Heidi Zimmer

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Heidi Zimmer
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Heidi Zimmer

Heidi Zimmer is an American deaf mountaineer who has accomplished several notable firsts in mountaineering. [2] She was born deaf, and became the first deaf woman in history to reach the top of Mount McKinley on June 13, 1991. [3] [4] [5] At the top, she unfolded a banner reading "DEAF WOMAN, A PARADE THROUGH THE DECADES". [3] On August 15, 1992, Zimmer became the first deaf person to summit Mount Elbrus. [4] [6] On September 22, 1994, Zimmer became the first deaf woman to summit Kilimanjaro. [7] [4] She has also won a bronze medal in the Deaf Olympics. [4] She graduated from Gallaudet University in 1978. [2]

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In 1996, Zimmer was diagnosed with Usher's syndrome. [8]

She hopes to climb all the Seven Summits, the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. [4]

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References

  1. Putz, Karen (2013). The passionate lives of deaf and hard of hearing people. Chicago, Ill.: Barefoot Publications. ISBN   978-1-4904-6520-3.
  2. 1 2 "Chapter 1 : Connections to Algebra : Heidi Zimmer". Welcome to Algebra 1. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing. Retrieved 2011-08-09.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. 1 2 "Denali (Mt. McKinley)". HeidiZimmer.com. 1991-06-13. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Kittredge, Dan (April 26, 2004). "Deaf mountaineer Heidi Zimmer lectures on 'Seven Summits'". The Crusader. College of the Holy Cross. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  5. "Arts festival, conferences, exhibits on the deaf draw 9,500". Associated Press. July 13, 2002.(subscription required)
  6. "Mt. Elbrus". HeidiZimmer.com. 1992-08-15. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  7. "Kilimanjaro". HeidiZimmer.com. 1994-09-22. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  8. "Seabeck Deaf-Blind Retreat". Heidizimmer.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.

Further reading