AMPUTEES AIM FOR SUMMIT OF MOUNT EVEREST
Two Iraq War veterans and other climbers hope to bring attention to issues facing servicemembers
Two Iraq War veterans, each of whom lost their right leg to roadside bombs, aim this week to become the first combat amputees to reach the top of Mount Everest.
They are climbing the lesstraveled northern route of the world’s highest mountain from China and plan to summit the 29,029-foot peak Friday, weather permitting. Unpredictable conditions and deep snow could delay them, climbers say.
The two men — former Army reservist Chad Jukes, 31, and Thomas Charles “Charlie” Linville, 30, who served as a Marine staff sergeant — are on separate expeditions sponsored by different veterans organizations.
“I hope that by the time we have completed the climb we will be able to launch veterans issues into the national discussion,” Jukes told USA TODAY from Everest. His email reply was relayed by his publicist, Amy Summers.
Jukes is climbing with a group called U.S. Expeditions and Explorations (USX). Two other members of his team are Army officers who, if successful, would be the first active-duty American soldiers to reach the summit.
This is the first climbing season in two years for Everest. An avalanche that killed 16 Nepalese guides in 2014 and a deadly earthquake last year in Nepal led to the cancellation of those seasons.
Army 2nd Lt. Harold Earls, a member of the USX expedition, along with Army Capt. Elyse Ping Medvigy, says their primary goal is raising awareness about posttraumatic stress disorder and suicide in the Army.
Jukes, who has worried about blood circulation and subsequent frostbite for his stump, says his limb has held up well during a lengthy period of climbing up and down, ferrying supplies and growing acclimated to the altitude.
“I have had minor skin issues; through appropriate skin care and rest days, I’ve been able to mitigate any issues,” he said.
Jukes said he met up with Linville at one point on the mountain and they discussed prosthetic technology and how each would make his separate climb. The Heroes Project, based in Los Angeles, is sponsoring the climb for Linville.
In an Instagram message from Everest on Sunday, The Heroes Project team said they were “ready to tackle the mountain.”
Medvigy said she has adjusted to the altitude by drinking plenty of water and eating “well-rounded meals.” She said they have bonded with members of a Russian expedition and she exercises on a chin-up bar.
Earls, 23, who is the least experienced climber on his team, said the weather can change dramatically. They climbed the North Col, a 1,000-foot stretch that is a nearly vertical ice wall. At first, the team was baking. But a storm moved in and Earls wasn’t wearing the proper clothing.
“I’m such a novice climber. For Chad, he’s super-efficient. ... For me, I’ll be sloshing around ... trying to work my way up,” he said.