Paraplegic Scaling Japan's Mount Fuji

[newyawker99]

An American mountaineer who lost the use of his legs in a car accident seven years ago resumed his slow but steady ascent of Mount Fuji on Tuesday after his attempt to climb Japan's highest mountain nearly ended on its first day.

Keegan Reilly began pulling himself up the slopes of the 12,385-foot peak early Monday using a custom-made device resembling a low-slung mountain bike.

The 22-year-old soon ran into problems - a safety ranger on the trail stopped him and the eight members of his support team.

"He sort of freaked out when he saw us," Reilly told The Associated Press by mobile phone from the mountain. "He had never seen an arm bike before and he really didn't know what to do. He didn't want to let us pass. I really thought we were going to have to go back down."

I wish him luck

[zanana]

1. No offense, but

There are alot of people in wheelchairs, on crutches, in braces, etc. who just don't see the sense in doing something like that. I have Muscular Dystrophy, and when I had braces put on my legs I thought "Oh shit--now I have to go climb a damn mountain". Actually, I think able-bodied people who climb very high mountains are idiots, so you can't go by me!