Fishing in the Extreme

Fishing in the Extreme Accessible

Country Heaven Gunnar’s Story VOLUME# 3 ISSUE# 2 JULY 2017 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

Fishing in the Extreme Accessible

Country Heaven Gunnar’s Story VOLUME# 3 ISSUE# 2 JULY 2017 ISSN# 2380-8535

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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 Photo ©2017 by Hannah Stonehouse Hudson Ashlee Lundvall spends a weekend with the Women Ice Angler Project on Lake Mil Lacs in Minnesota this past February. The Project, founded by Barb Carey, was created to bring more women into the sport of ice fishing.

Chad Waligura, Editor

CEO/PUBLISHER Chad Waligura

WEB & MULTIMEDIA Indesign Web

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, Bill Hancock, David Nickelson, and Jason Parker

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VOLUME# 3 ISSUE# 2 JULY 2017 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 $15.00. Printed in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

CONTENTS JULY 2017

VOL. 3 • NO. 2

24 RECREATION

34 HUNTING

12 FISHING IN THE

40 TRAVEL

EXTREME 12 FISHING

18 WOUNDED WARRIOR

24 RECREATION

34 HUNTING

BY ASHLEE LUNDVALL

BY BILL HANCOCK

BY DAVID NICKELSON

BY JASON PARKER

FISHING IN THE VETERANS AND EXTREME MUSTANGS AOM GEAR REVIEWS

CABELA’S MEN’S E.C.W.C.S. POLAR WEIGHT P. 30 VOLT HEATED FLEECE P. 30 PROPET LOW-RISE ZIP BOOT P. 31 FLAMBEAU HEATED GLOVES P. 31 TRICOT HUNTING JACKET P. 31 MR. HEATER P. 32 VOLT HEATED MUFF P. 32 BIG FOOT™ XL6000T GARAGE ICE SHELTER P. 32

GOING TO THE GUNNAR’S SUN ROAD STORY

AOM COLUMNISTS

MONICA KAMAL P. 6

DAWN ZIEGLER P. 28

ASHLEE LUNDVALL P. 7

PAUL WILLIAM P. 39

JESSE ALBERI P. 15

JESSIKA KATTAH P. 44

KEITH WINCHELL P. 23

5 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 8 LETTERS TO THE EDITORS 40 TRAVEL 45 SUMMER ACTIVITIES ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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CONTRIBUTORS

Monica Kamal Monica took an active role in advocating for the disabled after a spinal cord injury 16 years ago. She is a founding member of both the Madison SCI, Inc. and of Access Ability Wisconsin. She has been awarded the Jefferson Award in 2017 for Southern Wisconsin and the Safari Club International Pathfinder Award in 2016. Monica lives in Wisconsin where she enjoys hunting, fishing, kayaking and hand cycling.

Dustin Palenshus Dustin lives in Brooklyn, WI, with his wife, Sara, and together they have six children ages 8-19. In 2007, after diving into shallow water, he sustained a C6/7 spinal cord injury. He never lost his love for the outdoors as he continues to enjoy hunting, fishing, gardening, camping & hand cycling. Dustin is also a volunteer for Adaptive Sportsmen and Access Ability Wisconsin.

Jessika Kattah Jessika is 30 years old and lives in Florida.

At the age of 26 she was paralyzed after surgery to remove a tumor from her spine. She has 2 Bachelor’s Degrees, one in International Business and the other in Marketing, and a Master’s in Entertainment Business. Her passion is travel. Jessika is currently an Ambassador for the Red Bull Wings for Life World Run which is a global race that takes place every year with the proceeds going to SCI research. She is also a board member of the Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program at the Memorial Rehab Institute in Hollywood, Florida.

Paul William Paul was born in Upstate New York into a family that embraced the outdoor lifestyle.

Hunting was part of his life since the beginning of his earliest memories. After being paralyzed in 2008 when a car struck his motorcycle, he was discouraged from continuing his hunting lifestyle. With a lot of effort, good friends and specialized equipment, Paul learned to adapt and overcome so he could enjoy the outdoors again. He’s become adept at hunting in extreme conditions.

Jason Parker Jason, 47, lives in Osseo, WI, and works at Nels Gunderson Chevrolet in the parts department. He’s also a volunteer firefighter. He has a wife, Stephanie, a daughter, Kaitlynn, a son, Victor, and a labrador retriever named Gunnar. Jason and Stephanie, along with Gunnar, founded Gunnar’s Wheels Foundation which provides wheelchairs to dogs in need around the world. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting turkey, deer, and waterfowl with Gunnar.

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

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.

Jesse Alberi Jesse lives 30 minutes from the Continental Divide with his wife, Emily and two daughters, Briley and Bristol. With the support of his family and friends he has not let a 2008 rollover that left him as a T-10 paraplegic change his passion for living life to the fullest. He is the cofounder of Access Unlimited and helps to give folks the opportunity to experience freedom from their disabilities along side some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.

“Barnacle” Bill Hancock Bill is a former soldier who served in Desert Storm with the 3rd Armored Division and did 3 tours in Iraq. He’s also a former police officer who later joined the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a ranger and wild lands fire fighter. He also enjoys freelance writing and wildlife photographer as his newest hobbies. Bill is married and lives with his wife Karen, two dogs and a wonderful wild mustang named Chuck Wagon in west Texas. His web address is www.bdhancock.com.

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.

TO BECOME A CONTRIBUTER TO ABLE OUTDOORS MAGAZINE, EMAIL

chad@ableoutdoors.net

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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FIRE & ICE… BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM Following the theme of this issue, I’m taking on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to temperature. In my ablebodied days, I used to like getting out in the cold weather but now it’s more of a love/hate relationship. After SCI, at least for quads, everything changes when it comes to regulating body temperature. Our thermostats are broken!

Let’s address the cold first. It was soon after my injury when I discovered that going outdoors during winter was going to require some adapting, unless of course I wanted to be miserable. Losing muscle mass in my legs, decreased circulation and not being able to move around like I used to all made it difficult to stay warm. In short, I get cold easily, and once I do it takes a long time to get warm. (Ironically, the same thing happens in the heat but we’ll get to that later.)

Unfortunately, all the fun stuff that happens during fall & winter, hunting, fishing, skiing, camping… life… usually happens outside in the cold.

Over the years I’ve found a few things that have helped me tolerate the cold, some of which you’ll find on the Gear pages.

The first is probably the simplest, a compression base layer.

I started out using Under Armor, but there are a lot of good brands out there now. This was the first base layer that really made a difference for me and the compression also helped with circulation. A tip: get at least one size larger than you normally wear because that stuff can be tight. Sometimes two sizes up is better.

If I know it’s going to be below freezing, or windy, I’ll put a nylon-weave shirt over the base layer and cover them with a light waterproof/windproof jacket. The same goes for pants, waterproof/windproof. This seems to be the best technique for keeping body heat in and I prefer a lighter weight jacket because it’s less bulky and more comfortable when I’m sitting in my chair. It makes shooting easier too. Another reason I use this outerwear is it keeps me dry. Getting wet is one of the worst things that can happen to you when you’re out in the cold.

I’d love to be able to give a review of the heated clothing but I haven’t tried any yet. It’s on my list of things to get before this winter though so stay tuned. I’m definitely going to take the pants & socks for a test drive this season.

The second best product I own when it comes to clothes is an insulated, low-rise zip boot. Most of the time it’s impossible to keep your feet warm, but you can at least protect them from freezing, and this type of footwear is the easiest to put on and take off.

The only other solution I’ve found that actually keeps my body warm in low temps is one of those little push-button portable heaters, the ones that run on propane. Whenever hunting in a deer stand, even a pop-up blind, it can really take the chill out for hours at a time.

Now let’s go to the other extreme, the heat. I do live in Texas after all and it gets hot here during the summer. Like most quads, I don’t sweat. It has something to do with neck injuries, so just like with the cold, when it’s hot out I get overheated quickly and once that happens it takes a long time to cool off.

When you can’t sweat your body becomes a heat sink. It can’t get rid of it. And it can get dangerously high real fast if you’re not careful.

There are a few techniques I use to combat this problem. The first obviously is don’t stay out in the heat too long. Drinking cold water helps but it’s not nearly enough on its own. The only way to let the hot out is to get your skin wet so it can evaporate and draw the heat out. I either take a spray bottle with me or a wash rag when I know it’s going to be hot. We’re talking anything in the high 80’s or better. Wetting your body down periodically is the best way to deal with overheating, and if I feel I’m getting in that danger zone, I’ll dip a towel in ice water to wipe down with.

There’s a lot of fun to be had outside, hot or cold, so be prepared for whatever it is you are doing. 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. Chad was recently chosen to be an ambassador for Whill Inc. so check the AO facebook page for more info on their modernized power chair.

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NEWS

OUTDOORS ACCESS 4 ALL!™

By Monica Kamal and the AAW Team Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW) is a non-profit organization focused on making the outdoors accessible to everyone. This initiative encourages independence in a meaningful way and empowers those with disabilities to participate in endeavors beyond their activities of daily living. Everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation!

AAW is dedicated to facilitating and providing the means for individuals with mobility challenges to access and enjoy Wisconsin’s natural resources. AAW accomplishes its mission by purchasing and making available outdoor wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment free to use.

Our goal is to place at least one outdoor wheelchair in each county throughout Wisconsin. The demand for use of these chairs is growing. Goals for the project include increased opportunities for those with physical disabilities to participate in outdoor activities with family and friends and improve their lives by establishing more distribution centers. Clients have used this opportunity for park outings

with grandkids, school outdoor activities and field trips, bird watching, nature hikes, camping, fishing, and hunting.

When these are used, we see ear-to-ear grins accompanied with a surge of freedom on clients, family, and friends. This is such a reward to all involved!

Participation in outdoor activities makes a positive impact on the individual’s self-esteem and wellbeing. Greater than 80% of clients report an increase in feelings of independence, spontaneity, ability to resume activities with friends and family, and the practical access to those individual’s rights to use public land just like everyone else. Also, they report decreased feelings of depression and isolation.

AAW has a very innovative approach as 100% of the funds support the acquisition of adaptive equipment and associated costs. This equipment is available to veterans and their families whether the person has a temporary or permanent disability.

AAW is working with various parks departments to provide the equipment in strategic locations. To ensure that AAW reaches the community, it uses existing community structure.

AAW partners with organizations like area sportsman’s clubs, parks and recreation departments and disability organizations. AAW also encourages awareness and volunteering by working with students in therapy programs at the college and university level.

The mission of AAW is supported entirely by donations of both money and time. If you wish to support “Outdoors Access 4 All” as a volunteer or through a monetary donation, please visit the website at www.AccessAbilityWI.org. AOM

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COLUMNIST

ASHLEE LUNDVALL

ADVOCACY

LEGALIZING THE AIRBOW There is something magical about bow hunting. The close proximity to the animal, the months of prep to make sure you are ready and able to make a clean shot, the stealth required to successfully harvest. It is a thrill that every hunter should be allowed to experience.

But what if you aren’t physically able to pull back a compound bow string or hand crank a crossbow? Bows can be wide and awkward to maneuver, and de-cocking a crossbow is always a risky endeavor. All hunters want to be safe, and hunters with a disability like to be as independent as possible when in the field. Thankfully, Crosman has built an answer to these issues with the Benjamin Pioneer Airbow.

This nontraditional hybrid hunting weapon merges the handling ease of a firearm with the ability to shoot a fulllength arrow at a blazing 450 fps. Powered by compressed air, each hollow arrow slides onto a metal rod at the end of the bow. Because the arrow is being propelled from the tip as opposed to being pushed from the back like traditional bows, each arrow’s flight is more stabilized and accurate, with 2” groups at 50 yards.

The Airbow is built to be operated by anyone of any ability.

The cocking mechanism is seated on the top of the stock of the bow, and it can easily be pulled up and back down to cock. The arrows are smoothly loaded and removed when necessary, and at seven pounds, the Airbow fits nicely onto any style of shooting sticks if needed.

Not only is the Airbow fast, accurate, and easy to use, it’s also incredibly safe to operate. With no strings, you don’t run the risk of injuring your fingers. And with no limbs, the sleek design allows for unencumbered movement and maneuverability in a blind or stand. For those that are used to using a crossbow, the de-cocking process with the Airbow is as safe and easy as arming it.

Unfortunately, there has been plenty of opposition to the Airbow. The archery world has been split, with some encouraging innovative technology to include all hunters, and others refusing to acknowledge the Airbow’s place in archery seasons, or any hunting season for that matter. Last summer, the Archery Trade Association (ATA) released a statement saying that, “While the ATA certainly recognizes the Airbow to be an innovative piece of shooting equipment, the Airbow nevertheless lacks basic components of standard 1 2

archery equipment (e.g., a string system and limbs). For this reason, the ATA does not consider airbows to be archery equipment.” They continued by saying, “In addition, the Airbow (unlike archery equipment) is not subject to federal excise tax, the basic funding mechanism for state wildlife agency activities, which means no portion of the proceeds from Airbow purchases contribute to the state wildlife conservation activities supported by Pittman Robertson funds – at least not to the ATA’s knowledge.”

Crosman clarified this misconception with a statement of their own, saying, “Contrary to what the ATA has stated, Crosman Corporation does pay the required excise tax that goes towards conservation efforts supported by Pittman Robertson funds. Although pneumatic weapons are currently exempt from this tax, the arrows used by the Airbow® are subject to the tax. Additionally, because Crosman wants to support conservation efforts along with firearms manufacturers and other archery companies, Crosman is proactively pursuing the removal of the tax exemption for certain large bore pneumatic weapons, including the Airbow®.”

Currently, there are multiple states that allow the Airbow to be used while hunting various species, with Washington State leading the way by allowing hunters with disabilities to use the Airbow through a Special Use Permit program.

More hunters, of all abilities, are realizing the benefits to this progressive technology, and are contacting their state Game & Fish departments to advocate for the Airbow’s legalization.

As hunters, we’ve come a long way from slingshots and spears to the modern hunting weapons of today. With each new wave of technology, there will be opposition and an attempt to block anything that brings about a change.

