Spencer West, a man born without legs, conquered Mount Kilimanjaro using only his hands. The 45-year-old motivational speaker from Toronto, Canada, shared his extraordinary journey, which involved four pairs of gloves and unwavering determination.
A Challenging Start
West was born with sacral agenesis, a rare genetic condition that left his legs non-functional. At age five, he underwent amputation surgery. Despite doctors' grim predictions, West learned to walk on his hands and lived a full childhood in Wyoming, using a wheelchair or skateboard to get around.
Finding Purpose
After graduating with a communication degree in 2003, West worked in client operations but sought deeper meaning. In 2008, a volunteer trip to Kenya with a nonprofit organization sparked his passion for motivational speaking. He moved to Toronto and traveled the world, encouraging young people to make a difference.
The Kilimanjaro Challenge
In 2011, the nonprofit's founder suggested West climb Kilimanjaro. Initially skeptical, West soon embraced the idea. He enlisted friends Alex and David, secured support from doctors, a climbing expert, a personal trainer, and his employer. The goal: raise $500,000 for clean water in East Africa.
Training and Preparation
West spent a year fundraising and training. In June 2012, the team flew to Tanzania. On day one, West attempted to use a wheelchair but found the terrain impossible. Instead, he climbed 80% of the seven-hour trek on his hands, dust spraying in his face.
Innovative Solutions
Porters devised a contraption to hook West's wheelchair, carrying him overhead. Though initially fun, it left him ahead of his friends. Eventually, they found a rhythm: West was carried in the chair at dawn, then walked on his hands through alpine and lunar deserts.
Summit Day
On day six, heading to the 5,895-meter summit, West faced snow, ice, and high winds. He switched to thicker gloves. The steep incline and altitude caused his friends to vomit, but West felt okay, joking it was due to his height. Summit day began at 4am; a porter carried West on his back for the dangerous first part.
Reaching the Top
West walked the remaining distance. At the summit, watching night turn to day, the team collapsed, hugged, and cried. West had gone through four pairs of gloves. He drank his grandparents' homemade wine and gazed at the curvature of the Earth.
Lessons Learned
The climb taught West the importance of asking for help. It boosted his professional speaking career. When the nonprofit closed, he continued independently, creating online content about disability justice and the humorous aspects of being gay and disabled.
Legacy and Resilience
Now 45, West believes his body couldn't climb another mountain, but he relives memories through speaking engagements. His book, Breaking Free, offers lessons to help others overcome feeling stuck. Asked about his resilience, West says, 'I've got no other option – I'm either resilient, or I can't lead the life I want.'
