Double Amputee Conquers Everest— Without Prosthetics

Sudarshan Gautam is missing both his arms, but that didn't stop him from achieving his dream: to reach Mount Everest's summit, which he did yesterday, according to his website. The Calgary man, 31, is the first double amputee to climb the mountain with no prosthetic limbs, Sun News reports. Gautam, who was born in Nepal, has climbed many of the highest peaks in the world since losing his arms as a teen when his kite struck a power line.

His message, "disability is not an inability," is prominently displayed on his Facebook page. Sun News reports that he posted an update saying he was "proud" and "very happy" to have fulfilled his dream. A friend, who heard the news from Gautam's wife, also confirms the successful ascent. "We complain we can't get up in the morning and go to work, looking at him, the way he climbs and helping others ... we are inspired," the friend says. (Meanwhile, a Saudi woman also set a record on Everest ... which one writer argues has become a mess.)