Ed Jackson, an adaptive adventurer and former professional rugby player, is the first to summit a 4720m peak in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.
Ed and his team reached the summit on Saturday August 23. He is believed to be the first climber with a disability to make the first ascent of a high altitude mountain.
The climb marks a milestone in adaptive adventure, as Jackson continues to defy the odds after a life-changing spinal cord injury.
Ed suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralysed in 2017. He fractured multiple vertebrae in his spine and doctors told him that he may never walk again. Through rehabilitation he regained mobility. He is now a speaker and motivator and aims to inspire people through his adventures and charity work.
Ed works closely with British outdoor brand Berghaus, which modifies kit to help him climb.
Ed’s Kyrgyzstan expedition
The expedition to Kyrgyzstan, which has been planned over two years, saw Ed and his small team establish a remote advanced base camp with the support of local nomadic shepherds. They went on to tackle the technical ascent across glacial terrain, steep ice and a rocky section to reach the summit.
Reflecting on the climb, Ed said: “I’ve been working towards this for so long and for it to finally come to fruition feels incredible.
“The climb was far more technical and demanding than I could ever have imagined and it took absolutely everything to reach the top.
“There were moments when I doubted whether my body could do it but I wasn’t climbing alone. I felt the strength of everyone who has carried me to this point. This summit isn’t just mine, it belongs to all of them too.”
Millimetres to Mountains Foundation (M2M)
Jackson, who founded the Millimetres to Mountains Foundation (M2M) to support people facing adversity through outdoor challenges, dedicated the climb to the beneficiaries of the charity and the local Kyrgyz children’s organisation CDI Children at Risk.
The next step is for the mountain to be named. This will be done by the children supported by the CDI programme in Bishkek.
Ed adds: “Climbing this peak was never just about standing on the summit. It was about carrying with me all the people who can’t be here and giving something back in the process.
“The fact that the children we’re supporting in Kyrgyzstan will get to name this mountain only seems right to me.”
The expedition was led by Adrian Nelhams, a highly respected mountaineer and guide, whose mentorship Jackson credits as the reason that the ascent was possible.
Sponsors and partners included Berghaus, Petzl, Grangers, Inigo Insurance, Texel Group, Airolo, LEKI, and ISM, whose support helped make the expedition possible.
The climb has also raised funds for M2M’s projects in the UK and CDI’s work with children with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan. Donations can be made online.