1. To enjoy ourselves.
2. To carry out a recce.
3. To determine whether we are physically fit enough to take on 'The Fan Dance'.
4. To get some video for a promotional video for the Just Giving page.
The bergen has had my modification fitted to stop the shoulder straps slipping as I'm running. The straps do not slip off my shoulder, they loosen as I run, so every 20 or 30 steps that I take I'm tightening the shoulder straps, which to say the very least has become frustrating. I cut the ends off of two old tie down straps that I use for kayaks and riveted them to the bottom of the shoulder strap so that the bottom strap goes up through the normal buckle on the shoulder strap and comes back down through what is effectively a locking buckle but still adjustable.
I packed the bergen adding a few items that I wouldn't usually carry to make the weight up to 35lb minimum. I could have just put my photography kit in, but if I fell that would be £3,500 worth of kit down the drain. So instead I've packed 2 sleep mats (I won't complain about the extra comfort when sleeping on Pen y fan), my soldier 95 jacket as well as my goretex waterproofs (I can't remember the last time I wore my 95 jacket), a complete set of spare clothes. I don't usually take a full set of spare clothes but was going to this time anyway as I wanted clothes that weren't wet with sweat to put on in the morning. All this adds up to 39.5lb without food and water. I will be carrying 2 litres of water and if I need more I have my water filter. I have packed dried food instead of the Wayfayrer meals I normally take. The food now weighs only 150g more than a Wayfayrer meal but I'm carrying enough food for 5 meals plus lots of cereal bars as quick energy snacks. I don't want to make the silly mistake of not having the energy to complete the trial run because I didn't carry enough food.
The plan is to ALMOST complete the Fan Dance route. To familiarise ourselves with the route so we will have a better idea of the mistake we have made... oops sorry.. challenge we have taken on. We intend to follow the route to the turn around point then the same as the Fan Dance, turn around and come back up Jacobs Ladder to the top of Pen y fan. But instead of going back to Storey Arms we intend to go back down Jacobs Ladder again for a wild camp. Then in the morning follow the remainder of the route. These plans are not fixed in stone but I AM going to the bridge!
The weight of the bergen jam packed with food and water is 49.8lbs! (22.6kg) OH MY GOD! I foresee huge blisters. Not only on my feet!