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Erik Weihenmayer

エリック・ワイヘンマイヤー

Erik Weihenmayer

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1968-09-23 （Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Coral Gables, Florida → Hong Kong (attended Hong Kong International School) → Weston, Connecticut (attended Weston High School) → Massachusetts (attended Boston College) → Phoenix, Arizona (teaching and coaching)

Career

Occupations
Adventurer, Motivational speaker, Author, Athlete
Active Years
1990-
Affiliations
No Barriers (co-founder)

Education

Boston College
English and Communications
Degree: BA
Year of Graduation: 1990
Country: United States
Completed student-teaching and worked as a middle-school teacher; also coached wrestling.

Awards

ESPY Award
Organization: ESPN
Result: 受賞
Casey Martin Award
Organization: Nike
Result: 受賞
Helen Keller Lifetime Achievement Award
Result: 受賞
Time Magazine cover feature
2001
Organization: Time
Result: 掲載

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See

2002 Memoir / Non-fiction

A memoir recounting his journey from childhood vision loss to major mountaineering achievements, including summiting Everest.

Overcoming adversityAdventureTeamwork
Adaptations
  • [TV movie / Documentary] Farther Than the Eye Can See (film)

The Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles Into Everyday Greatness

2006 Self-help / Non-fiction

Practical lessons and advice on using adversity as fuel for personal growth and innovation.

Using adversityLeadershipGrowth

No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon

2017 Memoir / Adventure

A memoir chronicling his descent of the Grand Canyon by kayak with fellow blind adventurers, promoting a 'No Barriers' life.

InclusionChallengeNature

No Barriers (Young Adult Adaptation)

2019 Young Adult / Memoir

Young-adult adaptation of No Barriers, presenting themes of challenge and resilience to younger readers.

Encouragement for youthChallengeResilience

Bibliography

  • Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See (2002)
  • The Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles into Everyday Greatness (2006) (with Paul Stoltz)
  • No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon (2017)
  • No Barriers (Young Adult Adaptation) (2019)

Adaptations

  • Farther Than the Eye Can See (documentary about Everest ascent; won multiple film festival prizes)
  • Blindsight (documentary about leading blind Tibetan students on an Everest expedition)
  • High Ground (2012 film featuring Weihenmayer)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Straightforward, conversational memoir stylePractical, self-help explanatory tone
Recurring Motifs
Adversity and resilienceTeamwork and trustNature and adventure

Health

  • Juvenile retinoschisis (progressive vision loss)
    幼児期から思春期以降（幼少期に診断され、13歳頃までに失明の見込みと診断）
    Diagnosed in early childhood leading to progressive vision loss; he adapted (using a guide dog, techniques) and continued major adventures and public-speaking.

Legacy

As a pioneering blind adventurer, he became a symbol of expanding possibilities for people with disabilities. Through No Barriers, speaking, and books, he has had broad social impact.

In Popular Culture

  • Featured on the cover of Time and in numerous documentaries and films.
  • The 2014 full-length Grand Canyon kayak descent received wide media coverage.

Quotes

  • Through a 'No Barriers' life, people can overcome their perceived limits.
    Source: Speeches and writings (representative slogan)

Trivia

  • First blind person to summit Mount Everest (May 25, 2001).
  • Completed the Seven Summits in September 2002; at the time the only blind climber to do so.
  • Co-founded the nonprofit No Barriers in 2005.
  • In 2014 kayaked the full length of the Grand Canyon with a blind Navy veteran.