The overnight Expedition should be the highlight of any camp. This one was designed to count towards the Scouts Expedition Challenge Badge. We started in the Taf Fechan Forest a few miles to the North of Merthyr Tydfil.

Action Scout left shows he's ready.

From the start we climbed very gently through the forest for about three kilometres before continuing the easy assent across the open land to the ridge between Fan y Big and Cribyn. Here we rested and took a vote on as to whether we would attempt to climb Fan y Big. The consensus was that it was unnecessary.

The Expedition Challenge isn't meant to be an easy task. Otherwise it wouldn't be a challenge at all. But it is a challenge that all Scouts are able to meet. The root we chose was a tough one but we have tough Scouts. The long steady ascent to the ridge was one that suited Michael's hiking style as he lead the way.

We reached the top of the 795m Cribyn in bright sunshine. We stopped for a while to admire the view (Above). By the time we had descended and the climbed the ridge to the top of the 886m Pen y Fan, we were in clouds (Left and Right)

We camped over night next to the drained Upper Neuadd Reservoir. As we started to cook dinner millions of midges came out forcing us to wrap up and cover ourselves as much as possible.

Day two and were off early. The second day was a 13k gentle down hill walk largely following the Taff Trail.

However no gentle downhill walk is easy when you have a full pack on your back and have climbed Pen y Fan the day before. The second day was by no means an easy day.

By now the Scouts were really tired. The only ascent of the day was a 55 meter climb into a forest. This really sapped our energy but a rest at the top helped. From there on till the end it was all down hill.

All the Scouts successfully completed the challenge.

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