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Also Featured in ESPN Mother’s Day Special

"Touch the Top of the World" Released April 1 in Paperback

Next: Elbrus, His 6th Continental Summit

Erik Weihenmayer's life story has just been sold to Jaffe/Braunstein, producers of numerous TV specials over several decades. Variety reports that Erik is "likely to become one of the first heroes to be highlighted in a series of films by ABC and Tommy Hilfiger."  The movie will be based on his autobiography,  "Touch the Top of the World."

Erik will also be a feature in a Mother’s Day Special on the dramatic impact mothers and parents have had on nationally prominent athletes, such as Shaq, Mia Hamm, Drew Bledsoe, Brandi Chastain, and Grant Hill. The 90-minute show will air Sunday, May 12 on ESPN at Noon and on ESPN Classic at 7:30 p.m.  Other airings will be announced. Erik’s mom died in a car accident in 1985, and this tribute to her guiding hand in Erik’s early life is long overdue. In his book, Erik describes his father as "a broom, sweeping me out into the world, while my mother was the dustpan, constantly gathering up the shattered pieces and putting me back together again."

The paperback version of Erik’s book, with an exciting new Everest chapter, is being released today into bookstores. A commercial audio book follows later this month. "Touch the Top of the World" is now published in nine countries. His book is already available in Braille and as a Talking Book for the blind.

The paperback is being used extensively by schools. While students enjoy the adventures and the humor, the book’s powerful messages provoke important dialogue about what students want to do with their lives, what they want their legacies to be. 

Erik is training hard for his next big adventure, a climb up Elbrus in Soviet Georgia in June. Elbrus will be his 6th continental summit. He will attempt to ski down 10,000’ of it. Erik has been practicing extensively this winter and spring with his "caller," Eric Alexander of his Everest climbing team, in Vail,  Snowmass, Winter Park, and some 14,000' peaks in Colorado.

In September, Erik plans to climb Carstensz Pyramid, in Papua, north of Australia, his 7th of the Seven Summits, the highest peak on each of the seven land continents. He hopes to join the 100+ elite climbers around the world who have achieved this milestone, and he will be one of the youngest.

Erik is devoting much attention to improving literacy in this country. He is featured in a National Association of American Publishers "Get Caught Reading" campaign, along with nationally recognized athletes. Instead of reading a print book in the house, like most others, though, Erik is reading a Braille book in a down jacket in a tent at high elevation.

Erik is also featured in a History, Sports, and You program highlighting athletes who have changed the world, people such as Jesse Owens, "Babe" Didrickson Zaharias, Pele, Wilma Rudolph, Nancy Lopez, Ichiro Suzuki...and Erik. Pepsi is sponsoring a contest among 20,000 schools; and the winning essay receives a visit by Erik to the school and a copy of "Touch the Top of the World" for every student.

On May 25, 2001, Erik Weihenmayer stood on Everest’s summit, the first blind person to even attempt to reach the top of the world. Adding to his pleasure were the 18 teammates who were there with him, the most ever from a single team to summit Everest in the same day. It seems his life took a change from that very moment.

This miraculous climb became the cover story of the June 18 issue of Time. Erik won the ARETE Award for the superlative athletic performance of the year; Time named him one of Sports: Best of 2001, along with Lance Armstrong, Jennifer Capriati, Barry Bonds, Mario Lemieux, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tiger Woods. On June 29, Erik will receive the Victor Award, an honor bestowed on the outstanding athletes of their respective sports, during a 2-hour FOX-TV special.

Erik was invited to visit the Oval Office with his team to receive the personal congratulations of President Bush, who had wished him good luck by satellite phone at Camp 4 (26,000’) just before his final push to the summit. He was privileged to carry the Olympic Torch through Longmont, Colorado enroute to Salt Lake City for the Winter Games; then ran the Torch up the stadium stairs to ignite the caldron at the opening of the Para-Olympic Games four weeks later. In July, he will tour Air Force bases in Europe, to thank our troops and families stationed there for their service in defending freedom and democracy around the world.

In between all these activities, Erik and his wife Ellie enjoy watching Emma, 21-months old, grow up from a baby to a little girl. While much has changed for Erik since Everest, one thing has not. Family and friends remain his number one priority.

Recall that young man we told you back in 1998-99 that we thought was special, when no one knew about him? Erik Weihenmayer Q&A from 99 is here...

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