Weather forces wounded warriors to abandon planned Mount McKinley climb without summiting

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Weather forces wounded warriors to abandon planned Mount McKinley climb without summiting

Article by: Associated Press
Updated: July 2, 2012 - 8:38 PM

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Poor weather and an injury have forced five wounded warriors to climb down North America's tallest mountain without summiting.

All but one of the Disabled Sports USA climbers lost limbs in wars from Vietnam to Afghanistan. The group includes two double amputees and two single amputees.

They began climbing Alaska's Mount McKinley on June 11, but poor weather stranded them for a week at the 14,200-foot level.

Climber and Disabled Sports USA CEO Kirk Bauer says in a Web posting that the group tried Friday to push through deep snow to the 16,200-foot level but one of the double amputees, Stephen Martin of Phoenix, injured his stumps.

The team left the 20,320-foot mountain Monday and members are flying home.