U.S. Climber Nathan Longhurst Summits New Zealand’s 100 Greatest Peaks in One Season

U.S. Climber Nathan Longhurst Summits New Zealand’s 100 Greatest Peaks in One Season

Longhurst sets a new record with an unprecedented hybrid approach... Photo: @nathan358 on instagram

American climber Nathan Longhurst has pulled off one of the most impressive feats in modern mountaineering, becoming the first person to summit all of New Zealand’s 100 greatest peaks in a single season. On Thursday, the 25-year-old capped off his months-long mission by climbing his 99th and 100th peaks — 3,151-meter (10,338 feet) Mount Sefton and 2,764-meter (9,068 feet) The Footstool — with a signature touch: paragliding from one summit to the next.

Longhurst is only the second person ever to complete the list, following Don French, who took 30 years to accomplish the same feat. Longhurst managed to finish in just one season — a span of less than four months — by blending high-level mountaineering with creative, tactical paragliding.

Paragliding for the Win

Longhurst’s approach was unconventional but remarkably effective. He frequently paraglided from one peak to the next, sometimes landing on the base of another climb — and occasionally even landing high up on the next summit.

“He doesn’t claim to have climbed those peaks in the traditional sense,” said Dan Cervelli, who managed Longhurst’s social media throughout the project. “But his combination of mountaineering and paragliding is what made this achievement possible.”

For his final push, Longhurst climbed Mount Sefton, took off with his paraglider, and landed at the base of The Footstool, where he completed the last climb of his journey. A small crowd gathered in nearby Hooker Valley, watching through binoculars as Longhurst made his final ascent. When he landed near the crowd, they were the first to congratulate him on his historic achievement.

A Historic Feat in the Southern Alps

New Zealand’s 100 greatest peaks are no joke. Spread across the rugged Southern Alps, they require expert technical skills and a deep understanding of alpine terrain and weather. The list includes some of the country’s most iconic mountains, such as Aoraki/Mount Cook (3,724m) and Mount Aspiring (3,033m).

Longhurst’s combined skill as an alpinist, trail runner, and paraglider allowed him to tackle the challenge with an innovative strategy. His ability to transition from high-stakes climbing to paragliding — often navigating rapidly changing mountain weather — proved key to his success.

After finishing the feat. Photo: Nathan Longhurst.

Home Base and Next Steps

Longhurst, who splits his time between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Mammoth Lakes, California, documented his entire journey on Instagram (@nathan358), offering followers a front-row seat to his remarkable climbs and flights. His final post, showing him smiling with Mount Sefton and The Footstool behind him, was met with an outpouring of praise from the climbing community.

“This was about more than just ticking off a list,” Longhurst wrote. “It was about connecting with these mountains, challenging myself, and finding creative ways to move through the terrain.”

A New Standard for Alpine Achievement

Longhurst’s blend of climbing and paragliding introduces a new dimension to mountaineering. While purists may debate the definition of “climbing” when paragliding is involved, there’s no denying the physical and mental challenge involved.

“This isn’t just a climbing record — it’s a redefining moment for how we think about moving through the mountains,” Cervelli added.

Longhurst’s achievement stands not only as a remarkable personal triumph but also as a landmark moment in the evolution of modern mountaineering.

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stash member Marlowe Kushner