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#1. Seven Summits! Where are they?
Using the photo galleries and the Seven Summits map on this website, research and list the countries where the Seven Summits are located. Note: some peaks are located in multiple countries, and one isn’t in a country at all; explain how this is possible.
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Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:04 am
skyler 
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#2. The rocks they’re built upon . . .
Divide into groups based on the world’s great mountain ranges. (Rockies, Alaska Range, Andes, Himalayas, Karakorum, Alps, Caucasus, etc.) Each group should research some basic facts about each range and then present to the class. How was this mountain range formed? What kind of rock is it made of? How old is the rock? What happens to old mountain ranges like the Appalachians in the Eastern US over time? How about younger mountain ranges like the Himalaya?
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#3. You’ve climbed how high?
Using the Seven Summits map pages, research the elevation of all the Seven Summits. Add all of these up and calculate how many feet of elevation Erik ascended to complete them all. Note that Erik never started climbing at sea level. For instance, on Mt. Everest, he started trekking at 8,000 feet. When you have a total in feet or meters, translate it into miles (5280 feet per mile). Send us a message with your total and if you are right, we’ll send your class a signed poster of Erik on Mt. Everest.
http://www.touchthetop.com/contact.htm
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#4. How long does it take to climb the Seven Summits?
Research the best season to climb each of the Seven Summits and how long each takes. If you were trying to climb all seven in the most efficient schedule, in what order would you climb them? How long would they take in total? Compare your climbing plans with your classmates. Some good websites to check out are www.7summits.com, www.Peakware.com.
Figure out how to climb all the Seven Summits (note the are actually 8 mountains) in less than 10 months, and send us your climb schedule. We’ll send your class a signed poster of Erik on Mt. Everest.
http://www.touchthetop.com/contact.htm
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#5. The "high one" - Denali
Looking back, Erik ranks Denali, also known as McKinley, as his most difficult expedition of the Seven Summits. Considering Denali was his first major summit, can you come up with reasons why Denali would have felt the toughest? Read the excerpt from Touch the Top of the World, found on the Denali map page, for some insights.
http://www.touchthetop.com/education/se ... ey-denali/
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#6. The Rope Team
In order to cross safely over the many glaciers on Denali, (Mt. McKinley), Erik was roped together with his teammates. Use the Internet to research why teams rope together while crossing a glacier. What are the dangers encountered on a glacier? What are the benefits of being roped together? What are the skills and techniques needed to be safe on a rope team?
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Sat Dec 26, 2009 2:27 pm
TouchTheTop
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#7. Glacier Crossing Simulation
On Denali, Erik was roped together with his teammates the cross the many glaciers. To simulate crossing a glacier on a rope team, locate a rope and pair up. Partners should hold the rope a few feet apart, one person in the lead and the second blindfolded. Create an obstacle course in your classroom using chairs and desks, and navigate through, the leader using his/her best communication skills to lead the team and the second using his/her best listening skills. The leader should pay particular attention to the precision of language, and the second should pay attention to the non-visual sensations experienced. Now, branch out into the hall, up a flight of stairs, through the cafeteria, etc. After ten minutes, change roles. End the activity by writing about the experience, creating a paragraph describing each of the two roles.
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#8. Kilimanjaro
Read the description on the Kilimanjaro map page and then, compare Erik’s two expeditions on this mountain. How was the first trip personally significant for Erik and the second historically significant?
http://www.touchthetop.com/education/se ... limanjaro/
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#9. Uruhu – Swahili for Freedom
Read the excerpt from Touch the Top of the World found in the Kilimanjaro map page and discuss Erik’s view of freedom: “Perhaps it was the freedom to make of my life what I wanted it to be, or at least the freedom to try, or to fail in the trying. Perhaps freedom itself was unobtainable and the goal was only to reach for it, strive for it, knowing all along that I would fall well short. Perhaps the importance was in the reaching out, and in the impossibility of it all . . .” What truth do you find here? Does it apply to situations other than climbing mountains? Does it apply to your life and the lives of your peers?
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#10. Vinson Massif – Antarctic Giant
Read the excerpt from The Adversity Advantage found in the Mt. Vinson map page and see the accompanying photo gallery to study Erik’s Mt. Vinson climb. Now, write a short story with yourself as the hero ascending Mt. Vinson. Be sure to describe the hurdles you faced along the way, your icy surroundings, and the feel of the summit. Here’s the catch: in your story, avoid any visual language. Only use your four other senses.