At the end of the day, we need to be encouraging more hunters to be involved in this lifestyle and not block their involvement because it doesn’t fit our personal idea of what hunting looks like. The Airbow is accurate, safe, and easy to use, and it allows for ethical and independent hunting, regardless of your physical abilities.

For more information and the Airbow and how to join the efforts to see it legalized in your state, go to http://www. crosman.com/airbow. AOM

https://www.archerytrade.org/news/ata-board-releases-position-statement-on-airbows Ibid ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Dear AO, Thanks for sending me the December issue with the horseback riding article. As soon as I got the magazine I went straight to the Back on the Saddle article.

Great story and pictures, and I also liked how you included details about how Corey made his adaptive saddle, as well as including info about Grays Custom Saddlery.

I am currently training to become a therapeutic riding instructor, and I have a class coming up this week.

Therapeutic riding instructors from all over the Midwest will be at the class, and I am going to show them your magazine.

PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) has a list of therapeutic riding centers on their website http://www.pathintl.org. You could share this with your readers who want to get into horseback riding. Some of the riding centers have programs designed for kids, some are for adults, some specifically for veterans, and some programs teach driving a horse rather than riding.

Looking forward to receiving future issues!

Thanks again ~ Amy Bourne - Wisconsin [Thank you, Amy! Your feedback is appreciated. I always welcome any resources I can add to our website and share with our readers. I did come across PATH and when working on a story on horseback riding. Yes, do share with other instructors and classmates. It’s all about getting the info out there… that’s what we do.

P.S. It’s great to hear from someone from my home state. ~ DZ] Dear Editors, I’ve been doing hippotherapy and therapeutic riding for a few years since my injury, but more recently I’ve just wanted to go on a good old fashioned trail ride - to just get on a horse and enjoy nature without side walkers, without rehabbing or working on my balance.

I spoke to Chad a few months ago about adaptive riding equipment and it just so happened that he was preparing the last issue which had a story “Back on the Saddle” as well as two product reviews of adaptive saddles. These custom saddles are so rare and I was excited to read about their features and special designs. These discoveries are what I like about Able Outdoors; I always find something new, the magazine is chock full of info and relevant advertising, and it stands apart from most SCI/D related publications.

I love seeing what wheelchair users are doing in rural and backcountry America and I can’t look at these articles without wanting to get outdoors immediately. Thanks a lot, Dani ~ Daniela Schirmer - Virginia [So glad the stories are inspiring to you. We love highlighting adapted equipment that many may not of seen before. It is so hard sometimes knowing where to look for products.

We’re striving to be “that place” people can count on to find what they need to get outdoors. ~ DZ] 8

ABLE OUTDOORS

Chad, Hey man I hope you got another turkey. Just wanted to say thanks again for bringing the (offroad) wheelchair. I’m sorry that Asa didn’t act more excited, one thing he absolutely hates is being the center of attention and I didn’t spring it on him until we got there. He is very independent and stuff like that embarrasses him. He loves the wheelchair and talked about it all the way home. Gonna take it surf fishing today and I will send pics to you and Elizabeth. Send me your home address if you don’t mind, I’m sure he would like to mail you a thank you card. We are interested in going on a hunting trip but we can talk about that more later.

We’re gonna subscribe to your awesome magazine this week. Gonna take Asa shooting soon and teach him some firearms safety.

Thanks again ~ Troy Fredell - North Carolina [Troy, It was my pleasure and I’m glad I got invited to that turkey hunt in South Carolina so I didn’t have to ship it to you. We were put in charge of finding the perfect candidate for that chair and Asa was it. It only comes with 2 instructions - use it and abuse it! Now it’ll be easier for him to get out on the beach with his metal detector like he likes to do. And definitely let me know whenever he’s ready to go hunting.

I’m the guy to talk to about that. We can’t wait to see the pics so send them on. ~ CW P.S. Yessir! I did get that second bird.]

Thank you Able Outdoors, Life (for me) was great. Living in the Eastern foothills of the Coastal range in Oregon, I was fulfilling a childhood dream of working at a vineyard and winery. I sometimes put my fly rod in my backpack on the way to and from work, sneaking in some time to catch cutthroat or rainbow trout for dinner.

That all changed in the course of my daily work routine, a routine I had done hundreds of times, when I was injured, severely damaging one arm. I didn’t comprehend the effects of my injury until I prepared to go turkey hunting, I picked up my trusty shotgun and realized that my arm couldn’t hold it steady. Matter of fact, I couldn’t even hold it up at all. I didn’t consider my limitations as it pertained to my life outside of work, which consisted of fishing and hunting.

We in Oregon don’t call it hunting or fishing; rather we say “got to put some meat in the freezer”. Not only do we hunt and fish for food, we get stress relief from being outdoors and to satisfy our basic human tenet of surviving.

I did some research looking for programs that assisted people with disabilities to allow them to provide sustenance to their families through fish and game. The state Fish and Wildlife department offered a permit where someone can shoot for you to fill a tag. How unsatisfying and misses the point.

I came across the Able Outdoors magazine and realized there are numerous people with a shared experience. I am

encouraged by the success stories of people overcoming their disabilities to continue living their passion for the outdoors, and just as importantly, putting “meat in the freezer”.

Not only has Able Outdoors motivated me to find ways to hunt and fish, I am also motivated to assist others with disabilities so they came claim back part of their life. ~ Jeff Schiminsky - Philomath, OR [Jeff, It’s great to hear from you and I hope that you continue the pursuit of your passions in the outdoors. There are many different kinds of adaptive equipment out there that could help you do what you want to do so contact me someday if you can’t find it on your own. We can get you hunting & fishing again. ~ CW] Dear Editors, Able Outdoors is one of my favorite accessibility/adaptive based publications. I’ve been injured for almost 25 years and the main thing I feel that has kept me positive and active is a passion for experiencing new adventures; it’s great to be able to read through a magazine that is just that! Fun adventures easily adapted to one’s disability. Reading through the articles about one’s story definitely makes you push your limits just a little farther outside your comfort zone. I enjoy that it has such a wide range of activities for everybody. I find it inspiring to see people experience something they may not have thought possible after their injury. I’d love to see more adaptive program resources on your website, it’s great for people to realize that there are many programs out there to help them experience these activities. ~ Terina Sprague - California (SCI T-4 complete) [Thanks Terina! These are some of the same things we love about the magazine too, the variety of stories and hopefully pushing people to get outside their comfort zone. We are planning on adding a lot of new content to the site this summer so please send us some info on programs in your area and we’ll get them posted. ~ CW] Dear Chad, I called you earlier about the “Strike Fighter” and where I can purchase the product. I appreciate your time to help me and my husband. I have another question about adaptive equipment to help with photography. My husband, Bill Morris (married over 43 years) had a stroke 1 year ago, he is improving and doing well. He was a very hard worker his whole life. He graduated from the Naval Academy and served as a Marine aviator full time and active duty for over 25 years. He also worked as a Senior Scientist Engineer at the time of his stroke. Bill worked out 5 days a week when he had the stoke at the gym. He is in mentally

good shape but has right side weakness. His work was his hobby. So I am working on trying to find him new interests to spend his retirement years. He loves fishing so he is going on his second Chesapeake Bay fishing trip next Wednesday.

We also live on (75 feet) from a brackish pond feed by the Potomac River, I am working on setting up a fishing area near the pond for Bill. I have filled the yard with bird feeders and he has enjoyed a new hobby of birding. He seemed to be interested in learning how to take photographs of the birds. I would be also interested in any information about fishing or photography. Thank you for your time. ~ With sincere appreciation, Carol Morris - Ridge, Maryland [Carol, I hope you were able to get the product you needed on short notice and that Bill was able to use it to fish. I also sent some info to you on a bite trigger switch that will help him be able to take pics more easily. Please let me know if you need anything else. We love fielding special requests like yours. ~ CW] Chad, I got a chance to look over magazine last night. 2 thumbs up! Lots of good stories about amazing people that share the same interests as I do... thanks for sharing with me as I do want to order... please keep up good work and I hope we cross paths in The GREAT OUTDOORS. ~ Keith Alford - Texarkana, Tx [See you in the field someday Keith. ~ CW] Dear Able Outdoors, This past spring I had the opportunity to meet Chad Waligura at the Savannah River Site Ultimate Turkey Hunt in South Carolina. This hunt brings together NWTF’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen members, partners and volunteers for a weekend turkey hunt in the Southeast.

Having Chad attend and share his love for hunting and most importantly, his passion for helping physicallychallenged sportsmen was an inspiration. Thanks to Chad many of our Wheelin’ Sportsmen members can now enjoy Able Outdoors, a great magazine for encouragement and resources on adaptive gear which can help them enjoy the outdoors more often! ~ Teresa Carroll, Hunting Heritage Program Coordinator National Wild Turkey Federation South Carolina [Teresa, So nice to finally meet you and put a face with the name. I’ve been wanting to attend a Wheelin’ Sportsmen event for a lot of years and it didn’t disappoint. Top notch people, place and, most importantly, the hunting. Hopefully I can come back someday and bring more magazines for all the hunters and guides. I’ve been on a lot of group hunts across the country and this one is up there at the top. ~ CW]

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FISHING

AOM

For many people living with a disability, the battle to control their body temperature is a constant struggle. I always do my best to avoid places where extreme temperatures will be a factor, whether too hot or too cold. With this mindset, I have always thought that ice fishing would be an activity that I would never enjoy. Who in their right mind would want to freeze to death while huddling over tiny holes with stubby little fishing poles hoping to catch a fish you can’t even see?

Turns out that would be me!

FISHING in the EXTREME

By Ashlee Lundvall

Photos by Hannah Stonehouse Hudson

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hen Barb Carey of the Women Ice Angler Project contacted me last fall about joining the group for a weekend of ice fishing on Lake Mil Lacs in Minnesota, I was hesitant to accept the invitation. Thankfully, my adventurous nature took over and I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try a new activity. Add to that the purpose of encouraging more women to become involved in the sport, and any hesitation I had melted away.

Before the trip, I “Thankfully, my received a large box adventurous nature in the mail from Clam took over and I knew Outdoors. I knew that I couldn’t pass up the they were sponsoring the project, and that several opportunity to try a of the ladies on the team new activity.” were pro staff for Clam, but I had no idea how generous they were being with me until I opened the package. Inside I found an Ice Armour Lift Parka and Bib set, a pair of merino wool socks, gloves, and sub zero boots.

Wow! Going over the details on these products certainly 12

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Ashlee Lundvall learns a new sport as she joins the Women Ice Angler Project for a weekend of ice fishing on Lake Mil Lacs in Minnesota.

made me feel a lot better about staying warm on the ice.

On the drive to Minnesota, I stopped at a Cabela’s to finish adding to my cold weather gear. I picked up a new set of wool polar base layers and a fur hat. With my Volt heated fleece and Flambeau heated muff already packed in my suitcase, I was ready to do some ice fishing!

We pulled in to McQuoid’s Lodge and began to unload our gear. I had called ahead to get some information on the accessibility of the cabin where we would be staying, and I was pleasantly surprised at the accommodations.

While not claiming ADA status, the door and halls were all wide enough for my wheelchair and with a makeshift ramp on the deck, access to the kitchen could avoid the single step up at the living room front door. I enjoyed the large bedroom on the main level with access to a bathroom, where I placed my shower chair in the tub/shower combo. I was able to make the toilet and sink area work as well, and it was a good start to a weekend full of unknowns.

The next morning I climbed into my SUV pulling my trailer with my Action Track Chair (ATC). I had been given more gear that I didn’t yet understand, but after meeting the

Using her Action Track Chair (above), Ashlee helped haul the snow sleds loaded with their gear. Inside the Clam XL6000T Garage (right), Ashlee gets a fishing lesson from Barb Carey, founder of the Women Ice Angler Project. Ashlee (below) using the Vexilar System.

rest of the team the night before, I was confident that I was surrounded by women who were eager to teach me all about a sport they clearly loved.

As we drove out onto the ice road, I was teetering between exhilaration and fear at what lie ahead. Regardless of how this played out, I knew I would be learning and testing products that could be invaluable to future adventures.

We parked our vehicles and began to unload our gear. I unstrapped my ATC and quickly transferred so I would have a better grip on the snow and ice. We decided on a spot on the ice and headed out, me pulling several snow sleds loaded with coolers, poles, and Vexilar systems.

I hadn’t made it halfway to where the other ladies were setting up when my chair stopped in its tracks. “Great!”

I muttered. “This is not the ideal way to begin this trip.”

As I waited for the team to head my way, I went through a diagnostic list in my head. Full battery charge? Check.

Cleared undercarriage? Check. Extreme temperatures?

Uh-oh. It was pretty frigid that morning; I wondered if it was too cold for the electronics on my rig.

I transferred over to an ATV and continued on while my ATC was reloaded onto my trailer. One of the camera guys starting messing around underneath the chair and realized that the power cord has slightly disconnected from the charger. He pulled it out, wiped it off, and plugged it back in. Of course, the chair immediately came back on and was in perfect working order. Note to self; check that plug first next time.

While this was going on, a few of the women had started setting up the ice shelters. One of the pieces of equipment that I was the most excited about was the new Clam XL6000T Garage. At a trade show, a veteran in a wheelchair mentioned to one of the Clam distributors that he could no longer access his ice shelter because he had difficulty getting his wheelchair over the lip of the entrance. The designers at Clam got together and created the Garage, with its zippered end panel that swings wide open to allow ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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FISHING IN THE EXTREME

The Women Ice Angler Project is a fun group that works to introduce more women to the sport and to share their love for ice fishing.

for easier access. With dimensions of 8 x 14 feet, the space inside is incredibly generous, easily fitting my ATC and several other anglers, with all of our additional gear. This is a wonderful example of a company taking into consideration its customers with disabilities and creating a product that makes ice fishing better for everyone.

The Garage can also accommodate ATVs or snowmobiles, and the spacious interior is wonderful for multiple users.

Once we turned on a few space heaters and zippered up the doors, the thermal skin walls did their job and it was soon incredibly warm and quite comfortable inside the shelter.

