One Armed Climber Set to make Final Push up Everest, History
After successfully leading largest-ever group of climbers with
disabilities to Mt. Everest Base Camp, American mountaineer Gary
Guller drives on in attempt to become first person with one arm
to summit.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Dennis Borel, Project Director
(512) 478-3366 M-F days
(512) 431-1656 or (512) 443-6038 other times
E-mail: dborel@cotwd.org
AUSTIN, TEXAS May 1, 2003
One armed climber, Gary Guller and the members of the Team Everest
'03 (TE '03) Challenge Trek have achieved a goal many considered
unthinkable, reaching the base of Mount Everest. Now, after years
of training and one previous unsuccessful summit attempt, Guller
is poised to make history again as he ascends the final steps to
stand on the top of the world.
Guller and his summit team hope to stand atop the mountain, weather
and conditions permitting, in mid - late May, making Guller the
first person with one arm to climb to the 29,035-foot peak.
The team has climbed as high as Camp 3 (24,000ft), and has made
numerous trips across, up and down the treacherous ladders of the
Khumbu Ice Fall. The team's high altitude climbing Sherpa with the
support of the entire expedition team have successfully established
Camp 1, Camp 2, and Camp 3 high on the Lhotse Face, and are beginning
to establish Camp 4 on the South Col, approximately 950 meters (3,116ft)
from the top of the world. Gary Scott, Co-Expedition Leader, the
climbing Sherpa and Guller are all at Base Camp having a few days
of much needed rest and continued acclimatization.
Owner of Austin-based adventure outfitter Arun Expeditions, the
36-year-old climber lost his arm after a 1986 mountaineering accident
in Mexico. He returned to climbing after recovering and fell in
love with Nepal, leading treks through the Himalaya. To prepare
for his latest summit attempt, Guller has made several training
climbs on major peaks across the world, including Mt. Kilimanjaro
(Africa), Mt. Aconcagua (Argentina) and Makalu and Baruntse in the
Nepal Himalaya.
Phase 1 complete - April 6, 2003: The Team Everest '03 Challenge
Trek
Originally conceived almost 2 years at a convention for the Texas
disability advocacy organization Coalition of Texans with Disabilities,
TE '03 has certainly fulfilled its promise to shatter the perceptions
of those with disabilities.
After a year and half of training, planning and fundraising, most
of a determined group of 14 people with disabilities made the final
steps of an often grueling 16-day journey, reaching Mt. Everest
Base Camp at 17,500ft on the other side of the world.
While an occasional individual with a disability has reached Base
Camp, there has never been a cross disability group of this size
on the world's highest mountain. Even more remarkably, five of the
team members used wheelchairs.
Said Guller, "I've never seen such a determined team, fully
focused on achieving this goal and understanding the historic event
that has taken place. Most folks are not aware that only 1 in 10
people ever reach the base camp of Mount Everest."
"In climbing Mt. Everest, I hope to raise awareness and support
for the potential of people with disabilities and to show that life
and dreams continue," says Guller. "Team Everest '03 members
embody responsibility, leadership, physical determination and strength.
This expedition has a powerful message. It models how society can
open the door of opportunity to all people, regardless of their
ability or disability."
Before even leaving for Nepal, the team's voyage generated a tremendous
wellspring of interest and support, including seeing Guller and
team featured on the cover of the Austin 2003 phone book, Time Magazine
and multiple radio, TV and print news stories. In addition, they
received the Barbara Jordan Media Award from the Texas Governor's
Office, and the Texas House of Representatives proclaimed March
4, 2003 as Team Everest '03 Day. In a congratulatory letter from
the President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports, Chairman
Lynn Swann encourages all of America to follow the progress of the
expedition. Recently, TE '03 has been featured in Sports Illustrated,
Outside Magazine MSNBC and the Dallas Morning News.
Team Everest '03 is a benefit for The Coalition of Texans with
Disabilities (CTD), a non-profit organization based in Austin, Texas.
For more information about Team Everest '03, the Coalition of
Texans with Disabilities, or Gary Guller, please contact Dennis
Borel, M-F days at (512) 478-3366, other times at 512/431-1656 or
512/443-6038. Additionally, current photos, daily logs, key sponsor
logos, and much more can be found on www.teameverest03.org.
For more information about Team Everest '03, the Coalition of Texans
with Disabilities, or Gary Guller, contact Dennis Borel, M-F days
at (512) 478-3366, other times at 512/431-1656 or 512/443-6038.
E-mail: dborel@cotwd.org
Team Everest '03 Contact:
Dennis Borel, Project Director
(512) 478-3366 M-F days
(512) 431-1656 or (512) 443-6038 other times
E-mail: dborel@cotwd.org
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