Back on the Saddle

Back on the Saddle Off the

Beaten Path Rebuilding Warriors VOLUME# 2 ISSUE# 3 DECEMBER 2016 ISSN# 2380-8535

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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Submission Guidelines – We are looking for full length articles and guest columns for the magazine as well as short stories for the site. And if you don’t think you are a writer or have never written anything before, that’s ok too.

We can help. Just send us your story idea and we can take it from there.

A column/short story will typically be 500-700 words. If you want to submit something as a column, it should be basically your thoughts on a certain topic that fits in one of our sections. A short story can be a profile of one person or group or anything less-than a full length article of interest.

Feature stories in the magazine should be in the 1,0004,000 word range. All submissions will be edited and we will give some guidance if needed. All stories should be accompanied by photos.

Photos Submission Guidelines – Only high resolution photos can be used in the magazine so make sure and set your camera to the highest setting. As a rule, take more

pics than you think you will need, and we are looking for action shots to go with each article. Show us how you did the things you are writing about. For recreational activities, try to get photos of the different stages of the activity. And be sure to take some vertical photos if you intend to submit for the magazine cover.

For hunting, any photos of a harvested animal should be respectable and not offensive. We cannot use pics of kills that are excessively bloody, tongues hanging out, from the back of pickup trucks, etc. Photos of just a deer’s head, for example, will not be accepted. Take plenty of pics of you in the field, in the blind, your adaptive shooting equipment, scenery pics and action shots in addition to trophy photos.

Take more pics than you think you need and at different angles and distances. Keep in mind that vertical photos make it more likely to be used for the cover.

Good luck and we can’t wait to see what adventures you have been on. AOM

ABOUT THE COVER Corey McGregor from Cody, Wyoming, found a way to get back to the ranching life he loved after his injury by creating an adaptive saddle with the help of his friends. He also took his horse, Dab, into the snow-covered mountains on an epic journey to hunt bull elk.

Chad Waligura, Editor

CEO/PUBLISHER Chad Waligura

WEB & MULTIMEDIA Gammon Group

AD SALES TEAM Chad Waligura // chad@ableoutdoors.net // [979] 541-4954

CO-EDITOR/WEBSITE EDITOR Dawn Ziegler

GENERAL INQUIRIES info@ableoutdoors.net [979] 541-4954

WEB SALES TEAM Dawn Ziegler // dawn@ableoutdoors.net // [608] 347-5000

MARKETING DIRECTOR Ashlee Lundvall DESIGN/LAYOUT Cross Timbers Marketing WRITING STAFF Ashlee Lundvall, Chris Gill, Chris Prange-Morgan, and Jordan Meekins

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VOLUME# 2 ISSUE# 3 DECEMBER 2016 ISSN# 2380-8535

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ADDRESS CHANGES 1204 Laurel Lane El Campo, TX 77437

SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES Ashlee Lundvall // ashlee@ableoutdoors.net // [307] 254-2064 AOM Able Outdoors Magazine is published three times a year by Able Outdoors, LLC., attn: Chad Waligura,1204 Laurel Lane, El Campo, Texas 77437. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

The publisher will not be responsible for omissions, errors, typographical errors or misinformation within this publication. When writing about your subscription, give old and new address, along with a mailing label, and allow 4-6 weeks for response. Basic subscription price for one year: three issues $27.00. Printed in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2016

VOL. 2 • NO. 3

20 RECREATION

26 GEAR

30 BACK ON THE

41 TRAVEL

SADDLE 10 FISHING

16 WOUNDED WARRIOR

20 RECREATION

30 HUNTING

ON A ROCK AND SERVING THE OFF THE BACK A HARD PLACE OUTDOORS AND BEATEN PATH ON THE REBUILDING WARRIORS BY DAVID NICKLESON SADDLE

BY STEVE KEMPER

BY CHAD WALIGURA

AOM GEAR REVIEWS

BEADAPTIVE HQ100 & LM100 P. 26 TRANSPORT CHAIR P. 26 GRIT FREEDOM CHAIR P. 27 BOMBER OFF ROAD HAND CYCLE P. 28 COREY’S ADAPTIVE SADDLE P. 28 UTV WITH GUN MOUNT P. 29 GREY’S CUSTOM ADAPTIVE SADDLE P. 29

BY CHAD WALIGURA

AOM COLUMNISTS VINCE OLZAWSKI P. 14

DON CHRISTENSEN P. 36

KEITH WINCHELL P. 19

TOBY COLE P.42

DAWN ZIEGLER P. 24 CHRIS ROBERSON P. 35

5 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 8 LETTERS TO THE EDITORS 44 HUNTING TROPHIES 46 CLASSIFIEDS ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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CONTRIBUTORS

Don Christensen Don’s life before MS was spent as a counselor, a teacher, a parent and an outdoorsman. After MS, his goals switched to working with hunters and anglers with disabilities as well as kids with terminal illnesses through his website AFarCry (www.afarcry.info). Every fall, he can be found out in the woods deer hunting near his home in northern Wisconsin.

Steve Kemper Steve resides in West Virginia with his wife Jeanne and their youngest daughter, Rebekah. Since discharging from the Army, he spends his days working on the farm and pursuing his hobbies of hunting, fishing and woodworking. Steve serves at his church and helps with Alpine Ministries whenever he can, as well as any military or veteran group.

David Nickelson David is an engineer and attorney living in Winter Garden, Florida. Following a spinal cord injury in 2002 he returned to law school and currently works in the field of patent law. He loves spending time outdoors and visiting friends in Montana.

Ashlee Lundvall Since a paralyzing ranching accident in 1999, Ashlee has been redefining her life. She shares her powerful message of adaptability and perseverance as a co-founder of Wyoming Disabled Hunters, motivational speaker and author. Ashlee is also the 2017 recipient of the SCI Pathfinder Award. She lives in Cody, WY, with her husband and daughter where she enjoys kayaking, hunting, fly fishing and hand cycling. www.ashleelundvall.com

Corey McGregor Corey is also a co-founder of the Wyoming Disable Hunters group. He lives in Cody and works at the Wyoming Services for Independent Living as program manager.

He and his wife, Tanya, have been married for 12 years. Corey grew up an avid outdoorsman, big game hunter, part-time ranch hand and competitive calf roper, none of which changed after his injury.

Toby Cole Toby is a trial attorney. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury Law. He is on the Board of Directors of TIRR Foundation, the Living Hope Wheelchair Association and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association – all in Houston, Texas. In 1990, Toby was injured in a diving accident that left him completely paralyzed from the neck down.

He earned his law degree eight years later.

Jeff Anderson Jeff is the founder of A3 Tactical Training.

He’s an Army Veteran and retired Deputy Sheriff from Southern California. After many years of training working dogs for the military and police department, Jeff got interested in service dogs after a chance meeting with a soldier returning from Iraq.

He is the CEO and Founder of Rebuilding Warriors, a non-profit that provides Service Dogs to Veterans at no charge.

Keith Winchell Keith grew up in New York and recently moved to Leesburg, Fl. He’s a member of the Nam Knights motorcycle group which was started by a bunch of Vietnam vets and police officers. Based in NJ, the Knights raise money for active duty troops and for any veterans or police officers in need. Keith loves to travel and to hunt & fish. Before his injury while on duty as a motorcycle policeman, he worked combat intel and crash rescue for 24 years in the Air Force.

Chris Roberson Chris is a 47 year old C-7 quad who lives in Brazoria, Tx. He’s a life-long duck hunter who used to guide on the Texas coast before his injury in 2005. Before that, Chris served in the Air Force as a helicopter crew chief during the first Gulf War and raced on the dirt track circuit in Florida. Less than one year after becoming paralyzed, he was back duck hunting by using only a waist belt to support his torso.

Vince Olzawski Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Vince got interested in the outdoors at a very early age. He graduated from Tulsa University and later became an optometrist. He also started a wildlife art studio in Tulsa. Three years ago, Vince joined the Mid-America PVA and is currently raising money to get an accessible cabin built on Oologah Lake in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers.

TO BECOME A CONTRIBUTER TO ABLE OUTDOORS MAGAZINE, EMAIL

chad@ableoutdoors.net

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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“I’ve learned that as long as I can fit through the door, we can make it work.

Over the years, I’ve had to take wash cloth baths, remove doors from hinges, manage steps to get in & out, remove handrails next to the toilet, drive 60 miles to town every other night just to use the facilities...”

– Chad Waligura

Back Country Huntin’ – This is always one of my favorite topics because it combines two of the things I love most in the world: hunting and travel. Way back when I was newly injured, I didn’t know if I’d ever be doing either again, but now I know I can do both. And over the years it’s gotten where I look forward to the challenge of taking my chair to places it wasn’t meant to go, to what most people would call the back country. When it comes to this type of trip, the most important part really is just getting out there.

Let’s take on some of the basic challenges first, like lodging. As soon as I know where I’m going, the first thing I do is look for a place to stay. And since there aren’t too many camp houses or fifth wheels built for wheelchair use, unless there’s something in the area we’ll be hunting, I usually start by locating the nearest town. Depending on how far away it is, it’s the best chance at finding an accessible room.

When you’re talking about going to places I’d consider “back country,” the good news is that there are more and more lodges popping up. Places like northern Canada, Argentina, deep south and west Texas, and the western states, to name some areas I’ve been to. The two times I ventured to Africa, for example, both outfits either had accessible housing or made whatever additional modifications I needed. They added ramps, put heaters in our room (it’s winter over there in June/ July) and the showers were all roll-in. If only everybody had such progressive thinking. Out there, they have to be selfsufficient because they live so far away from civilization. In Namibia, they even had a lift I rode up a spiral staircase to a viewing room each evening. That was made from scratch too.

Sometimes you simply have to make it work - I’ve learned that as long as I can fit through the door, we can make it work.

Over the years, I’ve had to take wash cloth baths, remove doors from hinges, manage steps to get in & out, remove handrails next to the toilet, drive 60 miles to town every other night just to use the facilities (on a deer hunt one time in Old Mexico), and freeze my tail off in some very cold bathrooms, all in order to hunt in remote places. *TIP - always travel with a little portable heater. You never know when you might need to heat up a room.

As far as the hunting part, I’ve done most of it in either a jeep or a truck. I can’t imagine what it’s like from the back of a horse.

In Africa, we hunted in a cruiser that was modded up with a gun rest on the dash. I’ve hunted on the back of a 4-wheeler that we secured a plastic patio chair to, from the bed of a Kawasaki

Mule I was strapped down to, and of course from my transport chair last year while elk hunting. Three months ago, I was able to use an Action Trackchair to stalk a pronghorn in NM. What all this means, basically, is that where there’s a will there’s a way.

When hunting in the mountains, jeeps are ideal because they can get into rough country that other vehicles can’t. I think all the ATV’s that are out now can do pretty much the same, like the rangers, mules, bad boy buggies and the like, but they aren’t nearly as comfortable to ride in for long periods of time.

The one tip I have for riding around all day in a jeep is to make sure you use some kind of extra cushion to sit on, like a memory foam pad. Those seats are hard and can break down your skin.

That’s really what back country hunting is all about - figuring out how to get out there. Before we started the magazine, I was hearing all these amazing stories from other able sportsmen about the places they’d gone and things they’d done, about how they overcame the challenge. They inspired even me, and I knew I was going to have to find a way to share them with the world. I also want to go with them next time. AOM

Chad Waligura Chad Waligura, Editor

Chad Waligura is from Texas and has been in the disabled hunting world for 30 years. He has a B.S. in Wildlife & Fisheries Science and a Master’s in Counseling. In 1998, Chad created the site Follow Me Outdoors and has since had his writing published in approximately 10 mainstream magazines. He is the recipient of both the Pathfinder Award from Safari Club International and the Challenged Hunter of the Year Award from Buckmasters.

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NEWS

PLAN DOWNHILL SKI LESSONS WITH THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS ASSOCIATION

By Dawn Ziegler In 2008, I was fortunate to be one of four individuals chosen to receive a scholarship through the Madison West KIWANIS for a five-day ski trip to the beautiful San Juan Mountains in Durango, Colorado. I had experienced downhill skiing here on the bluffs in central Wisconsin only a handful of times as a quadriplegic, so the chance to be in the mountains with such an accomplished program as the Adaptive Sports Association (ASA) was an exciting opportunity.

The ASA is a certified 501(c)3 non-profit under the Disabled Sports USA-Durango. Operating out of the Purgatory Resort, ASA provides experiential learning through a variety of outdoor sport and recreational activities for people with any kind of physical or cognitive disability. They also make their program accessible to anyone regardless of individual financial limitation.

The program evolved through the efforts of David Spencer, who lost a leg in an accident while attending college in Wisconsin. As part of his rehabilitation, he took up downhill skiing. After reading about the ski opportunities in Purgatory, he made his way out to Durango. For Spencer, skiing became more than just a way to build his physical endurance. It also helped him to realize that losing his leg didn’t define his potential and that there wasn’t a limit to what he could accomplish.

Wanting to help others recognize their potential through skiing, Spencer got a part-time position as a ski instructor. It was during his time instructing a student with an amputated leg when he became motivated to pursue his dream of building a fully integrated ski program for people with disabilities. With the help of Joe Wilson, who managed a small school for blind skiers, the Durango/Purgatory Handicapped Sports Association was formed.

In 1986, Spencer passed away and, after several years, the name changed to Adaptive Sports Association, but his spirit and vision remained strong. This winter will be their 33rd year and going strong!

Their winter program includes private adaptive ski, snowboard and ski bike instruction. They give special attention to matching up a student with one of their highly trained instructors. Each instructor is paired with one or two very dedicated volunteers. With state-of-the-art adaptive equipment and creative equipment modifications, instructors determine the most appropriate methods for a successful experience.