Over the next few days, I learned how to use the ice poles and which lures and bait worked best for walleyes. I became fascinated with the Vexilar system and how well it worked at indicating fish below the ice. In fact, I was often so distracted by watching the lights that I missed several hits.

I even tried my hand with the ice augers. Bearing down on the handles while simultaneously running the drill for a straight hole proved tricky, and it didn’t help that the ice was nearly 36 inches thick! I did some brainstorming with a few of the women and I think I have a new design that will work better for next time, but it was a lot of fun to try it out!

I had an amazing weekend knocking down my fears one by one. Getting on to the ice involved either my SUV, a four-wheeler, or a snow machine. I even drove around for a 14

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while on a borrowed snowmobile for the first time, which was an awesome experience! If these weren’t a possibility for someone with a higher-level injury, using your personal vehicle or transferring to a padded sled to be pulled behind an ATV would be viable options.

Having the proper clothing, I never once had to worry about being too cold. With all of the heated and insulated gear, I actually got too warm at times and removed layers.

On the last day, we even fished outside of the shelter to enjoy the sunshine.

I had also worried about my cathing schedule because being that far out on the ice for the entire day was going to require some bathroom breaks. Fortunately, the large ice shelter provided plenty of privacy for that. Getting in and out of ice bibs by myself was a little interesting, but I adapted and know that they could be modified just like any other piece of clothing.

This ice fishing trip was a very rewarding experience for me. I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone and field tested a lot of new products. I tried to put myself in different scenarios to find answers for other friends who were interested in spending time on the ice. I met a group of women who were incredibly gracious and took the time to educate the new kid with enthusiasm and patience.

And we all learned together that with teamwork, creativity, and a fierce desire to push aside boundaries, you can find empowering adventures that you will never forget. AOM

COLUMNIST

JESSE ALBERI

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ACCESS UNLIMITED I would like to tell everyone about the unique fishing opportunity we have to offer up here in the mountains of Montana, but first I should probably give you a little background on myself and how I came to be sitting in this position in life. My story actually starts with me being fortunate enough to have grown up in the mountains of southwestern Montana. I was raised by a dad and grandfather who both taught me how to live off the land. This sparked a love affair with the outdoors that has guided me through most of my life.

For me to be able to I feel privileged to have think about the hours grown up in the rural ranching town of Dillon that changed my where the amount of life, much less write cattle far outnumbers about them, has been the people and it seems a work in progress for that everyone knows and cares about their the last eight years. neighbor.

Looking back, two things stick out from my childhood memories. The first was my ambition to hang a state championship banner in the rafters of our gymnasium, and the second was to be outside exploring our incredible countryside. Dillon just so happens to lay on the banks of the Beaverhead River where back in 1806 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark traded their canoes for horses in order to find a path over the Continental Divide and on to the Pacific Ocean.

Although this was pounded into our head all through grade school, my friends and I were mostly concerned with the monster rainbow and brown trout that call the Beaverhead their home. We were always running some gravel road to wet our lines in a creek or mountain lake and searching for our next secret fishing hole.

Upon graduation, I accepted a track scholarship to Jamestown College in North Dakota, and I quickly learned that nothing can make you miss the mountains more than living on the plains of North Dakota. Perhaps this was what inspired me to make the move up to Alaska after I finished school. I lived and worked in Eagle River building log homes and fishing whenever I could. The long summer hours were perfect for salmon, dolly and halibut fishing, but looking back it’s easy to see my best catch while I was there was of my wife Emily. After a year of dating I convinced her to marry me and we eventually moved back to Montana to start our family.

THE NIGHT It’s important for readers to know that being able to talk about this one night of my life comes only after much time of healing. For me to be able to think about the hours that changed my life, much less write about them, has been a work in progress for the last eight years.

The events prior to that night began like any other Thursday.

I got up at six to get ready for work and to drive the 45 minute route to KB Construction where I was a foreman on one of ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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ABLE OUTDOORS the crews. I was driving an “My truck was on its side but the Cummins I remember not being old Subaru that day that I’d engine was still running, and I thought impressed with the insulating picked up to keep the miles that if I could just get closer the heat of quality of polyester and off my truck, so after work wishing I had on my the engine might help keep me in my 70’s I decided to stop at home Patagonia jacket that was and get my Dodge before swag from freezing. I probably should’ve in the backseat of my truck. heading up to the Allison’s stayed still, but I didn’t. I clawed and At an elevation of almost house. Em and our daughter scratched and drug myself until I passed 7000 feet in late October, the Briley were already up there out from exhaustion.” temperature that night fell at our friend Brice’s birthday to 17 degrees. At one point – Jesse Alberi I realized that my feet were party, and as it was October 25th everyone was wearing bare. I hadn’t been wearing costumes for Halloween. Briley was a Lady Bug, Brice was a my seatbelt so when my truck rolled over I was ejected cowboy and I wore the same thing I always wore to costume and my boots and socked had been ripped off. I can still parties, a bright blue pair of polyester pants with matching remember looking at my bare toes trying to get them to butterfly collar shirt. The kids bobbed for apples and opened move and realizing that if I didn’t get them warmed up they gifts while the dads talked of heading into the timber to see were gonna be frost-bitten. My truck was on its side but if we could cross any elk tracks in the snow. the Cummins engine was still running, and I thought that After the party ended, the guys did what all quality dads if I could just get closer the heat of the engine might help would do and sent the little-uns home with their moms keep me in my 70’s swag from freezing. I probably should’ve while we snuck out for the mountains. We never found any stayed still, but I didn’t. I clawed and scratched and drug tracks, but we did get ourselves into deep enough snow that myself until I passed out from exhaustion. we had to dig out and put chains on all four tires to get back After coming back to, I began to holler for help. I would down. We returned to the ranch around midnight where shout a bit and then catch my breath and listen. I did this for we parted ways and made our paths toward home. For me, only Lord knows how long then during one of my pauses I it was just 5 miles up a gravel road I’d driven a thousand heard a shout. I thought I am saved and started yelling my times. I punched the throttle, aimed it toward home and location and telling them about what was wrong with me. looked down to find the perfect road song. The next thing I listened and again I heard another shout so I yelled even I knew I was laying in a field of sagebrush with no memory more that I was hurt and needed help. It was then that I of where I was or how I’d gotten there, and that it was cold! realized that the shouts I’d heard in the darkness were not I immediately noticed I couldn’t move my legs. I remember from elk hunters but a pack of coyotes. They came directly thinking to myself ‘Ain’t no big thing. Don’t freak out. A little toward me and I could hear them walking in the sage brush time on some parallel bars and I will be good as new.’ When around me, barking to one another as they circled. With my I reached down to push myself up I watched my left arm right arm, I desperately began searching the ground for flop out to the side awkwardly. My left humerus bone was rocks as I yelled at the top of my lungs in my deepest man broken in multiple places. For the next seven and half hours voice, hurling obscenities at them about what I would do I lay in that spot focusing on surviving the night. I knew if I to them if they came in. I couldn’t see them in the night but could make it through that I’d be ok. could hear them breathing and yipping as they looked me over. After what seemed like hours but was probably closer to five minutes, something in my tantrum worked because the pack moved down into the meadow to look for an easier target.

About this same time Emily awoke and realized that I was not at home. She called my buddy Eric and Brice’s dad Scott and told them that I wasn’t at the house. Eric said that he knew at that instant that something was really wrong and he jumped in his rig and headed for a tight little S-curve that had claimed a few trucks in its day. But I wasn’t at that curve or anywhere between his house and mine. He arrived at my house and went inside to try and calm my understandably scared wife. Meanwhile, Scott had started down from his FIND OUT MORE ABOUT US, CATCH UP WITH THE LATEST house and as he rounded a big sweeping curve spotted my ON NEWS, RESOURCES & EQUIPMENT AND VISIT OUR truck in the field. Scott was able to reach Eric over the CB PARTNERS AT radio so the best man at our wedding had to be the one to tell my wife what was unfolding just up the road. Emily’s one www.AbleOutdoors.net question to Eric was “Is he breathing?”

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I don’t remember much from that morning, but my friends piled blankets and coats on me to try to warm me up while we waited for the ambulance. I know I’m alive today because of Dr. Moore and the crew at Barrett Memorial Hospital in Dillon. I woke up in the ER covered in heated blankets as a chopper sat outside waiting to take me to Missoula. My body temperature was 82 degrees.

When we finally lifted off I looked down to see my close friends and family standing outside the hospital seeing me off. Briley celebrated her first birthday while I was in the intensive care unit at St. Pats in Missoula, and two weeks later I was headed to Craig Hospital in Denver, CO. People ask me all the time how it is I’m able to do all that I do and I tell them it’s because of Craig. Craig hospital was a place of hope and hard work and they took Emily and I and my whole family in and made us their own. Today I am the person I am because of two things, my wife and Craig hospital. I spent 45 days rolling around there as a T-10 para struggling to learn how to live again.

Bristol Hope Alberi joined our family on July 29th, 2014. I had the true privilege of being able to stay at home with her for the first two years of life while Emily worked at her preschool. I made countless adaptions to my chair and our house to make things easier for me, like mounting her crib to the wall so I could roll under it to put her in and out. She turns three in July so now she gets to spend her days at the big kid school with her mom. This change has allowed me to indulge myself in my true passion… being outdoors.

Since my accident in 2008, I’ve had to relearn everything about being in the mountains and out with Mother Nature.

My friends and family have made sure that doing what I love remains a constant in my life and that along with my willingness to try just about anything is what continues to drive me forward.

THE FUTURE One of the things that has increased since my injury is offers to float down the river to fish. I have a lot of buddies who spend their summers guiding on the water around Dillon and they are adamant about getting me in the boat.

I don’t know how to explain it but there’s something special that happens when I’m out on a river in Montana. I’m able to leave my wheelchair on the bank and sit in the pedestal seat just like I used to. It’s almost like I am leaving my disability on the bank.

In 2014, I was floating the Big Hole with my friend Steve Miller and we began talking about taking this passion we share and offering it to other folks with disabilities.

It was in this moment that Access Unlimited was born.

Access Unlimited is dedicated to offering people the same opportunities I have had after my injury, the chance to get outside. We secured our 501c3 status and gained the support of some notable names in the industry. Last July, we joined up with Craig Hospital, the High Fives Foundation and GoPro to host our first AU Fish Camp. We invited six High 5’s athletes that had gone through Craig to join us at

the Big Hole C4 Lodge for four days of fishing and country livin’. Although the fishing was an overwhelming success, we found that it was the smaller things too that folks enjoyed just as much. Like sitting around the fire at night, ripping the RZR and shooting some targets. These are things that I take for granted because I’ve been doing them all my life. I feel privileged now to be able to share this knowledge with others that have been down a similar path.

Being able to offer these opportunities to other people has been way more rewarding then I ever thought it would be.

Anytime you are a part of something bigger than yourself for the benefit of others, it always seems to benefit yourelfy.

We recently gained the support of Hyde Drift boats who helped us design one of the first, if not the first, Adaptive Drift Boat. They worked with our ideas to get me out of the front seat and back into the row seat. Before then, it had been eight years since I was shoveling water and able to put my friends on the fish. We moved the anchor rope into a position I could reach and put covers on the rod holders so that we wouldn’t break rods as we transferred in and out.

We have also gained the support of Action Track Chair. Their Track Stander has allowed us to fish water and hunt ground that was not possible before it. We have a small stream that runs through our family’s place and last fall I was able to use the Track Chair to work my way up the bank and pull a nice brown trout out of the same hole I used to fish as a kid.

This summer we will be upping our game as we will invite seven adaptive athletes to join us in June for the AU Fish Camp. If anyone is interested in applying for one of our fishing trips or camps, visit us online at accessunltd.org or call (406) 219-8629 and apply for an event. We’ll be more than happy to take you out and show you something you can’t find anywhere else. Mention that you saw the article in this magazine and we will do all that we can to provide a trip of a lifetime. AU is my new passion and it provides me with so much drive to know that we are making a small difference in other people’s lives. I know it’s made one in mine. It’s given me purpose and I feel like I am passing forward something which I was lucky enough to have been passed on to me. AOM

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WOUNDED WARRIORS

AOM

Why wild mustangs? Because they’ve never been touched by human hands. There’s a unique bond that happens between a horse and their very first owner, and there’s something special about their wild spirit, something that veterans can connect with. A mustang can be gentle in one second and a fierce defender of the herd in the other, very much like the soldiers I know.

Veterans and MUSTANGS

By Bill Hancock

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Built On Trust

hen the Veterans & Mustangs program was first started, it was built on trust. Trust that you have to earn from your horse and the trust he must find in you. When a wild horse allows you to touch it the first time, something extraordinary has taken place. One of the most emotional moments for me in the program was when my horse let me groom him. Just the simple brushing of his mane was a very personal experience for us, and this is one of the reasons that mustangs are chosen for the program.

Adopting a mustang “When a wild also helps with the management of the horse allows you herd. Currently, there are to touch it the first approximately 68,000 time, something wild mustangs on Bureau extraordinary has of Land Management (BLM) land and what taken place.” many people don’t know is that the BLM is in charge of all the wild mustangs in the US. Another bit of information not commonly known is they are overpopulated, and this is where the Mustang Heritage Foundation comes in. Veterans and Mustangs is an adoption program created by the MHF. The MHF is currently 18

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Trainer Katie Ketterhagen working in the ring with Bandit at the MHF facility in Weir, Texas.

responsible for over half of the wild mustangs and donkeys adopted every year.

Located in Weir, TX, the MHF kicks off the program each year by driving all chosen participants (vets and first responders) up to Pauls Valley, OK, for an overnight stay. Early the next day, they go out to select their very own wild mustang from the BLM herd. Once the horses have been selected, and paperwork verified, they’re loaded into trailers and brought back to the MHF facility in Texas.

Once the mustangs are back at the facility the training begins. Training is taken very seriously and Katie Ketterhagen oversees all of it. She is more than just another pretty, blonde cowgirl running around with a ball cap and Wranglers on.

Katie is a Wisconsin transplant with twenty years’ experience training horses. She’s the one responsible for helping the veterans bond with their mustangs at the MHF facility. [I am a veteran and former police officer that has participated in the program from February to April 2017.] She teaches them how to approach their new mustangs, put halters on them and lead them around along with everything else that goes into training horses (and people). Katie is very thorough and

takes great care to ensure that every participant learns how to handle their horse.

