After Everest, Inglis' goal is 'just to walk again'

It has been almost four months since double amputee adventurer Mark Inglis climbed Mt Everest, and he is still confined to a wheelchair because of his injuries. He has also lost part of five different fingers to frostbite.

People keep asking him: Was it worth it?

"I would have to say, hell yes," Inglis told the Weekend Herald.

Unlike many others who tackle Everest, he survived to tell the tale: "I would be seriously disappointed if the worst had happened, I can tell you.

"When you lose your legs when you're 23, then something like this is just a minor hiccup, just a bump in the journey, really."

He can still hold a glass of wine, and can even joke about losing parts of his fingers.

"It cuts down time during the day because there are only five fingernails to trim now. God help anyone who does a manicure on me, because I'll be asking for a 50 per cent discount."

His leg stumps have each been surgically "shortened" by 3cm because of impact damage from the climb. He now has a new artificial leg attached to his left stump, but his right stump is still healing and so he will be in a wheelchair for another two months.

"I guess my Everest will be finished when I can dance on a table."

Inglis is releasing a book, Legs on Everest, on December 1 that will tell the story of the amazing climb that was shrouded in controversy after his expedition party passed dying British climber David Sharp.

Inglis has put that controversy - he has labelled it "media hype" - behind him since May.

His climb helped raise $80,000 for a trust equipping thousands of Cambodian landmine victims with artificial limbs.

In between his wine-making job and doing motivational talks in New Zealand, Inglis has been travelling around the world to accept awards, do charity work and speak to audiences.

"I'm lucky if I have been home one night a week. It is quite tiring, really. But ... make hay while the sun shines - that's what my dad always used to say."

Inglis' next major goal is "just to walk again".

"I would love to go back to Everest some time. Not necessarily to climb it, but just to be in the environment. It's just such an inspiring place to be."

He hints there could be plenty more to add to his achievements.

"I'm a double amputee and I don't know how much more I can ever do. As long as you hold that thought in your mind, the sky is the limit."