Erik Weihenmayer -- First Legally Blind Ascent

     Erik Weihenmayer, a former middle school teacher and wrestling coach, has become one of the most famous athletes in the world.  He became legally blind at the age of 13 and has not ever let that serve as an excuse not to do something. He has always been a climber.  His aspirations led him to climb Mount Everest.  He climbed Mount Everest on May 25, 2001.  By doing so, he became the first blind man to climb the mountain.  After he achieved this, he eventually became one of about 100 of the greatest mountaineers to climb the Seven Summits.  He has written a book and he was also starred in a documentary.  He has also climbed El Capitan in Yosemite--an almost vertical flat mountain.  This has all gained him extraordinary press attention.

Erik is the one shown in the red without the glasses.

-Trevor S.