REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

My journey to completing the 7 Summits is in full motion, with my fifth summit ticked off earlier this year.

On Saturday, 22nd February 2025, at around 6pm GMT, I successfully reached the summit

of the highest peak outside of Asia – Mt. Aconcagua (6,9601m/ 22,837 ft). with Mingma Sherpa and Abiral Rai, who also accompanied me on my Everest climb and the amazing team from Life Happens Outdoors including expedition leader Rami Rasamny, lead guide Gustavo Caselli and Khalil Chehab.

A part of the Andes Mountain Range in the Mendoza region of Argentina, Mt. Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the world outside the Himalayas and the second tallest of the classic seven summits.

Every mountain brings its own challenges, but for me these are amplified with my disability.  Although not the most technically difficult mountain I’ve climbed – it was physically and mentally exhausting as I climb three times slower than an able-bodied mountaineer.

Aconcagua requires patience because there is a lot of waiting around for weather and ideal times to move. The wind is famously the challenge but we were very lucky and strategic in how and when we chose to move, making our exposure to wind more limited.

The hardest day of the climb was the summit. It’s a long hard ascent with very limited rescue options. We had to set up a special camp 4 because of the length of the trail and sheer exhaustion particularly when I needed to change legs on the snow and ice during the descent.

In the lead up to this expedition I was in Germany working closely with the prosthetics experts at Ottobock to refine new designs for this climb. The new prosthetic designs we tested out on Aconcagua were incredible, allowing me more movement and control on the mountain. It gave me real confidence with every step, especially when it was slippery or uneven underfoot.

These climbs are not only a chance to change perceptions around disability but also help further the advancement in technology that will help other amputees lead a fulfilled life and enjoy the outdoors. And what better place to test it than on some of the highest peaks in the world!

Now I have just Puncak Jaya, (Oceania) and Mount Vinson (Antarctica) to conquer. Onwards and upwards!!!