50by50 Challenge 1: Hiking Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons for Sunrise

Kicking off my 50by50 challenge — 50 challenges before I turn 50, felt both exciting and daunting. I wanted to start with something meaningful but achievable, a challenge that tested me but also gave me time to think, to reflect, and to step away from the noise of everyday life. Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales, felt like the perfect choice.

Why Pen y Fan?

At 886 metres (2,907 ft), Pen y Fan is the highest peak in South Wales and one of the most popular hikes in the Brecon Beacons National Park (recently renamed Bannau Brycheiniog). It’s famous for its sweeping views, diverse walking trails, and its role as a training ground for the SAS. The climb itself isn’t the most extreme you’ll find in the UK, but it’s a steady, rewarding ascent that can surprise you if you underestimate it.

It was also a symbolic choice for me, the start of a bigger journey. I knew I had 50 challenges ahead, and Pen y Fan would serve as a grounding experience, a gentle but powerful reminder that big goals are achieved one step at a time.

The Journey Begins

I left Kent at 10:30pm and drove through the night. By the time I reached the base of the mountain near Storey Arms at 3am, the heavens had opened. Heavy rain fell, the wind picked up, and the car rocked with the force of it. I had pictured a serene early morning climb, maybe catching the first glimmers of starlight, but instead I was faced with pitch-black skies and stormy weather.

Still, I wasn’t going to let that stop me. At around 4:30am, with my head torch strapped on, I set off into the darkness.

Into the Darkness

The hike started gently, the trail well-trodden but uneven, meaning every step demanded attention. With no headphones in, I immersed myself in the stillness, the sound of rain, the crunch of gravel beneath my boots, the occasional rustle of unseen wildlife.

As I climbed higher, visibility dropped. The low-lying clouds wrapped themselves around the mountain, and at times I couldn’t see two metres in front of me. The eeriest moments came when the mountain dropped away into endless darkness at the edge of the path. You know the ground disappears, but you can’t see how far, a reminder of nature’s scale and your own vulnerability within it.

Despite the conditions, there was something liberating about pushing on in the dark. It was just me, the mountain, and the elements.

The Summit

I reached the summit well before sunrise. Pen y Fan’s peak is marked by a cairn, and I sheltered there against the whipping wind. The cold was biting, the rain relentless. I waited. 6:30am came and went, but the clouds never lifted. The sunrise I had been waiting for was hidden away behind thick grey skies.

I held out for another hour, teeth chattering, hands numb, hoping for even the briefest break in the weather. It never came. Eventually, soaked through and frozen, I decided to begin the descent.

The Way Down

If going up was challenging, coming down proved even harder. My knees complained at every step, and I quickly realised that jogging sections of the descent was easier than walking. The trail was slick with rain, the wind still swirling, but there were fleeting moments of beauty. As the sun briefly pierced the cloud cover, I managed to capture moody, dramatic shots of the Brecon Beacons cloaked in rain and mist.

It wasn’t the sunrise I’d hoped for, but it was raw, real, and humbling and that, I realised, was the point.

Reflections on Challenge 1

Hiking Pen y Fan wasn’t the most extreme challenge I’ll face in this series, but it taught me a lot. It reminded me that conditions won’t always go your way. You can plan, prepare, and picture the perfect scenario, but sometimes the clouds just won’t clear. And that’s okay because the value isn’t only in the view at the end, but in the journey, the discomfort, and the persistence.

This was the first of 50. Next up, the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge a 40km test of endurance. Each challenge will build on the last, testing me mentally and physically. But beyond the personal achievement, I’m doing this for something bigger.

Why #50by50 Matters

My 50by50 challenge is about more than ticking off bucket-list experiences. I’m using it to raise money and awareness for Tiny Tickers, a charity dedicated to helping babies born with serious heart conditions. Every challenge is a reminder of resilience not just my own, but the resilience of those babies and their families.

This journey isn’t just mine. It’s about inspiring others to push themselves, to step outside their comfort zones, and to make a difference along the way.

1 challenge down. 49 to go.

You can support my fundraising for Tiny Tickers via my JustGiving page here: JustGiving – Carl Thompson 50by50 Challenge