Blind Climber Summits Grand

The Exum Mountain Guides in Grand Teton National Park revealed that a blind climber and mountaineer, Nancy Stevens summited the Grand Teton Wednesday morning. For the past few months Stevens has been getting into shape with off-trail hiking. Then, early this week she and two of her sighted friends along with her adaptive ski coach, arrived in the Tetons to prepare for their ascent. They spent two days literally learning the ropes from Exum Guides Jessica Baker, Brendan Burns, and Dana Larkin at their climbing area near Hidden Falls. Then, after mastering the necessary climbing, belaying, and rappelling skills, they hit the trail to begin their 7-mile trek to the hut at the Lower Saddle, gaining 5,000 feet in elevation along the way. The guides and climbers developed specialized forms of communication so that Stevens could navigate steep scree and boulder fields as well as the climbing pitches. After spending the night they completed their climb making Stevens the first female blind climber to summit the Grand Teton.