2008 Newsletters
Arjun Joins the Weihenmayer Family!
Jan 19th, 2008
Arjun leading Erik during his current visit to Kathmandu. Erik, Ellie and Emma
expect to bring Arjun back to Golden CO within the week.
Please welcome Arjun Weihenmayer!
Arjun Will Hopefully Arrive at His New Home in Golden Next Week
It hasn't been an easy road, but it looks as if Arjun will officially become a Weihenmayer within the week and be able to travel back from Nepal to his new home. Arjun, age 5, is a Tamang - much like Sherpas - who live around the Kathmandu Valley and in central and eastern Nepal. They form a significant proportion of the porters in these mountainous regions; but many are also engaged in agriculture as small landholders and day laborers. Even if Sherpa's are generally known as the best Everest mountaineers, Kami -- the sirdar (head porter) on Erik's Everest climb -- considers Tamangs "the strongest, most honest and reliable porters in all the Himalayas." So Arjun comes from good stock!
The adoption began almost two years ago, but because of governmental changes in Nepal and in the ministry which handles adoptions, it has been a stop-and-slow go process. Erik had visited Arjun several times during his long wait. In fact, Erik's trip to Nepal this month was to see Arjun and do some ice climbing. Miraculously, adoption approvals accelerated, and Ellie and Emma were able to join Erik in Kathmandu to be there for the final approval and trip home.
Not surprisingly, while Erik was there, he did some climbing with U.S. teammates Rob Raker and Ian Osteyee. The principal objective was "Losar," a famous 700-meter ice climb, essentially a frozen waterfall, 14 pitches, "Polar Circus on steroids." Rob and Ian swung leads and took turns directing Erik around the many obstacles on the face which could be traversed, but Erik often chose to go straight up through a difficult section. After 12 pitches and with darkness approaching, the team bivied in sleeping bags, Chinese knock-offs which proved unsuitable for the cold they experienced.... so sleep was marginal. The last two pitches proved less difficult, and they were on top by Noon. Twelve rappels later they were back in camp having milk tea and hot food.
Just prior to Losar, Kami, who lives near Namche Bazaar and was serving as guide, had spotted some beautiful ice: a 3-pitch climb a day's hike away, and as far as anyone knows...unclimbed! The three completed the climb, and Erik is trying to register its name as "Arjun's Playground."
Erik on top of Losar....14 pitches, 2100+ feet .... with Namche Bazaar and Mt. Everest
in the background. Photo credit to Rob Raker.
BlindSight Reaches U.S. Theaters in March Preceded By Premieres in Host Cities
The award-winning film BlindSight, which premiered before the Imperial Family in Japan and was just released in Germany, Holland, and Belgium this week, will reach U.S. theaters in March. We will provide you a complete listing of cities, theaters, and dates in a future News Release, but premieres are set in the following locations:
| New York | March 4 | Hosted by Merrill Lynch |
| Washington DC | March 5 | Hosted by TIAA-CREF at the National Geographic Theater |
| Boston | March 6 or 10 | Hosted by National Braille Press |
| Denver | March 13 | Hosted by Global Explorers at the Mayan Theater |
| Phoenix | March 19 | Hosted by Foundation for Blind Children at the Celebrity Theater |
Premieres involve a reception and then a screening of the film, and will be attended by Erik, Sabriye Tenberken and Paul Kronenberg of Braille Without Borders, and members of the production team, including Producer Sybil Robson.
Premieres in Chicago and San Francisco are still under study.
We are interested in media ideas in the premiere cities; company connections in Boston, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago and San Francisco; and influential parties who might want to affiliate with the film at any of the events. Please contact Ed Weihenmayer at 904/321-1938.
BlindSight-type Climb to Precede February Release in Australia
BlindSight reaches theaters in Sydney and Melbourne in early February. On February 3, Erik and Gavin Attwood will lead 8 young blind people on a climb in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney, accompanied by sighted partners. This mini-BlindSight adventure is designed to build teamwork and to encourage the blind folks toward more adventurous pursuits....and to promote the film! It will be followed by a film premiere at Hoyt's Entertainment Quarter prior to its theater run. The climb and premiere are sponsored by Challenger, a high net worth asset manager in Australia, with which Erik has a promotional relationship; in conjunction with Vision Australia, the biggest blindness entity Down Under, which works with all of the participating blind climbers.
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