Ivan Erkhov: a blind man is heading for Elbrus

Today Globe4all welcomes the blind traveler who set a goal for himself – climbing to Elbrus; he is an author of channel on YouTube Zhizn v temnote (Life in the Dark), energetic and super-positive person. A person who sees with his heart. He will tell how he came to the idea of climbing Elbrus, how the preparation is going on, where he draws the motivation and strengths for making his dream come true, and why everybody must believe and dream! 

Let me introduce Ivan Erkhov.

- Ivan, how did you get the idea of climbing Elbrus? The coolest ideas are known to come by chance. So you wake up, put your feet into your slippers, and so? 

- There was a time when I was trained as a mountain engineer, but, in spite of that, I could only dream about climbing. Once upon a time, my friends, seeing great number of my activities, told me: Vanya, why don’t you also climb on mountain! And I thought: “Why not?” When I could see, I only dreamed about it, and now it is the best time to make the dream come true! 

- Ivan, and what about your visual impairment? Sometimes one thinks how not to get lost in the city! 

- I became visually impaired a few years ago, but it doesn’t stop me from doing sports, manage my channel on Youtube, and do social activity. Mountains are my next goal, and I follow it very seriously. Anyway, it is not like going to buy some bread. 

- Ivan, how do you get ready for climbing? I mean physical and psychological training. Before the interview, I tried to rise on foot to the 21st floor, and, to be honest, I was ready to put a tent, unpack brazier and stay at this height about a week! 

- Sport is not just physical exercise – it is also training of your spirit and endurance. That’s just what will play important role during the climbing. For two years, every day I’ve been doing  strength exercises, running for five kilometers, going by exercise bike 60 kilometers for two hours, and doing Scandinavian walking. A great coach – Anton Suzdalev – helps me. He is a master of sports in cross country skiing, a prize-winner of the Winter Student Games, a prize-winner of the world and Europe in cross country skiing with obstacles. I approach to every session very seriously, moreover, to such challenging ones as climbing to Elbrus. Anton gives me goal trainings at professional level, and they make me nearer to fulfilling my dream day by day. 

- Ivan, do you already have the program of your climbing? 

- Yes, of course. We will arrive to the height of 3900 meters, where we will spend about two weeks, during which we will adapt to this height. After all, it is different pressure, air rarity, etc. Human body needs time to adjust to new conditions of the environment. After that, we will go to the highest point of Europe – 5642 meters. 

- Ivan, except for making this dream come true, what other goals do you set? 

- First of all, it is self-assertion, self-overcoming. With my climbing, I want to draw the world’s attention to blind people as personalities. We can do a lot of things, and we know how to do a lot of things. On my channel, I publish videos about my life, trips, sport, everyday life, talk about benefits for people with disabilities, share life-hacks. I already have large audience, who, by their comments, lets me understand that it is interesting, important and useful for people.

To them, I am a sort of motivator. From their words, I see that my activity changes their world outlook, breaks stereotypes. In the near future, it must deeply change life of people with disabilities in our country. Now I’m raising money on crowdfunding platform planeta.ru for making a film about blind man’s climbing to Elbrus to give example to as many people as possible, to show that blind people can do a lot of things. 

- Ivan, when I watch your videos, everything inside of me is filled with energy you transmit. I literally feel like springing up from my sofa and starting doing something useful. And the only thing which stops me is that I can lose the title of lazybones in my wife’s view, and then hold on! What invigorates you with such positive strength? What inspires you? What motivates you? 

- My main inspiration is my children. I am a father of two children. I want to be an example for them, so that they could know that, though their father cannot see, it doesn’t stop him from being cool. And my followers inspire me. Just a few words: you will cope with everything, we are with you, you are cool, and that’s all – it gives me motivation, confidence that I’m on the right way! I am also inspired by my achievements, work, result. All this as a whole is my generator of strength and positivity. 

- Ivan, yes, really, there is so much positivity in you. I hope you will not wake up volcanic strength of Elbrus with it. Just one of your videos where you talk about bonuses of blindfolded life, can make the saddest person a swinger. 

- I try to see a sparkle of humor in everything. Who but not a blind man is seen off by girls after dating? Who but not a blind man cannot be made to drive everybody home after party? And who but not a blind man is honored to touch a girl already in first dating? I think many guys can only dream of it. 

-  Ivan, when you conquest Elbrus what will be your next dream? 

- I have a lot of things I dream of, but the most cherished one is to regain my sight. I want to see my children so much. Nowadays technologies and medicine develop very rapidly. I believe that the time will come when I can fulfill this dream as well. They all come true sooner or later. 

- Ivan, what advice would you give to our readers? 

- Our life consists of moments: somewhere a child is born, somewhere people marry, somewhere lottery is won – value every moment of your lives – cause it will never come again. Value your family, loved ones, friends – cause it is them who are our driving force! 

- Ivan, thank you very much for this interview, for the things you do. It is all not in vain! Good luck, handshakes, and we are with you - you are cool! 

- Thank Globe4all – it was one of the most unusual interviews. I also wish you good luck in your useful activity! 
 

Photos by Ivan Erkhov.  Translated by Anna Fomina