Dave’s Seven Summits Challenge

Dave is a Trustee for Odyssey and was also a member of staff on the first course delivered in Kent 30 years ago.

I have set myself a challenge for Odyssey’s 30th and I’d like to invite you to join in.

Odyssey is all about taking on challenges, being asked to join in when you are not sure what is coming, and often giving stuff a go when you are not sure you can do it.

As with many Odyssey staff, outdoor activities such as hillwalking, rock climbing and canoeing are the way I look for challenges and a bit of adventure and try to do all these regularly. But about two years ago, Covid hit me, and I have not been able to do any of that stuff since. Long Covid has reduced my energy capacity.  Doing day-to-day activities such as washing up, a little work at my desk, and going upstairs is about my limit. But I miss the adventures and now need to make them smaller.

A 30-minute walk with the dog, with breaks, is now my dose of adventure. Yoga once a week is a new challenge and I have signed up for a course in archery which I intend to try sitting down. These are now my mini adventures, and I find they can be as rewarding as bigger ones.

I recently came across the idea of Microadventures in some articles by Alastair Humphreys.

“A microadventure is an adventure that is short, simple, local, cheap – yet still fun, exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding.”

Short, simple and cheap appeals to me now so I have committed to do the Seven Summits Challenge which Alastair suggested in his blog. Traditionally, the seven summits are the highest peaks on each continent including Mount Everest. That is way beyond my capability and is not cheap so I have adopted the idea of my Local Seven Summits.

Seven high points in my local area that I should be able to manage within about 30 minutes walk from the car, but avoiding the steep bits as I can’t do those. My challenge to you is to find your Local Seven Summits and work out how to get to them. Take a picnic, take pictures, take some family and friends, and enjoy a bit of an adventure. You can choose how hard the walk can be.

If you want to do big hills, go for it, or perhaps just enjoy being out for a drive somewhere new with good views. Many high points in the UK are marked by concrete pillars, Trig Points, used for mapping and provide good targets to reach.

There is website to search for your nearest ones. Trig Pillar Map from Trigbagging. My nearest is Farley, but I have yet to reach it. The one at Wirestone is within 10 metres of a parking spot so I’m skipping that one.

All trig points are marked on Ordnance Survey maps which are cheap, great for planning walks and can also be looked at online.

I prefer to use Where’s the Path as it’s free and also shows a satellite view of what you are looking at.

Planning this set of microadventures has been fun, committing to it a little more daunting, but I know I’ll enjoy it when I’m out. I’ll take some pictures and let you know how I am doing.Let me know if you are going to accept my challenge to take on a little adventure in the Odyssey spirit. I’d like to hear your plans, who are taking with you, and perhaps we can share some stories and pictures.

Good luck, Dave