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elkid
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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 Posted: 09/02/03 - 15:25 Post subject: Speaking of "best athletes"
Holy crap!
Paraplegic Scaling Japan's Mount Fuji By ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press Writer
TOKYO - An American mountaineer who lost the use of his legs in a car accident seven years ago resumed his slow but steady ascent of Mount Fuji on Tuesday after his attempt to climb Japan's highest mountain nearly ended on its first day. Keegan Reilly began pulling himself up the slopes of the 12,385-foot peak early Monday using a custom-made device resembling a low-slung mountain bike.
The 22-year-old soon ran into problems — a safety ranger on the trail stopped him and the eight members of his support team. "He sort of freaked out when he saw us," Reilly told The Associated Press by mobile phone from the mountain. "He had never seen an arm bike before and he really didn't know what to do. He didn't want to let us pass. I really thought we were going to have to go back down."
After an eight-hour delay, however, Reilly and his supporters persuaded the ranger to relent. "It kind of shows exactly what we are trying to raise awareness about," Reilly said. "We wanted to climb in a country outside of the United States to show people more about what extreme climbing for disabled people is."
Despite the delay, Reilly said the climb is going far better than expected. "It's easier than I expected," he said. "The paths are wide, but there's lots of loose gravel. My tires have been spinning out a lot."
After an eight-hour climb Tuesday, Reilly, who lives in Portland, Ore., had reached 9,400 feet. "We're making amazing progress," said John Nelson, Reilly's uncle and a member of the climbing team.
Weather and strength permitting, Reilly said he hopes to reach the summit on Thursday, roughly two days earlier than expected. The climb, up generally gentle slopes, normally takes six or seven hours. Reilly, originally from Soldotna, Alaska, turns a crank to propel his arm-powered, "Scarab" climbing apparatus, which is made of titanium tubing. The $35,000 machine has four wheels and is designed to roll over boulders and even climb steps. He set off Monday morning from an elevation of about 5,460 feet and climbed about 900 feet before camping on the rocky trail in a sleeping bag beneath a starry sky.
More than 200,000 people ascend Mount Fuji every year during the July-August climbing season, making it one of the most-climbed peaks in the world. Since losing the use of his legs in a 1996 car accident, Reilly has also climbed Colorado's Mount Elbert at 14,435 feet and California's Mount Shasta at 14,162 feet.
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