ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Five wounded warriors had to abandon their climb of Alaska's Mount McKinley this week, but they say it was weather and not their disabilities that ended the summit attempt.
The five men were all wounded in wars ranging from Vietnam to Afghanistan. Two are double leg amputees; two others lost one leg each above the knee and the other has permanent damage to his back and extremities.
They began climbing North America's tallest peak on June 11. But bad weather forced them to remain at the 14,200-foot level for nine days. On Saturday, they tried to push up but were again turned back by a raging blizzard.
Most of the men are vowing to come back to Alaska and defeat Mount McKinley.
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