Legless man conquers Everest

[bushpig 0]

Pretty impressive eh!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/outstanding-mark-conquers-everest/2006/05/16/1147545297716.html

 

Inglis, who lost his lower legs to frostbite 23 years ago, reached the summit of the world's highest peak overnight - the first double amputee ever to do so.

 

[Yuki's Passion 1]

RESPECT

[snobee 0]

Certainly raises the bar in the Personal Endeavour stakes.

 

What us mere mortals could do if we really tried.

 

Congrats.

[joshnii 2]

Amazing

[Ezorisu 0]

That's hard core!

 

I have to save this link for the next time I hear someone around me whining about something trivial!

[Rag-Doll 0]

He must have been pretty missed up previously to lose both lower legs to frost bite. Fingers and toes and things, sure, but both of his lower legs? Nasty.

 

Congratulations to him, but in some ways it's a pity. Climbing Everest is now just that little bit less of an accomplishment.

[bushpig 0]

Why?? Many fully able-bodied people don't make it and turn back without conquering it. I don't think it lessens the feat for us "normal" people, or makes it any easier.

[Rag-Doll 0]

There used to be a time when there were still great feats to strive for - reaching the South Pole, Climbing Everest, sailing solo around the world, etc. Now solo around the world is such a doable thing they make a race out of it and tourists climb Everest -some die but overwhelming most don’t. The records being set these days are increasingly differentiated by some pretty arbitrary points. Great for we mortals who would otherwise be denied the experience of these things but doesn’t it also bring with it just a hint of regret for the loss of the mystique and awe that the earlier guys enjoyed and which, if only vicariously, the rest of us did as well?

[bushpig 0]

Yeah fair point. But this guy conquering Everest doesn't lessen it in my view. The fact that many people now can and do, does perhaps.

[Yuki's Passion 1]

yeah but I think we live in the greatest age of sports right now. My god, have you seen the strapped-crew riding 80-100 foot waves at Peahi (Jaws) in Hawaii or Georges Bank in Cali?? Some sick stuff I can say the biggest waves Ive surfed were on the North Shore but were only 10-12 foot sets. Bodyboarding Ive been out in 15 foot sets. The strength of those waves, at only that size, are incredible. I couldnt fathom wiping out on 2xs, 5xs that size

 

Skiers and boarders hitting 200 foot cliffs and straightlining sick AK lines. Kite surfing/skiing is taking off. Rush Randle is an amazing waterman IMO. The limits are being pushed daily and its really quite something. The mere fact that more people are doing doesnt make it any less incredible than it already is as new boundries and doors are opening daily.

 

PS - How much money does it take to climb Everest? Heard at one point it was like $50K-$100K... little bit too much for this poor bloke.

[Rag-Doll 0]

CB - you're right about this being a great age. The time we're living now may well be viewed in later times as being a golden age for sports and recreation and leisure in general. A time when rising incomes and wealth exceeded the cost of travel and when many of the world’s wonders were still pretty wonderful AND accessible by the average person.

 

BP – I'm with you 100% - the fact that 20 people preceded and another 20 followed that guy to the peak in no way diminishes his accomplishment. I’m just wondering where all the wild things have gone.

[SerreChe 2]

Amazing feat.

 

I wonder what's next though in terms of firsts at everest?

 

Seeing CB's comments reminded me I will be on vaca on the north shore soon, . I won't be riding jaws though, that's for sure (not in season anyway). 80-100 !??? Last I heard the biggest waves recorded there were 60ish, but I could be wrong. I have a friend who went there and said it was as flat as a pancake when he went. Anyway, at least they always have wind on the north shore though!

