Everesting the Outeniquas threefold

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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS AND GALLERY – For four consecutive days, from 22:00 on Thursday 12 May right through until early evening on Monday 16 May, Knysna cycle shop owner Tyrone van Rooyen cycled up and down the Outeniqua Pass. Van Rooyen rode the pass 47 times, completing three Everest Challenges – a total climb of 26 570m on his bicycle. He took 92 hours and 44 minutes to complete his quest.

Everesting is an activity where one cycles up and down a hill of your choice, until you tally 8 848 metres of ascent – the height of mount Everest. "They told me it was a stupid idea," he joked on Monday during a midday break.

"Now, I believe them!" Van Rooyen finished his fourth Everesting adventure at 18:00 on Monday evening, raising just over R41 000 by Tuesday afternoon for the Dok Wayne Foundation, which helps underprivileged children with disabilities who require prostheses or other mobility aids. The foundation is locally based and covers the needs of the Garden Route District. To donate, follow the link: Givengain

PHOTO GALLERY: Everesting the Outeniquas threefold

Cyclists from Knysna supported their hero over the weekend and rode with him on certain stretches of the endurance ride. Van Rooyen's partner and physiotherapist, Robyn Tayelor, manned a permanent base at the bottom of the pass where he could rest and refuel. During his night rides, Tayelor would wait for him at the top of the pass with warm clothes for his downhill ride.

The challenge

The concept of Everesting originated in 1994, when George Mallory (grandson of the British mountaineer of the same name) clocked 8 848m cycling 10 times up Australia's mount Donna Baung. In 2014, Everesting became official when everesting.cc was set up. In order to be official, the attempts need to follow strict rules.

Since inception, about 20 803 people from 109 different countries have completed Everest challenges.

There are no time limits to complete a challenge, but there are strict rules and no sleep is allowed. Over time the bar has been raised and by now, some people are making multiple single Everesting attempts.

The rules for such attempts are slightly different, where two hours' sleep is allowed after completing 8 848m.

Only four people in the world have done four consecutive Everest challenges. In the past month, Australian Grommit Gibbens broke the record by completing five Everest challenges.

Fourth challenge

The "Outeniqua Pass venture" was Van Rooyen's fourth Everest challenge. He did his first in 2016, ascending 8 600m and raising

R21 320 for Knysna Animal Welfare. In 2017 he ascended 10 000m and raised R35 220 for animal welfare. In 2019 he took on the Mighty Mont Ventoux climb in France. With no backup or support, only with his provisions and supplies in his backpack, he cycled the 29km to the base of the climb and started his challenge. He managed to cycle 20 500m (2,26 Everests), which to date is the highest anyone has ascended in France. To put this in perspective, the South African record is 10 965m and was done by David Kleynhans up the Franschhoek pass.

Tyrone van Rooyen, owner of the cycle shop Bespoked in Knysna, with his partner, Robyn Tayelor, at their base camp at the foot of the Outeniqua Pass. The photo was taken during a break just after 12:00 on Monday, several hours before he finished his third Everest later that day. Photo: Michelle Pienaar