The 7N7 Challenge: The 7N7 Challenge, #1

Chapter One / The Challenge

The 7N7 Challenge is centered around camping and is designed to push oneself outdoors. I created this challenge for myself, and it quickly consumed a significant portion of my thoughts. Planning, researching, checking the weather, and examining gear became enjoyable because there was a framework and a goal. The camping trips were more satisfying due to the fun of preparation and anticipation. The trips allowed me to assess what worked well and what needed improvement. If you enjoy camping or think you might, but struggle to make time for it, this challenge can motivate you. You deserve to have some time to yourself in the great outdoors.

Challenging yourself or accepting a challenge fosters personal growth. When searching for information on accepting challenges, many results focus on overcoming obstacles. However, these are not true challenges; they are hurdles we face in life. This is not a book about that. Merriam-Webster offers seven definitions for the word challenge. The one relevant to our topic is: to invite into competition. Here, I invite you, or you can adjust the challenge to suit your situation, to compete against life's pressures, weather conditions, insects, isolation, and ultimately have fun while camping.

The challenge is this: To tent camp in seven North Carolina State Parks in seven months. Ideally, it's best to take one trip per month, but it's not mandatory. The goal is to complete seven different trips in seven different parks over a seven-month period. Simple, right? Not as simple as it may seem. However, it is achievable, especially if you live in or near North Carolina. If not, you can adapt the concept to your region. Everyone's situation is unique, and this challenge may not be feasible for everyone. It will be more challenging for some than for others. For instance, being retired allows me to go during the week when reservations are easier to make. If you work and are limited to weekends, it can be more difficult. But if you love the outdoors and camping, you can do this or adjust it to fit your lifestyle.

To make it a legitimate challenge, there must be rules. For this challenge, the rules are straightforward. Firstly, camp refers to camping in a tent. A year or so after this challenge, I got a small teardrop camper. I might adjust future challenges to include it. But you have to draw the line somewhere in order for it to be a real challenge. For example, if you were to travel in a large motorhome, it would hardly be a challenge, as you could complete it in a week without ever leaving the vehicle.

Secondly, you must complete seven camping trips, which is more difficult than it may seem. If you lead a busy life, finding the time and favorable weather conditions can make it challenging to achieve seven trips, even in your backyard. Why seven? While some may attribute significance to the number seven in ancient times, major religions, or mathematics, the truth is, for the casual camper in North Carolina, there are approximately seven months with pleasant weather suitable for camping. I chose April through October as the ideal timeframe. Although there are additional months with favorable camping conditions, the weather in early spring and late fall can be more limited, narrowing the window of opportunity.

Thirdly, the challenge requires camping in seven different North Carolina state parks. This encourages you to explore a variety of locations rather than settling into one familiar spot. Are there seven NC state parks that allow camping? Yes, and each park offers unique features and activities. We will discuss these parks in Chapter Four. You may be pleasantly surprised by the diverse camping experiences North Carolina has to offer.

Fourth and finally, the challenge must be completed within seven months as previously mentioned. You can choose the starting month and continue for seven consecutive months. Although you could double up on one month and skip another, that might detract from the intended fun and excitement of the challenge. Additionally, you can camp for any duration ranging from one night to fourteen. I believe the maximum number of consecutive nights allowed in the same spot is fourteen. Personally, I typically camp for two nights during the middle of the week. Two nights is the minimum reservation period at some parks when booking online, which we will explore further in Chapter Five.

The 7N7 Challenge emerged from my desire to find purpose after retiring at a young age. Although I had plenty to keep me busy managing a Gospel Group and other pursuits, I realized I was investing too much time in these endeavors in an attempt to maintain a sense of importance. This led to neglecting the enjoyable activities I initially intended to pursue in retirement. My background in Boy Scouts, where I learned leadership through camping, played a significant role in my love for the outdoors. I remained involved with the organization into adulthood and eventually became a Scoutmaster. Additionally, my family enjoyed camping during my childhood, instilling a lifelong appreciation for the activity. Over time, my camping experiences evolved from tent camping to using a pop-up camper, travel trailer, and eventually a large Fifth Wheel RV. However, I found the Fifth Wheel to be too overwhelming, prompting me to return to my roots and rediscover my passion for tent camping.

In 2018, I made a conscious decision to devote more time to the enjoyable activities I had initially retired for. As my wife continued to work three days a week, I decided to leave the large camper at home and embark on tent camping trips during the week. I soon realized that a single excursion would not suffice in addressing my need for a meaningful and entertaining hobby. I needed something more involved. I devised the concept of camping in seven state parks in seven months as a challenge to motivate and inspire me and named it 7N7.

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What is ‘;lj0’? you might ask. Well, it has no meaning. I just cleaned the computer screen and keyboard and when I finished, that is what had been typed by the paper towel. Sounds cool, though.

On a more serious note, I need to insert a disclaimer somewhere and right here might be as good a place as any. Disclaimer: This book is designed to provide information about tent camping and related activities. However, it is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any pre-existing health conditions