Erik Weihenmayer - Blind Everest, No Barriers, and Rope Teams
Erik Weihenmayer lost his sight to juvenile retinoschisis by age 14. On May 25, 2001, he became the first blind person to summit Mount Everest and later completed the Seven Summits, co-founding No Barriers to help others turn adversity into growth.
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Diagnosed with progressive vision loss as a child, Erik was completely blind by 14. He became a competitive wrestler, discovered climbing’s tactile language, graduated from Boston College, and taught middle school while coaching wrestling.
On May 25, 2001, he stood on the summit of Everest—the first blind person to do so—and later completed the Seven Summits. In 2014 he kayaked the full Colorado River stretch through the Grand Canyon. His message centers on harnessing adversity, building a “rope team,” and pioneering forward.
He co-founded No Barriers (“What’s Within You Is Stronger Than What’s In Your Way”) and authored Touch the Top of the World and No Barriers—translating mountain lessons into tools for personal and organizational growth.
Books by Erik Weihenmayer - Blind Everest, No Barriers, and Rope Teams
Touch the Top of the World
A blind man's journey to climb farther than the eye can see.
Common questions
Was Erik the first blind person to climb Everest?
Yes. On May 25, 2001, he became the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest; he later completed the Seven Summits.
What is No Barriers?
A movement and nonprofit Erik co-founded to help people facing challenges—disability, trauma, fear, or other barriers—build community (“rope teams”) and live with meaning and purpose.
