ERIK WEIHENMAYER

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 is the author of Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See, his memoirs.

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