5 wounded warriors attempt Mount McKinley summit
Source: Associated Press
5 wounded warriors attempt Mount McKinley summit
Posted: Jun 22, 2012 2:18 AM CDT Updated: Jun 22, 2012 2:18 AM CDT
By MARK THIESSEN
Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Five wounded warriors with a self-described total of four good legs among them are gaining ground in their assault on Alaska's formidable Mount McKinley, North America's tallest peak.
The five soldiers - four are retired - range in age from 31 to 64. All but one lost limbs in American conflicts stretching from Vietnam to Afghanistan.
After nine days on the 20,320-foot mountain in the Alaska Range, the expedition was resting at 14,200 feet Thursday and was being warned by guides the climb only gets more difficult.
"Obviously, I don't have to worry about losing my feet to the cold," said Stephen Martin, who calls himself a desert rat from suburban Phoenix who hates being cold. "I've already lost my feet. I don't want to lose my hands to frostbite."
Read more: http://www.wlns.com/story/18852919/5-wounded-warriors-attempt-mount-mckinley-summit
demosincebirth
(12,540 posts)shouldn't be up there in the first place?
jimlup
(7,968 posts)as anyone.
There are always about 20 deaths on Denali in any given year. Someone I knew personally was killed in a fall on descent from the summit last year. The people who do the helicopter rescues usually find it to be useful training but that is really beside the point.
If you want to outlaw mountaineering - fine. You'll have a fight on your hands from people like me (I'm a Denali qualified mountaineer.) But don't take it out on the qualified handicapped only because they are different.
demosincebirth
(12,540 posts)one simple question that I asked.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)demosincebirth
(12,540 posts)Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)demosincebirth
(12,540 posts)aintitfunny
(1,421 posts)He is a remarkable person with a remarkable purpose. I have been to a few fundraisers for his Disabled Sports group and met a few of the soldiers that have been in the program. It is quite impressive and very moving. This program proves that life does not end with the loss of a limb or more. Not only can they live, they can live well and be active and adventurous. He works hard to prove this and he is right there with them on adventures such as this.
roody
(10,849 posts)What did that mountain do to them?