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Weather thwarts Adaptive Grand Slam team's Mount Aconcagua attempt

20 December 2015

Ferocious winds and the worst weather conditions in 60 years have thwarted a wounded Afghanistan veteran’s bid to climb the forbidding Mt Aconcagua as part of the unique physical challenge.

Martin Hewitt’s team were forced to abandon the attempt just 400 metres short of the 6,961-metre summit as the winds hit 65 kmh and the temperatures plunged to a wind chill factor of minus 43.

The mountain, which has claimed 104 lives since climbing records started in 1926, is a target in the Adaptive Grand Slam, a treacherous challenge for amputee and injured military veterans.

After a nerve and sinew-shredding climb, hacking fresh tracks through ice and snow fields, they had to summon reserves of energy to battle back to the safety of camp as their bodies reached exhaustion and the prosthetics reached destruction.

But, despite the crushing disappointment, the team has pledged to return to conquer Aconcagua and continue to hunt down successful climbs of the seven highest peaks on earth and reach the North and South Poles.

“It was very disappointing but turning back was the right decision and the only decision given the circumstances,” said Martin Hewitt, a former 3 Para Captain from Widnes, whose right arm was paralysed after being shot in the chest on his third tour to Afghanistan.

“We could see the summit just 400 metres away but it was another 3 ½ hours climbing and then we would have had to get back in those winds and cold.

“It was a very quick decision and, whilst the team was disappointed, it was unanimously accepted that it was the right choice.”

Conditions deteriorated even further and all other teams were forced down the ice-bound Argentinian mountain, which the tallest peak in the Southern Hemisphere, on December 6.

“Martin and the team are attempting a daunting challenge that pushes them to limits of physical capability,” said Barry Le Grys, chief executive of the charity Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, which is supporting their quest.

“It is a huge ask of the able bodied yet this team has members on prosthetics and serious injuries who are determined to show just what you can achieve with the right attitude and support.”

Martin is now safely back in the UK and busy planning the next stages of the Adaptive Grand Slam (AGS) with team leader Harry Taylor, a former Royal Marine and SAS mountain warfare specialist.

“It has not put us off,” said the 34-year-old. “We are civilians but we run this like a military expeditions and Harry, along with our guide Woody who has climbed Everest nine times, were in command on the mountain. Everyone respected their decision.

“There were three team members with prosthetics and not one of them would have turned back if we’d been given the green light to continue that day. The way we select members and train together means that when a decision is made we stick with it.”

Terry Byrne, a former member of 2 Para who became a below the knee amputee from an IED in 2008, described the final moments of the climb as ‘dangerous and unpredictable’.

“We could see the summit but reaching it was another matter,” said the 31-year-old, from Blackpool. “We were battling against a 65kmh head wind creating a wind chill factor of -43 degrees.

“The group were all absolutely gutted but knew the decision was final and that it was the right call. It wasn't the time or the place to do anything but follow Harry’s wise direction. Although it was not clear to everyone at the time, he could see that several team members were showing early signs of frost bite and another 4 hours in worsening conditions could have led to serious injury or even death.

“Some of the teams' prosthetics were barely functional having taken a battering with the steep rocky terrain and sub-zero conditions.”

AGS trustee Mark Slatter stated: “Going down is especially tough on all the amputees who have been on the move for around 12 hours. We have had one rest day in nine days and come within 400m of summiting the highest peak outside the Himalayas with four injured veterans.”

Martin, who travelled to the North Pole with Prince Harry four years ago, has Mt Everest – an attempt in 2012 was abandoned because of avalanches – Carstenz Pyramid, in Australasia, a trek to the South Pole and tackling Mount Vinson as well as a return fixture with Aconcagua to complete.

“It would be good to work with Blesma and design companies on the prosthetics because they took a beating,” he said. “They were operating in minus 30 for a lot of time with guys with up to 50lbs on their back and putting their body weight through the prosthetic and a crampon into a hard layer of ice.

“They were up early with the stoves on trying to heat them up because it was so cold.

“It was supposed to be Spring but Aconcagua was locked in winter and covered in snow and ice which meant the lads had to dig into the mountain so their stumps were taking a beating. But they didn’t show it at all.”

Martin will continue with a tough training schedule through 2016 leading to possible attempts on Everest and Carstensz Pyramid later in the year and the final summits in 2017.

-ENDS-

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