Access Anything’s

The travelerSummer

2009

THE CAMPING ISSUEColorado National Parks w 10 Best Campsites

Discount Passes w Inexpensive Activities

Volume 5 Number 3 Summer 2009

Publication & DesignAndrea J Kennedy

EditorCraig P Kennedy

ContributorsAccess Anything welcomes writers and trav-elers with disabilities or knowledge in this particular field to submit their articles, com-ments, and suggestions to ask@accessany-thing.net. Deadline for submissions is the 20th of even months.

The Traveler is a publication of Access Anything, LLC. PO Box 880763 Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80488, and is distributed by Aweber, www.aweber.com. All changes to your subscription to this periodical must be done through Aweber.

Back issues of The Traveler are available on-line at www.accessanything.net.

Our Website is maintained by:www.jdbtech.com

© 2009 Access Anything, LLCThe articles in this periodical may not be reprinted without permission of Access Any-thing. This periodical is permitted to be print-ed in entirety only by rehabilitation centers and independent living centers.

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ON THE ROAD

4 About this issue5 No Barriers Festival

DESTINATIONS & PORTRAITS

6 Vital Camping Equipment and Knowledge

8 Top Five Campsites Top Five Parks

and Top Five Hiking Trails

11 Company Highlight:Rise Adventures

PLANNING

12 Traveler’s Calendar Online Destinations

13 Destination Motivation The Crip’s Tip

14 Recommended Services and Companies

What’s with This Issue?Call us crazy, but we think summer should be filled with camping, out-door fun, activities, adventure, and yes, more camping. We’re ashamed to admit that our tent didn’t break out of its case ONCE last summer, and we vow to rectify that this season!

During a year when we’re all watching our wallets carefully, we felt the need to dedicate an entire issue to inexpensive fun outdoors. We’ve ventured outside of our own comfort zone with articles on other regions than Colorado, so if we’ve forgotten anything in your region, please send us an email and we’ll make sure to follow up in our blog!

We haven’t dedicated an entire issue to a sinlge subject before, so if you like that theme (or don’t) please let us know. Suggestions, critiques, and submissions are always welcome at The Traveler! Our readers matter to us, and we want to know what you want to read about!

We’ve even included some alternatives to camping for those of you who think sleeping on the ground is for wild animals only!

As always please pass along this newsletter to anyone who wants to travel but might not have the budget to do so this year!

No Barriers Festival Miami, FL

This past June we headed down to Miami for Florida’s first No Barriers Festival at Shake-A-Leg Miami. We spent four solid days with hundreds of participants trying out sports like open water swimming (pictured), sailing, handcycling, rock climbing, horseback riding, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, fencing, dancing, yoga, deep sea fishing, and paddleboarding. Experts came from around the country with equipment and volunteers to bring new sports to those who hadn’t tried them.

We followed this event daily on our travel blog, and many of our photos are now posted online with No Barriers USA. If you missed this event or news of it, defi-nitely check it out, and get on their mailing list for future events! We had a blast

with these guys both in Florida this past June as well as at their first US event in Lake Tahoe California in June of 2007.

We hope to be at all No Barriers Events in the future! www.nobarriersusa.org

LET THE CAMPING BEGIN!

Vital camping equipment andknowledge....

Before you begin it’s pertinent to know that camping for people with disabilities is as inexpensive as it gets. The National Parks system offers free entry and 1/2 price camping, and many State Parks systems have followed suit with discounted annual or lifetime passes for entry and activities as well. In addition to discounts, a large percentage of the campgrounds at these parks have at least one ADA-compliant camp site with parking and re-strooms, some with raised tent beds, and all with wider tent, parking, and walking/rolling areas. Most also have accessible trails, fishing piers, docks and boat ramps for daytime entertainment. So stick with us, and we’ll spell it all out in this Camping Issue.

Discounts1. The Golden Access PassNo one should be without this one. Period. It’s free. It gets you into every single US National Park for free AND it gets you 1/2 price camping within those parks. It must be obtained at any National Park in person, NPS’s way of ensuring that you aren’t abusing the system.

2. State Parks DiscountsEvery US state has its own network of State Parks that is operated by the state, and therefore its discount system is state-by-state as well. Here are a few of our favorite links, but if you search your state, “state parks” and “disability discount,” the link to your specific pass should pull up. Many times these are for residents only, and require a doctor’s signature. Alaska Parks Disability PassCalifornia Disability PassColorado Columbine Pass Ohio State Parks DiscountNew Jersey Parks Disability PassVirginia Golden Disability PassWest Virginia Recreational Discount Card

Equipment1. Eureka’s Freedom TentIf you’re a seasoned reader of Access Anything, you’ve heard us talk up this masterful piece of camp-ing equipment and all its wonderful amenities since the summer of 2005. If you haven’t heard of it, it warrants an entire read on our review blog. But the highlights include separate wheelchair storage and sleeping compartments, rear-entry window-doors, large pull tabs on the zippers, a sliding front door, and a great pricetag. Don’t go camping without one.

2. Coleman Camping StoveWe’ve tried several camping stoves, from the small single-burner backpacking cookers to the expensive car camping grills and we’re still most impressed with Coleman’s fold-down two burner propane stove. For under $70 you can get a cooker that is light to carry, easy to light, and even easier to clean, with big knobs for lesser hand mobility. Although the fire’s always a darn good cooker too!

3. Camping CotsIf you have trouble transferring from the ground to your chair (or visa versa), make the mornings easier and the nights longer by sleeping on a cot off the ground. Ideally find a cot that has at least six (preferably 8) legs with pegged feet (not resting on a bar on the ground) so it is as sturdy as possible. Cabella even makes one with an airmattress included for only $99.

4. Knobby TiresFor those of you who already live in the mountains, knobby tires on your wheelchair help you navigate through mud, dirt, snow, and obstacles much easier than road tires do. And if you live in the city, knob-bies just get in the way. However most parks and campsites are surrounded by dirt, and the trails, al-though accessible, are made of woodchips or other crushed materials, and simple easier with knobby tires. Order a second set of rims or take ones from an old chair and throw some knobbies on there for outdoor fun!

Top Five Accessible US Campsites1. Yellowstone National Park, WY http://www.nps.gov/yell

One of our favorite parks in the nation, Yellowstone, offers some ex-cellent access, great camping, and unquestionably the best wildlife viewing in the country. Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant and Madison have accessible campsites and rest rooms; Lewis Lake and Slough Creek Campgrounds have an accessible campsite. There is also an acces-sible fishing ramp and platform on the Madison River at the Mt. Haynes Overlook.

2. South Zion National Park - Lava Point, Utahhttp://www.nps.gov/zion

Massive canyon walls ascend toward a brilliant blue sky. To experience Zion, you need to walk among the towering cliffs, or challenge your courage in a small narrow canyon. The Watchman and South Camp-grounds have five accessible sites between them, and the Lower Em-erald Pools, Riverside Walk and Pa’Rus Trail are accessible as well.

3. Warren Island State Park - Mainehttp://www.state.me.us/doc/parks/parksinfo/warrenisland/index.html

The sunsets, fishing, and peaceful atmosphere of this State Park are hard to beat, and although this is the only state park in our top five camping spots, if you’re in the NE region, it’s a great option for those who are a little more adventurous. All nine campsites are accessible, though not by ADA standards such as the NPS campgrounds are, but you won’t find many barriers in this park.

4. Adirondack Park - Lake George Island, NYhttp://visitadirondacks.com/Where-to-Stay/Campgrounds.html

Despite being virtually impossible to find anything online about acces-sibility in general in this park, it’s still a must-hit on our list. Old Forge Camping Resort is your spot; they’ve got accessible options for tents and cabins, but unfortunately the cottages have stairs. Lake George lies in the southern part of the park and is a gorgeous resource, and the surrounding park is as well. There are also accessible trails in the area, and the fishing and scenic byways are wonderful activities for variety.

5. Lassen Volcanic National Park - Manzanita, CAhttp://www.nps.gov/lavo

Two of the six campgrounds in this park are accessible: Butte Lake and Manzanita Lake Campgrounds have disability-designated camp sites. Explore the hydrothermal areas and drink in the Native Ameri-can history in this gorgeous national park!

Top Five Accessible National Parks

Since this list is so short, for ALL National Parks, visit www.nps.gov and then accessibility will AL-WAYS be under “Planning your Visit” and “Things to Know Before You Come” tabs. (you can also search “accessibility” on each site). And if we could have fit six on here, Rocky Mountain National Park would fall into that spot!

1. Yosemite National Park - Californiahttp://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/access.pdf

Yosemite has made great improvements in the recent years for accessibility to many trails, view points, and campgrounds in the park. There are several campgournds with accessible sites, as well as four lodges with access if you prefer a bed. The shuttle busses and tours are also accessible, and of course all visitors centers, museums, and galleries are as well. Happy Isles offers an ac-cessible nature center, and Lower Yosemite Falls has an accessible picnic area. You can also rent a wheelchair if you need one. View the twenty page PDF document at the weblink listed above for more extensive information on accessibility in this amazing natural resource of California! 2. Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Virginiahttp://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm

If you haven’t seen the Smokies, you are in for a treat at this national park; the views from above and below are breathtaking. Six picnic areas and seven hiking trails get you out into the woods in your wheelchair, and for lodging there are six camp sites and several cabins that offer accessibility.

3. Denali National Park - Alaskahttp://www.nps.gov/dena

There isn’t much you can’t do in this gorgeous gem of Alaska; several tour busses have lifts to take you deep into the part of the park you can’t drive to anymore; six trails are accessible as well as all visitor centers, museums and buildings on site. The one thing no one can do is camp in this park; the wildlife is actually a serious danger. The summer we were there the local wolf pack and bear population were fighting over a carcass in one of the streams! Great photos, but not so appetizing to spend the night!

4. Glacier National Park - Montanahttp://www.nps.gov/glac/http://www.tdtcompanion.com/NPS/Glacier/Default.aspx

This NP actuall has its own designated website for accessibility (second above), complete with a video demo and TTD information, highlighting 11 attractions (including trails), five campgrounds and seven lodges, several topics under transportation, as well as the access in all buildings. Visit Big Sky Country in one fell swoop at this gorgeous national park.

5. Grand Canyon National Park - Arizonahttp://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/upload/AccessibilityGuide06.pdf

As with the Yosemite Park, there’s a complete 12-page PDF on access at the Grand Canyon, dis-cussing permits, restrooms, wheelchair rentals, trails, facilities, food, lodging, and of course camp-ing. It was very hard for us to pick only five, and then organize them, we’d almost move this one up the list it’s so inspiring and impressive. If you haven’t seen that big hole in AZ, get to it, it’s a sight!

Top Five Accessible Trail Systems1. San Bruno Mountain State Park near San Francisco CAhttp://tinyurl.com/ob84lc

Several trails in this gorgeous area are accessible to wheelchairs, and California has a plethora of accessible trails in general. These three trails at San Bruno Mtn State Park make the top of our list for views and The Bog Trail is a 0.4 mile whole access trail with views of the summit. Gravel surface, mostly level, with cable handrails. It connects at each end with the Old Guadalupe Trail, a level, paved, 0.8 mile road lined with tall eucalyptus trees. The first 0.5 mile or more of the Saddle Loop Trail east from the picnic area is may also be usable to wheel-chairs, reaching a point with views north to the city. Coarse gravel, initially gentle grades.

2. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, Centerville MNhttp://www.anokacountyparks.com/trails/default.htm

A chain of seven lakes with broad, paved trails nicely wrapped around each provides hikers of every age and ability, a great opportunity to experience a sampling of Minnesota’s natural resources. A nicely groomed, modern developed park setting, Rice Creek makes our list at #2. This is about as new as parks get, and some construction and trail labeling are still under way.

3. Boulder Area Accessible Trails and Natural Sites, Boulder COhttp://www.bouldercolorado.gov/files/openspace/pdf_involved/tap-guide.pdf

This free city guide covers over 40 accessible trails in the Boulder CO region, discussing rating, distance, surface, width, grade, site amenities and full color maps. There truly isn’t another more comprehensive hik-ing guide for people with disabilites out there, and you could spend an entire summer following this awesome resource!

4. Craters of the Moon National Monument, Arco IDhttp://www.nps.gov/archive/crmo/hikingaccess.htm

Craters of the Moon National Monument was awarded the National Park Service 2002 National Design Project Achievement Award for their efforts to provide all visitors, including those with disabilities, with Trail Access Information in a variety of formats. The website highlights eight trails that offer accessibility in the park, include the Cave trail, discuss-ing trail grade, slope, width and surface in a gorgeous national park setting.

5. Accessible Trails for Wheelers and Slow Walkers, OR and WA http://accessibletrails.com/

The research for Accessible Trails has been done by Olympic WA resi-dent Davey Schmidt, scooter user since 2001 and outdoor enthusiast who has categorized the two states into 18 regions each with 4-10 trails and systems highlighted with maps, features, text and photographs in extensive detail of the area. A great resource for anyone in the area.

Company Highlight:

Only two years old, RISE Adventures is already making an impact on its home state of Texas for adventurers with disabilities. With focus on encouraging independece through sports and recre-ation, they offer over twenty sports programs that beginners, intermediates, and advanced partici-pants can join.

But of course, what drew us to RISE this month was their camping program. Although we’ve missed two of their camping weekends this summer already (mid May and early June), and Texans shouldn’t camp in July and August, you can still sign up for the September and October to get two days of camping fun in with RISE Adventures. Unfortunately this is a kid-focused event, and they only have room for 10 campers with their guardians (not included in that number).

There are accessible restrooms and showers provided on these trips and all food and drinks are included as well. Among the activities we will be providing are a BONFIRE, SAFETY CLASS AND TARGET PRACTICE AT RIFLE RANGE OR ARCHERY SHOOTING, GO CARTING, TIME IN THE POOL, FISHING AND A HAYRIDE!

Program ContactSteve Carlson @ 214.808.1065 or scarlson@riseadventures.org.

Dates: September 11-13, 2009October 16-18, 2009

ScheduleFRIDAY4-7 PM Registration/Camp Set Up7 PM Dinner8-10 PM Bonfire11 PM Lights Out SATURDAY7-8AM Wake up Call8AM Breakfast9:30 AM Safety Class9:30-NOON Rifle and Archery/ Target Practice12-1 PM Lunch1 - 4 PM Go Carting4 - 5 PM Free Time5 - 6 PM Dinner6 - 7 PM Clean-up/Bonfire7 - 10 PM Pool Time10:30 PM Lights Out

RISE = Recovery - Inspiration - Success - Empowerment

RISE AdventuresP.O. Box 141122Irving, TX 75014-1122

SUNDAY7 AM Wake-up Call8 AM Breakfast9 - NOON Hayrides and fishing (no not at the same time)1 PM Lunch2 PM Break Camp and Say GoodbyesClick here to view our complete calendar.

Traveler’s CalendarJuly4: Happy Independence Day! 8-11: Extremity Games, Waterford, MI18: EXPAND Cycling Ride, Boulder CO22-23: 4th Annual Behind the ‘Boat Water Camp, Steamboat CO

August1: EXPAND Cycling Ride, Boulder CO2: Kayak Family Day at Montrose Beach, Chicago, IL6-7: Stars of Tomorrow Youth Sports Camp, Denver CO

September 11-13: RISE Adventures Camping Weekend, Irving TX

Kayaking with a disability: www.creatingability.com

Cruising with your service dog: www.servicedogcruises.com

For Families in Colorado: www.accessandability.org

Helping Rwandans with Disabilities: www.oneloveproject.org

Access tours in Asia: www.accessibletoursasia.com

Living with a Disability: www.accessliving.org

Rythmic arts for PWD : www.traponline.com

Encouraging society to think differently about disability: www.kanchi.org

Find captioned movies near you: www.captionfish.com

The newest sport for PWD : www.wheelchairlacrosse.com

Online Destinations

Destinaton Motivation

The Crip’s TipEveryone already knows to bring the essential when you are camping: bug juice, water, firewood, sun-screen, matches, etc… But for those of us who are camping with a disability, there are some key things not to forget. The most important thing to me is my car! We love car camping the most just for getting further into the backcountry and the comfort of hav-ing a way out if something goes wrong and we really to need to head home. But with car camping you can also bring more stuff! In our tips on page 6 we sug-gest bringing a cot for easier transfers, but you can substitude this for an air mattress or a couple camp-ing pads and blankets. I always say “The more pad-ding the better” to avoid pressure sores and sleep in true comfort! My other essentials include extra tire tubes in case I get a flat (although very rare with my knobbies), plenty of water to stay hydrated, and a padded toilet seat and shower bench as those aren’t usually provided at public camp grounds, ADA or not!

More tips for camping are on page 6! ~See you in the Outdoors!

“Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Recommended Services and Companies

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