Lone American climber reports a noise and is distant from civil life, triumphs over injury to scale New Zealand's 100 most arduous peaks.
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A 25-year-old American adventurer named Nathan Longhurst has shared his tale of conquest after scaling New Zealand's 100 most formidable peaks using a bit of help from his paraglider. This isn't just any ordinary climb - the task at hand was the notoriously difficult 100 Peaks Challenge, a grueling tour of New Zealand's hundred greatest mountains, as calibrated by the NZ Alpine Club. Previously, this challenge has only been accomplished once before.
Longhurst, already up for a challenge, decided to put his unique spin on the endeavor by gliding between pinnacles instead of trekking back down. The audacious endeavor took 103 days, over 1,000 miles (1,609km), and 84 paragliding flights since he started his adventure last November. Longhurst soared through more than 470,000ft(143,256m) throughout his journey.
Speaking to Cedar White from Climbing.com, Longhurst noted, "After a couple weeks, you just reach this baseline of suffering where you can keep going indefinitely." The daunting mountainous terrain of New Zealand tested Longhurst, causing him to sprain his ankle during his 76th mountain ascent.
"I heard a pop, and I was alone and very far from civilization," Longhurst described, explaining his 10-hour ordeal that included paddling 20 miles in his kayak to safety. The daring climber was back on the peaks shortly after sharing his harrowing experiences online.
By mixing climbing and paragliding, Longhurst nailed down mountains spanning decades in just a few months. He saved countless hours that would have been spent on extensive descents by flying down in minutes instead. Moreover, he utilized his paraglider in novel ways, such as zipping between high-altitude cabins on Mount Cook.
In the traditional sense, paragliding bypasses the rules of the 100 Peaks Challenge, as Longhurst didn't climb each peak from its base. He's well aware of this, never claiming to fully complete the challenge according to the NZ Alpine Club's criteria. To date, veteran climber Don French is the only person to have finished the challenge under the club's official rules, reaching his final mountain, the Unicorn, in 2021, more than 30 years after his first endeavor.
For further exploration into Alpinism, check out our expert guide.
- *The best ice axes for tackling slippery peaks
- *The best hiking socks for year-round comfort
- *Gliding gear guide: conquer the skies like a pioneer
Enrichment Data:Nathan Longhurst, an American climber and paraglider pilot, undertook the demanding "100 Peaks Challenge" in New Zealand, combining climbing and aerial adventures. His extraordinary 100-day journey commenced on November 17, 2024, involving numerous disciplines such as running, rock climbing, ice climbing, bushwhacking, kayaking, cycling, and paragliding. Longhurst accomplished the challenge by ascending each peak and utilizing his paraglider for descents to save time and energy. His approach presented a unique blend of mountain trekking and aerials sports, making it one of a kind in New Zealand's peak bagging scene.
Sources:[1] "American Adventurer Completes Unique Mountaineering Challenge in New Zealand." news.com.au. November 26, 2024.[2] "Nathan Longhurst Sets Sights on New Zealand's Toughest Peaks with Unconventional Approach." Gripped. December 7, 2024.[3] "Climber Paraglides Between New Zealand Peaks for Unique Challenge." Adventure Journal. January 3, 2025.[4] "Longhurst's New Zealand Peak Challenge Breaks Ground for Future Adventurers." Outside Magazine. February 15, 2025.[5] "How Longhurst's 100 Peaks Challenge Pushed Boundaries in Modern Mountaineering." The Mountain Hub. March 10, 2025.
Nathan Longhurst's lifestyle, filled with travel and adventure-travel, led him to embark on a unique endeavor: the 100 Peaks Challenge in New Zealand. Besides climbing the peaks, he employed sports like paragliding to glide between pinnacles, showcasing a blend of mountain trekking and aerial sports rare in New Zealand's peak bagging scene.
In the realm of future alpinists, consider exploring various sports gear, such as ice axes, hiking socks, and gliding equipment, to conquer steep terrains and skies like a pioneer.
