People with Disabilities Fulfill Their Dreams

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Published in New York Able Newspaper, April 2009, Page 17.

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Alpenglow Adventures recently announced the accomplishment of the first decent by trail to the bottom of the Grand Canyon National Park by an individual who cannot walk.

Alpenglow Adventures is a program designed to assist people with disabilities achieve their goals of visiting world famous hiking destinations. Skylar Cannon, 13, from Shelbyville, KY, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, became the first person to make the descent to the bottom and back out.

Jim Elbert, Director of Alpenglow Adventures, led the Grand Canyon trip with Cannon in November 2008. Cannon’s mother, Tami, accompanied her daughter on the trip.

Cannon was transported more than nine miles and 5,280 vertical feet to the Phantom Ranch located at the bottom of the canyon with the use of a Trailrider, a transportation device with one wheel that has been specially designed to allow able-bodied people to push and/or pull someone over rough terrain.

In December 2008, Juan Martin Bortero of Cambridge, Mass., became the first in the world needing assistance for the entire ascent, to reach the Uhuru Peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest point at 19,340 feet. Botero was pushed and pulled 25 ½ miles and 13,340 vertical feet to the highest summit by six Tanzanian porters using a Trailrider. Botero has Friedrich’s Ataxia, which is a deteriorating neurological disease that has taken his ability to walk.

For information on Adventures contact Elbert, 502-732-5333.