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Published: Tue 16 Jul 2024

Disabled Adventurer becomes first to reach highest point accessible on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) ‘unaided’ in an engineered powerchair

As part of Disability Pride Month, mental health campaigner and disabled adventurer Nick Wilson has reached the highest point accessible on Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) ‘unaided’ using a first-of-its-kind engineered all-terrain mobility chair, RockClimber™. 

Following a first attempt in June, Nick took to the Llanberis route once more to reach the Bwlch Glas, a staggering 1000m up, without any physical support.  

Nick’s climb aims to raise greater awareness and action towards current accessibility and independence challenges faced by wheelchair users every day, importantly showing how inclusive design and engineering can help to make the world more accessible for everyone, everywhere and positively impact lives. 

RockClimber™ is based off extensive motorsport design experience to create a new chair concept. It includes 4x electric motors enabling 15Hp of power; bonded aluminium construction for maximum strength and minimum weight (210kg); 4-wheel drive with variable wheelbase to help with climbing and a range of 50 miles on flat terrain. 

After the steering failure during the previous attempt, the team reviewed the collected data and agreed a series of enhancements that would ensure RockClimber wouldn't be the point of failure again – this included new steering, brakes, wheels and tyres.

The project, championed by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), demonstrates how inclusive design and engineering can be used to improve accessibility in urban and rural environments, enabling people reliant on wheelchairs to have greater independence and freedom without the risk of falling or getting stuck. With more than 650,000 registered wheelchair users in the UK (NHS National Wheelchair Data Collection), there are still barriers in everyday life where wheelchairs are not equipped to tackle different environments, even on the high street.   

Nick said: "While many people in the disability community won't want or feel the need to go up a mountain, they can feel like they're trying to do just that on a daily basis, with so many accessibility obstacles. By achieving this, we've demonstrated how inclusive design and having the right equipment can help to make the world more accessible, whilst showing what’s possible when you keep fighting and never give up, however dark things may seem. Inclusive design and engineering can create more capable and suitable equipment, to make the world more accessible for everyone, everywhere."

Rock Engineering Director and IET member, Elliot Dason-Barber, added: "We are all incredibly proud of what we have achieved with RockClimber. Our goal was always to design, and manufacture, a power-chair that would give Nick the capability to scale Snowdon truly unaided, and I think we've shown we've done that.

“It has been a real privilege to help Nick achieve his goal, but Rock Engineering has also had the opportunity to develop its own experience in inclusive engineering and demonstrate its capabilities in vehicle design. This project has given us a real opportunity for accelerated learning, and several attempts on Mount Snowdon have meant that RockClimber is now a very mature, and well understood design. It also means the team have lots of ideas for how to make things even better.”

The IET’s Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr Laura Norton, said: “The IET’s Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr Laura Norton, added: “This is a fantastic achievement for Nick and the Rock Engineering team – as well as for inclusive design, which is so important today. Accessibility needs to be prioritised, and engineering and technology play a pivotal part in enabling this. We hope in the future that a single chair solution will be available to many more wheelchair users, breaking down barriers and allowing for greater freedom and independence.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Image credit: Ben Kelly Visuals

Additional quotes

The climb’s success is dedicated to the loving memory of Nick's Dad, who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away during their initial attempt in June, something which Nick didn't find out about until afterwards.

Nick said: "My Dad knew the importance of what we were doing, how much it meant to me and really believed in the RockClimber project. As such, his dying wish was for me to not be informed until after the attempt, sacrificing the opportunity to see me one last time and say his goodbyes. His legacy and memory, couldn't be one connected to a failed attempt, therefore our success is dedicated to him."

Good friend and fellow Disability Advocate, Isaac Harvey MBE said: "Being part of the disability community, where I've seen so many different individuals, do so many amazing initiatives to change the narrative around disability, has been really empowering over the years. But what Nick and Rock Engineering have achieved with RockClimber, has not only showed what's possible, but excites me with what the future holds when it comes to inclusive design, technology and disability. Next stop Mount Everest?"

About Rock Engineering 

Rock Engineering Limited is an Advanced Engineering company specializing in the Mobility, Automotive and Motorsports sectors. Our highly experienced team can cover all elements of the Engineering life cycle including Concept Definition, Virtual Optimisation, Component Design, Component Manufacture, Vehicle build, and Vehicle Test. The team is based in its dedicated design and workshop facility in the heart of Motorsport Valley, just 4 miles from Silverstone. 

About Nick 

Nick Wilson is an Adventurer and Speaker, aka Disabled Adventurer, Ambassador for Purple Tuesday, and Disability Expo and advocates for survivors of suicide and disability. He openly, and very frankly, shares his lived experiences with mental illness, physical disability and surviving a suicide attempt to; inform society, encourage change and inspire and empower others, with authenticity and a message of hope. 

He is also an Army Veteran with an impactful story to tell. After 14 years of service, Nick left the military, with a spinal injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD, as a result of multiple deployments across the globe such as, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Through his battle with both physical and mental disabilities, surviving attempted suicide and managing suicidal ideation, Nick continually demonstrates resilience and the ability to overcome adversity. 

About the IET

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Media enquiries to:

Rebecca Gillick
External Communications Manager
E: rgillick@theiet.org

Sophie Lockyer
Senior Communications Executive
E: slockyer@theiet.org