Where Unicorns
Dare to Wander
Eagles Soar Beneath Our Reach
7 CLIMBS – 36,787m
365 consecutive days
The Seven Summits are the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. Climbing to the summit of all of them is regarded as a mountaineering challenge, first achieved on 30 April 1985 by Richard Bass. The Seven Summits achievement has become a noted exploration and mountaineering accomplishment.
The Guild of 7 Summiting Climbers
Select a summit and behold a legend, each true to their journey.
Aconcagua
Denali
6194m
Vinson
4892m
Kilimanjaro
Puncak Jaya
4884m
Elbrus
Kosciuszko
2228m
Why No Mt. Everest?
Great question, two parts to this answer:
- As you know from an earlier paragraph, 7S is inspired by two “controversial” lists of the “official” 7 highest peaks on the planet (there are in fact 9 highest peaks, oh boy!) That video on Puncak Jaya explains in depth. We needed to whittle our list down to just 7 because, you’ll agree, “7S” looks way sexier than “9S” and nine would be a BIGGER year so we had to cull some to launch this thing (maybe one day someone will do all 9 in 365 days, why set any limits??). We also wanted to include Australia because lots of Saffas live there now and we wanted them to feel included. And we needed a gentle “hill” to start with or end with which Mt. Kosciuszko provides. This will lull you into a false sense of “Oh, this should be completely doable?!”
- Mt Everest or “Everesting” (in specific cycling circles) which our challenge is inspired by, is already a thing. 7S is a stand-alone cycling challenge but similar to the other thing mentioned in the previous sentence. It’s the “next” challenge on your bucket list OR it’s the challenge that might even get you to do an “Everesting” as well. Mt Everest, at its lofty 8848m, (IOHO) doesn’t need to be included “officially” in our #7Summiting list.
If you take up this 7S challenge, you pay us R200 (Outside SA = USD35, GBP27, AUD50, EURO31), this will pay for postage of the Brevet to you PLUS your first climb. This Brevet is something tangible in this digital age. Yes, of course, we expect these Summits to appear on Strava BUT you’ll want this to record it too.
It’s special – like a four-leaf clover!!!
Now, this thing isn’t for free. Apart from the potential blood sweat and tears you may be already departing with during this challenge. You will at the end have THIS posted back to you with your completed Brevet. This will cost you R200 (USD13.50, GBP11, AUD20, EURO12) per climb.
Pay as you go, or paid-up in full at the end. COMPLETELY OPTIONAL but we reckon you’ll want SOMETHING for your efforts.
If you take up this 7S challenge, you pay us R200 (Outside SA = USD35, GBP27, AUD50, EURO31), this will pay for postage of the Brevet to you PLUS your first climb. This Brevet is something tangible in this digital age. Yes, of course, we expect these Summits to appear on Strava BUT you’ll want this to record it too.
It’s special – like a four-leaf clover!!!
Now, this thing isn’t for free. Apart from the potential blood sweat and tears you may be already departing with during this challenge. You will at the end have THIS posted back to you with your completed Brevet. This will cost you R200 (USD13.50, GBP11, AUD20, EURO12) per climb.
Pay as you go, or paid-up in full at the end. COMPLETELY OPTIONAL but we reckon you’ll want SOMETHING for your efforts.
- This challenge starts the day you commence your first climb and ends after a consecutive 365 day period
(12 months/1 year). - You need to find a hill new to you, or a known climb and ride your bicycle up and down that hill repeatedly until you have reached the desired ascending meters of each climb stipulated.
- Never the same climb twice. As all these mountains peaks are in different places, so too should your attempts be, BUT you don’t have to do them on different continents. You can do them in your neighbourhood.
- Summiting each “peak” must be completed in one ride. No matter how long it takes, you may not stop and restart your session (pausing is totally acceptable). Multiple sessions will be allowed to be pieced together as long as it can be proved it was intended to be a single elapsed time.
- One attempt of the 7 must be on a tar free surface… a dirt road, a trail, or a track. On any bike. Your choice – BE SAFE.
- This challenge is to be completed on a traditional pedal and crank bicycle (no motorised vehicles/no ebikes)
- Bragging rights for completions in consecutive months will most certainly be granted.
- You can attempt these climbs in any order you see fit. You could even do two in the same day. As many as you like consecutively in fact.
- Use Strava to record sessions digitally using #7summiting “Name of Climb” as on the inside of the Brevet eg. Kosciuszko, to name your session.
- Use the Brevet to record them manually for authenticity.
- Get each completed attempt signed by someone living in the proximity of the climb.
- On completion, courier your personally numbered Brevet back to the address supplied to receive what you have paid for.
- You are heavily encouraged (it’s almost an unwritten rule) to create awareness and financial or any other support for a charity of your choosing.
- If you fail to finish all the required climbs in 365 days, you can roll the financial part of this challenge over but it is essential that you complete all your climbs within a consecutive 365 day period.
- This challenge starts the day you commence your first climb and ends after a consecutive 365 day period
(12 months/1 year). - You need to find a hill new to you, or a known climb and ride your bicycle up and down that hill repeatedly until you have reached the desired ascending meters of each climb stipulated.
- Never the same climb twice. As all these mountains peaks are in different places, so too should your attempts be, BUT you don’t have to do them on different continents. You can do them in your neighbourhood.
- Summiting each “peak” must be completed in one ride. No matter how long it takes, you may not stop and restart your session (pausing is totally acceptable). Multiple sessions will be allowed to be pieced together as long as it can be proved it was intended to be a single elapsed time.
- One attempt of the 7 must be on a tar free surface… a dirt road, a trail, or a track. On any bike. Your choice – BE SAFE.
- This challenge is to be completed on a traditional pedal and crank bicycle (no motorised vehicles/no ebikes)
- Bragging rights for completions in consecutive months will most certainly be granted.
- You can attempt these climbs in any order you see fit. You could even do two in the same day. As many as you like consecutively in fact.
- Use Strava to record sessions digitally using #7summiting “Name of Climb” as on the inside of the Brevet eg. Kosciuszko, to name your session.
- Use the Brevet to record them manually for authenticity.
- Get each completed attempt signed by someone living in the proximity of the climb.
- On completion, courier your personally numbered Brevet back to the address supplied to receive what you have paid for.
- You are heavily encouraged (it’s almost an unwritten rule) to create awareness and financial or any other support for a charity of your choosing.
- If you fail to finish all the required climbs in 365 days, you can roll the financial part of this challenge over but it is essential that you complete all your climbs within a consecutive 365 day period.
.jpg#/media/File:Mount_Vinson_from_NW_at_Vinson_Plateau_by_Christian_Stangl_(flickr).jpg)
