Erik Weihenmayer is one of the most celebrated and accomplished athletes in the world. In 2001, he became the first blind person in history to climb Mount Everest. When he stood on the top of Carstensz Pyramid in 2008, he completed his quest to climb all of the Seven Summits-the tallest peak on each of the seven continents.
In September 2014, Erik and blinded Navy veteran, Lonnie Bedwell, kayaked the entire 277-miles of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River, considered one of the most formidable whitewater venues in the world. Erik continually seeks out new adventures, focusing his efforts on empowering people traditionally swept to the sidelines of life. He founded an organization called No Barriers, which helps people with challenges tap into the human spirit, break through barriers, and contribute to the world.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Everest ascent, Erik and his team founded a new No Barriers program, No Barriers Warriors, which uses teamwork and the mountains as a transformative force to help veterans reclaim their lives after devastating injuries.
Erik is the author of the best-selling memoir, Touch the Top of the World, which was made into a feature film. For his second book, The Adversity Advantage, Erik teamed up with psychologist Dr. Paul Stoltz to show how to turn everyday struggles into everyday greatness. Erik’s newest book, No Barriers is a dive into the heart and mind at the core of the turbulent human experience. It is an exploration of the light that burns in all of us, the obstacles that threaten to extinguish that light, and... See more
Erik Weihenmayer is one of the most celebrated and accomplished athletes in the world. In 2001, he became the first blind person in history to climb Mount Everest. When he stood on the top of Carstensz Pyramid in 2008, he completed his quest to climb all of the Seven Summits-the tallest peak on each of the seven continents.
In September 2014, Erik and blinded Navy veteran, Lonnie Bedwell, kayaked the entire 277-miles of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River, considered one of the most formidable whitewater venues in the world. Erik continually seeks out new adventures, focusing his efforts on empowering people traditionally swept to the sidelines of life. He founded an organization called No Barriers, which helps people with challenges tap into the human spirit, break through barriers, and contribute to the world.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Everest ascent, Erik and his team founded a new No Barriers program, No Barriers Warriors, which uses teamwork and the mountains as a transformative force to help veterans reclaim their lives after devastating injuries.
Erik is the author of the best-selling memoir, Touch the Top of the World, which was made into a feature film. For his second book, The Adversity Advantage, Erik teamed up with psychologist Dr. Paul Stoltz to show how to turn everyday struggles into everyday greatness. Erik’s newest book, No Barriers is a dive into the heart and mind at the core of the turbulent human experience. It is an exploration of the light that burns in all of us, the obstacles that threaten to extinguish that light, and the treacherous ascent towards growth and rebirth.
Erik is a graduate of Boston College, and earned a Masters in Education from Lesley University. He lives with his wife and two children in Golden, Colorado.