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Sat Dec 26, 2009 3:21 pm
TouchTheTop
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#11. Aconcagua
In the excerpt from Touch the Top of the World, found in the Aconcagua map page, Jeff tells Erik, “When you try big things . . . you gotta expect to fail sometimes.” Is Jeff right? How do you know? Can failure, ironically, be a crucial ingredient of success? What examples of this important life principle can you find?
http://www.touchthetop.com/education/se ... aconcagua/
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#12. Everest – A Journey to the Top of the World
Watch Erik’s video journey up Mt. Everest and then make a map showing the different areas of Mt. Everest which the team encountered along the way.
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#13. The Puja Ceremony
The Puja ceremony is a very important cultural aspect of any Mt. Everest expedition. Watch the video of Erik arriving at basecamp and his team’s Puja ceremony. Write a paragraph or give an oral report describing the Puja ceremony and its significance in Buddhist culture.
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#14. World Records on Everest
When Erik reached the summit of Mt. Everest, he became the first and only blind person to stand on top of the world. Use the Internet to research some of the other astounding records on Mt. Everest: fastest ascent, youngest, oldest, first double-leg amputee, first ascent without supplemental oxygen, most ascents, etc.? What do you think is the most interesting record you found?
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#15. The First Ascent of Everest
Watch the video journey of Erik’s ascent of Mt. Everest and research the first ascent of Mt. Everest by Sir Edmond Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. How was their expedition in 1953 different from Erik’s nearly 50 years later? How was it similar? Write or discuss your ideas as a class.
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#16. The National Federation of the Blind
In 2001, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) sponsored Erik’s Mt. Everest expedition. Check out their website www.NFB.org and research one way the NFB helps blind people in the USA. Next, considering that over 70% of working-age blind people are unemployed, why would blind people have an interest in helping a blind person reach the top of the world?
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#17. The Death Zone
Watch Erik’s journey up Mt. Everest. When Erik reaches the South Col he and his team enter the “Death Zone.” Describe this phenomenon and the effects of high altitude on the human body.
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#18. Skiing Down the Tallest Peak in Europe
For Erik’s sixth continental summit, he decided to make a ski descent of the mountain. Check out the Mt. Elbrus map page and watch the short video featuring Erik skiing in the video section (http://www.touchthetop.com/videos/watch ... lip-1#skip). How does a blind person ski? How is teamwork crucial in this process? Even though you can see, are there some parallels in your life in which teamwork is important to achieve your goal? Give examples.
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#19. White Out Navigation
Read the description of Erik’s seventh summit, Kosciuszko, (http://www.touchthetop.com/education/se ... szko/#skip) when he and his teammates we caught in a blizzard. None of the climbers could see where they were going, so they had to navigate using a map and compass. Define the terms: declination, bearing, contour lines, topography, topographic map, true North, magnetic North, and scale. Next, go outside and use a compass to shoot a bearing on some objects around your school. You can even use a map of your hometown to shoot a bearing from your school to your house.
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#20. Mountain Formation and the Ring of Fire
Erik’s last continental summit, Carstensz Pyramid, lies on a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean. Many of the islands in the Pacific are part of what is called the Ring of Fire, created by the movement of tectonic plates under the ocean. Using the Internet, research the Ring of Fire, and describe how the geologic force that created Carstensz Pyramid is able to create mountains right out of the ocean. Bonus: Including Carstensz Pyramid, there are three of the Seven Summits that were created by this giant Ring of Fire. Name them.
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#21. Positive Pessimism
In Touch the Top of the World, Erik’s climbing partner, Chris Morris, uses a fun philosophy he calls “Positive Pessimisms” to stay cheerful through the harsh conditions of the high mountains. He says, “It sure is cold out here, but at least it’s windy,” or “We sure have been climbing a long way, but at least we’re lost.”
Come up with your own positive pessimisms about school life, family, social relationships, and other areas of your experience. Make a list and read it to the class. Write to us (http://www.touchthetop.com/contact.htm) with your best examples and we’ll send your class a signed poster of Erik on Everest!
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#22. Voice Recognition
Before climbing full-time, Erik was a middle school English teacher. As a blind teacher, he had to learn to recognize all his students by their voices. Record the voices of each member of your class. See who can recognize the most voices when they are played back.
