Warren Macdonald
Warren Macdonald’s life’s boundaries were redefined in April 1997 with his accident on North Queensland’s (Australia) Hinchinbrook Island. Climbing to the Island’s tallest peak, he became trapped beneath a one-ton slab boulder in a freak rock fall. Two days later he was rescued, only to undergo the amputation of both legs at mid thigh.
Just ten months later, he climbed Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain using a modified wheelchair and the seat of his pants.
In February 2003, he became the first double above-knee amputee to reach the summit of Africa’s tallest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro (19,222ft), and more recently, in a spectacular effort requiring more than 2,800 pull-ups over 4 days, created history once again in an ascent of America's tallest cliff face, El Capitan. He is also the only above knee amputee to make an ascent of Canada’s landmark frozen waterfall, the 600 ft “Weeping Wall” in Alberta.
Warren’s first book, “A Test of Will” is an Australian bestseller and the subject of the “Trapped under a Boulder” episode of the Discovery Channel series “I Shouldn’t Be Alive”. His film documenting the epic four-week journey to Federation Peak, Australia's most challenging mountain summit, “The Second Step”, has been acclaimed worldwide, screening on National Geographic Television and winning eight international awards including Grand Prize at the prestigious “Banff Mountain Film Festival”.
Warren has appeared on numerous news and current affairs programs, including “Larry King Live”, “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, and “The Hour” with George Stroumboulopoulos. He has written articles for “CNN World Edition” (WWW), “Australian Geographic”, “Speaking of Impact” and “Professional Speaker”.
He lives in Winlaw, British Columbia with his partner Margo Talbot.
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Q&A with Warren Macdonald
CFC: How have the mountains/outdoors changed your life?
WMD: Discovering the outdoors in my late teens saved me from a life of sports on TV, fixing cars and drinking beer. Actually, it didn't save me from drinking beer, but in every other way, being immersed in nature has been kind of like a reset button in every other way. The effects were so profound, so strong, that after my accident in 1997, I just felt that if there was any way; if there was any way at all that I could continue to experience wilderness on her own terms; I had to find that way. I found a way, and have to say I'm continuing to find new ways to live large, not just in the mountains, but in every aspect of my life. I've got the mountains and the outdoors to thank for teaching and showing me so much.
CFC: What is one of the biggest ‘mountains’ you’ve overcome?
WMD: Self limiting beliefs. "You're not good enough". "Who do you think you are, thinking you can do x, y?"
CFC: Why Climb For Change?
Climbing in itself is transformational. That's part of the addiction. You're changing yourself through pushing through to places you didn't know you could go. If you're not climbing for change, what are you climbing for?
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Warren's Website
www.warren-macdonald.com
Warren's YouTube Channel
www.youtube.com/warrenmacdonald