Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Welsh Hills and Valleys
Descending into the valley
I had a lovely weekend last weekend- really great training and really great company! Nine of us descended on Pontypool in
Mike B very kindly gave me a lift, and we all set off for the first walk at around 3pm. Well- it was quite hilly!! Also very muddy in parts, and at times we found ourselves floundering through remaining snow drifts. At one point we found ourselves at the end of a track, and Andy pointed to a steep bank- covered in bracken, brambles and loose, slippery mud- and said "We need to go up there!"
I was well at the back as I am useless on that sort of terrain... we had a level scramble following loose rocks from a collapsed wall and more brambles, before another steep climb through loose mud! My pack weighed around 8kg and I was convinced I'd end up on my back, legs flailing, in true turtle fashion!
The Steep Climb!
We found a track, after crossing a few barbed wire fences and walls (thank goodness for strong blokes willing to heave my short legs over!) and followed this to the charmingly named village of Pantside, passing the 'Pant Social Club' and a group of not so friendly local youths.
As we descended out of the village darkness descended, so we donned headtorches and followed the tracks across the moor and down into the valley and Pontypool, getting back at around 9pm before a quick shower and descending on the Harvester Restaurant, who kindly agreed to stay open for us.
Saturday was gorgeous- warm and sunny all day! Andy had mapped out an 18 mile route, and I walked with Rach and Perks. We started off climbing the track we used to descend last night, before topping out onto the broad summit, and descending towards forest. We missed the track we should have taken into the forest, but managed to pick up another track and rejoin our route.
There then followed a lovely, gentle downhill on a forest track to a village with an unpronouncable name...
Rach and Perks On The Forest Track
Coming out of the village, we had a steep, long climb along the road back towards the head of the valley. As the road levelled out, we followed a track straight ahead before realising we should have taken a left turn, so retraced our steps- at least this meant we had made up for the bit we cut off earlier! Andy joined us and we had another even steeper road ascent.
Views Over The Valley
Eventually this became a track, then path back onto the broad hillside, and we gradually followed this over the moor and back to the starting point.
Welsh Mountains
We followed the same track we ascended back down to the road and village.
View Over Pontypool
It was a fantastic day, with plenty of climbing, which is what's needed! My rucksack weighed around 8 Kg both days which I was pleased with. After dinner (egg and chips! Heaven...) we all gathered in our room for champagne kindly supplied by Gilly. All I can say is- you know you are with a group of Ultra nutters when everyone whips off their shoes and socks and start comparing toenails, then asking how everyone's chaffing is...
Good fun though! I am off to my sisters today, the idea being to head up to the Lakes for some good mountain walking Thursday, Friday and hopefully Saturday!
Labels: Pontypool, training, Wales