My week skiing with the ASA crew was one of the most memorable endeavors I have been on, primarily because of the consistency of their instruction methods. As much as possible, each of us got to work with our same instructor/ volunteer pair for most of the week. The instructors maintain detailed notes on each participant on the specific equipment that worked or didn’t work, modifications used (with photos taken), levels of independence reached, ski runs taken, etc.

The notes are kept on file so any time a participant returns they don’t have to start from scratch. The ASA program is truly designed to assist each participant with exploring his/ her own abilities while developing a path of which enables growth.

ASA offers both full and half day private lessons. Full day lessons run from 10 am – 3 pm with an hour for lunch. Half day lessons run from 10 am – 12 pm or 1 pm – 3 pm. All equipment is provided and they even have gear like jackets, ski pants, boots, gloves, goggles if needed. ASA works with special groups that offer scholarships and grants to help offset the cost of the lessons. Reservations are required.

[ASA also has a summer program of which offers adaptive activities including: rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, canoeing, bicycling and overnight camping.]

For more information, contact the ASA office at 970385-2163 or email program@asadurango.com. (If you are coming from out of town, there is discount lodging for ASA participants at the Hampton Inn in Durango, CO.) AOM

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LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

When I was researching one night and stumbled across Able Outdoors I could immediately sense that trying to network with this company would be a must. After contacting the folks at Able Outdoors, I was able to talk with Chad. Right away it felt like I was talking to a hunting buddy I’ve known for years. I felt an immediate connection from Chad and realized I had made the right choice by reaching out to this amazing company. The down home personality and sincere passion for the outdoors is what keeps me drawn to this great group of people. Combine that with the fantastic articles and insights into the current trends and this magazine does it all! Being able to reach out to Chad and the people at Able Outdoors has made us feel a part of the community and we are excited to continue to work together to provide opportunities for people with disabilities in the outdoors. ~ Brendan Evans & Jeff Doran Co-founders, Adapt Outdoors, LLC - East Windsor, Ct. [Brendan & Jeff, I know Chad had a great chat with you guys because he couldn’t wait to share your conversation with me. We are truly humbled by your comments… we are part of a great community and want to help others feel that great connection as well. Networking is such an important part of our work and it is through organizations like yours that we want to help others learn about. Excited for what future collaborations we’ll have! – DZ] Chad - Once before when you first were in the process of starting this, I mentioned Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Ga., which is one of the best and top facilities in the nation for spinal and brain injuries. They are really big on showing those with spinal injuries and disabilities that life goes on and you don’t have to just sit in a wheelchair and do nothing. You can still do things and life is still worth living.

They push you to get back out in the world. Shepherd is where I went for rehab. They take patients to the lake for boating and to ride water boards, they go camping and do all kinds of other things. Contact Shepherd Center and tell them about your Able Outdoors. I think the magazine would help encourage patients while they are there for rehab and give them something to look forward to when they leave to go home. …I wish you well and really do believe this is a good thing. God bless you and Able Outdoors! ~ Debbie Rich Rodgers [Debbie, thank you for thinking of us and wanting to get AO into Shepherd Center. We have them on our list of rehab hospitals as a subscriber and plan on sending them as many issues as they need. We feel this is one of the areas Dawn and I believe we need to be in so we can get in the hands of newly injured patients before they get discharged to home. – CW] Hi AO. I have no experience in magazine marketing so all I can express is an uneducated opinion. Because Able Outdoors is about human stories of challenge, commitment, and transformation (versus being a victim) I think it would 8

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be of interest here in the UK and anywhere that English is read. It’s inspiring and motivating - the world needs all of that we can get, even for able bodied people. ~ Cindy Hurn [Cindy, It is great to hear we are reaching people in the UK and anywhere outside of the US. Thank you for sharing your perspective! Yes, we want to share the message that despite the challenges that a disability may create, that with the right attitude, resources and support, individuals can overcome and enjoy an active and healthy quality of life. That path may not be an easy one, but they are not alone in their struggle and there are experiences from other individuals in similar situations to draw motivation from. – DZ] I shared (Able Outdoors’ web page) to all my friends and family. I can subscribe on the 15th. Happy to Support a Great Cause! Thanks for the invite. ~ Gerry Milbrett [Thank you Gerry for helping spread the word. We want to reach as many people as we can and to do that we’ll need help from people like you. – CW] Dear Able Outdoors, thank you for what you are doing! I think your tag line “Triumphs of the Human Spirit” embodies what we are trying to do perfectly. As you know many veterans returning from war are experiencing trauma… physical, mental and spiritual. These are all wounds whether seen or unseen. Veterans they come to us for help have lost the ability to connect. There is a disconnect in their personal life, professional life, and certainly social too.

That’s where the Mustang Heritage Foundation kicks in. We pair these vets with completely wild, never before touched mustangs! …Working with mustangs in a therapeutic setting offers instant and constant feedback to veterans, requires physical strength and balance, and is highly motivational - …makes an exceptionally effective rehabilitation environment. …Please let me know how we can help your cause. …

Thank you for what you do. ~ Byron Hogan Director of The Mustang Heritage Foundation 512-869-3225 [Bryon, thanks for spending time showing us your great program! We are eager to learn more about horse therapy and to share information on your facility and other centers around the country with our readers in an upcoming issue… so watch for it! We appreciate you sharing our magazine with others, as it is our goal to reach as many people as possible. – DZ] Regarding the No Parking story: Ridiculous! On a side note, I have seen so many people park in handicap spots at the gym I go to (even with a placard), and then they go in

and have a heavy workout of running on the treadmill and such. It’s madness, and I’ve talked to doctors about it who agree that those placards are given out way too easily. ~ Jessica Brown [Jessica, it really does seem like madness sometimes. I recently had a woman stroll out to her car that was parked in a blue space and before she got in to drive away so I could pull in, she informed me that it was “handicapped only.” The placard epidemic is getting out of control. – CW] Regarding our annual duck hunt in Texas: “It was honestly the best hunting trip I’ve experienced in a long time. Thank you and I am so glad to have met and made so many new friends! My dad and I appreciate everything you did!” ~ Melynn Gresak [Great to finally get you down here for our hunt Melynn.

Next year you’ll be an expert wingshooter with all the practice I’m expecting you to put in. I’m glad you had a good time on your first duck hunt. Make sure you bring your dad back. – CW] “I had a great time. Thanks to you and your family for putting this together. It has been over 3 years since I have been in the woods hunting and way too many years since I have been bird hunting. Your organization has shown me it is possible to hunt and looking forward to hunting in the future. Thanks Again!!!!” ~ Chris Pulley [We loved having you Chris. I knew you were going to do well with the Zero Gravity Rig and thanks for sending pics of the one you just built for yourself. We’ll probably have a gear review of it in one of next year’s issues. I hope you get a lot more bird hunting in now like you need to be doing. See you in a few weeks. – CW] On trying the Zero Gravity Rig during our hunt weekend: “Big thanks to Chad Waligura with Able Outdoors for an amazing weekend! The door to what I considered one of my favorite sports has been reopened. Birds beware, I’m back!” ~ Brad Ricks [Brad, thanks for coming down and being a part of our group hunt. I never thought the rig would work so well for you since it was your first time using it and combined with the fact that you use a Sip-N-Puff trigger mechanism to shoot. It takes a lot to inspire me and you did it. Good hunting buddy! – CW] Chad and staff, It was great meeting you at the Thumbtack Ranch. I looked at your Able Outdoors Magazine and was very impressed. You let everyone know that there are no disabilities, just challenges. I agree with you that horse therapy will be great for your magazine. I know it is working for many veterans now and that our Wild Mustang Program

has changed the lives of all 38 that have gone thru it. I am mailing Byron a copy of your magazine today.

Able Outdoors and all the other Great Support Groups for our Veterans are changing the lives of our Wounded Military daily. Each one of them has a different challenge and with our support they can deal with that challenge. All the adaptive gear that Able Outdoors features in the magazine that allows people to hunt and fish and enjoy the Outdoors also teaches them that they can overcome... We take Wounded Soldiers and Veterans 4 wheeling in our Wheelers For The Wounded program. We take them rock crawling over some of the most challenging trails in Texas. Many of them liked it so much that they are now Members of WFTW and have built rigs that are adaptive so they can roll with us.

Thanks again to Able Outdoors for all you are doing and I look forward to reading many great new articles in the future. ~ John Collins - Spicewood Texas 78669, 512-627-6215 [The pleasure was mine John. Glad to be able to come out and guide for the vets and get my dog a little work on the dove hunt. It’s an honor that I was invited to come. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again and learning about all the things you’re doing to help our veterans. See you at the ranch. – CW] Thank you for sharing your magazine with the MidAmerica Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVAMA). We were able to distribute your magazine at our annual bass fishing tournament the “OKIE OPEN” where we had over 70 disabled participants from across the U.S. attend.

I found Able Outdoors most enjoyable. Lots of articles geared toward guiding people with disabilities and wanting to get outdoors. From hunting to fishing to accessible kayaking this magazine has it all. As a quadriplegic of over 41 years and President of PVAMA I always enjoy seeing new injuries finding common ground and new life enjoying the great outdoors.

Not only does your magazine cover outdoor activities for the disabled but articles on air travel and the age-old problem accessible parking.

I would recommend this magazine to anyone who has a disability and interested in getting back outdoors to pick up a copy of this magazine, you won’t be disappointed.

Sincerely, Bill Kokendoffer - President, MAPVA [Bill, thank you for sharing our magazine with your Chapter! We sincerely appreciate the service of our Veterans.

It is one of our objectives to include resources specifically for our wounded servicemen and women. We do our best to bring a wide variety of content and information into our publication as possible. That’s why we’re always open to different ideas that may not have been covered. Please do checkout our website as well (www.ableoutdoors.net) for more stories, resources and program information. – DZ] ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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FISHING

AOM

So there I was, a quarter of a mile into the state forest, alone of course, on the other side of a locked gate, high centered on a rock in the middle of a trout stream when the batteries on my trackchair, which had started chirping the “low battery” signal to me way back up the trail, finally quit.

‘This is probably not good,’ I thought to myself as another round of driving rain and hail rolled in. The distant rumbling of thunder was growing louder too, which did nothing to add to my optimism. ‘But hey, it could be worse right?’ I know this to be true, because unfortunately, … it soon was!

On a ROCK and a HARD PLACE

By Steve Kemper

M

y name is Steve Kemper, and to give you a little background on me, I joined the Army back in 1985 just a few short months after I graduated high

school.

My career in the military took me all over the country and then the world, with assignments at Ft Polk, Louisiana, Corozal, Panama, Ft Richardson, Alaska and the Pentagon.

During that time, I was deployed on many short term missions to places like Ft Irwin, California, Honduras, Chad, Kenya and Bosnia.

In 1997, I left active duty but continued my service in the National Guard, first in Alaska and then later in West Virginia. My most recent deployment was to a forward operating base outside of Fallujah, Iraq, from 2004-2005.

In September of 2006, I retired from the West Virginia Army National Guard with a combined 21 years of service (14 years of active duty plus the remainder of my time in the Guard).

After leaving the military, I accepted a position as the Director of Alpine Adventures Ministries in Southern WV, where I lead church and youth groups on whitewater rafting excursions on the New and Gauley Rivers. I also took 10

ABLE OUTDOORS

“...I fell from a ladder and broke my back at the T-12 level...The 10 foot fall was the culmination of multiple injuries I’d received while in the service, and it left me paralyzed from the waist down.

Pursuing my passions got decidedly more difficult after that” small groups on wild caving trips, rappelling adventures and many other outdoor activities.

In July of 2014, while trimming trees on my property, I fell from a ladder and broke my back at the T12 level. The 10 foot fall was the culmination of multiple injuries I’d received while in the service, and it left me paralyzed from the waist down. Pursuing my passions got decidedly more difficult after that.

As far as fishing goes, I grew up fishing as often as I could (unless I was out hunting) and anywhere I could: rivers, streams, lakes, farm ponds, or in the ocean. If it swam and had fins, I tried to catch it. I even caught a five foot gator once while fishing in Louisiana!

I first started fly fishing 25 years ago while stationed in Alaska, but it wasn’t until after my accident that I really get into it seriously. While in rehab, I hooked up with an organization for veterans called Project Healing Waters, and with their help I built my first fly rod, learned to tie some of my own trout flies and started to learn the finer points of fly fishing. I really fell in love with it.

In August of 2015, something significant happened to me.

I was at a Potomac Highlands Wounded Warrior Outreach (PHWWO) trout fishing retreat, and the director, Larry Flynn, saw me struggling with my manual chair and said, “You need a track chair and we are going to get you one.” At the time I was just happy to be fishing and really didn’t know how much of a “life changer” a trackchair would be, but I took his word for it. A company called Dominion Resources was sponsoring the event, and they also provided fly fishing guides to assist all the veterans there. Well, Larry coordinated with Dominion and another group called Sisters of the Eastern Star, and together, the two groups purchased a track chair for me. When I picked it up in November, I got my independence back.

My fishing forays since that time, all post-injury, have been almost exclusively for trout. It’s a fairly new passion of mine.

About half the time I leave to go fishing, I head out the door

with a spinning reel, the other half I grab the fly rod, and since I often have a hard time finding people to go with me, I end up on the water alone most of the time. Occasionally, my wife, Jeanne or one of my three daughters will join me, but if they can’t go, I don’t let it stop me from going out.

