Disabled Mountain Climbing - Reaching Mount Everest Summit as a Double Leg Amputee

This book is aimed at younger readers, and is based on the 'Legs on Everest' book by the same author, Mark Inglis. It is published by Random House New Zealand, and is available for purchase through their website or on order from your local book shop. It tells the story of Mark Inglis, a double leg amputee who lost the lower part of both legs in a climbing incident in New Zealand when he spent two weeks trapped in an ice cave by a storm. Frost bite meant his legs had to be amputated below the knee.

As a double leg amputee focused on achieving the ultimate in disabled climbing, Mark was also in an ideal position to research and develop the best in climbing legs for the job ahead. There are some great photos of his 'C-limbs' that are a carbon fibre limb with a rubber sole base and a flexible heel and carbon fibre plate with a motorcycle valve spring. It's not everyone that has to stop while climbing to tape up their leg with duct tape to stop their foot from falling off on in the snow!

Pleasingly, this book is not just about disabled mountain climbing. The focus is very much on the expedition up Mount Everest, with lots of wonderful photos and information boxes that are perfect for keeping younger readers on track. The information specific to Mark's disability is put into context very well, so the interest for the reader becomes in learning about the next part of his adventure rather than focusing specifically on the fact that he is doing so as an amputee climber.

The book includes lots of asides that will serve younger readers well, such as the fact that having a poo on a mountain in the snow is quite a challenge, or that the human body needs to fart a lot at altitude to help balance up the relative air pressures of outside and, well, inside!

From a younger readers point of view, be aware that there are some fairly graphic images towards the end of the book which show Mark before his surgery to repair the damage done during his climb of Mount Everest. He needed his fingers and stumps 'trimmed' to remove frost bitten areas of tissue, and the images are not for the faint hearted. Most younger readers will probably relish the 'ooo, gross' factor here, but do take care to check them out first!

To read more about the adventures of Mark Inglis, the double leg amputee determined to live life to the max, check out his website or visit the site of his charity Limbs 4 All.