Can A Blind Man Summit Everest? YES!!!!!

Erik Weihenmayer Makes History

It happened late last night U.S. time, when most of America was fast asleep. Erik Weihenmayer, a 32-year old blind mountaineer from Golden, Colorado, and 18 members of his team, including 8 sherpas, stood on top of the world at mid-morning Nepal-time, at 29,035’ on Mount Everest.

The team had departed Camp 4 (26,000’) at 8:45 p.m. Nepal-time, pushed through wind and snow until early morning, when the skies cleared and the pink glint of the new day suggested this might just be an historic day. And indeed it was. First to summit was Sherman Bull, a 64-year old [not 65 as many are reporting] surgeon from New Canaan, Connecticut, who became the oldest person ever to reach the Everest summit. Other team members followed quickly behind, including Erik, the first blind person to even make a serious attempt on Everest; and Brad Bull, Sherman’s son.  And the 19 teammates  comprise the greatest number of people from one climbing team to summit Everest in a single day. This was a history making day for a history making team. All the climbers are now resting safely back at Camp 4, sleeping well after a grueling 19 hour round-trip struggle.

Many people had questioned the sanity of a blind man on Everest. Some expert climbers even thought Erik was chasing an impossible dream. But this is not the first time Erik has defied the boundaries other people had set for him. "Sometimes," he says, "you simply have to throw out other people’s perceptions and rise to the level of your own God-given potential." It is this sort of message which led the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to sponsor the climb. NFB is working hard to "change what it means to be blind."

Erik believes that "my climbs shape the way a potential employer views a blind applicant, the way a teacher views a blind child on the first day of class, the way the general public views a blind person on the street, in a restaurant and, most importantly, the way a blind person views himself and his future. I truly believe that if a blind person can be seen succeeding on some of the world’s most arduous mountains, the image created will not only change people’s perceptions about disabled people, but literally shatter them. The exciting part is that when these perceptions are rebuilt, thousands and thousands of disabled people will live their lives with more opportunity."

Yesterday, Erik had the honor to speak by satellite phone to the President, who wished him a successful - and safe - climb to the summit. Erik was awed. "Can you imagine," he said, "talking to the President of the United States from 26,000’ high on Everest!"

With Everest now accomplished, Erik takes a giant step toward his dream of climbing the Seven Summits, the highest peak on each of the seven land continents. He now has five under his belt. He is likely to climb Elbrus (Europe) this Fall; and Carstenz Pyramid (Australasia) early next year. Ironically, in summiting Everest, teammate Sherman Bull joined less than 100 climbers worldwide who have distinguished themselves with this same honor.

So tonight, Erik stood on top of the world, 3 months after his book Touch the Top of the World was released. Erik will tour and promote his book in the U.S., U.K., and Germany this summer.

This history-making event is being captured in a documentary being shot now on the mountain, sponsored by Allegra, a seasonal allergy product.

Touch the Top of the World : A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See by Erik Weihenmayer Get yours today !

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