Fortunately, I’ve always enjoyed the solitude of being alone on the river or in the woods. It is, however, much more challenging for a guy in a chair, as you can imagine, and I suppose somewhat risky to venture out by myself. But, for me that risk is part of the challenge, and part of the fun , . . . and maybe, . . . if I’m being honest, . . . the part I like the most.

Now, back on the rock… I was starting to get a tad bit concerned, but for moment, I had my six foot golf umbrella (golf is good for something after all) which was doing a pretty decent job keeping me dry and shielding me from the onslaught of pea-sized hail, . . . and the water was barely deep enough to lap above the soles on my boots. I figured I was good for a while. When I reached down to check the motors on my chair, they were hot to the touch (no surprise there since I was running them like a mad man trying to get loose from the rock that had stranded me). Experience has taught me that, when the motors overheat they tend to drain the batteries much faster, sometimes causing them ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

11

ON A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

to display a false “low” reading. ‘Not a problem,’ I thought, ‘I’ve got my umbrella, my lunch, and I’m in the middle of a beautiful trout stream. I can take a break here while the motors cool.’ So I did. AND . . . after waiting a sufficient time, I turned the chair on and carefully backed off the rock. Everything was good so far, but as I nudged the chair forward, toward the far bank, . . . in the direction of my truck, I could suddenly see a whole lot more of the left track than normal. That’s when all forward motion abruptly stopped.

A small rock must’ve somehow gotten wedged into the track in just the right way to roll it off the drive wheel. I don’t know how much you know about tracked vehicles, but when the track comes off, you’re done! It’s not like a flat tire where you can limp along on it if you have to. You don’t move . . . at all! You’re stuck, like I was now, right there in the middle of the creek.

So what do you do when you find yourself, helplessly stuck, in a slowly rising trout stream, on a freezing cold day, out of cell range, at least a quarter mile from the truck. . . when you can’t get up and walk out? You pray! That’s what I do anyway. So I did. “Well Lord, I could use a little help 12

ABLE OUTDOORS

here. How you gonna get me outta this one?” The challange before me was figuring out a way to get all my gear to the bank, and get myself there as well, without getting completely soaked in the process. My biggest concern was how to stay as dry as possible for the long crawl back to the truck to avoid any potential of getting hypothermia. As I pondered the situation, I decided to check my cell again, and to my surprise, I had a signal. No bars, but I had a signal.

I quickly texted Jeanne to let her know I was in trouble and see if I could get her to provide some assistance even though she was back home, 30-45 minutes away.

Eventually, after the storm cloud passed, my first text went through. Coverage was fading in and out, but I was able to send several more to explain the predicament I was in before my cell phone also started chirping “low battery.”

With no way of knowing if my distress signals had been received, I began preparing myself for the long cold crawl out.

As I was about to try sending Jeanne one last text before the phone completely died (to have her call the Camp Creek Rangers to come look for me) I spotted a van driving

up the road toward me. “Thank you Lord! I AM SAVED!...” or so I thought. You see, there was a pistol range within sight of where I was sitting, maybe only 50 yards away, and this van was headed straight for it. As several people filed out in the pouring rain (another wave of bad weather had rolled in by this time), I began waving my umbrella back and forth trying to get their attention. They simply looked at me and began setting up targets. This is when I started to get a tad bit concerned, for two reasons. One, this was likely to be the only vehicle I would see, and they obviously weren’t interested in checking on the crazy guy sitting in a wheelchair in the middle of a trout stream frantically waving his huge umbrella at them. And two, I was parked directly DOWN RANGE from where they were going to be shooting!!! At that point, I began waving the umbrella with one hand and a white towel with the other, and I did both with added fervor! Who knew that these college kids would think I was simply trying to be friendly?

“The worst part of the whole experience was... it was the first time I’d ever fished Camp Creek and not caught at least one trout.”

That’s when a couple of Park Rangers drove up to where they were and asked them if they’d seen a guy in a wheelchair. They casually said “Yeah, he just waved at us though. He’s down there fishing in the creek where it crosses the road.” Fortunately for me, those Rangers highly doubted I’d be sitting in the creek crossing to fish, so they came down the road to check on me. As it turns out, the message I sent to Jeanne to call them never went through, but I’d spoken with these two great guys (Thomas and Kelly) at my truck before I left to go fishing. They knew, from our conversation, that I was up in there somewhere looking for good fishing spots I could get to in my track chair. So when they didn’t see me on their way out, and saw my truck was still in the parking lot, they figured maybe they better come check on me because of the weather. I’m so glad they did!

After I tossed them my keys, they went and retrieved my truck and my manual chair. We used the winch on the truck to drag the trackchair out of the creek, and they helped me get it loaded up and strapped down, . . . all before the college students started shooting at the range. It was a good thing too, because they were there for a handgun safety orientation class, so who knows how many rounds were flying all over the place after we left.

The worst part of the whole experience was… it was the first time I’d ever fished Camp Creek and not caught at least one trout. When I was finally safely back at home, warm and dry, and relaxing in my easy chair, I was thinking maybe next time I’ll go more prepared . . . or at least I won’t leave my hot coffee in the truck! AOM

TO ADVERTISE IN

PLEASE CONTACT CHAD WALIGURA

chad@ableoutdoors.net 979-541-4954 ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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ABLE OUTDOORS

COLUMNIST

VINCE OLZAWSKI

THE PVA EXPANDING ITS RANKS “The PVA is opening up its outdoor events to anyone with a disability.

The Mid-American chapter is a prime example of this new trend.

They offer several hunting & fishing opportunities every year for its members so come sign up if you want to get on board!”

– Vince Olzawski

My disability is that I’m a double amputee due to an MRSA infection that I got in both legs after having heart bypass surgery back in 2003. Fortunately, I was blessed with good doctors, good family and a supportive wife who encourages me to do as much as I possibly can… “within reason she says.”

Since losing my legs, I’ve met more good friends and had loads of fun in the outdoors. It’s been a true blessing rather than an impediment. The physical trauma I endured also deepened my faith in My Lord, Jesus and God His Father, a faith that has kept me going forward with a positive outlook in life.

I was encouraged to join the Mid-America chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America by a guy named Rance Bighorse. Rance is a civilian wheelchair angler who has fished on the National PVA Bass Tournament Tour across the United States, and together with another friend of mine, Ferlin Widowski, got me interested in one of their annual events called the “OKIE OPEN” Bass Tournament.

My first experience with a MAPVA fishing activity started maybe 4-5 years ago during a “Crappie Day” where fishermen & women compete to see who can catch the most crappie and the biggest crappie, and after only that one time I was hooked, no pun intended.

I know this may be news to a lot of people, but the MAPVA, which includes southern KS, western AR, southwestern MO and all of Oklahoma has recently been encouraging anyone with a disability to join their group, regardless if military or civilian. I’m happy to report that the group has opened its events to all physicallychallenged outdorsmen.

In 2016, they sponsored another Crappie Day at Lake Eufaula near Checotah, OK, at a particular dock that is 14

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wheelchair-friendly named Lake Eufaula Marina, a trout fishing adventure on the White River in Arkansas in June, and of course the Okie Open in September, which was the first of the PVA’s National Bass Tournament Tour stops.

As for the latest Okie Open, there was a boat division as well as a bank division for those who preferred to fish on dry land with their family or friends. For the tournament competitors, there were points to be won that counted toward the next year’s 2016-2017 season. At the weighin on the last afternoon, not only was prize money given out, but the names of many who entered were called for giveaways, so it’s rare that someone goes home emptyhanded. Among those that registered early, a Bad Boy Buggy was given away to one lucky participant, who, much to my chagrin, didn’t want to part with it. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention all of the volunteers that make these events work. Due to their hard work everything went off without a hitch, so a ‘tip of the cap’ to those wonderful folks.

I know this has been all about fishing, but we also sponsor plenty of other activities for our members. There’s a big pheasant hunt coming up at the beginning of December in OK, and we have things like billiard and bowling tournaments as well as other hunting dates. We host parties and offer the opportunity to participate in the Endeavor Games in Edmond, OK (https://www.uco.edu/ wellness/sr/endeavor/) in June of each year, which is all for those with physical challenges and is similar to the Paralympics. If you have ideas for us, or if you simply want to find out more about what the MAPVA is doing, contact our director Bill Kokendoffer at 405- 721-7168 or email him at midamericapva@yahoo.com. Hope to see you someday on the water or in the field! AOM

Our Mission is to Assist Anglers with Disabilities across the nation.

Can We Take You Fishing?

With events across the country we can give you the opportunity to enjoy the sport of fishing.

What Smiles Can You Create?

Become a member, volunteer, make a donation.

Join the fun, make new friends and share the greatest gift of all, yourself.

Est. 1986 Hayward, Wisconsin 800-243-3462 ~ www.FHNBInc.org

WOUNDED WARRIORS

Serving and

By Chad Waligura

T

AOM

the

REBUILDING WARRIORS

he Matagorda Chapter of Serve Outdoors began over a decade ago when Drew Mcginnis of Texas was introduced to a man named Al Smith from Missouri.

Smith had been running an organization up there called Serve Outdoors, and after telling Drew all about it and its mission, Drew knew it was something he needed to get going back home in Matagorda county where he lived. In his younger years, Drew had served in the Navy, and he felt it was now his calling to help Wounded Vets (or anyone with a disability for that matter) get back into the outdoors that he loved.

Fast forward to three and a half years ago when Drew introduced himself one day to his new neighbor, Clint Hewitt, at the H.E.B. grocery store in Bay City where Clint worked. The two became fast friends, and all-the-while they were getting to know each other, Drew was bringing Clint up to speed on Serve Outdoors and his vision for it going forward. Drew wanted to be able to reach as many people as he could, and to do this he was gonna need some help. Clint joined the group soon after and began to get involved in all of the annual events, which included a fishing tournament on the coast, an early-season duck hunt, a deer hunt, a turkey hunt in the spring as well as

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Outdoors

numerous “kid fishing” days. As it turns out, Drew was getting Clint ready for much more.

On the Serve Outdoors turkey hunt in Cuero, Tx., in 2015, Drew left his earthly body, and in doing so passed the torch on to Clint and close friend Scott Cheek to keep his mission alive.

They did.

Last summer, a vet friend of Clint’s who was playing in a fundraising baseball game in nearby Sugar Land invited the Serve Outdoors crew to attend. While there, they met Jeff Anderson with Rebuilding Warriors, and it didn’t take long after talking to Jeff to decide they needed to get involved with his organization in some way. Jeff is very passionate about what he’s doing, and what he’s doing is training and placing service dogs with soldiers. Well after Scott and Clint heard about the process and how much of a positive effect he’s been making on people, and after meeting a soldier named Dustin that day with his dog, the decision was made.

“How much do they cost?” Clint asked. “Well no one has ever asked me that before, but it’s about five thousand,” Jeff replied after giving it some thought.

On the spot, Serve Outdoors committed to sponsoring a dog. They raised the $5,000 at their annual fall banquet a

month later. The plan is to send Rebuilding Warriors a check every other year so Jeff can keep doing what he does best, save soldiers. “Keeping up with Jeff is not an easy thing to do,” declared Scott, “Our role is to keep him going on his mission and stay out of his way. We have our own blessings and interests down here.”

Rebuilding Warriors is based in Norco, California. They currently have dogs placed in 10 different states, which as you can imagine keeps Jeff on the move. “I’ve always been

“I had a party at my house for 28 Marines who had just returned from Iraq, and one of them asked if I could train a dog to be a service dog. That one question changed my life.” into dog training,” he said, “Since 1995, I’ve trained police dogs, military working dogs as well as search and rescue dogs. At one time I was working for one of the largest kennels west of the Mississippi. I was there for several years, and I also trained people during that time. From 1997

Captain Miranda Hulse, U.S. Army, is pictured with service dog Bolt, provided for her by Rebuilding Warriors and Serve Outdoors. Her experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan made it difficult to adjust to civilian life.

to 2013, I owned a company called A3 Tactical Training.

And from 2003 to 2012, we trained Marine PSD’s, Army and several hundred National Guardsmen in fighting and shooting skills,” he attested. “Then there was this one night where I had a party at my house for 28 Marines who had just returned from Iraq, and one of them asked if I could train a dog to be a service dog. That one question changed my life.

From that day forward, I quit search and rescue training and focused on creating Rebuilding Warriors with the mission of creating service dogs – I had the idea of ‘Saving Warriors one Dog at a Time,’ which is now our trademarked logo.”

It’s a lengthy process to find the right person for each dog. It’s also an intensive job to train the actual dog for this person. Rebuilding Warriors typically gets their dogs from reputable breeders, but they sometimes use rescue dogs.

The one they picked out for Serve Outdoors’ sponsorship was a 16 month old German Shepherd named Bolt. He came from Diamond Match Kennels in Massachusetts and was trained by Kevin Williams.

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SERVING THE OUTDOORS AND REBUILDING WARRIORS In the meantime, Jeff had found just the right soldier to pair with Bolt, a Captain named Miranda Hulse. Miranda was born and raised in Dover, New Hampshire. She graduated from Norwich University cum laude with a BA in criminal justice. She commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army as a transportation officer. From 2008-2012, Lt Hulse was stationed at Fort Drum, New York. She deployed to Iraq 2008-2009 and then to Afghanistan 2010-2011.

Miranda completed the captain career course in 2012 and was stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia. She then left to Afghanistan in 2013 for her third deployment.

Service dogs like Bolt come with a litany of skills. They can help people with physical limitations as well as provide companionship, protection and a calming effect.

During her time in the service, Miranda was awarded the combat action badge, the bronze star (twice), and others awards. She now lives in western New York and is currently working toward a master’s degree in social work, and her experiences from being at war made it difficult to adjust to civilian life once she got back to the States. That’s where Rebuilding Warriors came in. Miranda received her Bolt in Upstate NY on October 28th.

