insight
“Weihenmayer,” he says. “Like a wine you drink and a mayor of a town: Weihenmayer.” Alright, so now you can pronounce his name.
but the answer to what’s probably your next question—how a blind man can summit everest, climb el capitan, and kayak the grand canyon—might take some explaining.
erik weihenmayer is the sort of athlete for whom the label “disabled” approaches farce: since losing his vision as a teenager, he’s set records on some of the most challenging terrain on Earth. But as diligently as he accumulates firsts, Weihenmayer works to ensure that his accomplishments don’t remain only’s. An author, motivational speaker, and expedition leader, he’s committed to helping others overcome their own personal challenges by cultivating an inner strength he calls the “adversity advantage.” Weihenmayer is also a vocal advocate for wilderness conservation—and for the small local parks and open spaces where so many Americans get their first taste of the outdoors. As a longtime friend of The Trust for Public Land, he’s helped us rally support for the protection of places like Colorado’s Bridal Veil Falls and Utah’s Zion Narrows. We met Weihenmayer at his home in Golden, Colorado, to discuss his advocacy work, his training, and the “bring it on” philosophy that’s taken him to the top of the world.
28 · LAND&PEOPLE · SPRING/SUMMER 2014
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