Access Challenge: A Trail Rider Adventure
by Debra Campbell and Jen Peco
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Steadward Centre member Danny Wein says his excursion into the back country was a thrilling and moving experience - something he'd treasured doing prior to his accident. The Trail Rider Excursion Program at The Steadward Centre helps people with disabilities enjoy Canada's magnificent outdoors. |
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On August 9 and 10, the Friends of Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks, and the Community Recreation Initiatives Society (CRIS) of Kelowna hosted Alberta’s first Access Challenge, a weekend of adapted hiking for people with disabilities. The weekend’s activities included backcountry hiking, camping, and paddling. The backcountry was made accessible through the use of the Trail Rider, an adapted hiking device that is propelled by two to four adults without disabilities. This single-wheeled vehicle was used throughout the weekend to provide access for six adults with disabilities.
Three of TSC’s very own adapted physical activity (APA) consultants, Amanda Ebert, Bethany Steen, and Chris Ha, volunteered during the event. Throughout the weekend, they were instrumental in transporting supplies to and from the backcountry base camp, participating in a day hike to Rawson Lake as Trail Rider sherpas , and kayaking in tandem kayaks on Lower Kananaskis Lake. After a long day of trekking and paddling, it was wonderful for everyone to retreat to the William Watson Lodge, a fully accessible facility in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park that provided accommodations for all of the volunteers and participants.
For many people with disabilities, accessing the outdoors, especially backcountry hiking trails would not have been possible without using adapted equipment such as the Trail Rider. Steadward Centre member Danny Wein, an avid outdoorsman before an accident, was clearly thrilled – and very moved – by the experience. "I was very involved with outdoor sports before my accident near Bogata, Colombia, South America,” said Danny. “I was able to participate in my love for the outdoors with the Trail Rider. I was able to enjoy the mountains up close. It was nostalgic. I got all choked up."
Staff members, Bethany, Chris, and Amanda who accompanied Danny on the Access Challenge it was a great opportunity for them to share their love of the outdoors with people who have little or no opportunity to enjoy the wild and wide open spaces.
“I never expected that I would be so physically exhausted and yet emotionally exhilarated by the end of the weekend... we knew that our efforts were appreciated and instrumental in giving the participants with disabilities the experience of a lifetime,” said Bethany.
Chris said, “Of all the hikes and climbs and all the activities that I did over years, none could compare to the Access Challenge, which I found very physical, emotional, and mentally challenging. On the last day, we returned to the backcountry campground to bring back the remaining big, heavier belongings such luggage, tents, chairs etc. We pushed, pulled, hauled, and lifted roughly 250 lbs. of weight on each trail rider. We were exhausted, and then it poured with rain. We were so cold that our fingers were swelling to twice their size and our hands refused to open, and when forced to open, we could hardly close them. That really reminded me of our members that we are dealing with everyday at the TSC.”
“It was such an incredible experience,” said Amanda. “Being able to help (people with disabilities) explore the outdoors was absolutely exhilarating. We were physically exhausted, but the smiles and expressions of the participants gave us a whole new level of energy. The effort that Don is putting into creating accessible parks is truly heroic. Playing a small role in that is something that I am proud to be a part of. I can't wait to spend another cold, wet, exhausting weekend in Alberta Parks as a Sherpa!”