Disabled Climber Summits The Highest Peak In The Lower 48 States.

Entertainment Editors

APPLETON, Wis.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)

"Go outside and play" is Jeff Pagels' mantra. And playing outside is something he does in a big way.

Today Pagels and his Rainbow Expedition have made it to the top of California's Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. What makes this feat an inspiration, and a record breaker, is that Pagels made the 14,497 foot climb without the use of his legs.

Pagels, the champion former member of the US Disabled Ski Team who lost the use of his legs in 1984, is the first paraplegic to summit Mt. Whitney. The first to even attempt it.

Pagels and his team set out on March 18 and reached the summit this afternoon at 12:00 PM (Pacific Time.) The core ascent team includes Sierra Mountaineering guide Kurt Wedberg, and Pagels' rope team of friends and family including adaptive equipment designer, Dave Stubenvoll, Jim Wallen and son Chad Pagels. The climb took approximately four days, the longest climb the team has undertaken.

The Whitney climb is the third for the Rainbow Expedition. This close-knit team, who Pagels jokes "looks for an annual once-in-a-lifetime adventure," most recently accomplished the summit of Mt. Galdhopiggen, Norway in June of 2000 and a year earlier climbed 11,300 feet on Washington's Mt. Rainier, before descending due to poor weather conditions.

"It's not that much different than a lot of the other stuff we do together. We go fishing, hunting and we go climb mountains every once in a while." Pagels, who hails from Wisconsin explains. "I just have this need to climb high places."

The "high place" called Mt. Whitney would hold challenges Pagels and his team had never faced. Seasoned guide Wedberg planned the route for Pagels' abilities and equipment. After a year-and-a-half of scouting and studying the mountain and its weather patterns, Wedberg came up with a plan for the best route and timing for Pagels' summit attempt.

"Mt. Whitney is one of the most sought after peaks because it's the highest mountain in the lower 48 states," Wedberg, who has climbed the mountain numerous times, explains. "However, most people take the standard Whitney Trail and they take it in the summer months."

The Rainbow Expedition set out in chilly mid-March so that they could take advantage of the settled snow which is essential for Pagels' equipment, a sit ski that is rigged with fixed ropes and ascending devices that allow Pagels to literally pull his way to the summit. Taking the ideal route for Pagels meant braving colder temperatures and the threat of storms.

The "Mountaineering" route would also be a more rigorous workout for Pagels, taking the team up the 14,497 ft. peak in just 8 miles, versus the typical 11-mile trek of the standard Whitney Trail. The same elevation in a shorter distance meant steeper slopes, some as severe as 45 degree angles.

Wedberg knew this route would be an ambitious one, but didn't have doubts that Pagels would take it in stride. "It's his determination and drive," Wedberg said of Pagels. "He's very focused on what he's doing. He's a competitor. He didn't win five Olympic medals without determination. He carries that with him on the mountain. He's extremely strong mentally. You have to be."

As with any mountaineering expedition, ascending is optional, but descending is mandatory. The team is mindful that the descent can be the most dangerous leg of the journey and are prepared to take every precaution on the way down. Pagels' son Chad explains the importance of safety on the descent; "You essentially turn my Dad around on four skis-- going downhill. We (the rope team) need to know exactly what we're doing."

Personal records for Pagels this trip included the longest climb, the steepest pitches and an estimated 80,000 pulls on his sit ski device. But to Pagels, the real news is that he might continue to inspire others by this accomplishment. "I hope I've shown that the outdoors is for everybody. Go out and play---even if it's your own backyard."

It's a message that's being heard, according to Chad Pagels, who has witnessed the inspirational effect his Dad's accomplishments have had on others through the stories and letters from able-bodied and disabled people all around the world. Pagels himself loves to hear about people who want to go out and break his records. He recently heard about a wheel-chair user from Nevada who came all the way to Wisconsin's Birkebeiner cross-country ski race to attempt to beat Pagels' record.

"The guy said 'The reason I'm out here is because of Pagels,'" Pagels recalls. "For me, that's what it's all about."

"We want to show all kinds of people the disabled, the able-bodied and also businesses--what can be accomplished when you combine teamwork, individual commitment and the adaptation of simple technology for the disabled," Jeff explains.

Pagels added that he hopes the Rainbow Expedition will "dramatize for the outdoor industry and other businesses the tremendous potential of providing products and services that can be used by the 55 million disabled people in the US and the hundreds of millions of us around the world."

JanSport is the world's largest marketer of backpacks and a leading producer and marketer of outdoor-oriented equipment, accessories and travel packs with headquarters in Appleton, Wisconsin, and offices in Everett, Washington, England, France, Hong Kong, China, Netherlands, Germany and Italy. JanSport's other brands include Eastpak and Wolf Creek. JanSport is a division of VF Corporation, the world's largest publicly-held apparel company and a leader in the jeanswear, decorated knitwear, intimate apparel, playwear and specialty apparel markets. VF's other principal brands include Lee, Wrangler, Riders, Rustler, Brittania, Vanity Fair, Vassarette, Bestform, Lily Of France, Healthtex, Jantzen and Red Kap.

ATTENTION TELEVISION NEWS STATIONS: Los Angeles freelance journalist Tom Marshall will be shooting documentary footage of Jeff's summit attempt on DVCam.

The team will arrive in Lone Pine, CA sometime tomorrow (Thursday, March 22) and will be staying at the Dow Villa Motel, 310 South Main Street, Lone Pine, CA, Ph [phone]. After the climb, Tom will arrive at Lone Pine with the climb team or a few minutes beforehand. At that time, stations interested in footage can dub selected clips (via RCA video and audio inputs)...or they can contact him when he returns to Los Angeles about 4 hours later. Contact Tom Marshall at his office/cell phone number [phone].