[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S9317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           SALUTE TO ERIK WEIHENMAYER AND AFB HIGHSIGHTS '95

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, on Tuesday evening Erik Weihenmayer and his 
climbing partners reached the summit of Mount McKinley, 20,320 feet 
into the Alaskan sky and the highest point in North America. Mount 
McKinley is called ``Denali''--the Great One--by Native Alaskans.
  Under the best of circumstances, Mount McKinley is one of the 
toughest climbs in the world. Average daytime temperatures are a 
bonechilling 20 degrees below zero, dipping to 40 below at the summit. 
The National Park Service reports that the success rate for reaching 
the top is just 47 percent. Since 1913, 79 climbers have died on the 
mountain. Six died earlier this year.
  Mount McKinley is the ultimate challenge for any serious climber. But 
it is a unique challenge for Erik Weihenmayer, who is blind. Erik was 
born with limited vision, and lost all his sight by age 13.
  Most of the time, Erik is a 26-year old fifth-grade teacher and 
wrestling coach in Phoenix, AZ. About 10 years ago he took up mountain 
climbing. He uses two ski poles to locate the footprints of the hiker 
ahead of him, and then steps in the same tracks. To maintain balance 
and direction, Erik hangs on to a taut rope tied to his partner. Other 
than that, he carries the same gear and equipment as other team 
members.
  As Erik has said, ``I may do things a little different, but I achieve 
the same process * * * . There's very little my team has to do to 
accommodate me.''
  Over the past 10 years, Erik had trekked the Inca Trail in the Andes 
of South America, the Rockies in Colorado, and other demanding spots 
around the world.
  On June 9, under the sponsorship of the American Foundation for the 
Blind, Erik and four others set out to conquer the summit of Mount 
McKinley. The other members of the AFB HIGHSIGHTS '95 team are Sam 
Epstein, of Tempe, AZ; Ryan Ludwig of Laramie, WY; and Jeff Evans and 
Jamie Bloomquist of Boulder, CO.
  The AFB HIGHSIGHTS '95 team prepared for this climb for 8 months, 
with rigorous training. Since January, the team also climbed Humphrey's 
Peak near Flagstaff, AZ; Long's Peak in Colorado; and Mount Rainier in 
Washington State, all in blizzard-like conditions.
  Mr. President, the American Foundation for the Blind deserves great 
credit for making this climb possible. Founded in 1921, AFB is one of 
the Nation's leading advocates for the blind.
  AFB's motto is ``We help those who cannot see live like those who 
do.'' Erik exemplifies this spirit. Early on, he decided that 
``Blindness would often be a nuisance, would always make my life more 
challenging, but would never be a barrier in my path.''
  Mr. President, the message of AFB HIGHSIGHTS '95 is universal, 
extending well beyond blindness. It inspires all of us to realize our 
potential rather than focusing on our limitations.
  Coincidentally, Tuesday also marked the 115th anniversary of the 
birth of Helen Keller. For 40 years, Helen Keller was AFB's Ambassador 
of Goodwill. At the age of 74, on an around the world flight, she said, 
``It is wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky. Behind me 
and before me is God and I have no fears.'' I imagine that Erik and the 
AFB HIGHSIGHTS '95 team have been similarly inspired.
  Mr. President, let us wish Erik Weihenmayer and his climbing partners 
Godspeed and a safe return.


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