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Nathan Longhurst’s Quest to Summit New Zealand’s 100 Greatest Peaks

Nathan Longhurst, a 25-year-old climber from the United States, has undertaken an ambitious journey to summit and paraglide New Zealand’s 100 greatest peaks since starting in November of last year. As of now, he has successfully reached the top of 78 peaks, racing against time to complete the entire challenge before the end of the Southern Hemisphere’s climbing season. If he achieves this goal, he will not only become the second individual ever to complete the list but also the first to do it in a single climbing season.

The Origins of the Challenge

Initiated by the New Zealand Alpine Club in 1991, the New Zealand 100 Peaks Challenge was established to commemorate the club’s 50th anniversary. The challenge encourages members to summit what are considered the 100 principal peaks of the country, most of which are located on the South Island. This list includes a variety of peaks, ranging from more accessible climbs to some of the country’s most demanding ascents. The more challenging peaks feature technical climbing, severe weather conditions, and considerable elevations, with many summits rising around 3,000 meters from nearly sea level and situated in remote areas. A full list of the peaks can be viewed here.

Originally, the aim was to summit as many peaks as possible within the anniversary year, but even the most dedicated climbers managed to reach only nine peaks in that time. Notably, Don French, who topped seven peaks that year, persevered in his pursuit and, three decades later in 2021, became the only climber to complete all 100 peaks. French’s final ascent, the Unicorn, required him to attempt it six times before finally reaching the summit.

Tackling the Toughest Peaks First

Inspired by the challenge, Longhurst, an experienced alpine climber and endurance athlete, devised a plan that leveraged his diverse skill set, which also includes paragliding. He believed that his expertise could enable him to minimize the time spent on each peak and prepare to finish the extensive list within a single season.

His journey commenced on November 17, 2024, just one hour after arriving in New Zealand, when he made his first ascent to the Double Cone. Within the initial month, he tackled some of the most challenging peaks on the list, including Mt. Aspiring, Aoraki/Mt. Cook, Mt. Hicks, and the Unicorn, which he summited on his first attempt just over a week later on November 26.

Reflecting on the Unicorn, Longhurst noted that its summit had collapsed in 2013, yielding two lower peaks. Unsure of which was the true summit, he traversed a precarious ridge connecting the western and eastern summits before paragliding down. His innovative approach sometimes involved cycling between points or paragliding directly from one peak’s summit to the base of the next. For example, on November 27, he successfully linked three peaks—Mount Burns, Mount Sealy, and Mount Annette—in a single day, completing a significant 19 kilometers on foot and accomplishing four flights during his eight-hour expedition.

Tracking Progress in Real-Time

While Longhurst has shared limited details about his climbs through brief posts and videos, his progress can be monitored live via the New Zealand 100 Peaks website. His climbs are also documented on Strava, revealing that he often summits multiple peaks in a single day. Longhurst’s unique specialization involves connecting the primary summits within specific ranges. Notably, he holds the record for being the youngest climber to complete both Bulger’s List—which includes the tallest peaks in Washington State—and the Sierra Peaks Section list, during which he chain-climbed 247 peaks in just 138 days. His paragliding journey began relatively recently in 2023, further showcasing his adventurous spirit and dedication to exploring challenging terrains.

Source
explorersweb.com