The Environmental Journal of Southern Appalachia
Monday, 17 June 2024 13:03

All-access passes enabled in Smokies: “This national park belongs to you”

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unnamedVicky Wallace gets assistance crossing a creek in her off-road GRIT wheelchair during an adaptive camping outing along Cooper Road Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Yvonne Rogers/Hellbender Press

Adapted to their environment, wheelchair users venture into Smokies backcountry

TOWNSEND — Four wheelchair users ventured this month to an Abrams Creek backcountry campsite in a first for the Smokies.

Borne by GRIT Freedom Chairs, the able trekkers arrived June 8 in a collaborative event featuring Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Knox County, Kampgrounds of America Foundation and Catalyst Sports. The intrepid group had headed up about a mile of the wide, gravel Cooper Road Trail over hills toward Campsite 1, past horses, along and through streams, finally reaching their campsite. The three-wheeled, arm-powered GRIT chairs are designed for off-road routes.

For much of the route the adaptive hikers used their arms to move their chairs, but other people accompanied them on foot, sometimes helping them up difficult hills or over streams. Those in the chairs enjoyed the mountain water that rushed over their feet.

Park Ranger Katie Corrigan talked about highlights of the natural world around them and led discussions on the concepts of wildness and wilderness. Just like many other backcountry campers, the group of adventurers ate s’mores and slept in tents at the campsite before heading back down Cooper Road to the trailhead the next day. 

"You are the first step in trying to determine how we can provide more access to wilderness for individuals with mobility needs,” Corrigan said after they reached the campsite. The four who rode the route were Carly Pearson, Daniel Penley, Kaitlyn Lengel and Vicky Wallace. “This national park belongs to you,” Corrigan said.

“Once we make history we don’t go backward,” said Pearson, the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for Knox County and an organizer of the event. She completed the trail in a chair despite being paralyzed due to injuries in 2002 at age 27. Before that she’d been working in the forests of Oregon fighting wildfires.

“That was definitely a big blow not being able to get back out into that kind of world again,” she said.

She appreciated being able to share the park with her daughter and not having to just stick to overlooks and paved areas.

“It’s home. I grew up here. It’s like a great big wooded backyard,” she said of the national park.

“I think it’s awesome. Look, we’re under the trees, we’re sitting in the beautiful open understory with a group of friends. My daughter’s here, she’s able to enjoy this experience with me. We’re going to set up our tents. We’re going to be able to take a little nap if we want. Out here in nature away from all of the hustle and bustle of the everyday. Which is awesome,” she said.

This event was the first of many events Catalyst and its partners have planned in Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year adapted to people living with disabilities. These include more GRIT Freedom Chair hikes with chairs available on a first-come first-serve basis. Catalyst will also be leading adaptive mountain bike rides while providing adaptive bikes, a kayak tour of Fontana Lake with kayaks provided for adaptive athletes, and a combination hike and boat tour. A list with dates and more information on accessible events throughout the Southeast is on Catalyst’s website.

Pearson said that people are not always able to purchase equipment like GRIT Freedom chairs, often due to medical expenses. This makes free events with the chairs even more valuable.

“We’re bridging that gap,” she said.

“No matter where you’re at with your bucket list of wanting to get outside, it’s trying to make sure that you can make that happen whatever that looks like,” she said. “It’s a matter of trying to take that first push forward, as I say, or first step forward, whatever you have the capability of doing, and get started to do something instead of looking out a window and saying ‘Oh I wish I could do that.”

Eds. note: Corrigan’s quote in the fourth paragraph should have read: "You are the first step in trying to determine how we can provide more access to wilderness for individuals with mobility needs." It has been corrected. 

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Last modified on Monday, 24 June 2024 13:05