* High-altitude sickness: Mortenson suffered from high-altitude sickness on several occasions while climbing mountains in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He experienced symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, and shortness of breath.
* Frostbite: Mortenson suffered frostbite on his hands and feet on several occasions. He lost several toes to frostbite in 1993.
* Malaria: Mortenson contracted malaria several times while working in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was hospitalized for malaria in 2001.
* Gunshot wound: Mortenson was shot in the thigh by the Taliban in 2003. He was hospitalized for several weeks and underwent surgery to remove the bullet.
Emotional
* Depression: Mortenson experienced depression and anxiety after his experiences in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He sought therapy and medication to help him cope with his mental health issues.
* Guilt: Mortenson felt guilty about surviving when so many others did not. He struggled with the feeling that he should have done more to help the people he met in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
* Anger: Mortenson was often angry at the violence and injustice he witnessed in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He felt frustrated by the lack of progress in these countries and the inability of the international community to help them.
Financial
* Mortenson's nonprofit organization, the Central Asia Institute (CAI), faced financial difficulties on several occasions. The CAI was heavily dependent on donations, and the amount of donations fluctuated widely from year to year. This made it difficult for the CAI to plan and budget its activities.
* Mortenson was accused of financial mismanagement and fraud. These accusations were based on the fact that Mortenson had spent a large amount of money on personal expenses, such as travel, meals, and housing. Mortenson defended his spending, saying that it was necessary to cover the costs of his work in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Personal
* Mortenson's wife and children struggled to cope with his long absences. Mortenson was often away from home for months at a time, and his family missed him and worried about his safety.
* Mortenson's relationships with his friends and colleagues were sometimes strained. Mortenson was a strong-willed and opinionated man, and he did not always get along well with others. He was also known for being difficult to work with, and he sometimes clashed with his colleagues.