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Press Room

Erik's extraordinary accomplishments have gained him abundant press coverage.

Adapting to a New Definition of Ability

Read an outstanding Denver Post article featuring Adventure TEAM Challenge, the adventure race founded by Erik. ATC combines teams of able-bodied and disabled athletes for three days of mountain biking, rafting, climbing, and wilderness orienteering in the Colorado Rockies:

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12718052

Bridal Veil Falls - Back to the Public

In February 2009, Erik joined his long time climbing partner Mike Gibbs and Wounded Warrior Chad Jukes to climb Bridal Veil Falls, arguably Colorado's most famous ice climb. Located in the box canyon just outside Telluride, Colorado, the climb has been closed to the public for over two decades. The trio climbed to raise awareness for the public opening of the climb and the efforts of the Trust for Public Land to gain access to land for people.

Watch the Farther than the Eye Can See trailer on youtube

Erik speaks on the topic of adversity in life and the current economic climate

Erik was recently interviewed by Curt Rosengren, author of The M.A.P. Maker Blog.

Click here to listen to the Podcast: Curt Rosengren's M.A.P. Maker Podcast: Erik Weihenmayer

Curt also wrote an article titled Could This Recession Be a Gift For Your Career at U.S. News and World Report.

CBS Sunday Morning Appearance

Watch CBS' Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood which features Erik's recent adventure leading blind and sighted teenagers down the raging Colorado River through the Grand Canyon:

Watch CBS Videos Online

CBS Early Morning Show

The CBS Early Morning Show interviews Erik as a part of its series "Extraordinary People," on guiding six blind Tibetan teenagers to 21,500 feet on the flanks of Mt. Everest, and the subsequent creation of BlindSight, the documentary chronicling the expedition. Erik discusses the profound impact of the expedition on the students who were shunned by their society.

Today Show

See Erik's latest Today Show appearance as he demonstrates a revolutionary new technology which helps blind people to "see."

NightLine

In June, 2006, Erik led a team of blind and sighted teens on a week-long trek through the Peruvian Andes in conjunction with Global Explorers, an educational leadership organization. The news program, NightLine, followed the adventure.

Click here to watch the video:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2186161

A&E Movie

Erik's memoir, Touch the Top of the World, was made into a feature film which aired on A&E throughout the summer of 2006. The movie tells of Erik's diminishing sight as a boy, his teenage struggle not to be swept to the sidelines and forgotten, and finally his triumphant climb to the top of the world. It is a story of the support of teammates and family, of parents who chose to be his partners in his adventurous undertakings, and especially of his wife Ellie who fought her own fears but did not stand in the way of Erik pursuing his dreams.

The film was shot in Calgary and in the nearby Canadian Rockies. Jaffe-Braunstein Films invited Erik and his family to the set to observe some of the scenes, and to meet the cast: Peter Facinelli as Erik the young man; Jack Knight as Erik the boy; Sarah Manninen as Ellie; Bruce Campbell as Ed; and Kate Greenhouse as Ellen, Erik's mom. Peter Winther, the director, used Erik to play himself in one climbing scene, a dramatic self-arrest down a steep ice face.

For more information about the movie, click here: http://www.aetv.com/touchthetop/

Blindsight

The documentary, Blindsight, is the story of a 2004 expedition when Erik and his Mt. Everest team, attempted to guide six blind Tibetan teenagers to the 23,000 foot Lhakpa Ri on the north side of Mount Everest. Blindsight was directed by Lucy Walker, who also directed the award winning documentary, THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND. It was Produced by Sybil Robson Orr and Steven Haft, also Producer of DEAD POET'S SOCIETY.

The film recently premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. One reviewer wrote, "Blindsight premiered today at the Varsity theatre, garnering possibly the loudest and longest applause of any Real to Reel film so far at the festival. The film's director, Lucy Walker, documented the amazing story of six blind Tibetan children attempting to climb a 23,000 foot peak near Mount Everest in 2004. The children were lead by their teacher, Sabriye Tenberken, who is also visually impaired, and Erik Weihenmayer, a blind man who climbed to the top of Mount Everest. Filled with emotion, struggle, triumph and a rousing rendition of "Happy Together", Blindsight instantly became a festival favorite. Great cinematography combined with a complex journey of self-discovery and teamwork will have many festival goers talking about Blindsight."

Press play button to begin trailer.

For more information about Blindsight, click here: Blindsight

Erik in Magazines

Erik was a cover story in Time Magazine, Outside Magazine, and Climbing Magazine. He has been featured in People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Biography, 20/20, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN's Sporting Life, American Closeup, and Men's Journal.