Double amputee conquers Everest

New Zealand climber Mark Inglis has successfully become the first double amputee to reach the summit of Mt Everest in Nepal. Mark had both legs amputated below the knee in 1982. This was the result of frostbite while climbing Mt Cook in NZ. Mark used specially adapted carbon fibre legs in his climbing attempt. It was 53 years ago this month that his famous compatriot Sir Edmund Hillary was first successful in climbing Everest.

Mark’s efforts far out strip my own “attempt” on Everest back in January of this year. I joined a trekking group that walked from Lukla to Tengboche, barely half way to the summit. Read my blog of this trek by going to the Archives section on the right.