The Story Behind Seven Summits – Richard Bards

Back in 1983, Richard Bass had a big idea. He loved climbing mountains, and he thought, "What if I climbed the highest peak on each continent?" So, he came up with this challenge called the Seven Summits. It meant reaching the top of the tallest mountains on seven different continents.

Now, Richard wasn't just an ordinary guy. He was a successful businessman and a passionate mountaineer. He had already climbed some pretty tall mountains by the late 1970s. But when he talked about his climbs with friends, he realized something cool—he had accidentally climbed the highest peaks on different continents!

So, Richard decided to turn that accidental achievement into a full-blown goal. He wanted to officially climb the highest peak on every continent. It was a massive challenge and an incredible adventure. In 1985, he became the first person to climb all Seven Summits. And that's how the Seven Summits mountaineering challenge came to be—a mix of determination, ambition, and a love for adventure.