the Kili expedition

In 2000, after spending eighteen years in a wheelchair and away from his beloved mountains, he was presented with a very unique opportunityto return to the mountains and to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

It was a daunting challenge, and a feat never imagined before let alone attempted by a person with Jim's level of injury.

“Climbing Kilimanjaro was a real handful and we really didn't fully comprehend what we were in for until we were right in the middle of it.”

After three and a half days of climbing, some of which was quite horrendous, the team stood, and in Jim's case sat, side by side on the Saddle of Mount Kilimanjaro posing for a picture.

“The possibility of returning to the wilderness and of being back on a mountain sounded exhilarating, but seemed farfetched and remote. But those weren't good enough reasons for us to give up on the dream.”