak and windy. Tonight there was just a breeze; enough to feel colder. The new National Trust signpost pointing downwards to Pont y Daf looms out of the fog. We stopped for ‘lunch’ and a bit of tender foot care below Corn Du at 7:30pm.

Onwards over Corn Du and and Pen y Fan (8:15pm) we make our descent of Jacob’s Ladder to reach the col before Cribyn. In the dark without crampons or snow spikes, this would have been a foolhardy and likely mortal descent for someone. We knew what to expect and we were prepared for this potentially slippery walk in the dark.

With progress slower than expected, we decided to give the ascent of Cribyn a miss. Instead we took the easier traverse around to eventually reach the ‘Roman Road Gap’. As we headed down valley back to the cars, we watched the tail lights of Mountain Rescue vehicles disappearing into the distance. They were returning to base, their job done. We discovered none of that until after we returned home. We arrived back at our cars around 10:40pm, having walked ten plus miles in the dark, snow, ice, fog and drizzle. And so to homes and beds.

A fabulous evening out was the general consensus. You can always #findyouradventure with gwentmc. Club member Mike Krokos’s Flickr Album contains more photographs and videos of of our entertainment.

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