Double Above-Knee Amputee Climbs North America’s Highest Peak

World record-setting double above-knee amputee Hari Budha Magar has successfully completed the latest climb in his 7 Summits attempt.

The veteran Gurkha and his support team spent two weeks on the challenging ascent of Denali in Alaska, the highest mountain in North America, before reaching the summit at 20,310ft (6,190m).

While Denali doesn’t reach the altitude of Everest – which Hari conquered in another world-first in May last year – it presented its own unique challenges. 

With only just over half of attempts proving successful, according to US National Park Service statistics (1903-2023) it is one of the toughest climbs 45-yerar-old Hari will encounter in his 7 Summits journey.

Because of the depth of soft snow on its lower slopes, Hari had to travel to a US training camp ahead of the expedition to learn how to snowshoe efficiently on his adapted prosthetics.

At just three degrees south of the Arctic Circle, changeable pressure systems also led to unpredictable and relentlessly cold weather, dropping to minus 26 degree Celsius.

At higher altitude, the team also had to cope with high winds, which slowed their progress, delayed their final push for the summit and risked supplies running dangerously low.

Having already climbed Everest (Asia), Mont Blanc (Europe) and Kilimanjaro (Africa), the successful ascent of Denali leaves Aconcagua in Argentina (South America), Puncak Jaya, Indonesia (Oceania) and Mount Vinson (Antarctica) as the final three peaks to complete Hari’s ambitious goal.

Hari was given a boost ahead of the latest expedition by being awarded an MBE in the recent King’s Birthday Honours. This was in recognition of his world record-setting Everest climb last year and continuing to raise disability awareness.

Hari was born in a cowshed in a remote area of Nepal before joining and serving for 15 years in the Royal Gurkha Rifles. Having lost both legs to an IED while on patrol in Afghanistan in 2010, he has battled back to gain independence and show what is possible for people of disability. He now lives in Kent with wife and children.

Hari has launched an appeal (www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hbm7summits) to raise funds to enable his climbs and the positive impact it will generate in changing people’s perceptions of what is possible for people of disability.

To find out more visit www.HariBudhaMagar.com