Public invited to speech by world class adventurer

Erik Weihenmayer, a blind adventurer who has climbed the summit of the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, speaks at Lander Valley High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 25 and the public is invited at no charge.
 
Author of Touch the Top of the World, Weihenmayeris the keynote speaker for Central Wyoming College’s Outdoor Writers Conference, which is being held at the CWC Sinks Canyon Center August 24-25.
 
Said to be one of the most inspiring, engaging and sought after speakers in the world, Weihenmayer’s speech focuses on harnessing the power of adversity.
 
Despite losing his vision at the age of 13, he has become one of the most celebrated and accomplished adventurers in the world. In 2001, he became the only blind climber in history to summit Mountain Everest. In 2008, he completed his quest to climb the Seven Summits – the tallest peaks on the seven continents.
 
In addition to mountaineering, Weihenmayer is also an avid rock climber, marathoner and alpine skier. He has been focusing on whitewater kayaking with the goal of become the first blind person to kayak the Grand Canyon. He was also the first blind person to complete the Leadville 100 mountain bike race.
 
“Erik Weihenmayer, a world-class athlete and climber, brings unique power to the conference as the keynote speaker on Saturday evening,” organizer and CWC English faculty member Buck Tilton said. Weihenmayer was honored as the Outdoor Industry Association’s 2011 Inspirational Person of the Year.
 
For the writers’ conference, Tilton has assembled a notable panel of presenters that includes magazine writers, editors, publishers, authors, and bloggers. He invites students, novice and professional writers, and teachers of writing to participate.
 
The conference will present many opportunities for writers to work with the professional presenters in small groups as well as one-on-one. College credit is available as well as PTSB credit for teachers for successful completion of conference activities.
 
The $100 conference fee includes catered meals. Tuition and fees are extra.