About us
 
Sight Unseen is a mountaineering team comprised of blind and visually impaired climbers led by four sighted guides, who are working to show the world that blindness is not a limiting factor. Sight Unseen was first inspired to take on higher challenges after a trek to the Andes Mountains with Erik Weihenmayer, the first and only blind man to climb Mt. Everest. In collaboration with Global Explorers, a Colorado based non-profit organization; Erik took eighteen high school students, half of which were blind or visually impaired, on a week-long trek to Machu Picchu, Peru. Among the students were the teams founding members. Throughout the trek the students learned what it took to operate in the mountains as well as how to adapt to their specific circumstance, dealing with blindness. Along the way Erik taught skills necessary for a blind person to safely navigate the terrain through use of LEKI trekking poles and verbal directions from the blind climbers sighted guide. Just before their summit of Machu Picchu was reached, the students came to the realization that it
The founders of Team Sight Unseen: (L-R) Brad, Justin, Kyle.
was the journey that mattered, not the destination. Throughout the rest of their trip, this theme was reoccurring and eventually led to the planning of a second expedition among the blind and sighted climbers. The following year, Eric Alexander, a colleague of Weihenmayer and Everest veteran, led a small contingent of blind and sighted students from the Machu Pichu trip on an expedition up Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the African continent. Of those on the trip were Kyle Coon, who is totally blind, and Justin Grant, who is visually impaired. The two were led by Brad Jaffke and on June 27th 2008 they successfully made the summit. Returning from Kilimanjaro, Brad, Kyle and Justin began work on a dream. The three climbers were determined to take what they had learned to the world and show that blindness is not a limitation. With the inspiration and help of Erik Weihenmayer, Team Sight Unseen was born. The team is driven to change the lives of not only blind people but everyone by sharing their experiences and continually showing that blindness is not a limiting factor. Over the years, the teams’ motto of “it’s not the journey but the destination that matters” has been brought to camps, clubs and conventions nationwide. Currently Sight Unseen consists of six members. Kyle Coon and Justin Grant, the blind/visually impaired members, Joseph Mayfield and Brad Jaffke, their guides, and Peter Green and Ben Mayer, the teams resident mountaineering experts. Together they strive to take on more than just summits, but the ever changing mountains in life.