Warm week in Brecon

So i went to Brecon last week, having never been there and nowing very little about it to be honest (even if it is my most local [if you can call 250miles local] mountain range), with the plans just to get some nav practice in some warmer weather as i usually end up in the snow and rain.

i spent the first two days travelling to, wild camping on and returning from Pen y Fan,

had a pretty nice view sunday night, one of my nicest wild camps i think, really enjoyed it on the east side of Fan y Big, though the slope was a little steep and i kept sliding out the bottom of my basha in my sleeping bag, ha ha.

i started to miss the snow, wind and rain i am used to from day two, it was really hot straight away, lovely blue sky at half six in the morning though.  I woke up just in time to see some squaddies soming over Pen y Fan and towards me.

the next day i drove over to the west and parked up in the show caves camp site at Dan-yr-ogof and set off west heading for Foel Fraith, on the way i went up Disgwylfa and was watching some Red Kites patrolling above and got a nice video of them, heres a snapshot.

it was another scorching day and i kind of gave up trying to take any decent photographs with my new camera; i think the artist within was dehydrating fast.  i reached foel fraith with hardly any water left and was finding it hard to locate any decent sorce, so decided to push on north over garreg las (is it me or does it feel like someone is hiding behind the cairns at the top???) then down to the rivers to get some water.

to finish off my personal air show, i enjoyed watching the fast jets 'playing' with each other low overhead, nice to have my own private show while eating my cuppa soup and half cooked pasta. you can't really see this one due to the rubbish photographer but they were great to watch

cheers nick, don't knwo if i'd agree about the pics though, ha ha. i'm still getting used to my new camera and sussing the best ways to take certain shots.

yea thats my pack, probably far too much, but i like to be self sufficient, it all adds to my enjoyment knowing i can basically go where i want and set up tent where i want, all at the drop of a hat, and be fine.

good way to build up some stamina for some upcoming endurance events too

Good for you for getting out there and then posting afterwards.

What does the pack weigh? I've not walked with mre than 18kg.... 

well in that shot, probably about 25-30kg as i had been munching away and only had a few liters of water in there, but fully loaded at the start, it was about 35-40kg. i usually have about 6l of water in there, two and half does me for cooking all day, half for washing and three for drinking, so thats 6kg just in water, then theres all the usual walking crap, plus change of clothes, X many days of food, water filter pump, etc. etc. it all adds up doesn't it.

i was taking it really slow though, due to the heat, and had lots of well timed rests.

the blooming bag weighs a ton on its own, poxy thing, it's the only thing i can get everything into that lasts more than a few days, ha ha.

Good grief! 35-40kg?

Get a lighter bag and put fewer, lighter things in it.

You can still go out for multi day walks and feel better with it.

Edit, if you want to. Do what you enjoy doing.

I've got a titanium spork too and don't really like it.

Conditions do play a part and confidence to do what you want with the kit you've got to hand.

At least you're getting out there.

don't plastic sporks melt when you forget and leave them in cooking pot though?

i just watched country file, wish i went to the red kite feeding area while i was there now, nice excuse to go back isn't it...

I watched Countryfile too. The Kite Centre looks amazing. Overall I was a little disappointed with the lack or general pictures of the BBNP.

And WHY is the white red kite white?

I only heat water to boil in the bag or rehydrate so plastic melting isn't an issue.

there you go Nick...

i hope you're talking about country file, nick, and not my poor selection of photographic content.  i only including those shots to highlight my week quickly .

 anyways, on the topic of CF, is it me or is it a bit boring lately?

 last year i can remeber all sorts of exciting things, including watching julia and the lovely ellie . however, this year seems to be all about john craven discussing the alkalinity of various soil types.  ha ha.  it has kind of reverted to the 'old days' when i used to think it was for oap's.

 anyways, there is no point in criticising anything if you're not ready to offer an alternative.

so how about a fairer representation of hair colours?

dr alice roberts would add a nice red head to the mix to rep-up the ginger folk, wouldn't she?

of course she would!

so how about a feature length series, with me, dr alice, julia and of course, ellie, exploring the best and most remote wild camping spots britain has to offer?  the scottish highlands for example, in winter time, in a two person tent .

support can be sent to bbc.co.uk/countryfile

Four people in a two person tent? That's before you get the cameraperson, sound person and producer in there...

What would you find to talk about?

ryedubs, my complaint was entirely about your pictures, the vistas shown on CF were magnificient, i don't understand how you managed to get a hillside bereft of daffodils?