National Three Peaks Challenge inspired ultra-endurance athlete’s unique achievement

There have been some incredible feats accomplished recently in the mountaineering world. Nimsdai Purja has rewritten the history books of the Himalayan mountains, setting records for summits with and without oxygen.

Each time he climbed Shishapangma in early October, he was with other people who had their own incredible achievements. The first time was Mingma G, who also completed the 14 peaks without supplemental oxygen.

In the second round, he was joined by Tejan Gerung.

In another part of the world, an ultra-endurance athlete accomplished a remarkable feat on peaks in England, Scotland and Wales.

James Norbury, originally from Stroud, Gloucestershire, took inspiration from the National Three Peaks Challenge to create his own unique obstacle. He wanted to explore lesser-known areas of the region and did a ’30 peaks challenge’.

“The reason for me has always been to get out of the house, have fun, tell a story of whatever that adventure is,” Norbury said, via Chloe Harcombe and Nicky Price of BBC News and BBC Radio Gloucestershire, respectively.

There are people who don’t reach 30 peaks in their entire lives; Norbury completed his 30-peak challenge in just three days.

It was an intense challenge as the 33-year-old finished in 70 hours and 49 minutes. He traveled more than 100 miles and climbed north of 45,000 feet in elevation.

“Physically it was tiring and difficult, but sleeping was probably the thing I found most difficult,” he said.

Norbury has summited Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and YR Wyddf (also known as Snowdon), which is the highest peak in England, Scotland and Wales respectively. But it’s the lesser-known trails that don’t normally attract as much attention from tourists that he seeks to draw attention to.

“There are so many incredible mountains in the UK. We are very lucky,” he said.

“We live in a very digital world. I know I spend a lot more time in front of a screen than I would like.

“It was wonderful to disconnect for a few days.”

In addition to hoping this would motivate more people to get outdoors and explore what nature has to offer, he was also doing it for charity. Norbury was helping to raise money for mountain rescue teams in the UK.

What did he have planned next? A trip to New Zealand, without so much intensity, to see all the locations where The Lord of the Rings was filmed, combining the love of cinema and adventure.