CONNECTING WITH A MUSTANG Each person connects with a horse in their own way. It seems like a horse is its own planetary body with its own gravity that draws you in. It’s an amazing thing to see.

Whether suffering from psychological wounds or physical injuries, or both, there’s something special about caring for a horse that can heal your soul. When you make that first eye contact, you can feel that mustang moving into your heart, and if it sounds like I’m speaking from experience it’s because I am. Those mustangs are going through the same emotions our candidates are, being thrust into a new environment, out of their safe places, having to learn something completely different than anything they’ve ever experienced. Anxiety, fear, apprehension and uncertainty, it’s all on the surface. I immediately wanted to assure them that everything was going to be OK, but mustangs don’t speak “human”, at least not right away anyway. To be a horse trainer you have to learn to communicate with them in a way they understand.

The animals are very intelligent and that’s where Katie comes in. She shows all the prospective trainers how to communicate with their mustang. I guess you could say she trains both horses and people, usually at the same time.

Wild mustangs are just like humans in that they all have different personalities, so learning to interact with them requires time and patience.

Being imperfect and learning to overcome situations are two of the biggest aspects of the process, just as it is when learning to be a soldier or first responder. You discover that you and your horse are stronger together than you are separate.

From the moment you step into that pen, the horse is watching you. Your facial expressions, body language, your eyes and voice are all being examined. Remember, wild mustangs are prey animals and they have to be hyper aware of the environment in the wild. If your voice is unsure, they know it. They know if you’re calm or nervous or scared or apprehensive or frustrated or angry. Remarkably, there’s not an emotion they can’t read.

Mustangs possess those same qualities that we treasure in our friends: Sincere trust and complete honesty. They also require the same from their owner. You both work together to gain each other’s trust. Much the same as we do in the military, you depend on each other every day of training.

Some mustangs are calm and approachable while others are more skittish. Those are the ones that require a steady hand. The miraculous thing that I’ve witnessed as soon as training starts is everyone has a renewed sense of purpose.

Suddenly you have this 1500 pound animal that is relying on you every day and you have to get up every morning and get to work. Staying in bed or inside the house isn’t an option anymore. You have to take care of your horse. It’s one of the things the program is based on.

Harold Cosper grooming his wild mustang Shaggy which is an important part of the bonding process.

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VETERANS AND MUSTANGS

You will build a bond with your mustang that no person, other than yourself, can break. You’re in a new relationship where you learn how to build on your strengths and conquer your weaknesses, one at a time. Some people find that they became more demanding of themselves than the horse because they want to learn to know how to “talk” to their horse more quickly. A mustang just wants to know what you want it to do. Like I said, they’re quick learners and they have a lot of personality. My horse, Chuck Wagon, loved to be close to me. He wanted constant hugs and to always take my hat off my head for some reason. I guess he thought I looked better without it. As I mentioned previously, grooming was a very personal experience for us.

I truly treasured the time that I got to spend brushing his body or untangling his mane and tail. He and I would play around a lot but when training started we were all business.

Katie made sure of that. She makes sure that everybody is progressing, human and horse alike.

I was excited every time I went to the corral to be with Chuck. I wanted to help him improve, but in the end it was he that helped me.

When I went through the program, there were four other veterans with me. Two of them had retired from the army, one had served in the Army and the Air Force, and the other had served in the Department of Defense in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We all had combat tours, sometimes several combat tours, under our belts, and we ran the gamut from PTSD/Anxiety/Depression to time dissociation to physical injuries that limited each of us in some way or the other.

Each of us fought our own personal demons, but I found 20

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that I was able to leave mine outside the gate every time I went in to work with Chuck. That round pen became our sanctuary, a place of trust and respect and learning. There was no room left for my problems. This is another important aspect of the program – the healing.

In addition to my time and combat tours/war in the army, I had spent several years on the Austin Police Department.

Previous classes before mine had other first responders in them as well, and many of the people I talked to believed there was a direct correlation between the Veterans for Mustangs program and their improved outlook on life. It always seemed to happen when people started concentrating on the mustang’s abilities and not dwelling on their own disabilities. In my class, I know our horses brought out the best in us.

EDUCATION This is not one of those “feel good, more pomp than substance” programs. I learned a great deal about horse science, veterinary care, anatomy, mustang behavior and their lives in the wild. The subjects we were taught during the morning sessions were first rate, and the experience we gained from training in the afternoons was invaluable.

The knowledge I graduated with was a great building block for mine and Chuck’s future together. Yes, this means that everyone who finishes the program does so with a brand new horse! This is an opportunity of a lifetime. There are never any slow moments. A Dr. Moore, an equine dentist, even came out to give us a lesson on how to take care of our horse’s teeth. He was patient with us and answered all our questions, and I felt like I was getting to experience

something incredible that I would never have otherwise had the opportunity to witness.

Within the Vets & Mustangs program, we have some people come through that have experience working with horses and some who have never touched a horse in their lives, but the beauty of the course is that you all learn at the same speed. The program director, Gayle Graham teaches the classroom portion of the course and arranges and oversees all field trips. All participants get to go to the homes of some of the legends in the horse business. People like B.F. Yates, Dr. Charles Graham, Patti Colbert, Larry Gonzalez, Michael “Spanky” Stephens and David Graham were all more than happy to share their knowledge of horses and taking care of horses with us. We even got to meet the million dollar winning race horse, Kiss My Hocks, at the Southwest Stallion Station ranch. On another trip, we got to meet a famous roper and horse trainer named Larry Gonzalez. We got to watch Larry’s people as they worked out a horse by swimming it. That was something I’d never seen before.

All aspects of owning a horse were covered, so if you decide to keep your horse at the end of the program you know what you’re getting into.

A horse is a magnificent creature and seeing one in all its glory is a sight to behold. Gayle shares her extensive knowledge and no matter your level of experience is, everyone is treated as equal. I made some lifetime friendships when I went through the program and I can’t say enough about how much good it does for both horse and man (or woman) alike.

THE PROGRAM The program does not have therapists, counselors or other medical professionals on hand and is not considered “therapy”. I agree because it can be something so much more. When it was over we all had a new companion, a new purpose. I had a new friend named Chuck Wagon that was counting on me to be there for him, every single day, and I couldn’t let him down. Even when I didn’t feel like getting up I found myself outside with Chuck, happily playing with him like we used to do in the ring. I found that the program provided a new goal for me to meet every day, a goal to build something positive, no matter how small. While caring for and training Chuck, he suddenly became more important to me than myself.

If you are selected to participate, the only advice I’d give is to make the most of it. There are at least twenty or thirty people that would love to be sitting in your chair in that classroom. Each class is small, only about five people. A small class size allows for more time with each participant and their mustang.

At the end of the program, you are given the option of either keeping your horse or allowing it to go to the trainer.

If you wish to adopt the mustang, the fee is approximately $125.00 and is covered completely by the Mustang Heritage Foundation. If you decide not to keep your horse then it is sold at auction, typically for charity.

I brought my horse, Chuck Wagon, home with me but first I sent him with Katie for 3 more months of training. He turned out to be quite the character and we formed a strong bond.

He loves to swim and to play with an oversized soccer ball.

I still treasure every minute that I get to spend with him. I enjoyed the process of buying a saddle, tack and all of the other items and equipment needed to care for Chuck.

The program is completely free to the participants due to the generosity of the foundation and the members. It couldn’t exist without the generosity and support of people who donate money and time along with the hard work of the MHF staff. The people involved care deeply about what they’re doing and put a lot of time and effort into.

The MHF is a full-time operation that is continually moving and evolving. The Veterans for Mustangs program is just one program that the foundation holds. Educating people about mustangs, putting on events, fund raising, helping veterans and the other daily business operations keep the staff in constant motion. The cost to put a veteran through the eight-week course is approximately $3000.00. The entire amount is covered by donations.

I can tell you, as a participant of this program it’s worth every penny. I was enrolled in the program before I was asked to write this article. Now I know how important it is in the crusade to help our veterans. The value is immeasurable.

It saves lives. I have a friend who was in the course who had spent two years inside her home because of PTSD, anxiety and depression. This course broke her out of that prison and got her involved in the world again. The course is family friendly and holds an open house for each class towards the end. You can see the changes the program makes in the lives of veterans and their families. I only got involved in the class at the request and with the encouragement of my wife, Karen and a good friend, Sheriff Robert Chody (Williamson County), and I’m thankful every day that they talked me into it.

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VETERANS AND MUSTANGS

The author with the newest member of his family, Chuck Wagon.

The MHF is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit foundation. The Executive Director of the Mustang Heritage Foundation is Kali Sublett.

She and her staff put in many countless hours towards the foundation and the Veterans for Mustangs course in particular. To donate you can mail donations to Mustang Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 979, Georgetown, Tx 78627 or donate on line. If you’d like to volunteer to help or otherwise contribute, contact the foundation at 512-869-3225 For more information on the Veterans for Mustangs program or an application to participate, contact Gayle Graham at 512-869-3225 or you can email her at: 1GayleGraham@gmail.com Their website is www.mustangheritagefoundation.org and they are also on Facebook under “Extreme Mustang Makeover” and “Mustang Heritage Foundation.”

If you’d like to talk to Katie Ketterhagen about the training of the wild mustangs, you can contact her at 512-940-0520 or KatieKetterhagen@aol.com. AOM About the author: Bill Hancock is a freelance writer who has written books about Whitetail deer hunting, written a collection of short stories and writes newspaper and magazine articles. He is a former soldier, Austin police officer and state wildland fire fighter and ranger. He currently resides in west Texas with his wife, Karen who is a nurse manager and their two dogs, Daisy and Jake. He can be contacted at bill_ hancock@ymail.com. His website is www.bdhancock.com and he can also be reached at bill@bdhancock.com.

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COLUMNIST

KEITH WINCHELL

ABLE OUTDOORS

PTSD AND ME For this issue I’d like to talk about a subject that’s very near to me, PTSD, and some of the support organizations out there that have helped us gain our freedom back in the outdoors. A lot of people toss the term PTSD around, especially in the media, like it’s a disease with no cure.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth. It is a big problem for some soldiers and first responders, or anyone who’s experienced a traumatic event for that matter, but there is help out there. The most important thing you can do is not isolate yourself with your problems… share them!

There’s a big difference between having a bad day and trying to overcome an extreme event or life-changing injury. PTSD varies from person to person, of course, and how people deal with it also varies, so for this column I’m talking about anyone who’s letting it affect their life. I know from personal experience that it’s only complicated by injuries you received during the traumatic event, and then there’s physical pain that gets wound in with the mental afterwards.

We’ve all seen the stories in the papers, or had family members and friends try to deal with this pain either by themselves or with drugs, with the end result always coming out badly.

So how can getting outdoors make any difference? Well I’m here to tell you that it can have a great effect on PTSD and pain. I’ve been there. I’ve seen what can happen when people battling these problems get outside and with other people who are dealing with the same things. It not only makes a world of difference for that brief weekend, but somehow it has a lasting effect. Meeting new people, sharing stories and then ideas about how we deal with our issues suddenly makes us a group taking on PTSD instead of just one person.

For a lot of us, hunting, fishing and the outdoors played a big part of our lives prior to our injures. It was where we were at peace. It’s only natural that it would have the same effect on us after. I know after I got hurt it was the thing I wanted to get back to doing the most. It literally saved my life, and it helps me deal with the constant pain I have now.

I’ve had the privilege of taking part in a number of events that get people outside so I wanted to share a few of them with you (see below), but there are a lot more than I can fit in this column. Some are geared toward the military

while others include civilians also. They’ve helped many people over mental and physical hurdles. These hunts are put together by great volunteers from all walks of life, who want to pay it forward to you. Some are free and some have travel expenses so contact them to see if it’s a fit for you. But please go. The most important thing is that you take that first step toward healing.

Over the past months I’ve lost military and law enforcement brothers and sisters to suicide, and every time it happens it makes me wonder what I could’ve done to save them. This is one of the things I know of that works. After reading this, please don’t keep it to yourself but pass it forward. It can make a difference in someone’s life.

If you have any other questions I’d be glad to answer all of them. Contact me at kawinch63@yahoo.com. The following are some great organizations: • Hell or High Waters Outdoors - Contact Ben Mallon at 936-635-2096. Type of Hunt: Duck hunting on the Texas coast (Military & Disabled) • Americas Freedom Lodge in Utica Ohio - Contact Rob Peirpont at 740-644-7021 (americasfreedomlodge.org) Type of Hunt: Archery hunt for whitetail and turkey (Military, Police & Fireman) • Licking River Outfitters in Kentucky - Contact Robin Gassett at 770-894-9600 (lickingriveroutfitters.com) Type of Hunt: Rifle, Archery for whitetail and turkey (Military & Disabled Youth) • Heart of Florida - Contact: Tinsley Ashley at 352-2665184 or James Huffman at 352-446-5326 Type of Hunt: Rifle for whitetail and hog (Military & Civilian) AOM

HAVE THE ACTIONS OF ANYONE INSPIRED YOU TO PUSH BEYOND? LET US KNOW!

chad@ableoutdoors.net

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RECREATION AOM Among the fastest growing activities in the adaptive sports world is the use of handcycles. As more and more riders join the ranks of handcyclists however, one challenge remains.

Where to ride safely? Roads can take us almost anywhere, but sitting eyelevel with a vehicle bumper presents an obvious danger, especially in a world where drivers are increasingly distracted by smartphones and other devices that take their attention away from the road. Bike trails provide a safe and high quality riding experience where they are available, but not everyone has a bike trail within easy reach.

By David Nickelson

T

Going to the SUN ROAD

he question remains, where to go? For me, I’ve found the perfect location. It’s a smooth paved road with no vehicle traffic and some of the most outstanding scenery in the world.

Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park is the road.

For those who have driven it through the heart of Glacier the words conjure images of soaring peaks, deep valleys and maybe, some white knuckle driving for people with a fear of heights. The road traverses approximately 50 miles between the towns of West Glacier and St. Mary, hugging steep clifffaces and reaching its highest point at Logan Pass.