“It was so exciting when I first received Bolt,” Miranda said.

“I have another dog (Maxwell) and I was a little nervous how they would get along but they are really good together. Bolt has changed my life in so many ways. Having him by my side wherever I go places helps me with my disabilities. Also, I can educate others about service dogs now, about what they do and how to approach a person with a service dog. Bolt is trained to a variety of tasks, like if someone is approaching me from behind he will alert me.

He can pretty much do anything I ask him to do though.” It was a perfect match.

Service dogs like Bolt come with a litany of skills. They can help people with physical limitations as well as provide companionship, protection and a calming effect. Many have been vital in the treatment of PTSD. These animals fulfill some of the most important roles in helping soldiers come home again, and people like Jeff and organizations like Serve Outdoors are committed to getting them to everyone who needs one. AOM

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COLUMNIST

KIETH WINCHELL

ABLE OUTDOORS

PAYING IT FORWARD A few months ago, Chad and I were chatting about our outdoor adventures and our plans for future hunting trips. During that conversation, Able Outdoors Magazine came up and I was asked if I’d be interested in writing a column for this section, so here I am. I remember thinking the editors will surely have their work cut out for them now, and I hope my entries won’t embarrass my mother the English teacher, but I’d love to become a regular around here.

So I guess for starters an introduction is in order. My name is Keith Winchell. I’m 53 years old and an avid outdoorsman and I’m also an L-1 incomplete para, injured during a pursuit as a NYPD Motorcycle Officer. I did my rehab at a place called Rusk in New York City and then at Helen Hayes Hospital in Stoney Point, N.Y., both of which helped get me back to where I sit today. They gave me the strength to go on.

Prior to my accident, I was in the Air Force for 24 years.

My military career started when I was 18, the summer after I graduated high school. I’d thought about going to Paul Smith College in the Adirondacks to study Forestry, and later maybe becoming a Game Warden or something, but chose the service instead. The Air Force took me to a whole bunch of states and to the Far East, with my last deployment being to the Middle East. For my first twelve years, my MOS was Combat Intelligence (if I tell you what it is I’ll have to kill you), and my last twelve I worked Crash Rescue. After serving for almost 25 years, I felt it was time for me to get out and move on to law enforcement.

I was injured after coming back from Operation Enduring Freedom. I was working as a NYPD Highway Patrol Officer at the time, which used both RMPs (cars) and motorcycles (Harley Davidsons.) On the day of my injury, I was on a cycle working Dominican Day Parade detail. Shortly into the tour, I observed another motorcycle blow through an intersection at a high rate of speed, riding a wheelie no less. I started to pursue as the violator sped away at over 100mph, and I lost sight of him as he went over a rise and a turn. From a side street, another motorist pulled out in front of me which caused me to wreck and the injuries I have today.

After two and half years of rehab, I look back and honestly wouldn’t trade where I am today. I know that sounds whacky, I know, but the quality of people I’ve met and the strength that my injury has given me is nowhere near where I could’ve ever been without it.

People always ask me “Did you get hurt in the war?” to which I usually reply, “No, old man in a Buick.” I go on to explain that I did serve in the armed forces, but I didn’t get blown up in the desert where my chances of injury were a lot higher. I got hit by a car in the Bronx.

As a kid, I grew up in upstate New York, mostly in the woods. Yes, New York has woods and I spent many a day in them. After school, I’d get on my bike with my fishing pole, a trusty old Zebco 202, a tackle box and a coffee can full of worms and ride to a local farm pond to fish. I remember it being a special treat whenever my dad and his friends would bring the guns out to shoot too. I absolutely loved hunting, small game and then deer when I was old enough. As an adult, I became a Hunter’s Safety Instructor for the state for both the gun and bow, and my deer season pursuits brought me into contact with an organization called Deer Search, Inc., which uses Wirehair Dachshunds, yes, the ones everybody calls wiener dogs, for tracking wounded deer and bears. I soon became a proud owner of Cassie, a great tracking wiener dog. After that, I spent the majority of my days and nights running through the mountains and corn fields following my low-to-the-ground hound, looking for deer that somebody else shot.

Since my injury in 2007, I’m sure like most people who read this magazine have done, I’ve had to learn how to do things a little differently to be able to keep doing the things I love. Whether it be by letting other people help me or finding a new piece of adaptive equipment, or inventing my own, there’s no way I was going to give up what I loved doing. I never considered staying home as a very good option.

I know there are many organizations across the country who are set up to help us enjoy a whole variety of outdoor sports. Some are for the military and others for civilians, and they all want to bring the outdoor experience back to us. With this column, I’d like to bring as much information about these groups, as well as my first-hand experiences with them, to the readers, in addition to my own adventures of course. And I’m looking forward to getting Able Outdoors into the hands of the people who really need to see it. I had a lot of people help me along the way so I feel the need to pay it forward. See you in the field!

If you’d like to contact me with any questions, my email is kawinch63@yahoo.com. I’m looking forward to keeping this column going and to keep Able Outdoors going. It’s a great cause.

I’ll leave you a line that has always inspired me to keep moving forward: “It’s not how you get knocked down, it’s how you get up again.” AOM ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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RECREATION AOM I loved hiking…

Beginning with family hikes on the Island Trail at the Ludington State Park along Lake Michigan, I’ve learned how much joy can come from a simple walk in the woods. As I grew up, family vacations took me to the great national parks of the west, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Yosemite, and Glacier. It was there I fell in love with the leg burning climbs that rewarded me with pristine mountain lakes surrounded by barren peaks where snow still clung to higher crags late into summer. I was young and fit, a former high school crosscountry and track and field runner with hundreds of future hikes already planned in my head. Then my life changed.

the

By David Nickelson

Getting Off

BEATEN PATH Hiking Glacier National Park

Photos by Jacob Frank

A

t a college party in 2002, after a few too many drinks, I fell off a second story balcony. By the time everyone heard the thud and turned to see what had happened, I was a paraplegic. I sustained a spinal cord injury at T-11, and aside from some use in my quadriceps, I remained nearly entirely paralyzed from the waist down.

For the time being, the possibility of ever reaching those lakes or mountains again was gone.

Four years after my injury I visited those mountains again with my parents, spending a week in Glacier National Park.

The limits placed upon me by my lack of mobility were frustrating. A few short boardwalks and crowded visitor centers were not how I wanted to experience the outdoors.

After buying my first handcycle, a Quickie Mach 2, I regained some measure of exploration. I even pushed the half-wheelchair, half-bicycle device up a steep trail and back down one August morning to Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park.

That was a mistake. My hands ached for months. That particular handcycle simply wasn’t designed for that level of terrain, nor were human hands designed for the pushing 20

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After sustaining a paralyzing injury, David Nickelson makes his way back out hiking the Avalanche Lake Trail in Glacier National Park with the use of an off-road hand-cycle.

After meeting with Jacob Frank, Glacier Park’s photographer, we agreed that sharing me traversing the trails would be a great way to show what visitors with disabilities can still do in the park.” and arresting the rear wheels coming back down the rough trail required to traverse it.

The solution finally came when I found myself with an opportunity to try out a different type of off-road handcycle, a Bomber made by Jake O’Connor and his company, Reactive Adaptations. Jake was bringing some of his bikes to Grand Targhee ski resort for people to demo. It was 500 miles away. I drove down without a second thought and was immediately hooked. The bikes could go nearly straight up a ski hill when placed in the lowest gears. This, I thought, would finally get me back into the mountains. I saved what I could from my job and finally scraped together enough to purchase my own.

My hopes were temporarily dashed, when, bike in my truck-bed, I stopped into a Glacier National Park visitor center to ask if wheelchairs were allowed on hiking trails.

The young lady at the desk wasn’t sure, but when she made a call to park headquarters, I was informed that no, wheelchairs were not allowed on the trails. I spent the rest of the summer riding on old logging roads outside of the park that, while better than nothing, didn’t provide the same level of scenery that hiking trails did.

The following winter I received a call from the Chief Ranger at Glacier. Following the disappointment at the visitor center, I had filled out a comment card to inquire as to why off-road manual wheelchairs were not allowed on trails. I now learned that yes they are indeed allowed, although the definition of what exactly is a wheelchair is unclear.

The Reactive Adaptations Bomber I have is somewhere in between a wheelchair and a bicycle which further muddies the answer. For me however, this was as close to a green light as I could hope to get. I started re-reading my old hiking books, trying to pick out trails to try when summer returned.

This rocky portion of the Avalanche Lake trail poses no barrier for the Off-Road Bomber hand-cycle.

One hike I had done many times prior to my injury was the 2.3 mile journey to Avalanche Lake and it was at the top of my list to try again. Although I had reached the lake using the Quickie Mach 2 mentioned earlier, it was such a difficult experience that I swore I’d never do it again. Now however, with equipment better suited to the task, all I needed was a time to go.

A park ranger friend knew of my plans and put me in touch with Glacier’s park photographer at the time, Jacob Frank, who was looking for visitors with disabilities to shoot some photos for an update to the park website. After talking for a bit we agreed that me traversing the trail to the lake would be great to show what visitors with disabilities can still do.

I met Jake behind park headquarters on a picture-perfect Friday after work in mid July. The days were still long and the lighting at Avalanche Lake great in the evenings he’d told me. After a short drive to the Avalanche parking lot we were off. Friends of Jake met us at the trailhead giving ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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GETTING OFF THE BEATEN PATH

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us a total group of five people. The first portion of the trail is easy, wheelchair-accessible in fact, so we talked about the trail ahead. After just a quarter mile the most difficult portion of the trail begins, a series of stone steps carved into the hillside. While no trouble for an able-bodied hiker, these steps required help from my hiking partners to climb.

With me cranking and my new friends lifting the front wheels over each step we were soon on to the trail.

The Avalanche Lake trail meanders alongside Avalanche Creek for the first mile or so, climbing slowly over tangled roots and scattered rocks through some old-growth cedar and hemlock forest. The trail is one of the most popular in the park, so it is well worn and easy to follow. By going in

Trail of the Cedars is an accessible boardwalk through old growth cedar and hemlock forests at the start of the trail to Avalanche Lake.

the evening we had missed most of the crowds, but the hikers we encountered were at first confused, and then amazed to find out what I was doing. Most wanted to talk and ask questions, some even wanted to take pictures.

In several places tree roots or rocks proved too high for me to get over by myself, so Jake and his friends gave me a boost just as they had done on the earlier stone steps.

Eventually the trail distances itself from the creek bed and begins a steady climb through the moss-carpeted forest.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

TIPS FOR OFF-ROAD HANDCYCLING Off-road handcycles open up tremendous possibilities, but some observations I’ve made from my time in the woods will hopefully help you have the same type of experiences in a safe and fulfilling manner: ➢ Always go with someone. It is safer and a lot more fun to have someone to talk with. ➢ Don’t be afraid to turn around. For every trail I reach the end of, there are probably 2 or 3 that I have to turn around on. It’s not worth taking a tumble into

a ravine just because you’re determined to reach the end. ➢ Plan ahead and prepare for difficult situations.

Look at the weather and plan for the conditions. Tires blow, chains derail, and things brake. Have the proper gear and tools for fixing the problems that do happen. ➢ Slow down and enjoy the moment. It can be easy to get frustrated if a trail is impassable or too difficult at a certain point. Rather than getting upset, break out the snacks and enjoy the natural beauty around you.

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RECREATION

CO-EDITOR

DAWN ZIEGLER

KEEPING YOUR SKIN IN CHECK GET OUT AND ENJOY LIFE! There are plenty of examples in this issue of using equipment other than your wheelchair to explore the outdoors. An off-road handcycle, an UTV, a homemade rickshaw chair, an all-terrain freedom chair, or even a horse… It’s encouraging to know there are so many options for going places your wheelchair, walker, or scooter can’t take you.

As exciting as it is to be able to do an activity that offers so much freedom, it is important that careful care is taken to protect your skin. Too often it is overlooked or taken for granted, and it becomes a costly mistake that can lead to skin breakdown.

If unnoticed, a small red spot can turn into an open sore within a day if conditions are right, and into a crater in a few days if unattended. Pressure ulcers left untreated can lead to bone infections and in the most serious cases, death. Not to be dramatic, but it happens more times than people realize.

Healing a pressure sore can be a rollercoaster of a ride, both physically and emotionally. Staying off the affected area may sound easy if for only a day or two, but when it stretches out to be weeks, months, and sometimes years, it becomes life altering. Then, once healed, that area will always be at risk of breaking down again and often does.

No one wants to believe it will happen to him or her, but I know first hand how wrong that attitude is.

TIPS WHEN USING ADAPTED EQUIPMENT ➣➣ Always use some kind of cushion when sitting in something other than your wheelchair.

➣➣ Build up your tolerance of sitting in new equipment.

➣➣ Adjust positions every 30 minutes. ➣➣ Get out of wet clothes as soon as possible and ➣➣ ➣➣

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keep cushion dry.

Keep clothing smooth underneath you to prevent sitting on wrinkles for long periods of time.

Pay attention to boney areas and pad parts of equipment that are hard or sharp surfaces.

ABLE OUTDOORS

Dawn Ziegler is a Wisconsin native who has been living with a spinal cord injury since 1985. She has a degree in Education and operated her tutoring business for 12 years.

After coordinating an adaptive sailing program in 1996, she pursued other outdoor activities and became an advocate for accessible recreation. She organized events for hand cycling, kayaking, shooting, and hunting. She served as editor for Madison SCI and has had four articles published in Spokes N’ Sports and PN Magazine. She also serves on the Board for Employment Resources, Inc., and is a peer mentor for new SCI survivors.

