Everest Humbled by Footless

While the tallest mountain on the planet was witnessing heavy traffic by mountaineers to scale it, it was for the first time that something off-routine came: Yes, Everest was conquered by a single foot (disabled) American Mountaineer Tom Whittaker who topped the peak recently.

With steel of nerves and cliffhanger determination, Tom Whittaker gave a wild goose chase with no less than the 8848 meter Himalayan peak from southeast ridge of Everest (Seen in the picture released by AFP in Nepalese capital Kathmandu, while trying to adjust his right from leg with an expression of pain). The American effort can be optimized as reaching the zenith of endurance of amputees and a great trail and triumph over tribulations.

Also in the news was mountaineer Appa Sherpa of Nepal scaling Everest for 9 successive expeditions and announced that he would topple the highest records with two more attempts set by mountaineer Rita Sherpa also Nepalese. What remains to be seen who would ever try again Whittaker’s record of debut performance by a person with disability. Perhaps overcoming the hurdles are sweet but triumph over the adversaries are sweetest. Indeed the message also transcends to those who cry over the new shoes lest they learn a lesson for two of being footless.

We at THPI celebrate the Himalayan success of Tom Whittaker and thoroughly spirited in proving that if one has vision and determination impossible tasks turn possible.

“Hail the man whose feat had dwarfed the highest peak”

Source: Sankalp (Vol.8, No.2.)
Dated: August, 1998