In 2022 I decided to take on a big hiking challenge - Climb 52 Different Peaks in 52 Weeks.
I've spent a lot of time reflecting on last year; how it affected me, how I managed to pull this off (I'm still bewildered), and how I even got started the first place.
Before getting into all the juicy stuff, I wanted to touch on the what, the how & the why behind the challenge. Plus, check out my list of the 52 peaks I completed at the end!
(It's pretty rewarding to see them all listed together like this, it puts it all into perspective)
But firstly..
The Reason:
Why did I start this challenge in the first place?
I mean, to be honest, I just set myself a goal to do my favourite thing in the world a bunch of times in 1 year, while getting to experience different peaks, see incredible views & get my body moving. The dream!
And let's face it, if it wasn't for setting this goal, there's no way I'm finding the motivation to drag my body up a mountain on a rainy day, with a stinking hangover, no matter how much I love it. But when working towards something like this, the determination to get a step closer to my goal pushed me up on those questionable days. And I never regret a hike!
Every year I like to set myself a hiking challenge. In 2020 I climbed every peak in the Mourne Mountains in 1 year, and in 2021 I climbed 27 peaks before my 27th birthday on the 29th of March. It's rare I stick to anything I set out to do, but hiking just captivates me!
In 2022 I wanted to push myself much harder.
I find myself roaming around Ireland in the van all throughout the year. My travels are usually a bit aimless, sporadic and I found myself returning to the same places to do the same things. Challenging myself to find 52 different peaks gave me that opportunity to go places I'd never usually go, learning so much more about Ireland and its mountains along the way.
Did you know there's a mountain over 500m in Antrim?! I didn't. (Trostan) Did you know Nephin in Mayo is the tallest free-standing mountain in Ireland? I didn't!
Did you know there's an absolute bunch of beautiful mountains to climb in North Donegal surrounding Errigal that are never really hiked?! I did not!
My knowledge for Ireland and its peaks has grown huuuuugely. And I love it!
Accountability
When I first started the challenge, I climbed 4 peaks before I told anyone of my goal. I didn't actually believe I could do it so didn't want anyone to know when I failed. A couple of weeks into January, I had climbed 4 peaks in 2 weeks and was absolutely loving it. That's when I decided accountability from friends, family and even strangers, was probably a good thing.
I won't lie.. I had a few moments of weakness when I thought about sacking it off half way up a mountain because I simply couldn't be arsed to finish it (mostly in atrocious weather). Who would know?! Nobody's gonna know!
But as cringe as it sounds, I would know. And I didn't do this challenge to impress anyone or prove myself to anyone. I wanted to do something class, feel a great sense of achievement & make myself proud. Which I did! And battling through those wobbly moments makes me even more proud.
The Rules
First of all, this is a totally made up challenge, meaning I set my own rules.
This is super important! When looking at how to realistically go about doing this, I thought about what was logistically achievable, while still pushing me completely out of my comfort zone.
The beauty of a self-driven challenge is there's no right or wrong way to set your goals, you can tailor it exactly how you want.
What parameters did I set for myself?
52 Weeks
52 Peaks over 500 metres tall
All different peaks
There were some considerations too: allowed to count multiple peaks in 1 hike, not necessarily aiming to do 1 every week, and some hikes were a 3 hour climb just to tick off 1 peak, others were a quick 45 minute jaunt up. As long as it was within my parameters, it counted!
What Peaks did I climb throughout my Challenge?
I climbed all over Ireland, mainly in Donegal, Wicklow & my home peaks in the Mournes, with special trips to Kerry, Sligo, Mayo & Wales. Really anywhere that had peaks over 500m was my best friend this year!
1. Doan, Mournes - 11/1 | 2. Loughshannagh, Mournes - 11/1 |
3. Errigal, Donegal - 17/1 | 4. Mackoght, Donegal - 17/1 |
5. Benwiskin, Sligo - 28/1 | 6. Benbulben, Sligo - 28/1 |
7. Bearnagh, Mournes - 1/2 | 8. Muckish, Donegal - 19/2 |
9. Carn, Mournes - 21/2 | 10. Crockfadda, Donegal - 6/3 |
11. Crockballaghgeeha, Donegal - 6/3 | 12. Mullaghanattin, Kerry - 21/3 |
13. Terromoyle Tooth, Kerry - 22/3 | 14. Torc, Kerry - 22/3 |
15. Commedagh, Mournes - 31/3 | 16. Meelmore, Mournes - 2/4 |
17. Slievenagloch, Mournes - 23/4 | 18. Meelbeg, Mournes - 23/4 |
19. Dooish, Donegal - 29/4 | 20. Cock, Mournes - 31/5 |
21. Muck, Mournes - 1/6 | 22. Y Garn, Wales - 12/6 |
23. Mynydd Drws-Y-Coed, Wales - 13/6 | 24. Tryfan, Wales - 16/6 |
25. Binnian, Mournes - 19/9 | 26. Djouce, Wicklow - 20/9 |
27. Lamagan, Mournes - 7/10 | 28. Cove, Mournes - 7/10 |
29. Beg, Mournes - 7/10 | 30. Ben Crom, Mournes - 8/10 |
31. Trostan, Antrim - 18/10 | 32. Chimney Rock, Mournes - 9/11 |
33. Moylenanav, Donegal - 19/11 | 34. Aghla Beg, Donegal - 22/11 |
35. Aghla More, Donegal - 22/11 | 36. Ardloughnabrackbaddy, Donegal - 22/11 |
37. Donard, Mournes - 29/11 | 38. Nephin, Mayo - 4/12 |
39. The Eagle's Rock, Cooley's - 5/12 | 40. Slieve Foye, Cooley's - 5/12 |
41. Sawel, Sperrins - 16/12 | 42. Croob, Dromara Hills - 25/12 |
43. Pigeon Rock, Mournes - 26/12 | 44. Crockfadda (2), Donegal - 2/1 |
45. Gallion, Sperrins - 6/1 | 46. Kanturk, Wicklow - 7/1 |
47. Scarr, Wicklow - 7/1 | 48. Great Sugarloaf, Wicklow - 8/1 |
49. Luggala, Wicklow - 8/1 | 50. Carrigvore, Wicklow - 8/1 |
51. Tonelagee, Wicklow - 9/1 | 52. Stoney Top, Wicklow - 9/1 |
This challenge essentially motivated me to do my favourite thing in the world, over and over again, for 52 weeks.
I absolutely loved it!
eg x
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