pushingthelimits.com

Next June (2009), Chris Waddell (Paraplegic Superstar, Winter and Summer Paralympian, ex Alpine Ski World Champion) is going to be making his attempt at climbing to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the continent of Africa at 19,340 ft (5895 meters).

Chris is using a new four wheeled version of the One-Off Titanium that looks awesome (we want one) and gives him added traction together with extra stability on the rocky lower slopes. The upper parts of Kilimanjaro are notoriously heartbreaking for wheelchair users. With high angle scree slopes causing problems for previous attempts at the summit by paraplegics using the One-Off.

There is a short but compelling history to the goal of sitting atop Africa’s tallest peak in a wheelchair, a goal that only one person has so far achieved. 

The first known attempt by a wheelchair user to summit Mount Kilimanjaro was in 2003 by Bern Goosen, a South African wheelchair user with cerebral palsy which classifies him as a quadriplegic. Using a fairly simple wheelchair with push levers Bern made it to the summit in 9 days, setting a precedent. He wasn’t granted the title of record holder as it couldn’t be verified that he’d complied with strict rules governing the sport.

In wheelchair mountain climbing it is assumed that the person trying for the record has to receive assistance over some of the climb due to rough terrain being impassable by wheelchair, however as long as it is no more than 10% of the distance traveled, the climber can claim to have summited the mountain unassisted. 

In 2005 Bern returned to the mountain with the goal of repeating his unofficial record under the scrutiny of TV cameras to provide evidence of his progress and use of help. Unfortunately on his second attempt the mountain wasnt as welcoming. Bern developed pulmonary edema (altitude sickness) at Gilmans Point, the second highest point on the mountain and had to descend, but set a record for the ascending higher than any other wheelchair user.

The next attempt, in June 2006, saw Jimmy Goddard, a paraplegic from the UK use a three wheeled One-Off Titanium in his failed attempt to reach the summit. Jimmy did make it to Gilman’s Point (5650 meters) after 9 days, still some way from the summit, but more than high enough for him to lay claim to reaching higher under his own steam than any other wheelchair user. Whether he actually climbed higher than Bern Goosen (who also made it to Gilmans Point on his second verified attempt) cannot be independently verified or confirmed.

Jimmy’s claim has been questioned by some, he was carried over rock fields and some area’s of scree after initially choosing the wrong route to the summit. Jimmy and his team claim that he did not receive more than the allowed 10%.

Then in August 2006, Darol Kubacz, an amercian paraplegic used a three wheeled One-Off in his attempt at the summit. Trying to keep things more traditional and simple, Kubacz was not carried at any point of his climb. Darol used huge inflatable wheels to stop himself from sinking into the scree sections and a winch fitted to the front of his handbike to haul himself up the slopes. Despite the planning Darol fell victim to pulmonary edema  while camping overnight at 5000 meters and had to descend, ending his summit attempt.

Fast forward to October 2007 and Bern Goosen is having another bite at the cherry, his third climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair. Ensuring that he was overseen by officials and relevant governing bodies, Bern reached the summit in an amazing time of 6 days, 3 hours. Officially becoming the first wheelchair user to climb to the top of Kilimanjaro. Not only is he the first wheelchair user to make it, he is the first quadriplegic to make it, and the first wheelchair user to climb the bastard 3 times.

The help he received was carefully documented and comes in well under the 10% rule:

1) Rock obstacles on approach to 2nd Cave = maximum of 100 metres = 0.1km
2) Rock obstacles on approach to 3rd Cave = maximum of 50 metres = 0.05km
3) Scree slope between Hans Meyer Cave and Gilman’s Point = estimated 50% of 1.7km = 0.85km
4) Between Gilman’s Point and Uhuru Peak = estimated 70% of 1.9km = 1.33km

TOTAL: 2.33 kilometres

Given that the route that he took (the Rongai Route with variations to make it more ‘wheelchair friendly’) was 27.1km, the total figure of 2.33km falls well within the 10% limit of the total climb (being 8.6%) .

In addition to the assistance recorded above, Bern also received help from a ‘steerer’ - somebody who walks in front of the chair and steers it around various obstacles. This form of help is allowed under the rules, as long as the ‘steerer’ doesn’t actually pull the chair whilst steering. 

So when Chris Waddell sets out on his attempt next year he will be hoping to join a very elite club. The Highest Wheelchairs In The World Club, hopefully he will join Bern in making it to the summit and become only the second person in a wheelchair to do so.

Good luck Chris, we’ve seen you ski and know that no matter how long it takes you to get up there, you’ll be the fastest ever on the way back down for sure.


Chris Waddell
Jimmy Goddard
Darol Kubacz
Bern Goosen