Climbing Mountains: An Interview with Erik Weihenmayer

Erik's Seven Summits (from highest to lowest) Everest Nepal/Tibet, Asia 29, 035 feet (8, 848 m) Aconcagua Argentina, South America 22, 840 feet (6, 962 m) Denali (Mt. McKinley) Alaska, North America 20, 320 feet (6, 195 m) Kilimanjaro Tanzania, Africa 19, 339 feet (5, 963 m) Elbrus Russia, Europe 18, 481 feet (5, 633 m) Vinson Massif Ellsworth Range, Antarctica 16, 067 feet (4, 897 m) Kosciuszko New South Wales, Australia 7, 310 feet (2, 228 m) Erik Weihenmayer, 36 years old, has climbed the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. He was born with a genetic condition that caused him to lose his sight by age 13. Erik was interviewed the day before leaving for Tibet, where he was to lead six blind Tibetan teenagers up a 23, 100-foot mountain. You can read about this climb at www. touchthetop. com.