EVEREST LIVE

May 18, 2001

From: Erik Weihenmayer

Kami, Erik, and Jeff enjoy a laugh during the evening's festivities. Photo by Didrik Johnck

First of all we'll be wearing oxygen masks so it will be difficult to be heard. To solve this problem we'll wear throat mics. These are small devices similar to head phones for a walkman, except they wrap around my throat. There is a microphone which sits right next to my adams apple and picks up on the vibrations of speech. The vibrations from my throat are translated into speech which are heard through earpeices which we'll wear. I'll mostly be listening while my teammates give directions. My teammates will also wear the usual bell. Some of the route is fixed with line so often I'll be able to follow the direction of the rope. I'm sure after summit day everyones throat will be raw and tired from all the talking.

I've also been asked how a blind person experiences beauty on the mountain.

All I can say is that I use what I have to get enjoyment out of my surroundings. People with sight often neglect their other senses, but I try to use my sense of smell, touch, and sound to the fullest. For example, on rest days coming out of my tent in the morning I love to feel the cold mountain air touched by the warmth of the morning sun. At Camp 2 in a lightening storm I sat at the door of my tent listening to the explosions echoing off the surrounding peaks. Each time the thunder crashed the echo gave me a view of the massive terrain. When I'm crossing ladders in the icefall there is a satisfaction in moving my foot forward and locking my crampon points on the ladder rungs. All these things for me are scenery. A different kind of scenery than a sighted person might experience, but scenery none the less.

I think whether we're sighted or blind we have an obligation to squeeze as much beauty and wonder out of the world that were born into. Whether we're on a mountain or home playing with our children, there's beauty all around us if we only look for it.