[nzlegend 1]

Ragdoll, he was trapped for 2 weeks by storms on Mt Cook in NZ, I remember it well, it was big news at the time and it was hailed as miracle when they survived, as they were given up for dead. He was extremely lucky to live, 2 weeks of frozen feet? they were long dead (his feet that is)

 

Stuff.co.nz story

 

heres a video of it http://www.megaupload.com/?d=T6E88U2R

 

pretty incredible and interesting story, one guy (artificial limb specialist) reckoned he would expend 60-70% more energy than a normal person.

 

My hat is off to him.

 

[Rag-Doll 0]

Thanks for that SG. 60-70% more engery eh? And there I was thinking that maybe having the steel legs might not have been that much of a handicap and may have actually made things easier. Pretty amazing guy.

[JPchucky 0]

Wow, is that some NZ country accent or what in that link? Can't understand a word.

 

Amazing feat none the less.

 

I was thinking he would use the same, or less energy than with full legs because the big thigh would only have to move the carbon shafted leg, and no heavy double layered mountaineering boots.

I thought the only disadvantage would be balance.

While he's climbing in that video it seems that he swings his legs just as fast as his poles.

[JPchucky 0]

CB, The cost to climb Everest is high.

 

Just the regular permit to climb from the South side is around $10,000 (They had a 50% off sale a few years back). Of course that's only a very small fraction of the price. Another big cost is Oxygen, around $5,000. From what I've heard from friends (who have attempted to summit Everest) the minimum cost is $23,000 - $25,000 for you to risk life and limb. If you were gonna take a guided ascent I've heard the min. is $40,000. It seems the best way to experience Everest in person is to take a hike to basecamp which is dirt cheap if you go by yourself, even a guided trip is pretty cheap. Of the three people I know who've gone on this hike all of them have gone back to climb, but nobodys summited. One of them is going back next Spring to give it another go.

 

Oh, and BTW I think it's still unskied from top to bottom, but I may be wrong. I know the Japanese were the first to try it, but he made two mistakes. First, he was so worried about his PERFECT style that he ate shit only 30m down. Second, he wore death pants and slid like a thousand meters before a parachute could stop him damn near ending his life.

[nzlegend 1]

 Quote:

Originally posted by JPchucky:
Wow, is that some NZ country accent or what in that link? Can't understand a word.

yep, and his wife had the worst one, thats why the dude climbed the worlds highest mountain: to get away from her voice!
I cringed when I heard her speaking. I am so grateful that living abroad has taken the edge of my NZ accent. Its not until you leave and go back you realize how bad it really is especially the "Lynn Of Tawa" female accents.

[JPchucky 0]

Originally posted by SerreChe:

 

I wonder what's next though in terms of firsts at everest?

 

That's gonna be me as the first American to take bong hits of Strawberry Cough on the summit in 2010.

[Rag-Doll 0]

Second, he wore death pants and slid like a thousand meters before a parachute could stop him damn near ending his life.

 

 

JPchuky - What are "death pants"?

[JPchucky 0]

Ah, that's just what some call pants that have no type of skid protection. Many climbers wear ski pants, wool, or pile fabrics which are all non skid. Slick nylon shell pants slide faster than a sled, so in the climbing community they're commonly refered as "death pants". That term takes a special meaning when skiing 8,000m plus peaks with no means of self arrest.

[mattlucas 0]

Last night on the news I saw the oldest man in the world at 70 reach the summit

He is Japanese

[bushpig 0]

Yeah, saw that too. Fuel for RDs argument right there.

[Fattwins 0]

this week seems to be the week for hitting the peak of everest. next week could be when the deaths start. They are usually pretty close together.

[Rag-Doll 0]

Thanks JPChucky.

 

The whole Gortex on ice thing, eh?. Makes ssense. Here is a link to an account of John Griber's decent of Mt Elias and the death of two skiers due in some part to the same thing.

 

http://www.jacksonholenews.com/Archives/FeatureArchive/2002/020417-feature.html

[SerreChe 2]

Heard the first phillipino man reached the top of everest. Wonder which other tropical nations are trying to do it. I think Malaysia and Singapore have done it already.