Hari Budha Magar, MBE, has hit new heights as he sets yet another world first as the first double above-knee amputee to summit the highest peak outside of Asia – Mount Aconcagua (6,960.8 m/ 22,837 ft).
Reaching the summit on Saturday, 22nd February, at around 6pm GMT, Hari’s successful climb marks yet another landmark for 45 year old former British Gurkha, who is aiming to complete the seven highest summits in the world within the next 12 months. Mount Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the world outside the Himalayas and the second tallest of the classic seven summits. It is a part of the Andes Mountain Range in the Mendoza region of Argentina.
“Every mountain brings its own challenges, but for me these are amplified with my disability. Although not the most technically difficult mountain I’ve climbed – it was physically and mentally exhausting as I climb three times slower than an able-bodied mountaineer. Aconcagua requires patience because there is a lot of waiting around for weather and ideal times to move. The wind is famously the challenge but we’ve been very lucky and strategic in how and when we’ve chosen to move making our exposure to wind more limited.
The hardest day of the climb was summit. It’s a long hard ascent with very limited rescue options. We had to set up a special camp 4 because of the length of the trail and sheer exhaustion particularly when I needed to change legs on the snow and Ice during the descent.”
In 2023, Hari became the first double above-knee to summit Mount Everest. Having completed five of the seven highest summits, he’ll will climb the remaining two in Oceania and Antarctica in 2025 to achieve his goal. If successful, Hari will break new boundaries in mountaineering as the first double above-knee amputee to complete the seven summits – a recognised feat only 500 people in history have ever achieved!
Through his seven-summit challenge, Hari is raising money for veterans’ charities including Blesma, The Ghurkha Welfare Trust, On Course Foundation, Pilgrim Bandits, and Team Forces. To donate click here.
Hari Budha Magar is a Guinness World Record holder and Pride of Britain Award winner who made history in May 2023, after becoming the world’s first double above-knee amputee to summit Mt. Everest. Originally from Nepal, Hari served for 15 years with the Royal Gurkha Rifles in the British Army. In 2010, he lost his legs in Afghanistan after stepping on an improvised explosive device. Following this life changing event, he found purpose on the mountains and made it his mission to make awareness of disability globally to change perceptions how they perceive themselves and how others perceive them.
Hari was joined by fellow veteran, endurance runner, adventure athlete and mental health campaigner Sally Orange MBE who will be raising awareness around mental health. Sally added: “Hari continues to push the limits of what’s possible, proving that disability is no barrier to adventure. It’s been a privilege to share part of this journey with him and be in the presence of his positivity and I have no doubt he’ll continue to break barriers and inspire others with his determination and resilience.”
Summits:
To date he has successfully summited:
- Mt Blanc (4,810m) – Aug 2019
- Mt Kilimanjaro (5,895m) – Jan 2020
- Mt Everest (8,849m) – May 2023
- Denali, N. America (6,190m) – Jun 2024
- Aconcagua, S. America (6,961m) – Feb 2025
And, in 2025, he plans to summit:
- Puncak Jaya, Oceania (4,884m) – Oct 2025
- Mt Vinson, Antarctica (4,892m) – Late Dec 2025