Combat Wounded Veterans Challenge Climb Aconcagua

Combat-wounded vets successfully climb one of world's highest mountains 
FOX 13 News
By: Lloyd Sowers
Updated: Mar 31, 2015

TARPON SPRINGS (FOX 13)
A special team of wounded veterans has notched another achievement.

Members of the Combat Wounded Veterans Challenge reached the summit of Aconcagua, one of the highest mountains in the world.

"It was a desert-type climate and it was straight up," says wounded veteran Pete Quintanilla describing the mountain in Argentina.

The summit is nearly 23,000 feet, the highest spot in the Western Hemisphere.

Quintanilla was wearing a specially designed prosthetic leg made of carbon fiber as he climbed it. Based on its performance during the climb, he'll provide feedback to the designer to improve new prosthetics for others.

CHALLENGE AND INSPIRE

The nine-man team was organized at the group's headquarters in Tarpon Springs. They unloaded their backpacks after the month-long expedition to Argentina.

Billy Costello also lost part of a leg while in the army, but he's participated in several of these challenges, including a trip to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro last year.

"Mission success to us is challenge, research and inspire," said Costello.

Team members always invite other combat wounded veterans to join them.

"This is what I'm doing. You can do it too," says Quintanilla.
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