During the summer months, the road is a beautiful, but crowded drive, with parking lots that often fill to capacity as lines of vehicles snake their way up and down its route.

From late spring to early summer however, the road is the greatest bike trail in the world. Deep winter snows mean it can take two to three months to fully plow the road and this creates a window for cycling. Vehicles are not allowed, hikers and cyclists are.

Plowing begins in early April, but the primetime for biking is when the plows begin to reach higher elevations, typically mid April through mid to late June. This affords a 24

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Hand Biking

David Nickelson enjoys an early spring handcycle ride on the Going to the Sun Road in Glacial National Park, before any vehicles are allowed on the road.

cyclist access to the views for which Going to the Sun Road is famous. As the weather warms and the plows get closer to the pass however, the chance increases that the road will open to vehicles, and the (safe) biking season will come to an end. For most of the spring biking season, vehicles are stopped at the Avalanche Campground area along Going to the Sun Road. This is where my biking journey will begin.

I like to start my days early, so when I pull into the Avalanche parking lot the sun has yet to reach the valley floor but its rays are lighting up the peaks above me. Pit toilets and potable water are available here. From this point it will be 16 miles and 3,000 vertical feet to reach Logan Pass. I know that I’ll be on my own for any personal care or equipment issues so I double check that I’ve packed everything I need for the ride up and back down. While park personnel do sometimes patrol the road, they will be few and far between.

There are a few other early morning cyclists getting ready as well who can’t help but take a second or third glance to

be sure they’re seeing things right. Many have never seen a handcycle before, so the curious looks and questions are common.

Camera and bear-spray in easy reach, I push back from my truck and begin cranking my Lasher Sport Handcycle, swinging around the heavy gates blocking vehicles from venturing further up the road. At this time of the year, early morning temperatures can be in the 20s or 30s, so I’m glad I’ve dressed warm.

Leaving the Avalanche area, the road bends to the right with McDonald creek crashing over unseen cascades in a deep gorge to the left. Within the first mile the creek comes into sight and will remain my companion for the first five miles of the ride. Here in the valley floor, leaves have returned to trees and grasses and bushes grow a vibrant early season green. As I ride along I see a dark line running left to right across the road. Getting closer I see that some animal must have waded the creek before continuing on, leaving a trail from its wet footprints and dripping fur… probably a bear.

Through a few small climbs the road continues to follow McDonald Creek, until about five miles in when it leaves the creek and begins the start of a non-stop 11-mile climb.

To this point I’ve been comfortable in a light jacket, but the extra exertion quickly has me down to a t-shirt, even though temps have barely cracked 40 degrees.

The added climbing is not without rewards however, as the road quickly reveals openings through and above the trees, showcasing the snow covered mountains and cascading waterfalls for which Glacier is so famous. The west-side tunnel comes into view, water from melting snow seeping through the rock and falling from overhead.

About a mile past the tunnel is an area known as ‘The Loop’, a sharp hairpin turn in the road that coincides with

Its not uncommon to have close encounters with the wildlife.

the halfway point of the ride up. Pit toilets here offer a break, and I scarf down a bite to eat along with some fluids.

For the next eight miles the going will be slow, the climb steady and unrelenting. With amazing views at every point, there are countless places and reasons to stop briefly, catch my breath and smile at this opportunity to ride without the constant stream of vehicles.

The first major milestone I look for above The Loop is Haystack Falls. Here Haystack Creek falls over a series of sedimentary layers before passing beneath the road and plunging to the valley floor below. Above Haystack Falls the road enters a series of twists and turns, reducing visibility to the next bend. Rock-fall and branches litter portions of the road, having fallen down in the previous few days.

As I come around another bend in the road I see a large black figure and quickly identify it as a black bear walking along the road. I position myself to have a distant view of him and watch him for a good 15 minutes. He alternates grazing for roots with licking exposed rock surfaces along the road. Eventually he wanders off the roadway and into thick brush, leaving me to continue.

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GOING TO THE SUN ROAD

Shortly after, I come to an area known as Big Bend, a wide sweeping curve in the road. The Weeping Wall sends showers of water onto the left lane of the road while a major avalanche chute hints at the power and size of winter avalanches. From here I know it’s just about three miles to the top of the road at Logan Pass.

Passing Triple Arches, a portion of the road supported by magnificent arch-work, it’s hard to imagine the skill and challenges that builders faced when constructing this road from 1921-1932. It’s also here that my arms begin to feel the fatigue of the past two and a half hours of cycling. My stops become more frequent, the buildup of lactic acid tougher to shake out.

A cyclist approaches from behind and we chat, she’s seen me before doing this same ride so we introduce ourselves.

There’s a camaraderie that forms between anyone crazy or determined enough to ride up this far, commiserating nods as we each struggle to make it to the top. My pace is slower than hers so I wish her a nice ride and say I’ll see her on the way down.

Over the last two miles Logan Pass appears tantalizingly close, yet the snail-like pace of going uphill keeps it from arriving. Winter continues to hang on here, and though the plow crews have cleared the roadway, drifts rise 10 to 30 feet high on each side. As often happens this time of year, clouds build in and the mountains begin to disappear behind their gray haze.

The road makes one last turn at Oberlin bend before the final quarter mile climb to Logan Pass. I know I’m close, but adrenaline can only do so much this far into the climb, and so I maintain my slow steady pace, reaching, waiting for, 26

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and finally finding that spot in the road where the grade turns to flat.

I swing my bike into the parking lot and it’s nearly deserted, save for two more cyclists who are getting ready to make their trip back down. We say hello and they’re on their way, leaving me at the pass by myself.

I quickly throw on my extra gear, sweatshirt, windbreaker, winter hat and gloves. Since I’m no longer cranking uphill I know it won’t be long before my body starts to cool down. I break out the rest of my food and drink, sticking a celebratory can of beer in a snow bank and enjoying a peanut butter & jelly sandwich along with a Gatorade.

I enjoy this slice of solitude that I know is just weeks away from disappearing for the summer. Once the road opens this parking lot will look like a mall on black Friday with drivers anxiously, and often angrily, driving up and down rows waiting for someone to pull out.

For now though it’s just me, the solitude, and the clouds.

Then it begins to snow. At first it’s just a few flakes, but as the cloud moves through they increase in size and frequency.

Before I know it the air is full of huge, wet snowflakes falling almost straight down in the silence of calm winds. I catch a few and smile again at an opportunity to experience something so magical.

On warm sunny days I will soak in this experience for hours, however today the cold starts to seep into my body and I know it’s time to go. I pack up my gear once again, double check to make sure I’ve packed out my trash and turn back west.

As I reach the downhill part of the crest my mouth turns to a grin, from here it’s 11 miles downhill with no need to

do anything but brake and enjoy the views. My tires pick up speed, throwing the water from melting snow behind me.

Fortunately my front wheel has a fender or I’d be receiving a shower from the 32-degree water. As I descend, the snow briefly turns to rain before I’m out of the clouds again… I’m glad my pants and jacket are waterproof.

On some straightaways I reach speeds of 35-40 mph, but the constant turns keep me to a much lower rate most of the time. I’m glad my Lasher has disk brakes. In years past I’ve ridden this road with Quickie Mach 2 and Invacare XLT type handcycles, but the Lasher is the most comfortable, if heavy, bike I’ve ridden up this road.

I make a stop at The Loop, taking off some layers and clearing water from my glasses. Shortly below The Loop I see the west side tunnel approaching. On the way up

Reaching Logan’s Peak is well worth the challenge of the 11 mile ride.

I’m too out of breath from cranking to do this, but going downhill I let out a big ‘whoooooooooo!!!’ as I pass through the tunnel.

The road continues to wind, entering the trees now.

Eventually the road reaches McDonald Creek and levels out.

I haven’t had to crank with my arms in over two hours, so they’re stiff as I begin to pedal again but soon they warm up and I’m making my way back to my truck. The temperatures have warmed and I enjoy a leisurely ride along the last 5 miles.

Although I’ve done this ride over 30 times it never gets old, and if it weren’t for the physical exhaustion in my arms I’d turn back uphill and do it all over again. AOM

BIKING THE GOING TO THE SUN ROAD When to Go Plowing of the road typically begins around April 1st and lasts until sometime in June. Check Glacier’s plowing status page for updates https://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/ gttsroadplow/gttsroadplowstatus.cfm

What to Bring Because the road is closed to vehicle traffic, there are no support vehicles or the ability to have someone drive your vehicle up if you get into trouble. While park personnel do sometimes patrol the road with trucks, you must travel with the idea that you need to be able to handle any situations that arise, whether they are personal cares or handcycle and equipment issues. Maintaining your equipment in good

working order is an important first step before you ever begin to crank up the road.

Here is a suggested list: • Spare bike tubes (know how to change them if they get a flat) • Moisture wicking clothing (dress with layers) • Sun glasses • Bear spray • Water If you have any questions or would like to handcycle the road with me some spring, please get in touch with me by email at d_nickelson@hotmail.com. Happy cranking!

ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

27

RECREATION

CO-EDITOR

DAWN ZIEGLER

CHRONIC UTIs...

TAKING BACK CONTROL OF MY LIFE

I have always been an active person, and the spinal cord injury I got when I was 16 didn’t change that. Once I discovered that almost any activity could be adapted, I was pretty open to trying anything.

There were new challenges with every activity I tried. For the most part, I was fairly determined to work through each obstacle. It didn’t always feel like I was accomplishing anything while in the moment, but looking back I can see how much my attitude, perseverance and faith played a role in keeping me going.

I think it is easier to stay determined when trying to do something that is going to be “fun” when achieved. But when you’re hit with a situation to deal with that continues to affect your ability to enjoy life, that’s when the true struggle begins.

About five years ago, I started to get urinary tract infections (UTI). Now that’s not uncommon for someone with a SCI or who has to cath to empty her bladder. However, I had been intermittently cathing myself for over 25 years, and I seldom got a UTI that I couldn’t catch early and flush out on my own without antibiotics.

It wasn’t just an occasional infection either. I was getting a UTI about every other month. I was on a low dose of Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) as a prophylactic, which used to help prevent infections, but this didn’t appear to be effective anymore. When I had the infection, I had to deal with incontinence, and when I was free of them I was faced with bladder spasms where I’d start to go if I didn’t cath immediately upon getting the signals that my bladder was full.

If that wasn’t frustrating enough, two years ago I started to get severe tendonitis, a side effect of the antibiotic 28

ABLE OUTDOORS

Ciprofloxacin that I was often prescribed. Needing to use my arms to push my wheelchair and do transfers just aggravated the situation. I ended up with a small tear in my bicep tendon. Along with that, I further developed nerve pain which I’m still battling today.

The combination of infections, bouts with incontinence, and pain started to take a toll on me. Often I would need to cancel plans because I either had a bad infection or I had an accident and needed to take care of things. Then came the side effects of being on Cipro and needing to cut back on any strenuous activities. As a result, I began participating in fewer outdoor activities and social outings.

Aside from feeling more isolated, being on antibiotics so frequently over so many years is a dangerous thing. Not only did it mess with the good bacteria in my body, but it also opened the door for bacteria that is more resistant to antibiotics to invade my system. I was drinking a ton of water (which only made me have to cath more often) and had exhausted alternative therapies for fighting and preventing infections. I needed to do something… this wasn’t the way I wanted to live!

I knew some women in the Madison SCI group I was in who had something done called a Mitrofanoff. It is a surgical procedure where the appendix (or the ileum which connects your small and large intestines) is used to create a channel from the abdomen to the bladder. It allows the individual to cath through a small stoma, either in the belly button or slightly to the right and lower on the abdomen, rather than through the urethra.

This is often combined with a procedure called an Indiana Pouch, which is a bladder augmentation to increase the size of one’s bladder. This is done by using part of the large

intestine to create a pouch, which is sewn onto to the top of the bladder. Not only does it increase the volume the new bladder can hold, but it also eliminates the spasms, which cause urgency or incontinence.

After doing my research and talking to the surgeon, I decided to go ahead with the surgery. I was in the hospital for 8 days and the recovery was hard. I had a lot of pain, fatigue and it was a hard road getting back into my normal routine.

I’m only two months out, but I’m beginning to feel the benefits of the surgery. Although I am still getting used to cathing through my abdomen, I can hold more volume without the spasms or urgency. I am feeling confident that things will continue to improve.

“Aside from feeling more isolated, being on antibiotics so frequently over so many years is a dangerous thing. Not only did it mess with the good bacteria in my body, but it also opened the door for bacteria that is more resistant to antibiotics to invade my system... I needed to do something...this wasn’t the way I wanted to live!”

– Dawn Ziegler

It’s trying when things like infections, pain and any number of other issues interfere with getting out and doing things.

I don’t care whether it’s from disability, an injury, or aging bodies… it sucks all the same! It can have debilitating effects, and if it goes on too long it begins to feel like it’s the way things are always going to be.

I had to be open for change. It was a scary process, and I needed a lot of support. But I’m glad I didn’t give in to circumstance. Now I’m looking forward to getting back to the activities I enjoy and hopefully trying some new ones.

If you have questions about this procedure, or if you’re having trouble finding support, you can contact me through email at dawn@AbleOutdoors.net. AOM 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 a 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. Before becoming Co-Editor of Able Outdoors, she served as editor for Madison SCI and has had four articles published in Spokes N’ Sports and PN Magazine. She also served on the Board for Employment Resources, Inc., and is a peer mentor for new SCI survivors.

USEFUL RESOURCES: United Spinal Association list of NSCIA Chapters throughout the country: http://www.spinalcord.org/chapters/directory/ The Spinal Network of peer support groups for individuals living with spinal cord injuries and related disorders: http://www.spinalcord.org/peer-supportnationwide/ The Christopher Reeve Foundation’s Certified Peer Mentoring network: http://www.christopherreeve.org/ Backbones is an organization created to help connect individuals with SCI: http://backbonesonline.com/ CareCure Forums: http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/

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ABLE OUTDOORS

GEAR

CABELA’S MEN’S E.C.W.C.S. POLAR WEIGHT CREW AND BOTTOMS WITH POLARTEC® POWER DRY®

By Ashlee Lundvall To me, it doesn’t do you any good to even attempt to stay warm in frigid weather without a great base layer. I recently picked up this crew top and bottom from Cabela’s to replace an old set. It is lightweight, incredibly warm, and I’m very pleased with my purchase. I bought the men’s set in Tall so that the arms and legs would be long enough. The sizes run a little small and they are meant to be tight fitting, so I would also recommend buying a larger size so that they are easier to get on.

