From Rural Nepal To The Top Of The World
Every so often, a story comes along that reshapes what we believe is possible. In early January 2026, former British Army Gurkha soldier Hari Budha Magar, a double above-knee amputee, completed one of the most revered challenges in mountaineering - the Seven Summits - becoming the first person with above-knee bilateral amputations in history to stand atop the highest peak on each continent.
Conquering Dreams Project Shows What The Human Spirit Can Achieve
In January 2026, Hari Budha Magar completed one of mountaineering’s most demanding challenges - the Seven Summits - becoming the first double above-knee amputee in history to stand on the highest peak of every continent.
For many in the limb-different community, Hari’s achievement is significant not because it is symbolic, but because it is technical, logistical, and lived. These climbs demanded years of training, prosthetic innovation, careful expedition planning, and constant problem-solving in environments where even small failures can be fatal.
Hari lost both legs above the knee in 2010 while serving as a Gurkha soldier in Afghanistan. Since then, he has rebuilt not only his physical capacity but his sense of identity; moving from rehabilitation to elite alpinism while also challenging assumptions about who belongs in extreme environments.
The Seven Summits took him from Everest to Denali, Aconcagua to Puncak Jaya, Kilimanjaro to Vinson Massif in Antarctica. Each mountain brought distinct challenges: Deep cold, technical ice, altitude, and prolonged load-bearing - all magnified when climbing with prosthetic legs. Working closely with his support team, sponsors, and prosthetic partners, Hari adapted equipment and technique to meet conditions few amputees are ever encouraged to imagine themselves in.
Hari describes his mission as 'Conquering Dreams', but his impact reaches beyond mountaineering. His work continues to push conversations about access, opportunity, and expectation. And it does so not just in sport and in the mountaineering community, but across rehabilitation, employment, and public perception of disability.
Podcast Episode 56 With Hari Budha Magar
🎙️ Before leaving for Antarctica, I had the opportunity to speak with Hari about preparation, prosthetics, fear, and what finishing the Seven Summits meant to him. You can listen to the full interview right here - or on your favorite podcatcher. So lean back and enjoy.
Post by Bjoern Eser. Bjoern is the founder of and shaker and maker behind The Active Amputee.
Further Reading
Accept, adapt, achieve
Life after amputation may feel like venturing into unknown territory. From learning how to move your new body to researching the costs of activity-specialized prosthetic arms & legs, it is daunting and frustrating to resume an active lifestyle after limb loss. In August 2021, I lost my left leg in an emergency above-knee amputation. I could not fathom what my life would look like post-op. In the hospital, I promised myself to take advantage of every opportunity I came across and to attempt activities outside my comfort zone. I needed to resume living, and for me, that meant returning to activities as soon as possible. "Accept, adapt, achieve" became my new motto. read more
Dealing with volume fluctuations
Here is a problem many active above knee amputees know all too well. A problem that is often overlooked as more and more attention is given to the newest developments around high-tech knees and other exciting advancements in the prosthetic sector. It’s the problem of a proper fit of the socket. It’s the key to using your prosthetic leg to its full potential. And how to deal with fluctuations in the volume of your residual limb - and thus with the fit of your socket. Read more
Cycling to regain my life
Today’s article is all about cycling and how it helped Stephen from South Africa’s wonderful Western Cape to come back after a tragic motorcycle accident. The idea for the interview arose during a chat with Jen from ClickMedical, who mentioned Stephen and his inspiring outdoor adventures and brokered the contact. „Thanks Jen I really appreciate these contacts!“ Here is my interview with Stephen. Enjoy! read more