He Lost Use of His Legs at 17 – A Decade Later, He's the First Paraplegic to Reach Everest Base Camp

Reaching the foot of Mount Everest after a 65-kilometer trek, Doolan was welcomed by a crowd of 20 people cheering him on.

My first thought was no way, impossible, I can’t do that. However, after thinking about it [...] I thought why not, what better way to challenge myself and influence others than to climb the biggest mountain in the world?

-- Scott Doolan

Climbing in a wheelchair

Trekking with a specially-designed wheelchair and often climbing on his hands in a wheelbarrow position while his traveling partners held his legs, Doolan received heartwarming words of encouragement from several climbers he encountered during his ascent.

On a few occasions, when the climb was too steep, he resorted to piggyback rides. Completing the journey took all the strength Doolan had, both physical and mental. At one point, his wheelchair broke and a quick fix had to be improvised. By the time he reached base camp, Doolan had also suffered a stress fracture in his tailbone, but not even that slowed him down.

Uncovering his strength

An active teen in love with sports, Doolan lost use of his legs at 17 after a serious motorcycle accident damaged his spinal cord. He became depressed during the years after his accident, but discovering fitness in his twenties brought him a renewed joy and appreciation for life.

Last year, Doolan partnered up with a lifestyle company for the biggest challenge of his life: reaching the foot of the world’s highest mountain with minimal assistance.

He spent eight months training for the adventure, climbing mountains and doing daily cardiovascular and strength-training with oxygen-restricting masks to prepare for his high-altitude expedition.

Reaching Everest Base Camp

On March 14, Doolan and his team of a dozen people set out to climb to Everest Base Camp, completing the grueling journey in only 10 days. Keep in mind most climbers make the journey in 9 to 12 days.