In 2008, I spent most of the year training on my handcycle for the ING NYC Marathon. Sometime during that summer, I started to develop a pressure sore on my right ischia tuberosity (or right side butt bone). I was unaware that I was bottoming out on my custom-made wheelchair cushion, which was causing a red pressure mark.

➣➣ Keep your skin well conditioned by drinking ➣➣ ➣➣

plenty of water and using moisturizers to maintain its resilience.

Always check your skin after activities.

Seek medical attention if you identify a red spot that doesn’t fade within a day or if there is any break in the skin.

RESOURCES:

LEARN ABOUT PRESSURE SORES https://medlineplus.gov/pressuresores.html PREVENTING PRESSURE SORES https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions /000147. htm FIND A WOUND CARE NURSE http://www.wocn.org/?page=Nurse_Referral

AOM RECREATION Having been working so hard to prepare for the marathon, I couldn’t fathom taking a break from my training to heal the seemingly small “spot” and miss the race. I used a Roho cushion on my handcycle and I took care of the sore as best I could. My plan was to finish the marathon and then take care of healing the wound.

At the time, I had been 23 years post injury and had avoided getting a pressure sore until then. I had no idea how long the healing process would take, nor what changes I’d have to make in my life because of it. After 15 long months of on and off bed rest, monthly visits to the wound clinic, and surgery to repair the tiny hole that would not close, I was finally healed. It was quite the price to pay for wanting to compete in a race that was over in a day.

Prevention is always the best route to take regardless of the time taken away from any activity. Make sure that whatever equipment you have you are using seating gear that adequately protects your tush, or any other part of your body that comes in touch with hard surfaces. Also, always do frequent skin checks to identify any areas that are getting red, and make changes in your activities when needed.

Our skin is our largest organ and a vital one at that. It protects us in ways we often take for granted. But the bottom line is… if you don’t take care of your skin, your skin can’t take care of you.

So enjoy all the equipment that gets you out and pushes your limits, but keep your skin in check. AOM

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

GETTING OFF THE BEATEN PATH Although it was an easy pace for my fellow hikers, I was working up a sweat as I cranked. Through an avalanche break in the trees, we looked out at the cliffs made of sedimentary rock laid down millions of years ago that make up most of Glacier. Stopping from time to time for pictures, I felt the exhilaration of being in a place I loved, taking the time to soak in that deep forest air and the sound of water rushing through the gorge below.

The 2.3 miles passed quickly, and soon we were going through a brushy area high with cow parsnip and grasses.

From past experience I knew we were close, just a few dozen yards to the lake. After a few twists of the trail I made a left hand turn and rolled out onto the shore of Avalanche Lake surrounded by a half dozen waterfalls that drain Sperry Glacier high above. The lake is spectacular, surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs and deep green forests. With an ear-to-ear grin too big to possibly conceal, I took it all in, happy to be in such an amazing place once again.

As we took some photos and chatted with other hikers, we watched a pair of visitors fly-fishing in the lake. The setting sun lit up the cliffs in all their brilliance. 115 years

AOM RECREATION

earlier the legendary conservationist John Muir described Glacier as having the “...best care-killing scenery on the continent… Give a month at least to this precious reserve,” he wrote. “The time will not be taken from the sum of your life. Instead of shortening, it will indefinitely lengthen it and make you truly immortal. Nevermore will time seem short or long, and cares will never again fall heavily on you, but gently and kindly as gifts from heaven.”

A gift from heaven it was indeed. Of course the time eventually passed and we had to turn around to head back.

As the sun began to cast long-shadows from the trees along the lakeshore, we made our way back into the woods and towards our waiting vehicles.

An hour later while having a beer at Freda’s, a bar in West Glacier that is popular with locals and park employees, we talked about what an amazing and unique experience we all had. While I still couldn’t hike, the trails I remembered were suddenly open to me again.

I savored the camaraderie that comes from a good hike with good people, and I started thinking about the next trail I wanted to try. AOM ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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GEAR

BEADAPTIVE’S HQ100 & LM100

By Eric Jones As far as my knowledge BeAdaptive is making the only gun rest made for higher quads or anyone needed complete gun support when shooting. The HQ100 is made to work with rifle, shotgun or bow, and comes with a Sip-NPuff trigger option. I wanted to include this device on the gear page because I believe it’s the one piece of equipment that opens the outdoors up to everyone.

I know several people who have used the HQ100 to be able to hunt in the types of places we have been talking about in this issue, places like the Gila National forest in New Mexico, the mountains of Montana, the Northwest Territories and the African plains. The following is a review written by one of our columnists, Eric Jones, because he has been using the system since the beginning of his postinjury hunting career.

“I have been hunting as a C-5 level quadriplegic for 16 years now, and I have traveled the world hunting big game.

I owe my success as a hunter to the LM 100 shooting mount made by beadaptive.com. All of my firearms, 3 rifles and a shotgun, have the TM 100 sip ‘n’ puff trigger mechanism attached to their stocks and trigger guards, allowing me to pull the triggers by sipping on a tube with my mouth.

Each gun sits on top of the shooting mount which is bolted onto my electric wheelchair. To adjust my aim, I

bump the mount into position with my hands while looking down the gun sights. The mount pivots at my shoulder, giving me a field of fire of about 40 degrees. This system is rugged, accurate, dependable, affordable, and can fit in my airline luggage. Brian Kyler, at beadaptive.com, provides excellent service, building parts to customize the system to my needs. This system allowed me to take a nice pronghorn antelope with one shot from my .308 at 325 yards in Wyoming last month with no use of my fingers or wrists!”

For more info on BeAdaptive and their products, please go to their website.

TRANSPORT CHAIR

By Chad Waligura I originally designed this rickshaw style chair with pronghorn antelope hunting in mind after a few trips to NM. I hired a welder to construct it for me, and it’s made so that one person would be able to pull one passenger cross-country. On most public lands, motor vehicles aren’t allowed to go offroad so I wanted some way to be able stalk on foot.

KEY FEATURES: This chair is made of aluminum to keep it as light as possible. There are no front wheels or casters either which also keeps the weight down. The 26” tires handle rough terrain better than smaller ones and they’re set an angle so as to have the most camber in the “pull” position. An armrest was added to provide support as well as a solid shooting rest.

I discovered that in certain situations that this chair could be used to chase after elk in the timber, and I was able to do just that last year in the Lincoln National Forest in NM. It would be ideal for stalking any game on foot actually. I’d like to take it to Africa someday. Being built the way it is, the Transport chair can be easily hauled in the back of a truck.

This chair is not being produced commercially so it must be custom-made. Average cost: $600 26

ABLE OUTDOORS

GRIT FREEDOM CHAIR

By Jeremy Kerr I love being outdoors! Hunting, fishing and hiking… I do it all. However, the activities I love mostly involve going over terrain not suitable for my everyday wheelchair. I was limited to where I could go and that took some of the enjoyment out of doing the things I love.

I came across the Grit Freedom Chair on Facebook and was intrigued by its claim to be an all-terrain wheelchair.

Instead of pushing on rims, you push levers that work like ratchets on a mountain bike chain rail that propels the wheels forward. The ratchet mechanism along with a larger single front wheel that extends out further than a regular wheelchair, allows the user to traverse all kinds of terrain with less effort.

Back in March of 2016, I was picked to be a Grit Trailblazer Ambassador! As an Ambassador, I get to have their Grit Freedom Chair for a whole year. During that time, I’ve been putting it to the test.

My first trial run was when Mario, the CO CEO of Grit, delivered the Freedom Chair. We met at Falls Park in Greenville, SC. I transferred over to the Freedom Chair, put the push levers in, and was off searching for some tough obstacles to conquer! It wasn’t long before I found a huge rock face with some ruts and a steep face. I was determined to see if I could make it up. With every push on the levers, I kept propelling further up the rock. When I needed to rest, I pulled back on the levers all the way which engages the brakes. To my amazement, I made it to the top without any problems. I knew from this point on that the Freedom Chair would take me places I couldn’t go before in my everyday wheelchair.

A week later, I went with a friend to checkout some hiking trails. The Freedom Chair rolled down gravel roads, crossed running creeks, and even traveled down creek beds just as easily as if I were walking them. I never got stuck once.

Then we came up on the lake and there was an old boat ramp made from gravel. I took the Freedom Chair down the boat ramp and into the water to about knee deep.

Amazingly, the back tires were still gripping on the gravel.

I was able to turn around and, with a little help from my friend to keep the front wheel from floating, I was able to push myself out of the lake.

The next test was to try the Freedom Chair out at Mrytle Beach. I’ve been to the beach numerous times since my accident and always had to get a beach wheelchair and be pushed by others. Not this trip! It was a workout, but I was able to push through the soft sand on my own. Once I got to the packed sand it was as if I was on pavement again. So smooth and easy to push! I truly felt freedom that I haven’t felt in years!

I have been on many adventures since receiving the Freedom Chair. I really don’t have any complaints. I did

talk to Grit about the backrest because after a good ride it would loosen up and you would lose support. The team at GRIT listened and designed a new back and fixed the issue.

The Freedom Chair is made from steel, not aluminum like most everyday wheelchairs, and it has bike gears with a chain. The total weight is around 47 lbs, about 25 lbs more than my everyday chair. However, when you take the tires and back off, the main chair frame weighs around 27 lbs, making it easy to transport.

They say the chair can be used indoors but that would depend on the space of the rooms. The front wheel sticks out a good distance making it difficult to maneuver in small places. Also, when you get too close to something and the push levers are in it, you won’t be able to back up without removing the levers. In my opinion, those issues are minimal when considering the benefits of the Freedom Chair.

GRIT offers the new Softwheels as a upgrade and I can really tell a difference going over tough terrain such as rocks, roots, and curbs. The Softwheels really cushion the ride, minimizing the jarring on your back.

The Freedom Chair costs $2,999, and there are a few different financing options available. There is also a special program for Veterans. If you are looking for a chair that can take you beyond the pavement and give you outdoor freedom, then the Freedom Chair is the wheelchair for you!!

For more information, visit www.gogrit.us or call 877-3454748.

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AOM GEAR

BOMBER OFF-ROAD HAND-CYCLE

By David Nickelson Model: Bomber Manufactured by: ReActive Adaptations,Crested Butte, CO The off-road hand-cycle I use is a Bomber model made

by Jake O’Connor at his company, ReActive Adaptations in Crested Butte, Colorado. The bike uses two front wheels and a single rear wheel where power is transferred from arm cranked pedals to the tread via a series of chains. This design provides greater grip for climbing by placing more of the riders weight over the rear wheel.

A user rides the bike in a kneeling position with two padded knee wells and a padded seat spreading out their weight.

The bike is pedaled through two cranks mounted in front of the rider. Shifting and braking are performed through traditional bike shifters and brake handles mounted on the handlebars. Steering is done through the handlebars or a chest pad connected to cables that allow a rider to lean left or right while cranking.

While the bike has allowed me to do many new trails, it does have limitations. Trails with loose gravel on steep slopes can prevent the bike from being able to grip going uphill. It requires a width similar to a wheelchair so narrow trails can be difficult or impossible to navigate. Rocks, steps and fallen trees all provide obstacles that may or may not be passable depending upon their size. Trails that parallel a hillside present a risk of tipping over. For these reasons it is important to travel with a friend.

Even with those limitations, the bike provides unparalleled access to trails and locations one could never hope to reach using any other type of wheelchair or hand-cycle. Low gearing allows a rider to ascend steep hills as long as the rear wheel has something to grip. Hydraulic disc brakes provide

significant stopping power when descending. For the user who wants to get off the smooth trails and deeper into the woods or mountains, this is a bike worth checking out.

Due to the unusual kneeling position while riding, it is highly recommended to take a bike for a test-ride before deciding whether to buy one. While ReActive Adaptations counts even quadriplegics among their customers, not everyone will find the position comfortable. If you’re not near Crested Butte, contact Jake, he may have a previous customer who lives in your area that would be happy to let you try their bike out.

For individuals who require financial assistance, ReActive Adaptations has put together a helpful list of funding and grant resources on their website at http://www. reactiveadaptations.com/handcycle-funding/ (although they do not have any affiliation with any of them). Some individuals have been able to combine more than one grant in order to completely pay for their hand-cycle.

ReActive Adaptations Contact Info Website: www.reactiveadaptations.com Phone: 719-429-7348 Email: reactiveadaptations@gmail.com

COREY’S ADAPTIVE SADDLE Some of the best adaptations start at home, and this saddle used by Corey McGregor is no different. What you’re looking at is the 2nd or 3rd prototype in a process that began 15 years ago when Corey’s friends tried connecting his “turtle shell” back brace to his saddle so he’d be able to ride again.

Basically, this is a wheelchair back cobbled to a saddle. A welded together H-brace has been screwed to the saddle where the back piece from one of Corey’s old wheelchairs has been attached. The next step was to add a chest strap made of leather with a D-ring where a Velcro strap can be used to tighten and loosen.

KEY FEATURES: A gel pack has been sewed into a sheepskin cover to protect the rider’s skin during long rides, and Corey added a seat belt strap that he can secure across his lap whenever he’ll be running with his horse.

Future innovations are to include a saddle seat where a gel pack can be inserted into a cut-out, and he’s working on a way to be able to lean the back rest back and forth when riding up and down slopes, as well as having a height adjustment mechanism.

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ABLE OUTDOORS

UTV WITH GUN MOUNT

By Mason Ellis After sustaining a C5/6/7 complete spinal cord injury in an automobile accident, I knew getting back out in the woods to hunt would be a top priority. However, hunting the same way as I used to was not going to be possible.