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#23. Off the Beaten Path
Read Erik’s newsletters found on this website and study the various photo galleries. Then, research one of his adventures that was not part of the Seven Summits. Describe the adventure and include key details like the country, culture, language spoken, and the significance of the project.
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#24. Beyond the Barriers
Watch the video entitled, Beyond the Barriers, in which Erik climbs a rock face with a paraplegic and a double-leg-amputee. (http://www.touchthetop.com/videos/watch ... ers-3#skip) Simulate this adventure by working in pairs. Blindfold one partner and tie the other’s hands behind his or her back. Together, make and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What limitations did your team have? What strengths? Whose task was more difficult? Why?
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#25. Where in the World?
Read Erik’s newsletters and use the photo galleries to come up with ten countries where he has visited which are not part of his Seven Summits quest. Now, list the countries to which you’ve been. If you haven’t been out of your country, then list the states or cities you’ve visited.
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#26. Expedition Packing
Make a list of all of the items you think you might need for an expedition to a Himalayan peak. Compare your list to the one Erik and his team took to Mt. Everest. See http://www.climbingblind.org/talk/ShowP ... ?PostID=72. How close were you to Erik’s list? What else would you take which Erik didn’t?
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#27. Learning to Paraglide
Watch Erik’s video of him learning to paraglide in the video section. Research and write about something you want to try to do, yet have no idea where to start. (i.e. playing the guitar, learning to surf) End with some ideas of how to take the first steps.
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#28. No Barriers
Erik helps lead a nonprofit organization called, No Barriers, which showcases cutting-edge ideas and technologies helping people with disabilities push through personal barriers to live more adventurous lives. Check out www.NoBarriersUSA.org and discuss how the work of No Barriers is an extension of Erik’s life and beliefs. Watch some of the videos on the No Barriers website and list some challenges people face and the ideas and technologies they used to push through barriers in their lives. Lastly, share with your class your favorite short video.
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#29. Ice Climbing
Erik has created some signature techniques to climb mountains as a blind person. To learn Erik's technique for climbing frozen waterfalls, read the excerpt from Erik’s book, The Adversity Advantage, found in the Ice Climbing gallery. (http://www.touchthetop.com/gallery/albu ... limbing-18) In groups, try to decipher information with only the use of your ears and hands. Use a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter. Blindfold each other and see if you can differentiate the coins by feel. Next, drop each coin one by one against a hard-surface floor. Can you distinguish each coin by the sound it makes? Brainstorm some other ways you can get information from your surroundings without vision.
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#30. Scavenger Hunt
Browse through Erik’s website and find the 10 hidden things listed below.
1. How old was Erik when he first went rock climbing?
2. What is the local name for Erik’s 8th Summit?
3. What are the names of three adventure races Erik has participated in?
4. What color was Erik’s jacket when he skied down the highest peak in Europe?
5. Find the picture where Erik is on a billboard in a famous city. Where is the billboard?
6. On two of Erik’s seven summits he took a plane right to basecamp. Name them.
7. Which of the Seven Summits has Erik been to more than once? Hint: He has only climbed one of the seven twice.
8. On one of Erik’s seven summits climbs, he and his teammates are climbing through penitentes. What are penitentes and where is he?
9. Find and name the 4 locations where No Barriers has held festivals.
10. Locate a picture where some of Erik’s blind and sighted friends are hiking through an ancient salt mine. Where are they?
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#31. Blind Climbing Team
Watch the video of Erik climbing with Andy Holzer, another blind climber. (http://www.touchthetop.com/videos/watch ... eam-8#skip) Erik and Andy use different methods to find their way to the summit. What are their methods? Brainstorm with your class some ways to find direction other than sight. In pairs, blindfold one partner and experiment with some of the methods you brainstormed. Are you as good as Erik and Andy at navigating blind?
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#32. Climbing Blind Expedition 2004
In 2004, Erik and his team led a group of six blind students from Tibet to an elevation of 21,500 feet on the flanks of Mt. Everest. This is higher than any team of blind climbers have ever stood. Visit the website from the expedition, www.climbingblind.org., to learn more. Write a short essay or discuss how blindness is perceived in Tibetan culture. What are the reasons for these perceptions? What is being done to change them?
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For more information about Erik, call Leading Authorities at 1.800.SPEAKER