Spencer West, a motivational speaker born with a rare genetic condition called sacral agenesis, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands. Despite doctors' predictions that he might never sit up, West has defied expectations throughout his life.
Early Life and Challenges
West was born with sacral agenesis, a condition that left his legs non-functional. At age five, he underwent surgery to amputate his legs. Doctors told his parents he might never sit up, let alone become a functioning member of society. However, with encouragement from his parents, West learned to navigate the world by walking on his hands, using a wheelchair, or skateboarding around his neighborhood in Wyoming.
Finding Purpose
After graduating from university in Utah with a communication degree in 2003, West worked in client operations but felt a lack of purpose. In 2008, a friend invited him on a volunteer trip to Kenya with a nonprofit organization. This experience sparked his passion for international development, and he began working as a motivational speaker for the organization. He moved to Toronto and traveled the world, but felt he hadn't yet challenged himself.
The Kilimanjaro Challenge
In 2011, the organization's founder suggested West climb Kilimanjaro. Initially thinking it was crazy, West soon began to consider the possibility. He enlisted friends Alex and David, and gained support from doctors, a climbing expert, a personal trainer, and his employer. He proposed using the climb to raise $500,000 for clean water in East Africa.
Preparation and Ascent
West spent a year fundraising and training with a personal trainer. In June 2012, they flew to Tanzania. On the first day, he planned to split the climb between using his hands and a wheelchair, but the terrain made the wheelchair impossible. He ended up doing 80% of the climb on his hands, wearing padded rowing gloves. The team found it harder than expected.
On day two, they tried a contraption where porters hooked his wheelchair to carry him overhead. This was fun but put him ahead of his friends. They soon found a rhythm, starting at 6 am with West being carried in the chair, then walking on his hands through alpine and lunar deserts. By day six, nearing the summit at 5,895 meters, they faced snow, ice, and high winds. West switched to thicker gloves and pushed through the tough terrain, while his friends struggled with altitude sickness.
Summit Day
Summit day began at 4 am with a zigzag trail to Kilimanjaro's rim. A porter wrapped West in a blanket and carried him on his back for the first part due to danger. West then walked the rest of the way. At the summit, as night turned to day, the team collapsed, hugged, and cried. West had gone through four pairs of gloves. He drank his grandparents' homemade wine and looked down at the curvature of the Earth.
Lessons Learned
The climb taught West the importance of asking for help. Professionally, he began speaking to larger audiences. After the nonprofit closed, he continued independently, focusing on disability justice and creating content about being gay and disabled. At 45, he doesn't think his body could climb again, but he relives memories through speaking engagements. He authored a book, Breaking Free, to help others overcome their stuck points.
When 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.'
