The inspirational journey of Erik Weihenmayer, explains how a man without his sight, overcomes all odds in order to be the first blind climber reach the summit of Mount Everest. Weihenmayer is the author of the book, Touch The Top Of The World: A Blind Man’s Journey To Climb Farther Than The Eye Can See. In his memoir, Erik describes living with an eye disorder called retinoscheses, which ultimately left him blind by the age of thirteen. His visual impairment does not stop him from accomplishing his dream of adventure and climbing the world’s Seven Summits and reaching the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. Erik is also the first blind climber to reach the summit of Mount McKinley, Yosemite’s El Capitan Argentina’s Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro before conquering
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The National Federation of the Blind decided to commit 250,000 dollars to fund the expedition. The preparation and actual expedition of the summit was grueling on Erik and his group. The group going into the death zone at 26,000 feet in altitude contemplated whether or not Erik could handle the rest of the trip and if he is compromising his safety as well as the safety of the group members. The determination and passion of Erik ultimately pushed him to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain. Erik is an inspiration for not only fellow athletes and climbers, but also for other vision impaired athletes. After reading this book, I could not help but think how incredible this man really is. It would be an excruciating challenge for even an experienced climber with their sight. Imagining the difficulty of navigating through the world’s most treacherous climates without your vision is something I cannot fathom. “The greatest fear is in the reaching, at that moment when I have committed my body and soul to finding the next hold, when I am hoping, predicting, praying I will find what I am seeking.” (Weihenmayer, 2002. P. 3). Erik is truly an inspiration not only to his
The National Federation of the Blind decided to commit 250,000 dollars to fund the expedition. The preparation and actual expedition of the summit was grueling on Erik and his group. The group going into the death zone at 26,000 feet in altitude contemplated whether or not Erik could handle the rest of the trip and if he is compromising his safety as well as the safety of the group members. The determination and passion of Erik ultimately pushed him to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain. Erik is an inspiration for not only fellow athletes and climbers, but also for other vision impaired athletes. After reading this book, I could not help but think how incredible this man really is. It would be an excruciating challenge for even an experienced climber with their sight. Imagining the difficulty of navigating through the world’s most treacherous climates without your vision is something I cannot fathom. “The greatest fear is in the reaching, at that moment when I have committed my body and soul to finding the next hold, when I am hoping, predicting, praying I will find what I am seeking.” (Weihenmayer, 2002. P. 3). Erik is truly an inspiration not only to his