When choosing a base layer, go for something that it not made of cotton, has wicking properties to keep you dry, is breathable to prevent overheating, and has some kind of odor control. I also like the thumb holes on the sleeves of the crew top which keeps the material in places when you start layering. This is a great, comfortable set, and I knew as soon as I put it on that it would keep me warm. I’ve only used it for ice fishing so far, but I’m looking forward to using it hunting and anytime I’m outside in the cold weather.

VOLT HEATED FLEECE

By Ashlee Lundvall Last fall I was contacted by a friend who told me about a company that produced heated clothing. I was instantly interested, as I spend a lot of time outdoors and am constantly looking for great layers in order to stay warm.

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Volt sent me a fleece to try right before a whitetail hunt in Oklahoma, and I tested it during the cold mornings. The fleece has sections on the front and back that are heated off of a rechargeable lithium battery pack that resides in a front pocket. It has multiple heating levels that can be operated with the push of a button. Depending on which level you keep the fleece on, you can get between 2-8 hours of heat.

It is machine washable and very soft.

It isn’t recommended to use this fleece as a base layer, so I wore it between my base layer and my coat to trap the warmth. I can’t even describe how incredible it was to lean back into my wheelchair and feel the heat on my back.

Several mornings I had to turn it down because I was too comfortable in the blind and almost fell asleep! On the coldest days, you can easily carry an extra battery to switch out when you will need more heat for longer periods of time, and changing them out is very easy, as is recharging the batteries.

Volt has a large variety of heated products that will keep you warm. If you live with paralysis, always use caution when wearing heated products on sensitive areas or where your sensation is compromised.

PROPET LOW-RISE ZIP BOOT

By Chad Waligura About 10 years ago I started looking for slip-on shoes and zip-up boots to make life easier on me when it came to footwear. Well, the last piece of the puzzle was finding something I could use while hunting in cold temps, and it had to be waterproof so I could wear in the duck blind.

Last year I found the Propet Zip Boot which fit the bill perfectly. The most important feature for me, besides being insulated and waterproof, is that it’s easy to get on and off, especially when you’re wearing thick socks. It’s built for hunting or fishing in cold weather.

My second favorite thing is it has a zipper instead of laces.

FLAMBEAU HEATED GLOVES

By Ashlee Lundvall I had never used a Flambeau product until last year when they shipped me a box of items to try after the annual SHOT Show. Some of my favorite pieces are the heated products, specifically the gloves. They are thicker gloves with adjustable wrist straps to keep them in places. The heating elements run over the tops of the fingers as well as the palm of the hand, which is wonderful for heating your entire hand. Depending on whether you run them on high or low, you can get 3-4 hours of heat from these gloves.

The gloves are soft on the inside, waterproof, and machine washable. They are a little bulky, but you can either layer with or use with a pair of thinner gloves for fine motor skill tasks. Flambeau also offers a heated vest and a heated muff, which are also both great products to keep you warm.

If you have limited or no sensation, use caution when wearing any heated products.

TRICOT HUNTING JACKET

By Chad Waligura

This type of jacket has long been one of my most-used weapons against the cold & wind ever since I started duck hunting during the winter months where I had to use a chest strap to wingshoot. I needed something that could keep me warm but also wasn’t too bulky. Now I take it on every hunting trip when I know it’s going to be cold. It’s lightweight, waterproof & windproof, so with just one or two layers underneath it can really keep the cold out and body heat in. This jacket is reasonably priced and doesn’t take up much room in the suitcase.

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AOM GEAR

MR. HEATER

By Chad Waligura This one product has made a many bone-chilling mornings a lot more comfortable. It’s small, portable and perfect for warming up a hunting blind or pop-up blind when the temps get low. In Texas, we use it when it gets in the 30’s, but I can’t imagine not having one to use in the northern states. It’s easy to operate and the larger Mr. Heater comes with 2 propane bottles so it’s longer lasting. Many a cold morning was made cozy with one push of a button. Mr. Heater can take the chill out.

VOLT HEATED MUFF

By Bryce Fauskee I found the hand warmer to be very functional and well designed. The insulation and cuffs retained the heat very well with or without my hands in them. The charge on the heating element lasted quite a while and produced good heat. I used it ice fishing when I couldn’t wear gloves and was repeatedly dipping your hands in the cold water setting up my tip ups. It was great reprieve to be able to dry my hands on the outside of it and stick them inside for a quick thawing.

During hunting season, I’m sure I’ll use it quite a bit sitting on post since gloves tend to get in the way of shooting too.

Being a paraplegic, these may be the only times I can use this. I have to use my hands all the time mostly for my mobility, making gloves more practical in most situations.

BIG FOOT™ XL6000T GARAGE ICE SHELTER

By Ashlee Lundvall When a company listens to its customers with disabilities and creates a truly accessible outdoor product, it needs to be recognized. That’s exactly what Clam Outdoors did when it introduced the Big Foot™ XL6000T Garage ice shelter. This shack spans 96” x 168”, with a center height of 82”. 112 square feet of fishable area provides space for 6-8 anglers comfortably, whether they are seated on fishing stools or in wheelchairs. And those wheelchairs will have no problem entering the garage due to its patent pending “Open Wall” design, which zippers open for full roll-in access. An oversized skirt allows for ample snow banking to keep in the warmth, which is essential on those frigid, windy days. All of this packs up into a carry bag with a total weight of 65 pounds. This shelter will appeal to everyone, as it can also be used to store snow machines, ATVs, and other equipment with the easy open side garage door. Further proof that when a company builds an accessible product, it makes the outdoors better for everyone.

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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.

HUNTING

AOM

Way back when I first started duck hunting, I came to the realization that I wanted a dog to share the blind with me, so after researching many different breeds I decided on a Labrador and began looking for puppies. Since I didn’t have a lot of money at the time, I found a guy named Jim Mortenson at an auto junkyard just north of the town I grew up in who had a litter of black lab pups on the ground. I drove there right away, and I think I only had about $100 in my pocket but I was going anyway.

When Jim heard my sob story, he said he had this little female that may not make it because she was the runt, but if I wanted to try saving her I could have her for $50.

By Jason Parker

I

GUNNAR’S Story

suddenly found myself going home with this three week old pup in my lap that needed round-the-clockcare. Since she wasn’t getting all the nourishment she needed, I stopped at the local vet clinic on my way and picked up some puppy formula and a bottle and the rest was history. I named her Malley and we had 15 good years of hunting adventures together before she crossed over into that big marsh in the sky.

A couple years later, I was at our cabin, with my dad, talking about dogs, when he said, “Oh I forgot to tell you, Jim told me to tell you to stop by.” I asked why and he replied that he’d asked about how Malley was doing and he had to give him the sad news that she’d passed.

On the way home that weekend, I stopped by that old graveyard for cars and a flood of memories came rushing back. Out of the shop came Jim, wiping his hands on a greasy rag like mechanics often do, and after exchanging pleasantries he said “Go over to that shed over there, I have something for you.” When I opened the door there was this jet black puppy looking at me, a lab pup. “I want you to have this pup,” Jim said. “I always enjoyed hearing your dad talk about you and Malley.” Without hesitation I scooped up this big male pup and I handed Jim a hundred dollar bill. I had 34

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to give the man something for this beautiful dog.

On our 2-1/2 hour ride home, I kept looking at him on the passenger seat. I hadn’t planned on getting a pup, but holy smokes I couldn’t wait to begin training him! My mind was racing. By the time we got home, he had the name Gunnar, and when I whispered it his head popped up like he knew it. He gave a big puppy yawn, tongue sticking out of his mouth and I swear he smiled at me.

We started training the next day, slowly, with a tennis ball.

I introduced him to water and feathers and the sounds of guns, and by the end of summer I thought he was ready for the blind.

On our first hunt together, I shot at a pair of wood duck drakes that came straight over the decoys. I shot and watched one sail down behind us into the thick swamp grass. Instantly I jumped out of the blind with little Gunnar in tow and began searching for the bird. Gunnar put his nose to the ground, rooted him out and came busting out of the grass with the drake in his mouth, bringing it right to me. The pride in his eyes was something I’ll never forget.

At 8 months old, I took him to South Dakota with me on a snow goose hunt, and after receiving praise from the guide on his behavior that weekend, it confirmed what I already

knew… this dog was something special.

For the next 6 years, we were inseparable. No matter where I went or what I did, Gunnar came with me. We chased ducks and geese whenever we could and my new best friend grew into a 110 lb giant of a dog that was the most gentle animal I’d ever been around. Hiding him in the field became a bit of a problem sometimes though, but I bought a super magnum goose shell that he could hide under.

Gunnar and I have always “While at work one had a deep connection, day my beautiful boy not just your ordinary was hit by a passing man and dog bond, but truck... It was one of something more. From the first time I laid eyes the darkest days of on him as a pup, I knew my life.” he was the one. His strong desire to please made his training fun, and he quickly mastered all the tasks it takes to become a great gun dog.

February 16, 2014 will be burned into my mind forever.

While at work one day my beautiful boy was hit by a passing truck at the end of my driveway. It was one of the darkest days of my life.

When my wife Stephanie called telling me that he’d been hit and couldn’t move, I was sick to my stomach. I was in shock, my mind raced... ‘What do I do now? Would he live?’ My first call was to the vet clinic’s after hours phone line – there was no answer so I left a message. I rushed to meet Stephanie at the clinic where she was taking Gunnar, driving through tears the whole way. When I arrived, I ran to her vehicle where my precious boy was on the front floorboard. He was crying. I’d never before heard so much as a whimper from this dog before so I think this is what shocked me the most. It broke my heart to see him this way.

Blood was coming from his nose and some of his teeth were missing. Soon after, the vet showed up. I scooped Gunnar’s limp body into my arms and carried him into the office and laid him on an exam table. The vet sedated him and wheeled him into x-ray. I was devastated.

The pics showed no fractures to his spine and we were told to take him home but Gunnar still wasn’t moving. I could tell something was very wrong with him.

The next morning changed my life forever.

All that night, I stayed next to Gunnar on the couch doing the only thing I could for him, gently stroking his head and telling him what a good boy he was. About 4a.m., the sedative wore off and he began whining again. Each whimper stabbed at my heart. The next morning, he still hadn’t moved so I called a childhood friend of mine who is a vet surgeon in Florida, Dr. Jodi Thannum. I told her what had happened and texted her pics of Gunnar and she instructed me to take him right away to a University vet clinic. She somehow knew he had a spinal injury. Stephanie and I secured him in my truck and headed for the University of Minnesota. We arrived just after dark and were met

outside by a team of vet techs and a gurney. After an initial examination, we were given three options: they could do surgery, they could wrap him or they could euthanize him.

Option 3 was out of the question! We chose surgery and were told to go back home and wait for the results.

The next morning, I received the call. Gunnar’s surgery was done but he would have to stay for a week. ‘A week?’ I hadn’t been away from this dog more than a couple days since he was a pup and now he was alone and hurting. I needed to be near him, to reassure him... and I couldn’t. It was one of the longest weeks of my life.

At week’s end Stephanie and I drove through an ice storm to go get him, and when they wheeled him out to us on a cart, Gunnar was sitting up! After leaving him with no movement in any of his legs, I thought ‘Wow! Maybe we have something to work with here.’ It was an emotional reunion as I was able to finally touch him and scratch his ears. Gunnar’s back end was still paralyzed so the staff showed us how to express his bladder and care for him before we took him home. They said he’d have a 50/50 chance of recovering.

A couple weeks later I noticed a lump on Gunnar’s back.

When I took him to the vet we discovered the foot long rods they’d put in him were loose and migrating down his spine. After another call to the University, we were on the road again. We arrived, and after examining him the vet said they’d have to remove them surgically - and that there was ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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GUNNAR’S STORY

nothing else they could do for him. Once more they asked if we wanted him euthanized. I don’t know why they kept asking me this idiotic question. My standard reply… ‘NO!’ We brought Gunnar home and started rehab two weeks later. I wanted to get him back up and hunting which I was told would never happen again. Suffice it to say, we had our work cut out for us. His hind end was paralyzed. He could move his back legs a little, but he couldn’t stand on his own, walk or run.

This became our daily routine: start each day at 5am, first order of business being emptying his bladder. I use a sling to support his hind legs to help him outside into the yard.

I then use my knees to hold him upright and my hands to express his bladder to make him pee. Afterwards, he usually wants to sniff around for a bit so I put the sling under him and follow him wherever he wants to go. This limbers up his legs before we come back inside. As he eats a high protein meal, I massage his hind legs to help keep them in shape.

Then it’s off to work for me and rest for Gunnar. Luckily, I’m able to return home for lunch to help him empty his bladder again. In the evenings, we wrap his feet, give him a good check-up and empty his bladder one last time before bed. It’s takes a lot more effort and care, but in my mind it’s never been worth ending his life over. I wouldn’t change a thing about my boy other than I wish he’d never been hit.

After Gunnar got out of the hospital, I became a vacuum... sucking up every bit of information I could about caring for a paralyzed dog, including rehab techniques. That’s where I came across the Walkin’ Wheels model of wheelchairs for dogs.

Initially, I got him in a water treadmill to help him build up his muscle. We did that for a while, among other things, but Gunnar never regained the use of his legs. I decided to order him a wheeled cart which I had dipped in mossy oak shadowgrass, of course, for hunting purposes.

Gunnar took right to it as if he’d been born with it. If a dog 36

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could smile, I swear he was grinning from ear to ear when I first strapped him in.

