Dr. Dahl's first attempt to summit Aconcagua in Argentina (at 22,800 feet the highest mountain outside of Asia) was in 1996, just one year after being fitted with a Johnson :%$amp; Johnson total knee prosthesis by its inventor, Richard Scott, M.D., at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. At that time, Dr. Dahl reached 21,600 feet. In February 2002, he reached 21,700 feet when high winds drove him and his guide off the mountain.
His wife and climbing partner, Elaine, noted that at this rate, if he climbs every six years and gains an additional 100 feet on each attempt, he will summit Aconcagua when he is 135 years old. Will he return for attempt #3 in 2008$%: Stay tuned!
Recently, Dr. Dahl returned to Boston where Dr. Richard Scott installed a brand new replacement total knee prosthesis and did some creative bone grafting. In November 2005 visionary orthopedic surgeon, Garrett Martin, M.D. installed a total knee prosthesis in Dr. Dahl's left knee. Soon after the healing process, Dr. Dahl will start the training program to return by 2008, when his target will be 21,800... or higher!
Dr. Dahl has a checkered mountaineering career, including summitting Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt. Elbrus in the Caucasus Mountains in Russia (the highest mountain in Europe), and Popo and Ixta in Mexico... as well as hundreds of less famous but equally arduous mountain peaks throughout the world.
However, his most infamous climb was on a simple hike on New Hampshire's Mt. Washington in October 1999 that almost ended in disaster. Rescued from near-death during a sudden blizzard with whiteout conditions with hurricane-force winds, he was interviewed by Associated Press and reported in newspapers and on network television nationwide. Subsequently, he was involved in a reenactment for The Learning Channel, and all this publicity led to a new speaking career in venues outside of medicine. Controversy surrounding his rescue include his use of a cell phone to call for rescue and the fact that he was hiking alone. Dr. Dahl is no Reinhold Messner (the first mountaineer to summit Everest solo). It seems that Dr. Dahl's near-death experience has gained a life of its own.
Dr. Dahl's signature keynote (and accompanying workshops) is entitled "Lessons for Living from a Mt. Washington Misadventure" which offers three admonitions: Be prepared to die! Have a plan to live! Do it now! These subjects are dealt with in a sensitive, spiritual, and ecumenical manner, with a touch of humor.
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