Pen Y Fan and Corn Du

Today's hike was up to Pen Y Fan, the highest peak in the bottom half of the UK. We covered about 10 miles and also hit the peak of  Corn Du on the way down. Total ascent in the 1750 foot range. I got so sunburnt yesterday that I went out before today's hike and bought a ridiculous looking hat to shield me from the sun.

Bears a disturbing resemblance to an earlier photo:

This is what Pen Y Fan and Corn Du look like (taken on the way down).

On the way up:

Also on the way up:

In addition to the hikers being from all over, they've traveled all over. Train journeys through India, canoeing in the Amazon and Zambezi, mailboat tour of Norway, dodgy landing on a strip in the most dangerous airport in the world in Nepal, coastal hike in South Africa. On and on. Whitewater rafters told not to put their hands in the water due to crocodiles. Canoeists told to be careful to not hit hippos in the river that look like logs.

I think this one was taken on the top.

I didn't want to take the time to take a selfie on the summit so I took a photo of these people getting a photo at the top of Pen Y Fan

On the way down we stopped at a memorial for Tommy Jones, a 5-year-old boy who got lost on the mountain and died of hypothermia in 1900. As we neared the bottom of the mountain, our trip leader, Jill (22-year HF veteran) told us we had done only half the mileage. So the afternoon was spent crossing fields, climbing over stiles, crossing fields, climbing over stiles, etc. It was very hot and I was ready to be done with the hike a few miles before the hike was done. But I have to say the fields were very pretty--red and white clover and a mixture of colourful grasses.

We were hiking back to Brecon, which we could see in the distance, which made it harder. As compensation, we stopped for ice cream in the west end of Brecon. Then we crossed the bridge into town, with a nice view of the castle and Castle Hotel.

And here's a nice view of Brecon.

June 30