The inspirational 31-year-old used his HANDS to scale most of Mount Kilimanjaro's 19,341 feet over seven gruelling days.
Brave Spencer - who underwent a double amputation at the age of five after being born with a genetic disorder - trained for a year before setting off on his mission on June 12 with two pals. Spencer, from Toronto, Canada, said: “The moment the summit was within sight was incredible. The summit sign seemed almost like a mirage.
“We looked around and realised that, after seven gruelling days of relentless climbing, after 20,000 feet of our blood, sweat, tears and vomit we had actually made it.
“The bleeding fingers and blisters were all worth it.”
Only around 50 per cent of people who attempt to reach the top of Kilimanjaro make it.
Spencer used his wheelchair for just 20 per cent of the tough ascent, using his hands for the rest
When Spencer was a boy, docs told him he would never be a functioning member of society because of his disability.
But he has continued to defy the experts.
He added: “I set out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro not only to redefine what’s possible for me, but to inspire others to overcome obstacles and challenges of their own, and to give back to communities, that need our help.
“Reaching the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro was the most mentally and physically challenging thing I have ever done, but in doing so, it reinforced the powerful message behind believing in yourself, and believing in others.
“So many people made this journey possible for me and I am so humbled by everyone’s support.”
His incredible feat has raised more than £300,000 for Free The Children, a charity which brings sustainable to thousands of Kenyans experiencing drought.
Truly Amazing!
ReplyDelete6 KEYS TO CHOOSING MT KILIMANJARO CLIMBING ROUTE
ReplyDeleteTo choose the right Kilimanjaro Climb route for you, there are plenty of variables to be mindful of.
• Who: Who is climbing? The whole group's abilities must be factored into choosing a route. The rest of the party is relying on your decision. Pick a route that best fits everyone.
• What: What limitations surround your climb? Are you bound by a budget? Or the number of days on your trip? There are cheap/expensive routes, and short/long itineraries.
• How: How do you see your trek? Do you want the most challenging route or a less strenuous one? These answers will affect which route is for you.
• Where: Where do you want to begin your climb? The routes start from all sides of the mountain. Where you begin affects cost, scenery and scenic variety.
• Why: Why are you climbing? Is it very important to summit? Then choose a route with a high success rate. Do you want to take the best photos? Then pick the most scenic route.
• When: If you are climbing during the dry season, great. But if you are climbing during the rainy season or the shoulder seasons, then the route you select can play into the climb's difficulty.
So Which is the best route to use to climb up kilimanjaro? Lemosho Route and Rongai Route are the most scenic routes up kilimanjaro. Mt Kilimanjaro Machame route is also a scenic and very popular route with many climbers.
The Marangu Route Climb is however the most used route since it has the advantage of sleeping in huts with bunker beds, hot showers, beverages and beers in the evenings are also available. Marangu is also the shorter route and can be done in 5 days although an extra day for acclimatisation is recommended.