Fifteen years ago Karen Darke, 36, of Inverness took a leader fall at an Aberdeen sea cliff and sustained a chest level break in her spine. Now she has made the first British paraplegic ascent of El Cap with Andy Kirkpatrick.
Karen is no stranger to adventure despite her condition. A year after her...
In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com: Just recently finished her book. Never cease to be amazed by the sheer determination to live by the woman. Amazing!! And I would expect no less from a Halifax, not Inverness, woman.
In reply to Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival: saw her on tv climbign at kilnsey,good to see her spirit hasnt been dampened by her loss of mobility,sure i wouldnt be able to handle being paralysed so fair does to her for her brilliant spirit and mental toughness
> (In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com)
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> Let's wait for the lectures.I may be a skeptic,but please let time prove me wrong.Very personal affairs should remain so.
What a moving account, and obviously not in a back slapping way. I think we should question why we do certain things and it's quite brave of AndyK to face up to that. But often there are no easy answers.
> Eh ?
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> Is there something here i don't know about ?
I suspect the post you were replying to was merely suggesting (in a v cryptic way) that AndyK only did this as something to put in one of his lectures.
I rather doubt that but, as Andy himself said, we do things for an amalgam of reasons it's sometimes difficult to put your finger on.
In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:
We're having a go at the Nose this Spring - will undoubtedly use this story as a source of much motivation in the months of training ahead and hard times on the wall.
Incredible bravery from Karen and Andy and supporting cast.
> (In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com)
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> Let's wait for the lectures.I may be a skeptic,but please let time prove me wrong.Very personal affairs should remain so.
Once every now and again I might ponder how desperate life would become if I became a paraplegic. Suicidal I imagine. It's efforts like these, and the fact that they are well publicised that mean that they can serve as an inspiration. I am wholly in awe of this fantastic achievement - well done to both of them - and keep up the good work!
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