Blind Everest Climber
Reaching the summit of mount everest is a triumph for any climber but for erik weihenmayer the accomplishment is even more impressive that s because he is blind.
Blind everest climber. Everest 8 848m for andy wolfi and klemens for the first time in history a blind mountaineer climbs the malloryroute on the north side of mt. Mount everest is the highest point on earth at 29 035 feet. And in 2001 american mountaineer erik weihenmayer accomplished one of the most astounding everest firsts of all when he reached the treacherous peak despite the fact that he was blind.
As a blind adventurer i have been lucky to experience a life of meaning and purpose of breaking through barriers. Ever since sir edmund hillary and tenzing norgay made the first documented summit of mount everest in 1953 climbers have been competing for other firsts on the mountain. Born with a rare eye disease.
He also completed the seven summits in september 2002 joining 150 mountaineers at the time who had accomplished that. Don t make everest the greatest thing you ever do. On may 25 2001 erik weihenmayer became the first blind person to reach the summit of mt.
But in 2001 one man erik weihenmayer tried to do something no one had ever dared try become the first blind person to climb mount everest. As the team descended mr kinloch s guides noticed that he. But mount everest is now his grave because only minutes later he suddenly went blind and had to be abandoned to die from the cold.
A documentary based on this adventure was released in 2006. Everest in 2001 becoming the first blind person to reach the highest peak in the world my team leader told me something that would change the course of my life. Historic summit victory on mt.
On may 25 2001 erik was the first blind individual to climb up to the peak of everest. Erik together with sabriye tenberken jeff evans and other six blind teenagers from tibet climbed the north side of mount everest to about 21 500f t in 2004. For this feat he was honored with a time magazine cover story.
Few have ever made it to the summit and about 300 people have lost their lives trying. Nbc s harry smith goes climbing with erik weihenmayer the remarkable adventurer who overcame a personal challenge to conquer some of the most dangerous places on earth. After i had safely come down from the summit of mt.
