#105: Erik Weihenmayer

Kosciuszko · Carstensz · Completed 2002-09-05

United States · Male

Born 23 Sept 1968

Erik Weihenmayer is a US mountaineer, author and speaker, born September 23, 1968. He lost his sight to retinoschisis, a degenerative eye disease, by age 14.

Early life and introduction to climbing

Erik Weihenmayer wrestled in high school and was introduced to rock climbing at a camp for blind teenagers shortly after losing his sight. After college he worked as a middle school teacher and wrestling coach at Phoenix Country Day School in Arizona, where he also joined local climbing groups on weekends.

Climbing career

Weihenmayer built his mountaineering resume through the 1990s, climbing Denali in 1995 and El Capitan in Yosemite in 1996. He reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in 1997 and Aconcagua in 1999. In 2000 he climbed Polar Circus, a 3,000-foot ice waterfall in Alberta, Canada.

On May 25, 2001, Weihenmayer became the first blind person in history to reach the summit of Mount Everest. His Everest expedition was noted at the time for having a large number of team members reach the summit on a single day. He completed the 7 summits with Elbrus and Kosciuszko in 2002, and added Carstensz Pyramid in 2008.

Beyond the 7 summits, Weihenmayer has climbed frozen waterfalls in Nepal and Canada, volcanoes in Ecuador and Chile, and rock routes in Colorado and Italy's Dolomites. In September 2014, he kayaked the entire 277-mile length of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon together with blinded Navy veteran Lonnie Bedwell.

No Barriers and advocacy work

Weihenmayer co-founded No Barriers USA, an organization built around what he calls a "No Barriers Mindset." It helps people with disabilities and other challenges pursue ambitious goals. Through an affiliated program, Soldiers to the Summits, he has led disabled military veterans on mountain expeditions. He has also accompanied blind and visually impaired teenagers on high-altitude treks, including one that reached 21,000 feet on a peak on the north side of Everest.

Writing and speaking

Weihenmayer is the author of three books. His memoir Touch the Top of the World recounts his path from losing his sight to climbing Everest. He works as a professional speaker, addressing topics such as adversity, teamwork and what he calls building a "Rope Team" of supporters. In 2025 he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Arizona's College of Education.