What makes Erik Weihenmayer a unique climber?

Erik Weihenmayer (born September 23, 1968) is an American athlete, adventurer, author, activist and motivational speaker. He is the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on May 25, 2001. As a result of this accomplishment, he was featured on the cover of Time magazine. He also completed the Seven Summits in September 2002, one of only 150 mountaineers at the time to do so, but the only climber who achieved this while blind. In 2008, he also added the Carstensz Pyramid in West Papua, New Guinea, the tallest peak in Australasia, thus completing the alternative Seventh Summit. Weihenmayer has also made noteworthy climbs up the Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite in 1996, and ascended Losar, a 2,700-foot (820 m) vertical ice face in the Himalayas in 2008.

In 2005, he co-founded No Barriers, a nonprofit organization with the tagline, "What’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way." The organization helps people of diverse backgrounds and abilities to attack challenges head-on, problem solve, build winning teams, and serve others.

In September 2014, Weihenmayer and blinded Navy veteran, Lonnie Bedwell, kayaked the entire 277 miles (446 km) of the Grand Canyon, considered one of the most formidable whitewater locations in the world.

Today, while still adventuring, he is a prominent worldwide speaker, focusing on the topic of living a "No Barriers Life."

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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24 Comments

Bob Watt

Any one of which achievements is tremendous!

filmnut

I find the climbing of Mt Everest (and the rest of the Himalayas) to have become a “non-sport”. The multitude of climbers doing it because they are rich and have nothing better to do disgusting. It has only been in recent time that the “idle rich” have finally taken responsibility for the mountains of trash and dead bodies. I could go on but I’m sure you get the picture.

Louise C.

What an amazing person and very inspiring, and he does need more recognition for his ability to do this, I would not make it to base camp, makes me feel very ashamed.

Kathryn Cavanagh

Total belief in self ability. He makes me feel ashamed of my lack of action due to physical ailments. Why is he not better known..?? Needs to be publicised.

Chrissie

Astonishing accomplishments for anyone, and all the more admirable given his blindness. How incredibly difficult every move must have been. But - I can't get my head around climbing ANY hill and being unable to see the view.