Erik Weihenmayer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erik Weihenmayer
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Weihenmayer on Mount Sherman, Colorado, a 14,000 ft. peak
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| Born | September 23, 1968 Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Weston High School |
| Occupation | Adventurer, motivational speaker, author |
| Known for | High Ground |
Erik Weihenmayer (born September 23, 1968) is an amazing American athlete, adventurer, author, and speaker. He made history on May 25, 2001, by becoming the first blind person to reach the top of Mount Everest. This incredible achievement put him on the cover of Time magazine! He also climbed the Seven Summits by September 2002. These are the highest mountains on each continent. He was the only blind climber to ever do this. In 2008, he added the Carstensz Pyramid to his list, completing the Eight Summits. Erik has also climbed tough places like the Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite and a huge ice wall in the Himalayas.
In 2005, Erik helped start No Barriers. This is a group that helps people with different backgrounds and abilities. They learn to face challenges, solve problems, and work together. In September 2014, Erik and Lonnie Bedwell, a blind Navy veteran, kayaked all 277 miles of the Grand Canyon. This is one of the toughest whitewater places in the world! Today, Erik still goes on adventures. He also travels the world, inspiring people to live a "No Barriers Life."
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Early Life and Learning
Erik Weihenmayer was born on September 23, 1968, in Princeton, New Jersey. When he was just 15 months old, doctors found out he had a rare eye condition. They knew he would likely be blind by age 13. Erik and his family moved to Florida and then to Hong Kong. He went to school there for a few years.
As he started losing his sight, Erik didn't want to use canes or learn Braille. He wanted to live like everyone else who could see. When his family moved back to Connecticut, Erik went to Weston High School. He found a passion for wrestling. He became a strong wrestler, led his team, and even competed nationally.
At 16, Erik started using a guide dog. He also tried rock climbing and found he was naturally good at it. He used his hands and feet to feel for places to hold on. He then went to Boston College and studied English and communications. Later, he became a middle-school teacher in Phoenix. There, he met his future wife, Ellie Reeves. He also coached wrestling.
Erik has received special degrees from many universities. These are called honorary degrees.
Amazing Adventures
Climbing the Seven Summits
Erik's first big mountain climb was Denali in 1995. In 2004, he went back to Everest. This time, he climbed with Jeff Evans, Sabriye Tenberken, and six blind teenagers from Tibet. They reached 21,500 feet, which was higher than any group of blind people had ever climbed. A movie about this trip, called Blindsight, came out in 2006.
On May 25, 2001, Erik Weihenmayer made history. He became the first blind person to reach the top of Mount Everest. Time Magazine put him on their cover for this amazing feat. They said, "No one has ever done anything like it. It is a unique achievement."
By September 2002, Erik had climbed all the Seven Summits. These are the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. He was one of only 150 climbers to do this at the time. But he was the only blind climber. In 2008, he also climbed Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia. This is the tallest peak in Australasia. This meant he had completed the even more challenging Eight Summits.
Rock and Ice Climbing
Erik has climbed many difficult rock and ice walls around the world. He was the first blind person to climb the 3,000-foot Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite. He also climbed a huge frozen waterfall in Nepal.
Kayaking the Grand Canyon
In September 2014, Erik and Lonnie Bedwell, a blind Navy veteran, went on another big adventure. They kayaked the entire 277 miles of the Grand Canyon. This river has some of the most dangerous whitewater in the world.
Other Challenges
In 2006, Erik started the Adventure Team Challenge. This is a special race where teams of disabled and non-disabled athletes compete together. His team won five years in a row! In 2010, he finished the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. This race is over 10,000 feet high. Erik did it on a tandem bike, becoming the first blind person to complete such a tough race. In 2011, Erik's Team No Limits raced across Morocco for a month. They finished second on the ABC TV show Expedition Impossible.
He also completed the Primal Quest. This is an adventure race over 460 miles with huge elevation changes.
Books by Erik
Erik is not just an adventurer and speaker; he is also an author. His first book is called Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye can See. It has been printed in many countries and languages. Publishers Weekly said his book was "moving and adventure packed." The book was even made into a movie.
Erik's second book is The Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles Into Everyday Greatness. In this book, he shares lessons on how to use challenges to grow and be creative.
His latest book, No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon, came out in 2017. This book tells the story of his Grand Canyon kayaking trip. It encourages people to overcome obstacles to reach their goals. Kirkus Reviews called it "an exhilarating adventure story." They also said it offers "broader life lessons."
Media and Film Appearances
Erik's adventures have brought him many awards and TV interviews. He has received the ESPY and the Helen Keller Lifetime Achievement award. He has appeared on many TV shows like the NBC's Today Show, Oprah, and Good Morning America. He has also been on the cover of magazines like Time and Outside. Erik even carried the torch for both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
The movie about his Everest climb, Farther Than the Eye Can See, is considered one of the best adventure films ever. It won awards at 21 film festivals. Another movie, Blindsight, about his climb with blind Tibetan students, also won many awards.
In 2012, Erik was in the movie High Ground. This film shows a team of injured veterans. Erik and his Everest team led them on a climbing trip in the Himalayas. The veterans worked to heal from their war injuries.
In 2017, Men's Journal named Erik one of "The 25 Most Adventurous Men of the Past 25 Years." In 2023, Erik was featured in the movie "Life is Climbing." This film is about another blind climber, Koichiro Kobayashi.
See also
- List of Mount Everest records
