Climbing Everest

In 1988 I climbed Everest. Well part of it. On a scaffolding tower. In Stoke.

I think I’d better explain.

1988 was the year Venture Scouting celebrated its 21st birthday. If I remember correctly, throughout the year there were a series challenges, 1 per month for each Unit to do. October’s was the Everest Challenge which was for the Ventures to climb the height of Everest. My Unit, as part of the District did this by climbing a scaffolding tower that had been set up at Trentham Gardens for this event. We did in shifts of 4 people climbing (and descending and climbing again) and 4 on the safety ropes.

Everest is just over 29,000 feet high and I believe we completed the challenge. I think we might have done the challenge as a sponsored event.

21st

What brought this to mind was that the family and I went to Trentham this morning and wandering round triggered the memory. So this evening I went to my photo albums to find the photos I took. However, for some reason, I didn’t actually take any – one of the few Scouting events I’ve been involved in where I never took a photo.

If anyone has any memories of the 21st birthday celebrations, please add a comment.