We have a small, one acre pond on our property where I took Gunnar to continue his workouts. He had to learn how to swim again so we started experimenting with different things to keep him afloat, like attaching a boat cushion to his cart or a life jacket made for dogs. We had a ton of trial and error, mostly error, because the cart kept flipping over in the deep water. We tried pool noodles and pipe insulation attached to it, but the chair wouldn’t stay upright. It simply wasn’’t made for the water. Stephanie finally bought a dog life jacket that we put on him, but he was hesitant because he’d never hunted with a vest on. Once he got used to it though, I ordered a camo one for him to wear. We worked all summer to get ready for duck season.

As opening day 2014 neared, I was both excited and scared of what could happen. For our first time back, I chose a spot at the headwaters of the St Croix River in northern Wisconsin. The water was calm and shallow there and would be easier for Gunnar to work in. As the sun rose over the decoys, I could hardly contain my excitement.

Gunnar was finally at my side where he belonged, with that strong desire to please in his eyes. We sat for almost three hours with nary a shot fired. I prayed for a duck to come into the dekes, just one. I remember looking up, and setting its wings into the decoys came a lone Canadian goose. Instinctively, I raised my gun and fired. The goose buckled and instantly there was pandemonium at my feet.

Gunnar was trying to launch himself off the bank to retrieve the goose. I loosened his harness, slipped it under him and helped him to the water as he clawed at the ground, and off he went. When I looked up, I saw the goose was wounded, not dead. I tried in vain to call Gunnar back, as a two-legged dog would be no match for a live goose, but that dog had his mind made up. I watched as they both went further and further down the river, until finally Gunnar caught up

to his bird. He latched onto it and turned to swim back to me with one big wing covering his eyes. I called to him the whole way back so he could navigate by the sound of my voice. When he came to a log, it stopped him cold. Instantly, I waded out to help. By now the goose had expired. I took the goose out of his mouth and placed it on the log, then helped him over. Gunnar turned, grabbed the goose and continued his retrieve, heading toward our blind on the bank. I met him there and helped him back up to where we were sitting, then took the bird from his mouth. I’d never seen my boy so proud.

A man’s bond with his duck dog is something I can’t explain. Gunnar is my partner… he’s part of the family.

He’s opened my eyes to so much more than I could have imagined, like when we’re getting ready the night before a duck hunt, driving to the boat launch, loading him into the boat or placing decoys and getting him into our hide; he’s more attentive too, almost helpful as if he knows how much we are doing for him to get him hunting. He sits behind me now, always scanning the sky with his head resting on my shoulder. He follows my head movements while listening for the sound of whistling wings. It’s worth it to me just to get him out there. Why? Because he loves it! When he’s retrieving a bird... I can’t put into words how remarkable it is to watch. I just can’t. Gunnar is an amazing dog and he came to me for a reason.

As we drove home that weekend, I reflected on the last eight months. The only bird we got that day was the goose, but it was a good one. When I took Gunnar’s bandages off that evening (I always wrap something around his back legs to protect them), I realized the toll that all our cart work and hunting had taken on him. His feet were raw and bloody.

We got him on antibiotics and kept clean gauze and vet wrap on him at all times. Unfortunately he lost a toe as a result. It was infected and had to be taken off.

When duck season 2015 rolled around, Gunnar didn’t get to hunt. The tops of his feet were infected and it took all of a year to heal them up, (we are still healing as a matter of fact). We were advised to stay out of the marsh since there’s so much bacteria in the mud that could cause him to lose a foot, and I didn’t want to risk it so we took the year off. I went out twice by myself but my heart just wasn’t into it without him. I needed my boy by my side, and I knew it killed him to watch me get my gear together and pull out of the driveway.

We still worked together of course, sparingly, in his cart, making sure his feet were protected at all times.

In February, 2016, Gunnar turned nine. We entered him into a calendar contest for disabled pets. The rules stated: show your dog enjoying life to his fullest in their cart.

Stephanie and I did our own photos and I was adamant that he be pictured in his camouflaged cart, retrieving his dead fowl dummy that is made to resemble a mallard. I didn’t have very high hopes that he’d win a spot in the calendar, but Gunnar proved me wrong again. He was featured for the month of May. My heart soared, and once

again, he made me a proud papa. I was proud of what we had accomplished together. Little did I know that he wasn’t done yet.

When the fall of 2016 was upon us, I anticipated getting him in the duck blind again when I noticed a lump on his left front elbow. We made an appointment at the vet and I was heartbroken by the news. It was a tumor. ‘My poor boy just can’t catch a break,’ I thought. Another setback. Another thing to overcome. The tumor would have to be removed and our vet wasn’t sure she could close up the incision because of its location.

I opted to not do the surgery until we were done with the 2016 season. We were going hunting! I waited until late September to start bringing him out, not really caring if we harvested any ducks. Just to sit in the blind with him again and watch the sun rise over the decoys, that would be enough for me. We hunted a farm pond first as I thought it would be easier for Gunnar to enter the water and I could help him out if he got into trouble. At first light, a solo wood duck drake came in, I shot and it ended up on the far side of the pond. I still to this day don’t know how he did it, as we were 20 yards from the water, but before I knew it he was swimming out to make the retrieve, no life vest, no nothing.

I watched as he grabbed the duck like an old pro, returning to me and placing it gently in my hand. I had a hard time seeing through the tears, but told him what a good boy he was as I helped him back into our blind under a willow tree.

Our next hunt was on a bigger lake, between two islands. I was set up for divers as he always seemed to enjoy hunting them as much as I did. Shortly after first light, a single drake mallard came sailing into the decoys, wings locked. I fired, and missed. The drake flared and I shot again, tipping him, but he continued flying. As I was cursing myself under my breath, Gunnar began barking, something he never does in the blind. I shushed him, and he began to whine. Again, I chastised him and told him to be quiet. About an hour later, we saw something floating about 200 yards out in the lake, drifting our way. I looked through the binoculars, and to my ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

37

GUNNAR’S STORY surprise, it was that drake mallard, dead. I waded out with Gunnar and sent him after the duck. He kept turning to the west, wanting to go where he knew the duck went down. I finally got him on a line and he scooped up the duck in his mouth, turning back towards me. Usually, I will take the bird from him as he swims by but this time was different. I let him continue back to the island and finish his retrieve. He dragged himself back up onto the island and sat waiting for me to return, duck in his mouth, and I swear he was smiling.

I believe he was trying to tell me that I had killed that duck when he was barking. I don’t know how, but he knew.

THE FINAL RETRIEVE We set up on a man-made island in early November. By now the water was starting to get really cold, but it’s what duck hunters love. Again, I set up for divers as most of the local dabbling ducks had headed south for warmer climates. Since we were going by boat, we had to use his harness and his collar to hoist him over the gunwales. He can help climb out of the boat, but he needs help getting up on land.

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 38

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On this glorious morning, Gunnar and I sat on an island, watching the sun come up and glimmer off the decoys.

Because of his injury, we can’t hunt the way that we used to, or go to the best places, as I need to be aware of what obstacles he may encounter. I knew this would be our last hunt together for the year, and maybe ever. A flock of mallards buzzed the decoys. I picked out a drake on the crossing shot and pulled the trigger. The duck sailed and died 60 yards outside the decoys. Gunnar dragged himself off the island, and as soon as he hit deep water, began churning, big powerful strokes through the decoys. He made it out to the bird and grabbed him, turning almost instantly towards me. He paddled into the shallows, where I was waiting, placing the drake in my hand. Gunnar finished this year with just 6 retrieves, but I will remember each one for the rest of my life.

In closing, I would like to express my desire to share another sunrise with my boy Gunnar, watch him do the job that he was put here to do, to have one more day with him in the blind. I have been blessed to have Gunnar by my side, and I am the lucky one that gets to tell his story, one retrieve at a time. We never took ‘no’ for an answer, never believed we couldn’t and never regretted the choices we made. So until next season, keep on rolling.

Sometime after Gunnar’s accident, via social media I was alerted to a dog in Houston, Texas, that had also been hit by a car and paralyzed. I decided right there we were going to help get this dog a chair like Gunnar’s.

Her name was Hope, and I located a used cart in Green Bay Wisconsin, drove there, bought it and shipped it to Texas. Hope, much like Gunnar, took to her new wheels right away. It was crucial in her recovery process. She now runs like the wind without assistance. She was adopted on Christmas Eve and is enjoying life with her new family. But I knew I had to do more. I thus created Gunnar’s Wheels. I knew I wouldn’t be able to fund each cart so I started a GofundMe page to help offset some of the costs, but no dog in need will ever get turned down by us.

In the past 9 months, we’ve sent out 206 carts, helping dogs from Texas to New York to California... and one dog in Alberta, Canada, get a new chance at life.

We have also sent these carts around the world, to Portugal, Scotland, the Bahamas, and most recently, Tehran, Iran.

I do all this because of Gunnar. I know how much joy he’s brought to me and I don’t want people to have to give up on their best friend. There’s already too much sadness in the world, we thought we’d spread a little hope instead.

Contributions can be made to Gunnar’s GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/2z89y8hs. We also accept donations at Alliance Bank, P.O. Box 187, Osseo, WI 54758 – ATTN: Gunnar’s Wheels. AOM

COLUMNIST

PAUL WILLIAM

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TAKING ON THE COLD...

AND WINNING! On the opening day of New York’s turkey season in 2008, I was injured in a motorcycle accident that left my paralyzed from the chest on down. Since I wanted to continue to live the outdoor lifestyle, one of the things I had to learn to adapt to was the extreme cold of New York state. Enduring the harsh cold completely changes after a spinal cord injury I found. With decreased leg and arm movement, combined with poor circulation, body heat is quickly lost if one is not careful. Another problem I discovered was my lack of sensation in certain areas of my body (like my feet) increased the chance that I could get frostbitten and not even know it.

In order to continue to enjoy the outdoors post-SCI, there are some important items and gear that I use to keep warm and my body safe from harm, and that’s why I’m writing this column, to share those tricks of the trade.

Because of atrophy and lack of use, my legs and feet are the most vulnerable to the cold so they’re always my primary concern. To combat this, I wear a wool socks as my base layer. As a second layer, I’ll pull on something like Cabela’s Men’s Wader Knee-to-Toe socks over the top that extend several inches past my knee. This usually is sufficient for temperatures down to single digits for up to 4-6 hours outside. If it’s colder than that, and believe me it does get there, or I plan on staying out longer, I’ll use some foot warmers by Hot Hands under my first pair of socks.

This may or may not be surprising, but I find that when I utilize this layering system, I can get away with putting on low-top slip-on boots. As we all know, getting calf high boots on when you’re paralyzed can be an enormous task, and that’s without thick layers of socks on. Instead, I’d rather use the socks and foot warmers and be able to get my boots on.

My next order of business is a good base layer bottom. I’ve had good success with Sitka Gear’s Merino Core Bottom.

They help keep my legs warm and aren’t too difficult to put on. Depending on the hunt and the temps, I’ll put Sitka Gear’s Boreal series bibs on next. I like the Boreal series because it uses hybrid down insulation and has a GORE-TEX outer.

My legs in the seated position catches a lot of precipitation and anything wet will decrease my body temperature even more. Since GORE-TEX is water repellent, I haven’t been wet to the skin in anything shy of a downpour.

My next move is to take care of my body’s core. Matching my bottom base layer, I prefer the Sitka Gear’s Merino Core Zip-T. On top of that, my favorite insulation is Cabela’s Men’s Waterfowler Sweater with 4MOST WINDSHEAR. This is hands down the warmest and most important item for enduring weather 30 degrees and colder. Without this

sweater, I would certainly be cold regardless of anything else I did. After the sweater goes on, I sometimes add a vest so I can have one more layer without the sleeve bulk.

Again, I subscribe to the Sitka Gear layer method and have had good success with the Dakota Vest. My final and outer layer is Sitka Gear’s Boreal series jacket worn for the same reasons as the bibs.

Although I’ve had great success with Sitka Gear, I’m also fond of Gray Wolf Woolens for my outer layers. They’re a custom shop out of Wisconsin and will make you anything you want with their fabric and insulation options. For whitetail hunting out of blinds, I had them make a few upper core garments with ComforMax IB Wind Barrier and LiteLoft insulation with a black wolfskin exterior, and I’ve been very happy with their garments in battling bitter cold conditions.

Last but not least, my head. They say if your head isn’t warm that your whole body won’t be warm and I believe they’re right. While most of my hunting buddies will be wearing a baseball cap, you can always find me in the fleece watch hat or beanie at anything below 45 degrees. I don’t have any real preference for brand, but I like the fleece for warmth and comfort. For my neck, though, I’ll wear a Sitka Gear neck gaiter. I find this to be a much nicer option than a turtleneck and I can pull it up onto my face if I need to block the cold wind.

I’ll be honest – I’m not a big glove guy. I’ll usually wear them on the way in and out to the blind when the wind is really biting my hands (plus I usually need my hands out to hold onto a UTV or boat), but once I’m at in blind, the gloves are off. I like my hands free for using calls and precise trigger placement with my fingers. I’ll go through a ton of hot hands every season of course, so I usually pack two sets in my jacket for a hunt.

Outside of clothes, the one item I always take with me is the Mr. Buddy Heater. If space and conditions allow for a heater, there’s nothing better for extreme cold. It can actually make a miserable hunt very pleasant.

Other than that, I just try to stay out of wind and rain as much as possible. A decent blind and some friends that will let you sit in a warm truck while they set up always helps too. With these measures, there aren’t too many conditions that could prevent you from the hunting in the cold with SCI. AOM ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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TRAVEL

Locating accessible lodging can be a challenge. Your options become even more limited when you are looking in rural settings away from the noise of city life and busy highways.

Dustin Palenshus was searching for just that.

Accessible

By Dawn Ziegler

D

COUNTRY HEAVEN

ustin grew up loving the outdoors... hunting, fishing, and camping are just some of the things he spent most of his time doing. After a diving accident in 2007, which left him with a C6/7 spinal cord injury, his preference for the quiet outdoors didn’t change.

W hen Dustin wanted to take his family for a weekend vacation last summer, “Designing from he had one thing in mind. “I was searching personal experience, for a cabin in northern Dale crafted every that was feature, inside and out, Wisconsin out in the middle of for accommodating nowhere,” he explained. those with unique “Somewhere we could also build a fire and mobility concerns.” have access to some fishing.”

