Erik Weihenmayer was born with an eye disorder.
Erik
Weihenmayer
was
born
with
an
eye
disorder
.
As a child his eyesight became worse and then, at the age of 13, he lost his sight completely.
As
a
child
his
eyesight
became
worse
and
then
,
at
the
age
of
13
,
he
lost
his
sight
completely
.
However, he did not lose his determination to lead a full and active life.
However
,
he
did
not
lose
his
determination
to
lead
a
full
and
active
life
.
Erik became an adventurer.
Erik
became
an
adventurer
.
He took up parachuting, wrestling and scuba diving.
He
took
up
parachuting
,
wrestling
and
scuba
diving
.
He competed in long-distance biking, marathons and skiing.
He
competed
in
long-distance
biking
,
marathons
and
skiing
.
His favorite sport, thought, is mountaineering.
His
favorite
sport
,
thought
,
is
mountaineering
.
As a young man, Erik started to climb mountains.
As
a
young
man
,
Erik
started
to
climb
mountains
.
He reached the summit of Mount McKinley in 1995 and then climbed the dangerous 1000-metre rock wall of EI Capitan.
He
reached
the
summit
of
Mount
McKinley
in
1995
and
then
climbed
the
dangerous
1000-metre
rock
wall
of
EI
Capitan
.
Two years later, while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya with his girlfriend, they stopped for a time at 13,000 feet above sea level-in order to get married.
Two
years
later
,
while
climbing
Mount
Kilimanjaro
in
Kenya
with
his
girlfriend
,
they
stopped
for
a
time
at
13,000
feet
above
sea
level-in
order
to
get
married
.
In 1999, he climbed Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America.
In
1999
,
he
climbed
Aconcagua
,
the
tallest
mountain
in
South
America
.
And then, on May 25, 2001, at the age of 33, Erik successfully completed the greatest mountaineering challenge of all.
And
then
,
on
May
25
,
2001
,
at
the
age
of
33
,
Erik
successfully
completed
the
greatest
mountaineering
challenge
of
all
.
He climbed Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
He
climbed
Mount
Everest
,
the
highest
mountain
in
the
world
.
Erik invented his own method for climbing mountains.
Erik
invented
his
own
method
for
climbing
mountains
.
He carries two long poles: one to lean on and the other to test the way ahead of him.
He
carries
two
long
poles
:
one
to
lean
on
and
the
other
to
test
the
way
ahead
of
him
.
The climber in front of him wears a bell to guide him.
The
climber
in
front
of
him
wears
a
bell
to
guide
him
.
Erik is a good team member.
Erik
is
a
good
team
member
.
He does his share of the job, such as setting up tents and building snow walls.
He
does
his
share
of
the
job
,
such
as
setting
up
tents
and
building
snow
walls
.
Although he could not enjoy the view, Erik felt the excitement of being on the summit of Everest.
Although
he
could
not
enjoy
the
view
,
Erik
felt
the
excitement
of
being
on
the
summit
of
Everest
.
He hopes that his success will change how people think about the blind.
He
hopes
that
his
success
will
change
how
people
think
about
the
blind
.
"When people think about a blind person or blindness, now they will think about a person standing on top of the world."
``
When
people
think
about
a
blind
person
or
blindness
,
now
they
will
think
about
a
person
standing
on
top
of
the
world
.
''
Erik Weihenmayer was born with an eye disorder. As a child his eyesight became worse and then, at the age of 13, he lost his sight completely. However, he did not lose his determination to lead a full and active life.  Erik became an adventurer. He took up parachuting, wrestling and scuba diving. He competed in long-distance biking, marathons and skiing. His favorite sport, thought, is mountaineering.  As a young man, Erik started to climb mountains. He reached the summit of Mount McKinley in 1995 and then climbed the dangerous 1000-metre rock wall of EI Capitan. Two years later, while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya with his girlfriend, they stopped for a time at 13,000 feet above sea level-in order to get married. In 1999, he climbed Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America. And then, on May 25, 2001, at the age of 33, Erik successfully completed the greatest mountaineering challenge of all. He climbed Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.  Erik invented his own method for climbing mountains. He carries two long poles: one to lean on and the other to test the way ahead of him. The climber in front of him wears a bell to guide him. Erik is a good team member. He does his share of the job, such as setting up tents and building snow walls.  Although he could not enjoy the view, Erik felt the excitement of being on the summit of Everest. He hopes that his success will change how people think about the blind. "When people think about a blind person or blindness, now they will think about a person standing on top of the world."