A blind military veteran, refusing to let his disability sideline him, has successfully scaled Mount Everest with the help of an organization that works to inspire and serve disabled veterans.
Former Navy Petty Officer Lonnie Bedwell lost his vision in a hunting accident in 1997. Nevertheless, Bedwell continued to challenge himself, “ultimately becoming a renowned extreme sports athlete,” according to his biography. Since his accident, Bedwell has kayaked through the Grand Canyon and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, ultimately leading him to his greatest challenge yet: Mount Everest.
Working with the organization “Sightless Summits,” which supports disabled veterans, Bedwell conquered the 29,000-foot behemoth in 45 days, double the usual time for such a feat, WVLT reported. Unable to see himself, Bedwell relied on the eyes of Sightless Summits’ founder Bryan Hill to get him to the summit and back down again.
Bryan Hill (’08) summited Mount Everest this past Monday, leading Lonnie Bedwell, a blind US Navy veteran with the team Sightless Summits.
We are in awe of this awesome accomplishment! Way to go Bryan🍊To learn more: https://t.co/yzjF6yCUK3 pic.twitter.com/1aq1UzwwqQ
— UT Knoxville Alumni (@tennalum) May 24, 2023
“We did together what a blind man could not have done by himself,” Bedwell told the outlet.
Holding on to Hill’s backpack throughout the trek, Bedwell was led through more than 75 miles of snow and ice-covered mountainside, carefully listening to Hill’s commands to help him safely navigate the landscape. “Lift your foot up one more foot and a little out to the right and a little more forward because it’s imperative you make the right steps,” Hill told the outlet of his instructions. (RELATED: 3 Climbers Disappear After Allegedly Falling On Notoriously Dangerous Section Of Mount Everest)
While the trip was dangerous, particularly for Bedwell, he told the outlet his decision to conquer Everest was rooted in his desire not to be held back by his vision loss. Given the risks, the trek required trust from everyone involved, and for Bedwell, it certainly paid off.
“Every single one of us out there wants at some point in their life wants someone to believe in us and give us a chance to show what we can truly do,” Bedwell told the outlet.