Take on a 106,750-Step Mount Everest Challenge in September

Duke employee wellness program invites staff and faculty to log enough steps to match the trek from Mount Everest Base Camp to the summit in the next ‘Around the World’ challenge

A graphic reads "Around the World Challenge" with an image of the Earth and a close-up of Mount Everest

Most of us will never hike from Mount Everest Base Camp to the summit of the world’s highest mountain, at 29,032 feet.

But with the “Around the World” challenge from Duke’s employee wellness program, LIVE FOR LIFE, staff and faculty can log the same number of steps needed to summit Everest’s peak – and earn a measure of accomplishment in the form of a medal.

The latest monthlong challenge for staff and faculty to log steps or flights of stairs that correspond to the distance or height of a well-known geographical location takes place Sept. 1-30. Registration is open.

Participants are challenged to walk the equivalent of the 42.7 miles needed to traverse from Mount Everest Base Camp to the summit, which equates to 3,558 steps per day throughout September.

Everyone who logs the goal of 106,750 steps during the month will receive a medal for the accomplishment.

Previous Around the World challenge destinations have included climbing flights of stairs equal to the height of the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower, and logging the number of steps needed to encircle Nantucket Island.

“It’s a fun and rewarding way to stay active, challenge yourself and discover something new,” said Carlos Velasquez, LIVE FOR LIFE Fitness Specialist. “It really is a passport to fitness.”

The “Around the World” challenge has been one of LIVE FOR LIFE’s most popular programs since it began in 2025, with more than 1,100 people signing up for the inaugural Eiffel Tower challenge.

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