[OT] Now this is amazing... I'm honestly stunned.

[Barcode]

I remember seeing something about a rock climber who lost his legs who managed to take up the sport again, hopefully this guy will be able to work something out as well.

If there is enough of his lower arm left that his bicep is still attached and functional, he could get a prosthetic that could be quite useful for climbing. I know there were quite a few times when I was climbing that I lamented the limitations of flesh and bone, and would have preferred a hook. However, trading off the delicate control of a hand and fingers that were probably like steel for such a device is probably a poor one in his case.

Still, no doubt he will come up with something. We'll hear about him in a year or two climbing another Colorado peak. Maybe even a made for TV movie on TBS.

 

[jonesy]

Hardcore. 'Nuff said.

 

[caudor]

The will to live can be a very powerful motivator (surprizing even to one's self); however, this man went even beyond that. What a spirit!

To put it in more colorful words: he is a bad mama jama!

 

[AlphaOmega]

Amazing story. Climbers really are a breed apart.

If anyone wants to read an incredible account of the '96 Everest expedition that Larry Fitz brought up, check out "Into Thin Air" by John Krakaurer. An absolutely fantastic book. A must read for all, wether you climb or not.

Could not agree more. I remember reading the article he did for Outside magazine which lead to that book. I flew thru that book in a matter of an hour or two.

 

[beta-ray]

this guy did not survive

 

[Desdichado]

The mountain climber story (amazing!) actually reminded me of a neighbor from back home who got caught in a hay baler. He managed to get one arm out and then somehow take off his shoes and wedge them between the rollers so he wouldn't be completely pulled in, but he couldn't get his left arm out because his watch was caught. So he just sat there and gritted his teeth until the baler finally cut his arm off (below the elbow)...then drove back to the farm and called for help. He still farms and hauls an 18' cattle trailer one-handed. He's one of my heroes.

Weird -- that happened to one of my first cousins (although I wouldn't swear that it's a hay baler -- I just don't know for sure. Was only about 17 at the time, too. Really shook me up for a while. They went back for the arm, and reattached it, but ended up having to take it back off because of infection.

 

[Hand of Evil]

While amazing what the story does not say is that the arm was more than likely 'dead' from lack of blood flow and that the cutting it off was not as painful as you would think. The amazing thing is that it was done, he climb down the cliff and started back.

The down side (I may be wrong about this as I have not really followed the story) was that he was doing something very dangerous and risky by himself. He did not let anyone know the path he was taken and a possible return time. As a diver, you never dive alone I would think the same is true for mountain climbing.

Still is amazing tale of fortitude and will.

 

[kkoie]

Something like this did happen before. The guy was out in the woods by himself, and a tree fell on his limb (I don't remember if it was his arm or leg). Anyway, after quite a long wait with no one finding him, he cut his limb off with a pocket knife. Happened about 5 or 10 years ago I think.

 

[buzzard]

Just to give you all a little Colorado scoop. I believe this guy also got caught in a snow slide early this year while backwoods skiing. I would highly reccomend not hanging out with him since a meteor is likely to fall on him next.

buzzard