Show all
Browse by Editions Authors Topics Locations

30 Peaks in 30 Days Blog

menu_book picture_as_pdf bookJames Webb Blog Resource Australia
Issue_25_October_2017-68

I've always loved the mountains. This love started as a five-year-old learning to ski at Mt Hotham, then adventures in the Cathedrals and Grampians as a teenager.

James on Glacier Creek Waterfall, Backcomb Mountain, Whistler, Canada andrewdoran.com

30 peaks in 30 days blog

James Webb

68 | BWA October 2017


James on Blister in the sun, grade 17, Spanky's Wall, Whistler, Canada andrewdoran.com

After high school I embarked on the first of many overseas ski trips. From there it didn’t take long to discover climbing and mountaineering, and after 10 years of learning the ropes on 3-6000 metre peaks, I was lucky enough to go climb Cho Oyu (8201 metres) in 2013, my first 8000 metre peak. Six months later I was supposed to climb Everest, however thieves broke into my home and relieved me of all my gear. So I postponed to 2015. Unfortunately my father passed away early that year and once again I had to postpone. But, like a lot of things in life, what often seems to be bad luck is a blessing in disguise. In 2014, at least 16 Sherpas died when a serac fell from above, while they climbed the Khumba Icefall and then the 2015 earthquake, which killed thousands, including at least 22 people at base camp, put an end to all climbing those seasons.

By the time 2016 came around both my employer and my wife were getting sick of my changing plans. So, I took my long service leave, booked a trip to Europe with my wife and decided to keep in shape before leaving by hiking some Victorian peaks I hadn’t visited before. I had climbed

Bogong and Feathertop (Victoria’s highest and second highest mountains) many times in winter and summer, but I had no idea what were number three or four or any of the others, so I started researching and listing them. However, a lot of data I found was either wrong or conflicting, and with the lesser-known peaks, almost non-existent. The recording of this information formed the basis of what was to become my website and blog.

James on Calcheck, grade 17, Whistler, Canada James Webb collection

... what often seems to be bad luck is a blessing in disguise.

... a lot of data I found was either wrong or conflicting, and with the lesser-known peaks, almost non-existent.

BWA October 2017 | 69


Ryders Hut campsiteJames Webb

I soon realised that there were roughly 30 mountains above 1700 metres in Victoria and with just over a month to try and get them done before I left for Europe, the project 30 peaks in 30 days was born. I recorded all my trips in pictures and words as a diary with the thought that someone else may be interested. Gear reviews came later as I had a lot of new clothing and equipment (due to aforementioned theft) that I was very impressed with. Technical reviews that I read in magazines mean very little to me, so I wrote them from a more practical point of view, if they worked or not, and why.

The blog is an ongoing project. A year later I still have three peaks to get too and I ended up summiting more than 50 high points over 1700 metres in 30 days. But like all my projects, it’s never been about getting to the end or to the top; it's always been about the journey, which I hope never ends. I hope to continue adding walks and trips on the blog as I train and search for new or repeat favourite adventures, and being a “gear whore” gear reviews are included. I hope people will enjoy reading the blog, find it informative and most of all that it encourages readers to get out. But even if they don’t, I enjoy writing it.

Mount Cope turnoff, Bogong High PlainsJames Webb

... it's always been about the journey, which I hope never ends.

70 | BWA October 2017