Hari’s ultimate challenge Hari’s ultimate challenge

HARI Budha Magar is taking on the world’s highest mountain to inspire others and show that anyone can achieve their dreams – however impossible they may seem

The former British soldier-turned-mountaineer is attempting to make history as the first double above-the-knee amputee to climb Everest

Hari’s 15 years in the British Army’s Ghurka regiment was brought to a brutal end in Afghanistan in 2010, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded while he was on patrol

He turned to mountaineering in 2016 as part of his recovery Since then he has become the first double above-the-knee amputee to climb the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis (1,345m)

Other successes include Mera Peak (6,476m) and Chulu Far East (6,058m) in Nepal, and Morocco’s Mt Toubkal (4,167m) He has also completed the Everest Base Camp trek

Hari takes on the ultimate test in May and aims through his efforts to inspire veterans and others with a disability

He has launched a £300,000 Crowdfunding campaign to make the expedition possible and is hoping for support from the disability community

“Everest is my ultimate challenge,” said Hari

“The human body is just not designed to operate at that altitude But add to that my challenges with mobility and speed, and there is a whole new layer of difficulty

Greater risk

“It’ll take me longer than able-bodied climbers, so I’m resigned to the fact that I’ll be starting earlier and finishing later We’ve also planned two extra camps if they are needed

“That means more kit, and a greater risk for all of us on the mountain – so we are planning out every detail ”

The 43-year-old is being trained by, and climbing with, Krishna Thapa, former chief mountain instructor at the SAS and a worldrenowned climber

With reduced mobility, Hari uses three times more energy than the average climber, with Everest expecting to take him three times longer than an able-bodied mountaineer His climb will take him across the South Col route from Nepal, negotiating some of the world’s toughest conditions

Cutting-edge equipment and technology will be important, but this is a true test of Hari’s physical and mental limits

Hari said: “From specially designed crampons to the heated sockets around my stumps and the short prosthetic legs I’ll be using for the climb – we are developing new technologies that will allow me to climb Everest

“But it’s much more than that Everything needs to be adapted to get me onto the mountain, right down to made-to-measure clothing ”

In 2018, Hari joined forces with other climbers and disability charities to successfully overturn a ban on double amputees and the visually impaired from climbing Everest at Nepal’s supreme court

“It’s already been an adventure getting to this point, but through the climb I hope we can positively transform the way people with a disability are perceived, and how they perceive themselves ”

Krishna said: “I’ve worked with some tough guys in my time, but Hari is up there with the toughest

Monumental

“If he puts his mind to a task, you are damn sure that he’s going to give it every fibre of his being to get the job done

“There are no words to describe the monumental challenge that he’s undertaking, but we’ll be there every step of the way – and I can’t wait to share that special moment with him on top of the world ” n To support Hari’s Everest expedition, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/harieverest

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