Besides the location, Dustin also needed a place to be accessible. “The most important thing to me is to have a large roll-in shower and hard surface floors,” he described. “I traveled to my hometown of Elkhorn, WI, and the hotel we stayed at was supposed to be accessible. Well, it was NOT,” 40

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Accessible country-style cabins are only part of what makes Sunset Pines Resort an ideal vacation stay for the disabled traveler. [Photo courtesy of RCDO]

he recalled. “We told the manager and they reimbursed us for the rental fee… And yeah, it was that bad.”

That is when Dustin’s search led him to Rock Creek Disabled Outdoors (RCDO), a non-profit organization established in 1999 to provide recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. RCDO organizes one of the largest disabled deer hunts in Wisconsin, along with other events and fundraisers. A portion of the funds they raise goes towards maintaining the Sunset Pines Resort.

Located on 80 acres in the rural countryside of Willard, Wisconsin, Sunset Pines has three accessible barrier-free cabins, a stocked pond, and graveled nature trails through the resort’s 40-acre hardwood forest. Designed by the late Dale Petkovsek, a C4/5 quadriplegic and the founding member of RCDO, every effort was taken to meet the needs of travelers with disabilities.

Dustin immediately booked a 4-night stay for later that August, and when they arrived they weren’t disappointed.

“It was beautiful!” he remembered. “We pulled in around

Evening Shadows, one of three cabins offered at Sunset Pines, with a view of the 4.5 acre pond in the background [Photo credit to Gary Nski].

three in the afternoon and there was our cabin out in the middle of nowhere, off a gravel road with a five acre pond behind it… It was perfect!”

Upon entering, their excitement soared! “All the floors were flat and smooth. There was a roll-under sink in the kitchen and bathroom, and a large roll-in shower in the big master bedroom,” he shared. “They even had a Hoyer lift in the closet if you needed it. There was also free WIFI, phone, and Netflix that you can watch on the TV.” Designing from personal experience, Dale crafted every feature, inside and out, for accommodating those with unique mobility concerns. All three cabins, the Sunrise, Evening Shadows and Sunset, have two bedrooms and a fully accessible, open floor plan.

The Sunrise, a spacious 1120 sq. ft. cabin, has all hardwood and linoleum flooring throughout. The master bedroom has an attached full bath with roll-in shower, accessible sink/ counter, and grab bars. There is a full size bed in one room and queen size in the other. It also has a full sized kitchen, a second full guest bath, a full size sofa/sleeper, and roll-out cot. Outside, there is a large deck and covered porch.

Built later in 2004, Evening Shadows and Sunset are both 1040 sq. ft. log-sided cabins with the same open floor plans.

The two spacious bedrooms have very low pile carpeting, one with a full size bed and the other with a queen size bed. The master bedroom has an attached bathroom ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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AOM TRAVEL

ACCESSIBLE COUNTRY HEAVEN

The stocked pond (above) has a spacious fishing dock and cement ramp, both designed for wheelchair users. One of eight wood hunting blinds (left) located throughout the WAW camp. [Photo courtesy of WAW]

with a large roll-in shower, a wheelchair accessible vanity, and grab bars. The kitchenette/living area has hardwood flooring. The large kitchen accommodates wheelchairs with an electric range top, full size wall mount oven, deep wash sink, dorm size refrigerator and open counter space. The living area has a gas fireplace, full size sofa/sleeper, and a rocker recliner. Outside there is also a large carport.

All three cabins are fully furnished with utensils, cookware, linens and bedding. There is air heat and central air 42

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conditioning. In addition, there is free WIFI, a stereo/CD player, TV with DVD/VCR, movies and books. Outside each cabin is a fire-ring with firewood, a gas BBQ grill and picnic tables.

The surrounding grounds were designed with the wheelchair user in mind. “The grounds were great,” Dustin explained, “… all of the roads and trails are hard packed gravel and fairly easy to roll on in my power wheelchair.” The trails that wind through the 40 acres of woods and lead to two wildlife viewing blinds are also made of hard gravel and fairly accommodating to most wheelchairs.

The 4.5-acre private pond is stocked with Bass, Walleye, and hybrid Bluegills, which was an added bonus for Dustin.

“There is a large wheelchair accessible fishing pier near the deepest part of the pond,” he shared. “They even have a cement ramp that goes out into the water near the beach and swimming area, so you can swim out of your chair if you want. It was nice to hang out and fish so close to our cabin. I would have gone swimming too but it was a bit cold that weekend.”

Near the beach, there is a 32’ x 64’ shelter that is ideal for events. It is also equipped with an accessible restroom and roll-in shower.

Sunset Pines Resort is located next to 133,000 acres of Clark County public recreation lands and there are often events going on in the surrounding communities. “There was a fair/carnival going on about 15 minutes from the cabin that we cruised over to,” Dustin said. “If you like fishing but want to keep your catch, there is a dam just one mile down the road that’s loaded with fish you can keep,” he suggested.

“The RCDO also had their big gun blow out the Saturday we were there,” he shared. “It was a blast… free food and music with bucket raffles for the guns. It is one of the fundraisers they put on throughout the year. RCDO is a great organization, all run by volunteers,” Dustin expressed.

“They put on lots of events throughout the year to raise money to keep this place alive.”

While Dustin was there, he also met Al Lamovec, founder of Wisconsin Adventures on Wheels (WAW). Al and his wife, Kay, created the non-profit organization dedicated to facilitate emotional healing through the outdoors for the mobility challenged, wounded veterans, and their families.

Their “healing camp” is located just three miles from Sunset Pines Resort, and they work closely with RCDO. “Al invited me over to the WAW camp and gave me a tour,” Dustin said. He was impressed with the planning and dedication that was put into creating the grounds. “Al has about 255 acres of hunting land with fruit trees, food plots, pines, a stocked pond with a wheelchair dock, and eight wheelchair accessible wood hunting blinds. Everything is connected by about 4 miles of hard packed trails that run throughout.”

WAW has an accessible lodge that sleeps eight (bunkhouse style) and has a wheelchair accessible bathroom with a roll-in shower. It has a full kitchen and is heated with a wood-burning stove. The WAW camp also has campfire sites, six electric campsites and picnic areas. They are open to host group outings and organized field trips.

[Contact information for all inquiries can be found at www.

WAWheels.org.]

“If you’re a hunter, then book a hunt with them during the WI disabled deer hunt,” recommended Dustin. “Such a great group to hunt with and the guides are awesome! I had the chance to go back up in October for this hunt. What a memorable experience. Free food every day for breakfast and dinner, plus if you get a deer, they do the field dressing and quartering. I was lucky enough to get a decent doe.”

Dustin is planning many more stays at the Sunset Pines Resort. “Book a trip to Sunset Pines ASAP!” he recommended.

“It is so nice up there. It is $100 per night for two adults (plus $20 per night for kids over 14). You can’t beat the price... you will pay more for a hotel and won’t have a pond or the view of this beautiful place.”

Financial assistance is available to qualifying individuals through the RCDO’s Lodging Assistance Scholarship.

Questions about booking a reservation or making a donation to any of their current projects visit, SunsetPinesResort.com or call 717-937-5109. AOM

Rowheels’ superior biomechanics have been proven to minimize factors that contribute to shoulder pains and injuries.

Learn more about the Rowheels Revolution at rowheels.com

© 2017 Rowheels Inc. All rights reserved.

TO ADVERTISE IN

PLEASE CONTACT CHAD WALIGURA

chad@ableoutdoors.net 979-541-4954

ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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ABLE OUTDOORS

COLUMNIST

JESSIKA KATTAH

THE TRAVELING KIND My name is Jessika Kattah and I am so humbled and excited to join Able Outdoors! I am 30 years young and very adventurous, always looking for the next adrenaline rush. I suffered a spinal cord injury at the age of 26 when doctors went in for surgery to try to remove a lipoma tumor that was compressed against my spine. They were able to remove 45% of the tumor but damaged my spinal cord in the process. When I woke up from surgery 9 hours later, I was paralyzed, a T2-T9 incomplete paraplegic.

I was always a free spirit before my injury and I was determined to not let that change one bit. I healed myself through meditation, a lot of reflection and the ever-present support of my friends and family. I initially wondered how I would ever do the things I loved before my injury, like dancing and traveling, but I learned that I can still do everything I did before. I just have to adapt and do things a little differently.

When you have a passion to discover the world like I do, it doesn’t matter if you are walking or wheeling. The passion is still there. It will always be there, so I go with it. One of my favorite places to visit in my whole life has been Walt Disney World. Living a short 3 hours away, it was always a quick weekend trip, but I wondered if I’d be able to venture the parks in a chair? Well… Disney did not fail! They truly have put a lot of thought into making their parks accessible to people with disabilities. The experience actually gave me the confidence to continue travelling in my chair. I wasn’t going to let my “new normal” keep me from living the life I wanted to, the one I was used to.

Once you venture outside the U.S., like to the European or Latin American countries, you no longer have the protection of the ADA which mandates a certain amount of accessibility for public buildings like ramps and barrier free entrances. This means you’re going to have to learn to adapt. It’s a very different world when I travel down to visit my family in Colombia, South America. The first time I went there wasn’t even a jet-way bridge at the airport! How the heck was I going to get off the plane? But no worries, two strong gentlemen carried me off in an aisle chair like a queen, down 30 steps where I safely transferred into my chair.

In Dominican Republic, there are no curb cuts on the sidewalks whatsoever. Actually, you’d be lucky to find one that isn’t cracked or even paved at all. It’s something I really take for granted here in the States. Fortunately, there was always someone around willing to help me get up or down a curb. This was one of the nice things I discovered when I started going to other countries, that what they lack in accessibility they make up for in hospitality. There always seemed to be people nearby whenever I needed to get 44

ABLE OUTDOORS

somewhere inaccessible. Back here in the U.S., I’ve found cities like Orlando, Las Vegas and Washington D.C. to be some of the most accessible in the world, hopefully their models will catch on across the oceans someday.

I started writing about my adventures so that I could educate other people about accessibility. I know some people may be scared to travel because they simply don’t know if they can or how to do it. Well I’m here to tell you ‘yes you can!’

I am very excited to discover Barcelona for the first time in September later this year. I hear it’s also one of the most accessible cities in the world. On my bucket list of things to do one day are to go to Singapore to admire the unique architecture, to South Africa for a safari and definitely to Ecuador to try one of those ziplines you can do right in your chair!

I am also a SCUBA Diver and am obsessed with the ocean.

I think I’m a real-life mermaid by the way, at least in my own little world I am. I got certified post-injury and it was the best decision I ever made. It’s a whole other form of therapy for me, like meditation and serenity combined. The sea has cast its spell on me and I am held in its net of wonder forever. Any Jacques Cousteau fans here?

I started my own blog about a year after my injury after many requests to do so by both able-bodies and wheelers.

They were curious about how I did things in a chair and I was more than happy to educate curious minds. While I hope we find a cure for Spinal Cord Injury one day, I still have to continue my life. Paralysis may have knocked me down for a while but it didn’t knock me out. I am alive, I am breathing and I intend on living life to the fullest. I can’t wait to bring you along on my adventures with me. You can check out my latest trips, physical activities and community involvement on my website www.jessikakattah.com. AOM

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Location Injury Level Activity

Miami Beach, FL C-5/6 Quad Scuba

JESSIKA KATTAH

Location Injury Level Organization

Big Hole River, MT Quad Access Unlimited

Injury Level Activity

Injury Level Activity

Moab Desert, UT T-12 Para Mountain Biking

LUCIAN SMITH

Location Injury Level Activity

Cancun, Mexico C-5/6/7 Quad Beachcombing

K.J. WALKER

TIM BURR

Location

Location

Kopper Top Life Ctr., NC C-5 Quad Horseback Riding

BOO WILLIAMS

Location Injury Level Activity

ABLE OUTDOORS

Location Injury Level Activity

Kalispell, MT T-4 Para Mountain Biking

ODIE PIERCE

Location Injury Level Activity

Green River, UT T-6 Para Fly Fishing

DILLON DUNCAN

Lake Sam Rayburn, TX C-5 Quad Bass Fishing

JUSTIN GORDY

Location Injury Level Activity

Sandy Cay, Honduras C-5 Quad Sunbathing

AMBER RANGEL ABLEOUTDOORS.NET

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ABLE OUTDOORS

Location

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Injury Level

C-5/6 Quad

Equipment

Spinergy ZX-1

DANIELA SCHIRMER

Location

Meadowmere Park, TX

Location Injury Level Organization

T-4 Para Pushing 4 Independence

TERINA SPRAGUE

Location

Injury Level

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Injury Level

Organization

R.I.S.E. Adventures

Activity

ROBIN OLIVER

Oceanside, CA

Mono Lake State Reserve, CA C-5/6 Camping

MIKE DEYOUNG

ABLE OUTDOORS

Location Injury Level Activity

Regina, Saskatchewan T-4 para Trick Skiing

BLAKE LAMONTAGNE

Location

Oak Island, NC

Disability

Spina Bifida

Activity

Metal Detecting

ASA FREDELL

TROPHIES

IN EACH ISSUE

Location Company Activity

Columbia River Gorge Wheelchairtraveling.com Zip Lining

ASHLEY OLSON 46

ABLE OUTDOORS

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 TRAVEL PHOTOS.

Spinergy Outdoor Wheel Package Package Includes Wheel: Spinergy Light Extreme “LX” Wheel Sizes: 22”, 24”, 25” Push Rim: Silver Aluminum - Installed Tires: Kenda Nevegal (non-marking black) - Installed Axles: Steel Spinergy Axles Hub Colors: Black or Silver Spoke Color Options: Black, Blue, Red, Yellow, White, Orange, Green, Pink

Call for special introductory offer!

Our Outdoor wheel package is designed with push efficiency and wheelchair performance in mind. By selecting the correct wheels size, you can minimize the change to ride height compared to your standard street wheels.

*22”/24” sizes use Kenda’s Non-Marking DR Compound. Non marking performance is not guaranteed and may vary depending on surface.

1914 Palomar Oaks Way, Ste 100 | Carlsbad, CA 92008 Phone: 760-496-2121 | www.spinergy.com | email: info@spinergy.com