Paralyzed Hiker Plans to Climb Iceland’s Highest Peak

posted on Aug 29 by Jessica in the Disability News, Wheelchair Sports category

Leifur Leifsson, a service representative and Iceland native, was born September 22, 1984. Although Leifsson suffers from paralysis, he will not let being paralyzed from the waist down stop him from accomplishing his goal of climbing Iceland’s tallest peak. Hvannadalshnúkur (pronounced: kvan-atals-nu-kyr) is a part of the Skaftafell National Park, and is located in the north-western rim of the Öræfajökull Volcano in Iceland. Öræfajökull is a sub glacier of which is the largest glacier in Europe, and stretches 2,110 meters above sea level. The last official measurement of Hvannadalshnúkur , taken August 2005, established its height at 6,921 ft, which is equivalent to the empire state building stacked 5.5 times, or a 564-story building.

Leifsson, who has used a wheelchair his whole life, has never allowed his disability to hold him back. For example, he was the first man in a wheel chair to climb the mount Esja, which is located in the southwest of Iceland. In 2004, Liefsson collaborated with the European Union and created the documentary titled Invalid Invincible. The film was based on what can be accomplished despite one’s disability. Additionally, he is a member if the Junior Chamber International, Inc. (JCI), which is an internantional organization for young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-40.

With eight months of preparation, Leifsson is set to begin his journey. He is having a wheelchair special made, so that he may embark on his adventure this summer. He will be traveling with Flugbjörgunarsveit Reykjavíkur, a search and rescue team who has made the climb before.

“I will climb it myself with my arm strength,” Leifsson said. In order for him to complete the climb safely, they will move an anchor with a winch 250 meters above his head at a time, and he will pull himself towards it. A task that seems to be very difficult, but Leifsson is determined to complete it.

Sources:

http://sof.is/folkid/52-leifur.html

http://www.mbl.is/frettir/sjonvarp/59816/

http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/Paralyzed_Hiker_to_Climb_Iceland%E2%80%99s_Highest_Peak_0_376386.news.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hvannadalshn%C3%BAkur