Blind Adventurer and Service Dog Set World Records

Nothing is impossible for John Wimmer and Diego Gonzalez Joven.

The men, along with Wimmer’s guide dog, Rasha, have set five world records since last summer for being the first team with a blind person to climb some of the tallest, and, most dangerous, mountains in the United States and Mexico. 

L to R, Rasha, John Wimmer and Diego Gonzalez Joven.

“What started as a hobby and passion has turned into a tool for motivation,” says Joven of their mountaineering exploits.

The trio regularly visits schools, hoping their accomplishments inspire young people to achieve their dreams regardless of physical or mental impediments.

But for Joven and Wimmer their dreams almost turned disastrous last year when they climbed Oregon’s Mt. Hood. Caught in a blustery snow storm at the 11,237 foot summit, the men couldn’t find their way back to the area they had left most of their gear – equipment vital to safely descend the mammoth mountain.

With Wimmer already succumbing to altitude sickness, Joven knew time was running out. As the men trudged forward, Rasha, one of the few Boxers in the country trained as a dog guide, pulled hard on her lead to the right.

“She did it like five times,” recalls Joven, “So we both agreed to follow her and she took us straight to where we had left our gear.” 

After the team descended safely to the Timberline Lodge, perched at 6,000 feet, the storm grew more violent. Joven believes they skirted death that day, thanks to Rasha’s navigational skills.

Starting in May, the adventurers are taking on their most ambitious journey to date, cycling on a tandem bike more than 6,000 miles from Anchorage, Alaska to Cancun, Mexico. (Rasha will be pulled behind them in trailer.)  After reaching the southern tip of Baja, they’ll head to their final destination of Key West, Florida, by biking across miles of desolate roads and swimming in shark infested waters. (Joven says Rasha will “captain” the boat as they swim.) 

For those interested in keeping tabs on the thrill seekers, Rasha is wearing a GPS unit on her harness, starting in May, so you can log-on see their live location at: WhatsYourImpossible.com