Route - A470 car park down to Taff Trail, Storey Arms onto Fan Fawr and across to Craig Cerrig-gleisiad before heading back to the car park.
Weather - Below freezing for the majority of the day, moderate to high north easterly wind, poor visibility from 300m+ with low cloud and snow. Full white out conditions in places.
Learning Points/Skills Practices - Route planning, poor visibility navigation, walking on bearing, relocation exercise twice, walking with micro-spikes on, terrain conditions did not warrant full crampon. Snow walking techniques including kicking steps into snow and heel plunging etc.
Group - 2
Camp style - N/A
The individual takes part in the planning and leadership - yes
Navigation skills are required away from marked paths - mostly areas of open mountain side away from marked paths, paths not visible on the peaks due to snow on the ground
Experience must be in terrain and weather comparable to that found in UK and Irish hills - Yes Brecon Beacons
Knowledge is increased and skills practised - see above
Attention is paid to safety - Constantly looking out for hazards and advising as appropriate, especially due to high winds and underfoot conditions frozen ground.
The journey is five hours or more - No, 4:29 hours in total
Adverse conditions may be encountered - Yes, moderate to high winds, below freezing, white out conditions, poor visibility, continuous light snow.
Ascent of a substantial peak would normally be included in the day - Yes, Fan Fawr & Craig Cerrig-gleisiad
Area :
Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons (Welsh: Bannau Brycheiniog) is a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of Old Red Sandstone peaks popular with walkers which lie to the south of Brecon. Sometimes referred to as "the central Beacons" they include South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan. The range forms the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog), a designation which also encompasses ranges both to the east and the west of "the central Beacons". This much wider area is also commonly referred to as "the Brecon Beacons".
