The thought of being locked down gives rise to fantasy about being a civilian in some war-torn town, pinned down in a conflict zone or may be hiding out in the basement from the zombie apocalypse. Looking back into history, I can’t imagine a lock down was well enforced during the plague for example and here we are in 2020 facing an unprecedented situation with long-term travel bans, curfews, enforced working from home and limited to no socialising!

How will we cope, what will we do with ourselves and how will it affect us, it at all?

Not only is this situation contemporaneous, it’s going to be one hell of a challenge and that’s why I’ve included it as part of the 40s 4 40. I plan to play my guitar more, be introverted, do more yoga and stay away from this damn virus!

Isolation with so many of my bikes took things to a new level!

Of course all this means the opportunities I had to climb another of the Seven Summits in 2020 as part of the 40s 4 40 challenge are getting cancelled and I’m unsure if the planned expedition to summit Puncak Jaya will go ahead but it’s toward the back end of this year so fingers crossed!

In light of all this uncertainty, my friend Nelly has had an amazing idea that could well be the answer to many of our prayers!

Nelly’s innovative challenge will climb the equivalent of Mount Everest, from the comfort your home, over 30 days. Nelly will be sharing daily physical targets as you virtually ascend with her through the various campsites.

The challenge focuses on the vertical ascent (uphill not the distance). This can be done on a staircase or any elevated surface at home (couch / chair / box).

So whilst this is may not be ‘real‘ mountaineering, it will be great training for the future and facilitates me ascending 29,029 feet ‘virtually’. Add that to the height of Aconcagua 22,837 feet and I’ve bagged over 40,000 feet ascent in 2020!

Remember, it’s not the strongest that survive, it’s the most adaptable to change!

Check out Nelly on Instagram via the following hashtags:

#EverestfromHome

#ShakeYoJellyWithNelly

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mY621B6_3/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-kKwiKhtle/

Everest 2020 here we come – all the way from home!