There was no way for me to get into a tree stand or to get in the woods with my 350 lb power chair. I needed something that could get me out into the woods and I could shoot out of. After some thought, I began looking at utility side-byside vehicles (UTV).

I found the Yamaha Viking Utility Side-By-Side to be a great vehicle for adapting to meet my hunting needs. First of all, it is an all-terrain vehicle that I can transfer myself into from my power chair, giving me the ability to get out to the woods that I hunted in before my accident. Second, I found Sure Grip Hand Controls to be compatible so I could drive it, which gave me added independence. Third, it was roomy enough to make adaptations to, allowing me to have the freedom of shooting right out of the UTV. Not having the trunk strength to support myself, I needed something for me to rest the gun on while still having the ability to adjust my aim. So we built a mount out of plywood that fit over the steering wheel. This allowed me to rest the forestock on a sandbag. Then with my right hand holding near the trigger, I could adjust my aim and be ready to pull the trigger.

The mount rests on the driver’s side door, over the top of the steering wheel, and down onto a handlebar on the right of the driver’s seat in front of the passenger seat. An oval cutout was made to allow the mount to fit over the steering wheel. We used three pieces of wood for the left support, with the middle piece being up higher and the outside pieces coming down on each side of the driver’s door. We used a 2x4 with a half circle cut out of the bottom for the

other side to rest on top of the handlebar on the right side.

A separate panel of wood rests flat on top of the right side to give me something to place my right arm on for added stability. I also use a foam cushion to sit on which raises me up allowing me to get a good hold on the rifle.

I went hunting the first day of deer season using the UTV and mount, and was able to get my first deer post injury (read my story on www.ableoutdoors.net). After a year of deer hunting with the test version of the mount, it was time to make a better version. After some minor adjustments, we coated the mount to prevent rotting.

If you need something like this to allow you to do a task, put your thinking cap on and save some money! I hope this helps you out and allows you to have a good hunt!

VIDEO ON HOW THE GUN MOUNT WAS MADE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EJ-XKp7wnM& feature=youtu.be YAMAHA VIKING UTILITY SIDE-BY-SIDE https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/utility-side-byside/models/viking SURE GRIP UTV HAND CONTROLS http://www.utvhandcontrols.com/

GRAY’S CUSTOM ADAPTIVE SADDLE

This is one of many adapted saddles built by John Gray of Gray’s Custom Saddlery (http://grayscustomsaddlery.com/) based in Arkansas. He’s been producing them for over 12 years now and has sent them all over the world after making his first one for a girl in CA. He says he’s still perfecting the design.

Before ordering a saddle, you will work with John answering a number of questions he needs to know about you, like what your abilities are and what kind of horse you’ll be riding. That way he can build the perfect saddle for you. As you can imagine, everyone’s needs are a little different and it also depends on what you’ll be using the saddle for, like calf roping for instance.

Key Features: A quick release feature on the back in case the rider needs to dismount quickly. Saddles are made for horse therapy programs as well as for individuals. Saddles made to fit specific breeds of horse.

There aren’t too many people making adapted saddles in the world and John is working hard to do them as best he can, and to keep up with demand.

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HUNTING

AOM

“You better get used to tying flies because that’s all you’re gonna be doing for the rest of your life.” The words tumbled coldly out of this male nurse’s mouth the first time he saw Corey in ICU after his wreck. They rattled around in Corey’s head awhile before sinking deep in his belly. They wounded him. “That really pissed me off!” Corey admitted.

“Who did that guy think he was? He didn’t have any call to say that to me, especially then.”

By Chad Waligura

T

Back on the SADDLE

o make matters worse, Corey’s doctors told him he wouldn’t be able to hunt for at least a year because they were worried about what a gun’s recoil could do to his surgically repaired neck. That dropped him into the lowest of lows.

A week earlier, Corey’s life was just as it should have been for a 21 year old boy growing up in northwest Wyoming, carefree, promising, full of independence and fun. In one instant, though, it was all gone. After a car wreck where he was ejected, Corey found himself at a local hospital in Billings, MT, with “When Corey broke broken bones in his neck and back and an uncertain his back in the future laying before him. spring of 2001, It happened on May 27th, he thought he’d 2001. never again see the He would spend the next mountains from the month and a half at that hospital since there were back of his horse. no rehabs for Corey to go Lucky for him, he’d to. He was the only patient there in a wheelchair. be wrong.”

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See you in the Mountains

Corey on Dab with a pack horse about to embark on a remarkable elk hunting trip into the snow-covered mountians of Wyoming.

Luckily for Corey, the spinal cord in his neck wasn’t damaged, but the broken vertebra in his back paralyzed him from the waist down. Even so, he could barely imagine what his life as a ranch hand was going to be like when he got out.

In mid-July, he wheeled out of the hospital in a full back brace (called a turtle shell) to live with his parents for a few months until he could figure out something to do. One day, a friend of Corey’s who owned the ranch where he used to work came by and told him he could come back whenever he felt ready. While Corey was recovering from his injury, the ranch house had been modified with ramps and wider doorways just in case he would. There was only one big hurdle left to be tackled though… the horse. Most ranch work requires horseback riding, and nobody knew anything about how to make a horse accessible. Not yet anyway.

Eventually, Corey started going back to the ranch where he’d sit around with the other guys in the evenings, knocking around ideas about how to do things differently,

one of them being how to get riding again. “One day, we just decided to try it,” he said. “Two guys picked me up and tossed me in the saddle. I rode, but I was way too unsteady. I knew I was gonna have to get more support somehow.” Fortunately for Corey, one of his hobbies (other than hunting & fishing) was working with leather, which included making saddles.

The first thing they tried was to attach a ‘D-ring’ to the back of Corey’s old turtle shell with another affixed to the back of the saddle. Then, they attached the two with a bungee cord after he mounted. It helped, but he was still too unstable.

The next design involved a black plastic pipe and velcro strap sticking up from the back of the saddle. “That one was a lot better,” Corey said, “but it beat my back up so I couldn’t ride very long with it.”

The following year, Corey had a special high-backed saddle that he had made, complete with a trunk strap. It gave him the support he needed to be able to ride and do any job he needed to on the ranch. He was back in the action. That same year, he entered a ranch roping event at a rodeo with a friend of his named Brandon. In it, he’d have to do something he’d never done since getting hurt… ride at top speed. Corey decided ‘what the hell.’ He’d go for it.

Corey getting Dab to lay down so he can transfer easily into the saddle.

He wound up getting bumped around pretty badly, but he got something else from that ride besides a lot of bruises, two really good ideas. The first was a lap strap to keep him secure in the saddle and the other was to add a gel pad for extra cushion under his hind end. Both of them together turned out to be the last two pieces of the puzzle. He was ready to ride!

In 2006, Bob, a family friend who worked with horses, trained one for Corey that would lay down so he could transfer straight from his chair into the saddle. It was a match made in heaven.

While all of this was going on, Corey had kept planning to hunt again. Every year, he would apply for an elk tag for unit 58, a unit in NW Wyoming. Corey dreamed of getting back out there like he used to hunt with his dad and brother as a kid, even though he had no idea how he was going to be able to do it now. Before his injury, they’d pack way back into the mountains and do the whole hunt on horseback. Corey even killed his first bull when he was sixteen years old on a hunt like this. He absolutely loved it.

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BACK ON THE SADDLE

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ABLE OUTDOORS

But when he broke his back, he thought he’d never again see the mountains from the back of a horse. Lucky for him, he’d be wrong.

Now he knew it could be done. During that summer of ‘07, Corey drew a tag.

When October arrived, Corey, his uncle Ken and fatherin-law Steve hauled a horse trailer up to the nearby Carter Mountain in the South Fork Valley. They had a hunting cabin there that they’d always used as a base camp. The weather was perfect for that time of year, clear and a cool 75 degrees throughout. The three of them would hunt together for the next three days straight on horseback. The rut was on and bulls were bugling like crazy and they saw a lot of elk, just nothing big enough to pull the trigger on. He didn’t get a bull on that first time out, but Corey got something back that way more important than an elk, his passion.

Then began the arduous cycle of going to the mountains, loading and unloading the horses, setting up camp, glassing for elk, putting on stalks, passing on shots and then returning home. Over the span of two months, they’d hunt all over the unit. Any time they could get away, Corey and a friend would drive around looking for elk. And anytime they’d find elk, they went back and got the horses. Corey would climb on his horse, his buddy Charlie would secure his chair on the pack horse, and off they’d go. Whenever

they’d stop to glass or set up on an ambush point, Corey would get back down in his chair. And so it went for the rest of the season as pleasant fall turned into harsh winter.

As Thanksgiving neared and Corey got word an arctic norther was coming that was supposed to leave a foot of snow in its wake, he first called Charlie and next called in sick to work. Corey knew from experience that the elk hunting would be ideal after it passed over.

The two made it up to the cabin on Tuesday night just as the front hit. When they left camp the next morning in the dark, it was -7 degrees and snowing. It was bone-cracking cold, but their hopes kept them warm as they rode up to a familiar place where they could glass as the sun rose. The elk were out! They watched cows and small bulls across the canyon for most of the morning, but a big bull never showed. “It was pretty cold that morning,” Corey said, “Even our sandwiches were frozen. We had to make a fire just to thaw them out… to thaw ourselves out too. Then we took a nap before going out that afternoon. I wanted to cross over to where we’d seen all those elk.”

And go they did, busting elk out of the timber on their way to a high meadow called Pete Miller’s Park. Corey knew that elk sometimes used it to feed after a snowfall. When they finally got up there, they found nothing but snow drifts.

No elk. No tracks. No bugles. Nothing. They had just passed

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BACK ON THE SADDLE

through elk infested country to get to a barren mesa. They were cold and dejected, but mainly cold. Even still, Charlie helped Corey climb down one more time so they could set up along the edge to wait and see if something would come out.

Nothing ever did. So about an hour before dark, they called it quits. They’d pack up and head for the alluring warmth of the cabin. Since Corey didn’t want to make his horse lay down in the snow again, he asked Charlie to lift him back into the saddle. When he did, Corey saw an elk. “There’s elk in the meadow!” he whispered forcefully. “You’re lying,” Charlie answered. “Get me down. Hurry!” Corey insisted.

From his vantage point, he could see elk over a knoll that blocked his buddy’s view. Three nice bulls had come into the field. Charlie snatched Corey down from the saddle, then hurried to get his rifle and spotting scope. As the bulls pawed at the ground to graze, Charlie worked Corey’s chair carefully through the snow and sage brush until they got to the top of the knoll, stopping every time a bull’s head popped up to check around. Finally, they got into position.

There was one good bull in the group, one really good one.

Corey planted his shooting sticks while Charlie watched through the spotting scope.

At 500 yards away, the elk stood unaware. Corey locked on the biggest bull’s shoulder and let out an exasperated shot.

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ABLE OUTDOORS

He missed! “I shot over him that first shot,” he confessed.

“I got lucky though. For some reason they ran right toward us. They stopped about 300 yards away and kinda balled up. So I waited until they started to leave. They got in a line and my bull was in the back. I locked on him again and dropped him in his tracks.”

It was a dream come true for Corey. He told Charlie that he could get back on his horse and ride over to his trophy but Charlie refused. He pushed Corey all the way over to where the beautiful 7x6 bull lay in the snow. At their feet was the glow of success. All the fatigue and burden of the past two months melted away, a total of 21 days hunting, all on horseback. It was one of the greatest feats in disabled hunting. “I was tickled,” said Corey. “And when we got back to the cabin that night, I was plum tired.

The cold didn’t bother me much on that ride back though.

Charlie and I went back the next morning and packed him out.”

Since then, Corey has been back to the hospital in Billings on a few occasions. Each time he went, he tried to find that nurse that came into his room all those years ago. “I wanted to tell him about all the ‘fly tying’ I’d been doing since I got out. Heck, that first fall after I got released, I hunted and got a nice mule deer buck to go along with my bull elk. I was gonna tell him about that too.” AOM

COLUMNIST

CHRIS ROBERSON

ABLE OUTDOORS

OF SERVICE DOGS AND DUCK HUNTS “I can’t say that service dogs saved my life, but it was close. They certainly have enhanced it.”

– Chris Roberson

A couple of years after my injury, sometime in 2007 I think it was, I contacted Allie Keaton who is the owner and operator of My Service Dog Inc. (MyServiceDog.com).

As a C-7 quad, I wanted to find out more about this whole “service dog” thing, and after talking awhile, and after Allie gained some trust in me, we decided that I should start out by fostering one of her dogs first.

Shortly after, I took in Clancy, a black lab seizure alert dog, for about a year. He was an amazing dog and I had a wonderful time working with him, but of course he wasn’t the right fit for me due to the fact that I don’t have seizures.

So Clancy graduated from me and Allie continued looking for a pup that would fit my situation.

In the meantime, a Texas pastor and breeder had donated a pup for me, but she ended up being too much of an Alpha female and difficult to train. Both Allie and I agreed that Beta dogs tend to make the best service animals. Of course, being a long-time duck hunter my only experience with them was through gun dog training, but I figured it was the same.

In late 2014, Allie contacted me with great news! Easter Seals of greater Houston had started a program for disabled veterans in our area. It was a project sponsored by Mac Delaup of John Eagle Honda of Houston that placed service dogs with the warriors that needed them (something that the VA would not provide.) Many veterans that serve during wartime and are injured after their enlistment do not qualify for service animals, but this organization wanted to help us.

