35 Years Ago A Footless Idaho Man Walked To Top Of Mount Everest

Summiting Mount Everest is a dream that many people have but are never able to accomplish. One Idaho amputee didn't let his physical disability prevent him from ascending more than 29,000 feet in 1989 and making history in the process.

Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. Its peak measures 29, 032 feet in height, and every year able-bodied men and women take a crack at getting what is arguably the greatest photo opportunity imaginable. To make a successful climb, having feet is very important.

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I've never had the desire to climb a mountain so badly that I'd risk my life and drop $100,000 to try to make it happen. I admire those who pursue something like climbing the tallest mountain in the world, and regardless of whether or not they get to the top, I still think the experience is probably a highly impactful one. More than 300 people have perished while attempting the climb, according to one online climbing source.

He paved the way for other physically disabled people to achieve their dream of climbing the world's tallest mountain, which is as impressive a legacy as any.

A man named Tom Whittaker nearly lost his life in a 1979 Thanksgiving Day head-on car crash. He had his right foot torn off and had to have both knees reconstructed, according to ctforum.com. Ten years later following a couple of failed attempts, Whittaker became the first disabled person to reach the summit.

Whittaker also founded The Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group at Idaho State University. He paved the way for other physically disabled people to achieve their dream of climbing the world's tallest mountain, which is as impressive a legacy as any.