ERIK
WEIHENMAYER
He’s an
American athlete, adventurer, author, activist and motivational speaker. He was
born on September 23, in 1968.
The doctors
discovered he had a retinoschisis and for 13 years he was blind.
He did not
want to change his life. He had a guide dog.
His father
sent Erik to adventure camps for young blind, he learned to climb.
In 1987,
at age 18, Erik became the first blind person to trek the 60-mile Inca Trail
into Machu Picchu (Peru).
In 1991,
He trekked in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan.
In 1993, He learned
how to master his movement in nature. He crossed the Batura Glacier of Northern
Pakistan.
In 1996, Erik carried
the Olympic Torch through Phoenix.
In 1997, he climbed
his second continental summit, Kilimanjaro.
He was married with Ellie Reeve at 13,000’ on the Shira Plateau.
In 1998, he biked
tandem with his father from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (1200 miles) and ran his
first New York Marathon; and last January, he climbed Aconcagua (22,834’,
Argentina), the highest peak in South America and the highest peak in the world
outside of Asia.
In 1998, he rode a tandem bike from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh
City with his father, a Vietnam veteran.
In spring 2000, Weihenmayer
climbed Ama Dablam (22,500’, Nepal).
It’s the most beautiful peak in the world.
In spring 2001, Erik was the
only blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on May 25.
In
2002, He completed the Seven Summits when climbed Carstensz
Pyramid in West Papua New Guinea, the tallest peak in Australasia.
Awards
2014/2015 Nominated by National Geographic as
Adventurer of the Year.
2002
- Received a second ARETE Award for the Superlative Athletic Achievement of the Year.
- Received an ESPY Award.
- Named Colorado Athlete of the Year.
2001 Named one of Time's Best of Sports.
1995 Received ARETE Award for Courage in Sports
Special things
He proved to the world that the blind - is not a
barrier.
He is dedicated his time for
charity and helping children. He engaged in mountaineering with blind children.
GUILLERMO MERIN SEBASTIAN 2ºC
