CHOOSING TO SEE

Everest & Lhotse 2023

Follow the team on their Everest Adventure


Our mission is to inspire and serve disabled veterans through project-based adventures. In 2022 we accomplished our mission by taking Lonnie Bedwell, a blind US Veteran, to the top of Mt. Denali along with the 6-man Sightless Summits climbing team.

In 2023, we will accomplish our mission by climbing two of the worlds tallest mountains: Everest and it’s neighbor, and the worlds fourth tallest mountain, Lhotse. Climbing Everest and Lhotse on the same expedition represents a coveted mountaineering objective that has never been done before by a blind person.  

"There is life out there and you've got to go live it!
-Lonnie Bedwell

The Sightless Summits Team

Project Everest & Lhotse 2023

Lonnie Bedwell

Blind Military Veteran. Extreme Adventure Athlete. Motivational Speaker. Author. He was critically injured during 1997 in a hunting accident that instantly took his sight. Nevertheless, he raised three daughters as a single father, teaching them all to hunt and fish — and, against all odds, to drive. Lonnie has kayaked some of the most challenging whitewater in the world and is best known for having completed the first blind descent of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. He climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, summited several of North America’s highest mountains, rock climbs, and more.

lonniebedwell.com
Michael Neal

An avid outdoor enthusiast. Michael retired in his early 40’s after selling his businesses. After retirement he went to law school and passed the Oregon bar as a mental challenge. His mountaineering achievements include every major peak in the Pacific Northwest, Mt Whitney, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Ama Dablam and Everest. He has rock climbed El Capitan and other big walls multiple times (often solo). Michael is a devoted husband of 30 years, father of four thriving children, and grandfather of four perfect grandsons.

Bryan Hill

Physical therapist and adventure seeker based in Santa Cruz, CA, Bryan specializes in long distance athletic events. He won the solo division of an 80-mile paddle board race, Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, in 2019 and the 4-man relay division in 2018. Bryan’s new love for mountaineering began in 2017, and he has since summited Mt. Rainier, Mt. Whitney and Mt. Shasta along the US West Coast as well as Lobuche and Pokalde in the Himalayas. His other hobbies include mountain biking, ski mountaineering, climbing, photography, and surfing or paddle boarding. Trained as a physical therapist and with a natural talent for teaching, Bryan seeks out opportunities to facilitate adventures for athletes.

Why Everest & Lhotse?

Our Expedition Goals

- Lonnie will be the first blind man to climb both Everest and Lhotse!
- Lonnie will be the fourth blind man to climb Everest!
- Set a world record for the fastest known time from sea level to the summit of Everest (Michael and Bryan.)

Our Partners

From Brian Hill's Channel

From Google Maps Youtube Channel

From Lonnies Youtube Channel

From REI Youtube Channel

From ROI Films

From Google Maps Youtube Channel

Contact Us

email us at michaelaaronneal@gmail.com or send us a message from the form below

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