At that moment, Allie knew I’d be a perfect candidate to receive one of their first dogs. Little did I know that Easter Seals had already purchased a pup for me through an auction for charity from Top Dawgs, a Texas breeder that specialized in Eskimo White English Labradors. My pup was a female that I would later name Kira. Allie also knew that since I was a hunter back in my able-bodied days and had a great gun dog, a chocolate lab named Miss Lorraina that I’d sadly lost to a rattlesnake bite in 2003, that I really needed CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

Disabled Archery and Rifle Hunts Available!

• Deer Archery Hunts.

• Elk and Deer Rifle Hunts.

• All hunting expenses are paid (food, lodging, game processing).

• Additional financial assistance available.

Wyoming Disabled Hunters – Call: 307-899-0790 www.wyomingdisabledhunters.org ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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ADVOCACY

COLUMNIST

DON CHRISTENSEN

KEEPIN’ THE FAITH

“I became quadriplegic several years ago.

In 1996, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and the decline in my body has at times been breathtaking at others ever so slow, it’s always been a decline though.”

– Don Christensen

I was asked a question not long ago that caused me to do some serious soul-searching, more than I’ve done in a very long time. The question was a simple one… “What do caregivers mean in my life?” It’s a straightforward question, sure, but the answer for me goes as deep as I’ve ever explored. It’s a question about the quality of life.

I became quadriplegic several years ago. In 1996, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and the decline in my body has at times been breathtaking at others ever so slow, it’s always been a decline though. For the first seven years, it was a creeping battle that I was able to conquer with a variety of coping skills and adaptations, and I wasn’t alone in my battles. My wife and my kids were on the front lines.

I’ve come to believe that watching this happen to someone you love is worse than living it.

Both of my kids made it through the storm and emerged strong, capable, and self-reliant people. I love them more than life itself, and they make me proud of them time and time again. My marriage didn’t fare so well. The divorce was finalized just one week shy of 29 years, but that’s more personal detail that I’d planned to go into when I started. I think it’s necessary though to set the stage.

My deterioration was manageable until about 2003. When I still had family around, my need for caregivers was minimal.

We’d private pay someone to give me a hand for about 36

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three hours a day which was not only helpful but important for my own safety as I was falling several times a day. I knew a wheelchair would help me immensely but I fought that idea for as long as I could. Time progressed and so did my MS and caregiver time had increased to about seven hours a day. One day I realized that my alone time was just a few hours and I found myself spending more and more time in a power chair.

Before long, we added an overnight person to the mix and my transition to being totally dependent on caregivers was almost complete. As you can imagine, private paying had become a big financial burden so we had to look for help. The Iris program provided the opportunity we needed for additional coverage. It’s a Wisconsin-based program that works through Medicare. Because of our income, I’m on Social Security Disability, we weren’t eligible for any assistance with caregivers so Iris filled that niche.

As my condition worsened, the role of my caregivers steadily grew. They became a vital part of my daily life at home and even more so when I traveled anywhere. They shared in the challenge of going on Canadian fishing trips and on Wisconsin television hunting adventures. We most recently went down to Central America for a stem cell treatment, but that’s a story for another time. My kids also played a big role in these experiences but there were always

ADVOCACY the ever-present caregivers. They worked behind the scenes to make sure I could function as “normal” as possible.

Several months ago, I found myself getting short on caregivers. Sadly, it’s a situation I’ve been in many times.

The job can be very demanding. Sometimes you need help in the middle of the night. Sometimes my people needed more hours. People get married and start their own families and sometimes they move away too. Some people simply change their mind (right before showing up for their first day it seems). The reasons are endless. Anytime I’d lose one, I’d advertise for a replacement. I find my caregivers by advertising in the newspaper, on social media or through avenues like Job Corp, etc., and I have hired some from all walks of life, but the best ones almost always have come from word-of-mouth.

Sometimes the replacements were absolutely amazing and grew to be close friends, some didn’t work out at all.

That’s the way it goes with caregivers. It’s not easy to find the right people for this job.

In recent months, however, the pattern has changed. As I said before, whenever I’d lose someone I go through the hiring process ready to move forward. The next step has always been running background checks, which usually only took about an hour or, on occasion, a day, but now it’s taking weeks to a month or more. Some of my new people can’t wait that long. They need steady pay and can’t afford to wait weeks for a simple background check. Not surprisingly, this has eroded my core staff.

As much as I tried to reason with IRIS, nothing changed. I started feeling desperate and that I needed to make some noise to get help so I contacted the press. I also contacted my Senator and my Representative. Thankfully, they responded and soon I was dealing with some very helpful people from the DHS (Dept. of Human Services?). They greased the

wheels and all of a sudden I had to two new people wanting to work with me. One of them was wonderful and my pack of two angels became a group of three.

Over time, I interviewed and hired three more people and sent in their paperwork. With the help of my political friends, one of the background checks was pushed through quickly. The other two sat for over a week without results.

The one that passed her check became nervous about the situation and dropped out about an hour before actually starting work. Such is the life of someone in need.

You probably have a better idea now about having caregivers. A lot of you I know are dealing with the same issues. I have no idea where this will all end, and it’s certainly not getting any easier. However, I’m not giving up. This is a tangled morass I’m trying to find my way through, and I will share one little story before going to get some rest.

Last Friday I had people lined up until noon. My afternoon person was trapped on the other side of the river along the Wisconsin/Minnesota border. My overnight wouldn’t be here until eight. With the prospect of being alone without being able to move for eight hours suddenly hit, I thought about what I might do. Well, the answer that came to me was simple: “If Job had enough faith to go through what he did, so could I.” Within a couple hours, my new caregiver found her way around the flooding (by driving an extra 100 miles) and one of my neighbors also came to check on me. My faith had been right on!

I supposed the moral of the story is the task of finding good caregivers can be a daunting one, but please don’t ever give up. It’s going to be full of ups and downs so be prepared for that going in, and don’t be afraid to speak up when you’re not getting the help you need. Your independence is worth it. AOM

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

CHRIS ROBERSON

that companionship back. And there was this other little thing… I STILL LOVED TO DUCK HUNT! As Kira’s training progressed, I contacted a friend of mine, Jason Comfort, through Hard Core Waterfowler which is a community of duck hunters on Facebook. Knowing that my service dog ambitions would soon be fulfilled, the new challenge was to get her cross-trained for hunting. Jason quickly came up with a solution. He contacted a close friend of his, Chris Aiken, in Arkansas, owner of Web Footed Kennels which specializes in duck dogs. Chris promptly offered to help train Kira at no charge to me.

When Kira turned 6 months, it was time for her to go to gun dog school. Jason generously flew Allie and Kira together to Arkansas for what would turn out to be about 4 months of duck retrieval boot camp for Kira.

In July of 2015, I was reunited with Kira on the tarmac at the Brazoria county airport when she got off of her private

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plane ride home. I was overwhelmed with joy to have her back with me again.

In December, I took Kira on her first hunt with a group called Hell or High Water Outdoors that takes people with disabilities duck hunting on the coast, and she performed perfectly for us. In fact, she is now an official member of the Hell or High Water retrieval team. In addition to her daily duties as a service dog, we are both now looking forward to a successful 2016-2017 waterfowl season.

I cannot thank Allie Keaton enough for this amazing addition to my life, as well as Mac Delaup for providing the opportunity to have Kira. Thanks Jason and Chris for helping with her gun dog training, all of you have truly blessed me with something I’d been missing for years, a trusted friend.

Slowly but surely, I’ve gotten my life back, but it’s still a daily struggle. Kira has helped me want to keep going. AOM ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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TRAVEL

TITLE After my accident in 1999, one Subhead of the first things I learned in

therapy was the importance of being as independent as I could be. Once I built up my strength and courage, I began to get braver about traveling outside of my comfort zone and stretching the boundaries of my independence. At times, this would involve flying into various locations, which meant that I was left without my trusty personal vehicle.

Have

WHEELS, Will TRAVEL

By Ashlee Lundvall

O

ver the next decade, I learned a lot about car rental companies and public transportation, and their ability to enhance your independence when you travel. Through trial and error, I discovered what worked best for me, and what to avoid in order to have the best experience possible while I was away from home.

RENTAL CARS If you are anything like me, anytime I am riding in or driving a vehicle that isn’t my own personal car, I am slightly uncomfortable. So when I heard that is was possible to rent a car with hand controls and other adaptive equipment, I was a little apprehensive. Fortunately, I was forced to bite the bullet and make my reservation, as I would be in traveling alone in an area where I would need my own vehicle, and public transportation wasn’t an option.

The first thing I did was research my choices within the different car rental companies. I found out that many provided options for drivers with a disability, and I was pleasantly surprised that it was a fairly simple process.

My personal favorite company is National, for several reasons. First, the information for customers with disabilities is easy to find on their website, as it is on the bottom of the 38

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Home Page under the Customer Service tab. Secondly, they will install hand controls on cars as well as SUVs, while some other companies will only offer drivers the car option.

Finally, they are a large enough company to be available at most major airports, and their selection of vehicles is vast and varied, depending on your personal needs. They also offer additional information on lift-equipped vans as a courtesy to their customers, even though these companies are not affiliated with National or any of its subsidiaries. As a bonus, they offer a free app for your phone that can be very efficient. There are companies with cheaper rates, but I have always enjoyed my experience with National, and I trust that I am in good hands with them, which to me is worth the sometimes slightly higher rental fee.

National offers the following options for adaptive driving devices: hand controls, left foot accelerators, spinner knobs, and pedal extenders. The pedal options are available on any vehicle, while the hand controls and spinner knobs are reserved for larger cars and SUVs. These devices are usually installed off-site wherever the company services their vehicles, and will be installed specifically for your needs and your reservation, as they do not remain on the vehicle.

I recommend that when you call to make your reservation, you always attempt to give the rental company at least 2-3 days prior notice of your transportation needs. At certain major airports, National is able to accommodate you in as little as 8 hours, but to be safe, I always do my best to plan ahead as far out as possible. Since National prefers to place the hand controls and spinner knobs on full size cars, you can actually request the least expensive vehicle they offer, and they will upgrade you to a full size car at no additional charge.

There is also no charge for the adaptive driving devices they offer. When you make your reservation, be very specific about your needs. I prefer a hand control lever on the left side of the steering wheel, with my spinner knob placed at the two o’clock position. Keep in mind that these adaptive devices do not remain on the vehicles, so they are installed each time you make your reservation, which allows you to be very detailed about their placement.

When I arrive at the airport, I retrieve my luggage and head straight for the rental counter. Make sure that you research your airport, as some rental car counters are actually off site, and require a shuttle to get to your vehicle. Depending on the airport, National can call ahead and let them know that you will require an accessible shuttle to access these off-site locations so that you are not stuck waiting for the right shuttle. Again, be very specific about your needs, and

When the rental car company forgot to install a turning knob and it was too late to get one, I had to make due with some packing tape and an ice scraper. Not ideal but it worked!

don’t be afraid to ask questions. Proper communication can save you time and reduce the stress that comes with a new adventure.

Even when you prepare and communicate as best you can, sometimes you also need to be creative in order to adapt. For example, on a recent trip to D.C., National forgot to install my turning knob. It was late at night, so the mechanics had all gone home. Thinking quick, I asked the manager for a stick and some tape for a makeshift knob.

All we could come up with was an ice scraper (which had a sharp end) and packing tape, and although it wasn’t ideal, I made it work!

I want to stress the importance of communicating with the rental company any issues you have like the example I just shared. After my trip, I called National and informed them that they failed to install the steering knob. I shared the photos I took to explain what I had to resort to using.

As a result, National expressed their apologies and ended up compensating me for the entire cost of the rental for that trip. That says a lot about National and why I choose to continue giving them my business.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION If you are staying in a location for a short amount of time, ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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AOM TRAVEL

HAVE WHEELS, WILL TRAVEL

Las Vegas has wheelchair accessible monorail system connecting some hotels, and public bus system that covers Las Vegas Boulevard.

or you don’t plan on needing your own vehicle, public transportation may be a good option for you. As always, researching the options is key to having a good experience, and each city will differ in what it has to offer. Most major airports can provide you with details on taxi services, public busses, and other forms of public transit.

When I visit my sister in New York City, we use both the taxi services and the subway system. NYC is leading the way in transportation with Accessible Dispatch, a taxi dispatch service specifically designed for and available to the disability community living in or visiting the city. I have the WOW (Wheels on Wheels) Taxi app on my phone, and anytime we know we will need an accessible taxi, I request one from the app, ask for a specific time and location pickup, and then you can track the taxi driver as they head your way. We often make friends with the driver and use him or her for the entire stay, if they are available.

This service is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. With over 200 accessible taxis in the city, no advance reservation is needed. The drivers are trained in ADA compliance and etiquette, and there is no additional fee to the passenger for this service. Needless to say, more cities need to offer this accessible option!

Underground transportation systems can be more of a challenge, depending on their age. In NYC, only certain subway stops are ADA compliant, which requires additional research when planning your travels. The subway cars themselves are accessible, but if you get off on a stop that 40

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does not have a lift to the ground level, you must reboard and travel to the next accessible station, and then double back to your desired location.

Atlanta and Las Vegas are examples of cities that have an above ground rail system. I’ve used both and found them to be incredibly accessible and easy to use. I have also used public bus services in many major cities, and with the right research, they can get you from one spot to another with little hassle and often a less expensive charge.

As with any new adventure, the experience you have depends largely on the amount of planning and research you put in. Plan your vacation or business trip as far in advance as possible. Find the city’s transportation website and call with questions on accessibility. Reach out to others who have navigated the area. Utilize any and all technical assistance that is available, and use apps on your phone if possible. There is a big world waiting out there for you, and the more travelers with a disability that venture out, the more awareness we can bring about the need for accessible transportation.

HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES YOU MAY FIND USEFUL: National: https://www.nationalcar.com/en_US/car-rental/ customers-disabilities.html Accessible Dispatch: http://www.accessibledispatch.com/ New York City Subway: http://web.mta.info/accessibility/ stations.htm Las Vegas Monorail System: http://www.lvmonorail.com/ Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit System: http://www.itsmarta. com/ AOM

AOM TRAVEL

ACCESSIBLE RENTAL VANS

By Dawn Ziegler

As a quadriplegic, it is difficult for me to transfer (with or without assistance) into a car, making the use of rental cars and the typical taxicab service difficult. I also can’t count on accessible public transportation being available at every destination I travel to. So unless I decide to do a road trip driving my own van, I need to rely on renting a wheelchair accessible van.

While many rental car companies do have basic hand controls that can be installed into their vehicles, they do not have vans that accommodate wheelchairs. Finding wheelchair accessible vans to rent is not all that difficult. There are a surprisingly large number of companies out there, both nationally and independently owned, but the condition of the vans and the quality of customer service does vary.

It is important to do your research in choosing a rental company. Some good questions to ask include: how long have they been in operation; how many vans do they have in their inventory; what is the year, make and model of vans they use; how often are the vans serviced; do they guarantee reservations; what is their policy if the van you rent has service issues; and do they have references from other customers.

Most if not all companies only rent mini vans and the cost ranges from $70 - $120 per day. This cost generally includes 100 free miles per day of your total reservation period, with an extra fee for any mileage exceeding that total. Other fees may be added if the company provides delivery/pickup services, the van isn’t returned with a full tank of gas, or if the van is returned excessively dirty or there is damage.

All rental vans will come with 4-point tie down straps to secure the wheelchair, and many have the option of wheelchair placement in the center or front passenger position. Other adaptive driving equipment that may be available upon request includes: basic manual gas/brake hand controls, steering knob, driver transfer seat, power scooters, or raised roof options.

To reserve a wheelchair accessible van, you will be required to provide a valid driver’s license for the person who will be driving the van, proof of full insurance coverage for the driver (this needs to include comprehensive, collision, and liability that extends to rental vehicles), and a major credit card. Most rental companies have a minimum age requirement (often 23

years or older), but I’ve gotten this waived when my caregiver was under this age as long as she had the necessary license and insurance requirements.

As a rule, I always request a confirmation letter sent to my email of which I print out and take with me. Whether you have someone you’re visiting pickup the rental van or you make arrangements for it to be delivered to the airport, they should provide you with the name and phone number of the person you’ll be connecting with. If not, ask for it. I always make a point to call this person to make sure they have my arrival time and location correct. Then when you do pickup your van, make sure you both go over how the van operates and do a quick look over to document any damage to the van before you take it to assure you’re not charged for it later.

Although renting wheelchair accessible vans are expensive, they do provide you with the convenience of not depending on public transportation or cab services. Do your homework to make sure you are dealing with a reputable company. Here are some national resources to get you started, but there are many more out there so don’t let this list limit your choices.

NATIONAL RESOURCES: Access Travel Center – Accessible Van Rental Companies http://www.accesstravelcenter.com/van_rentals.cfm Ability Center – Wheelchair Accessible Van Rentals http://www.abilitycenter.com/rentals/ 866-405-6806 Accessible Vans of America, LLC http://www.accessiblevans.com/about-us.php 866-224-1750 Mobility Works – Accessible Van Rental Department https://www.mobilityworks.com/Wheelchair-Vans-for-Rent/ 877-275-4915 Wheelchair Getaways – Accessible Van Rentals http://www.wheelchairgetaways.com/ 800-642-2042 Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals https://wheelersvanrentals.com/index.php 800-456-1371

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COLUMNIST

TOBY COLE

10 TRAVEL TIPS Like anything in life the best way to be successful is to prepare. I like the quote, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

When traveling in a wheelchair or with someone in a chair, planning ahead is essential. There’ve been dozens of laws passed and companies across the world have policies regarding people with disabilities, however, if we rely on folks to follow them without knowing what they are, we travel at our own risk.

1. MAKE A CHECKLIST I have to admit my memory is not what it used to be. I use to be able to remember everything I would need to bring for my travels. Then, it got to the point where it almost became a game for me to try to figure out which items I was going to leave behind. Finally, I decided a checklist is the best way to make sure I didn’t forget anything important. I’ve also found it helps me pack in a fraction of the time. This way I know I won’t land in some city and have to try to figure out a way to get my medication filled at 11 o’clock at night.

2. FREE MEDICAL BAG Most airlines allow you to bring a medical bag at no extra charge. Knowing this, I no longer sacrifice the supplies I need to bring simply because I don’t want to pay an extra $50 or $75 baggage fee. I pack a medical bag and make sure the airline knows ahead of time that I’m bringing it. Check the website of the airline you’re traveling with to make sure this policy is available but still be prepared to discuss it with the ticketing agent. Although they are not supposed to ask personal, medical questions, you will often find that you will have to justify why you are bringing the bag.

3. CALL THE DISABILITY DESK BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT Most airlines have a disability desk. This is a knowledgeable group of people that can help answer questions about how the airline can help people with disabilities. They are also a great resource for making sure you get the right seats on the plane and for noting on your account any special requirements you might have. When I fly I call the disability desk before I travel to let them know I will need special seating, I’m bringing a medical bag, and I’ll need an aisle chair and assistance on the plane. They can be a great resource.

4. GET THE RIGHT SEAT ON THE PLANE Getting the right seat on the plane makes a huge difference when traveling. I prefer sitting in a bulkhead seat. Even 42

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though the seats in this row require transferring over a non-movable armrest, it gives me much more legroom.

Other people prefer to transfer one or two rows further back, where the armrest can be moved out of the way.

Either way, seats with the most legroom are premium seats so the airlines charge extra for them. However, upon request, they will not charge a fee for the disabled. If you require an attendant for travel, sometimes they will not charge extra for the second seat. Simply, call after you book and ask if the airline will provide the seats. Sometimes they are locked and you have to wait until you get to the gate on the day of the flight. Make sure you get to the airport early and talk to the ticketing agent and gate agent to get the seat you need.

5. PLAN TO GET THERE EARLY Plan to get there early but actually get there even earlier than that. I get to the airport early. I mean really early, usually two hours before my flight. When I get to the airport, I know I’ll need to spend some time with the ticketing agent at the gate to make sure we’re in the bulkhead seats and to get gate check tags for my wheelchair. (Don’t let me forget to mention that you will want to check your chair at the gate. You do not want to arrive at your destination, only to find that you are additionally delayed because your chair is not waiting for you at the terminal.) Another reason to leave early is that often, I’ve found that I’ve had to spend a lot of time re-explaining my medical bag. In short, I get there really early, get through the security gate, get to the gate, let the agents know what I need, and then find the best place I can to grab a meal. It’s a lot less stressful to find a preflight meal on the other side of security.

6. WHEELCHAIR ATTENDANT AT AIRPORT Being in a wheelchair can often get you through the

security lines faster than regular passengers. However, in some airports, especially when you’re going through customs, having someone from the airport escort you is even faster. All airports will provide someone if you ask. Plan ahead and ask early if you are going to use a wheelchair attendant.

7. THE POWER OF NO Always be polite but don’t feel like you have to be overaccommodating. I learned the power of no when going on trips. When I’m going through security, I don’t take off my jacket or my shoes. I politely tell them I cannot do it. Again, be polite but realize saying no sometimes makes the trip easier on everyone.

8. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND BRING YOUR DOCUMENTATION Educate yourself regarding your travel rights. Make sure you know them well and bring documentation. You’d be amazed at how many professionals you run into that don’t know the rights of the disabled. Go to the airlines’ websites and download their information. Be prepared to show them their own rules and regulations. This will make your trip that much easier.

9. TRANSPORTATION WHEN YOU GET THERE Most transportation when you arrive at your destination

city requires advance planning. Make sure you call ahead to have the taxi, car service or transportation ready. You’ll often hear that once you get to the airport, “You can just call for a ride.” This is rarely accurate and it’s not worth the risk. Plan who is going to pick you up and make sure you have their contact information. If you need an aisle chair to de-board the plane, it will take you about thirty minutes longer than the rest of the passengers. Make sure your driver knows this so he’ll plan your pick up time correctly.

10. GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO GET YOU ON THE PLANE The airlines provide people to assist you on the plane.

Unfortunately, many of the people are not well trained or even physically capable of helping. When you show up to the gate make sure you ask for assistance if you need it. If they send people you know will not be able to help you, speak up. If you don’t feel secure about the person who will be assisting your transfer, tell them they need to send someone else to help you on the plane. It’s not worth a broken bone.

I love to travel. I enjoy going on vacation and visiting new places. I learned a long time ago that it’s much more enjoyable when you plan ahead and take some of the stress away. AOM

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Species

TROPHIES

Pronghorn Antelope

Location

Nevada

Weapon

PSE Fang Crossbow

ANDY BELL – C-5 QUAD

Species Location Gear

White-tailed Deer S. Texas brush country Modified MTM Predator gun rest

JUSTIN GORDY – C-6 QUAD

Species

Pronghorn Antelope

Location

Sims Ranch, New Mexico

Weapon

Remington 243 rifle

DANIEL GARCIA & THAD GREGSON 44

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Species Location Gear

Pronghorn Antelope

Species

Elk

Thermopolis, WY

Location

Lincoln Nat’l Forest, NM

Action Trackchair; Ruger 25-06; Huskemaw scope

ASHLEE LUNDVALL – T-12

Gear

Transport chair; Sako 7mm-08 with suppressor

CHAD WALIGURA – C-7 QUAD

Species

Greater Kudu

Species

Black-tailed Deer

Location

South Africa

Location

Cascade Mountains, OR

BeAdaptive LM100 gun rest

Weapon

Ruger 30-06 rifle

Gear

ERIC JONES – C-5 QUAD

JORDAN MEEKINS

Species

Mule Deer

Species

Pronghorn Antelope

Location

Cody, WY

Location

Sims Ranch, New Mexico

Compound Bow

Weapon

6.5 Creedmoor rifle

Weapon

MATT SATHER – L-5 SPINA BIFIDA

MITCHELL (VISUALLY IMPAIRED) & SKYLAR SUMMERS

AOM TROPHIES

Species Location Gear

Mule Deer

Species

Caribou

Gilpin County, CO

Location

Nunavik, Quebec, Canada

BeAdaptive HD100 Hand Device

MILES PANCOAST – C-4 QUAD

Gear

Species

SR-77 gun rest

Location Weapon

MIKE WEST – C-5 QUAD

Rocky Mountain White-tailed Deer Mountains near Ritter, OR AR 15 223 caliber

TIM VIXAY – C-5 QUAD ABLE OUTDOORS

TROPHIES

IN EACH ISSUE Species

Elk

Location

Apache Nat’l Forest, AZ

Weapon

Savage 7mm-08 rifle

NOAH WALTERS – MORQUIO SYNDROME TYPE A

Species

White-tailed Deer

Location

NW South Dakota

Gear

BeAdaptive HQ100 with Sip-N-Puff trigger

RANDY ROUTIER (C-1 QUAD) & JESSICA HOLMES & KACIE TURBIVILLE

we will include a Trophy Page for one section of the magazine where photos from our readers will be selected. To submit photos, contact us through info@ableoutdoors.net or www.ableoutdoors.net. Next issue will highlight WINTER SPORTS.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT US, CATCH UP WITH THE LATEST ON NEWS, RESOURCES & EQUIPMENT AND VISIT OUR PARTNERS AT

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ABLE OUTDOORS

CLASSIFIEDS HELIUM LIFE STAND WHEELCHAIR - 18” Helium Life Stand wheelchair - 18” – By Permobil. 4 years old. Lightly used; Like new! Great chair but I’m just too tall for it. $7500 OBO. Contact Justin at 832-360-7066.

ABLE OUTDOORS HAS BEEN GIVEN A GENEROUS DONATION FROM TONY & ELIZABETH DELUCA. This chair was made for their daughter Caroline by Mike Box in order that she be able to get into the outdoors which she loved. Caroline’s beautiful soul has crossed over and we are looking for the right person to give her “outdoor” chair to. Please contact Chad for more information and if you know someone who might be the right fit.

You can also check out Mike Box’s custom wheelchairs at Box Wheelchairs. He has been building great custom chairs for a long time and wants to help people get back into doing whatever it is they love to do. If there’s any idea you can come up with, I believe he can build it.

RENTAL VANS FROM ADA PASADENA Rental Vans from ADA Pasadena location. Servicing the Houston Hobby Airport. Fully accessible for all types of chairs. Call for reservations and more info on modifications.

713-874-9100.

RENTAL VANS FROM ADAPTIVE DRIVING SOLUTIONS Rental Vans from Adaptive Driving Solutions location.

Servicing the Houston Intercontinental Airport Airport.

Fully accessible for all types of chairs. Call for reservations and FOR moreAinfo on modifications.

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“Have you ever been somewhere that just felt like home? That one place where you could remain for eternity and be perfectly content? For me, that place has always been Wyoming.”

After a paralyzing ranching accident when she was sixteen years old, Ashlee was forced to redefine her life. Once a basketball player, she has found she can continue to be competitive in a new stadium—the great outdoors. Join her on her journey home as she shares her struggles, triumphs, and the lessons she learned along the way following her Pitchfork Moment.

The National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen program offers people with disabilities the opportunity to engage or re–engage in outdoor pursuits such as shooting and hunting. Local chapters across the country host these events, many on accessible sites that previously may not have been open for hunting.

To search event availability in your area, visit nwtf.org and click on ‘Find an Event.’

Through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative, the NWTF will conserve or enhance 4 million acres of habitat, recruit 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres.