20 Summit’s in 20 Days
Sarrail Ridge, Kananaskis Country
In 2020 I attempted 20 summits in 20 days. I couldn’t tell you why though. Maybe it was because this was already a rough year and I subconsciously wanted to make it more difficult? Or maybe I wanted to leave 2020 having completed something amazing! It’s hard for me to say why I started out on this adventure, but by the end I knew why I wanted to finish it.
My first summit was a bold start bagging Wind Tower to get my legs back in hiking shape! And let me tell you, Wind Tower stayed true to it’s name, almost blowing me off the edge. It’s not a place you want to lose your footing.
I continued on to accomplish a summit every day, fighting through the fatigue and soreness. I made it to day 16 unscathed until I did Gap Peak… It was the one that almost took me out. Having gone up solo and on a hot July day, not seeing a soul in sight I made the summit unsure and with some difficulty. I was at the top recouping, checking my phone for facts on the hike. I had reception so I took a look at AllTrails. It lead me down the wrong trail into a canyon that was not meant for hiking. Getting stuck in the canyon, going deeper in, overcoming several waterfall drops and destroying my hands on ropes that were placed for climbers, I managed to finally make my way out. It was a rough day but I lived to tell the tale. I took a days rest and then went on to pursue the last 4 summits I had set out to conquer.
I ended up making all 20 summits all though it was in 21 days due to that rough afternoon on Gap peak. 20 in 20 has a better ring to it than 20 in 21, so let’s just keep that between us! I was happy to attain my goal, even if it took me an extra day.
After everything was said and done I felt a strong sense of accomplishment. It was an a amazing adventure, one that I don’t necessarily feel the need to do again. Once was enough for me, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to have reached my goal in the Summer of 2020. There was nothing that could have stopped me from pulling off this incredible journey. In the end I realized that I was doing it to prove to myself that I could start something challenging and keep steady to complete it.
I came out of this a little stronger and a little wiser, with lots of stunning photos for proof of my mission. It was a blast to say the least and I would recommend this to anyone who has the hankering to head out into the wilderness and view some gorgeous mountain tops.
The Wedge, Kananaskis Country
