Audio of Ken Mitchell at growingbolder.com

Posted on August 19th, 2006 at 10:09 pm

A lifetime of contact sports took a toll on former NFL linebacker Ken Mitchell. In 2000, he had his right knew replaced and just two years later, his left knee was replaced.

Instead of heading for the couch, he headed for the mountains. He undertook the daunting task of climbing the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest. His attempt ended just a few thousand feet shy of the 29,000-foot summit.

This year, he took on four 4,000-meter high peaks in the Swiss Alps in just four days. He tells Growing Bolder that the expeditions were not without some scary moments.

Click here to listen to Ken's other appearance on the Growing Bolder Radio Show. Want to meet other Mount Everest explorers? Check out:

-- Sean Swarner is a two-time cancer survivor with only one functioning lung. Fifteen years after doctors gave him two weeks to live, he reached the top of Mount Everest. He talked to Growing Bolder about how he helps other cancer survivors fulfill their dreams through his group, the Cancer Climber Association. Click here to listen to our conversation.

-- Stacy Allison lived to tell the tale of becoming the first American woman to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain but it took her a couple tries to achieve her goal. In 1988, after 29 days on the mountain, she finally reached that lofty milestone. She told Growing Bolder that her first attempt left her trapped in a snow cave at 29,500 feet for five days following a record-setting storm. Click here to listen to our conversation.

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