A Hobart man has done the unthinkable — braving the harshest conditions to climb 158 Tasmanian mountains in as many days.
Key points:
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An Abel is a peak higher than 1,100 metres with at least a 150-metre drop on all sides
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Mr Taylor raised $57,000 for Cancer Council Tasmania
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He said Mt Pelion West (1,560m) was the hardest peak to climb
Sparked into action by his mother’s cancer diagnosis, Lewis Taylor climbed 500 metres of elevation a day to achieve his lofty goal of scaling the state’s highest peaks.
He finished his five-month mountain mission on Friday, flanked by an army of supporters as he braved freezing conditions to climb Abel 158, kunanyi/Mt Wellington, on his 30th birthday.
“[There were] some moments where I just wanted to go home, some moments where you’re in vegetation that doesn’t want to let you through, those moments you’ve just got to dig deep,” he said.
“For me, the inspiration and motivation comes from cancer sufferers really.
“They get me out of bed every morning because they don’t have a choice when to fight, when to stand up. They’ve just got to fight every day.”
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Mr Taylor was diagnosed with COVID-19 during his adventure, chewing up valuable rest days.
“The first day out of isolation I had to back up and head out into the snow in the north-east and head out into the mountains the first day back,” he said.
“That was pretty tough physically and mentally, but here we are last day. We got it done.”
Mr Taylor said he drew inspiration from the stories of cancer sufferers.(Instagram: Tassie Taylor)</…….