Challenge Aspen Challenges Six Newly Injured Soldiers With “First Annual Wilderness Hut Experience” Into Backcountry
January 29th, 2008 at 02:58pm Post Staff 3
SOURCE: Challenge Aspen
Challenge Aspen Challenges Six Newly Injured Soldiers With
February 2-9
SNOWMASS, COLORADO (January 29, 2008)–Six newly injured soldiers from across the U.S., will join Challenge Aspen and Aspen Alpine Guides in traveling some of the most beautiful back country in Colorado, while participating in the First Annual Wilderness Hut Experience on February 2-9. “This camp is a direct result of witnessing the powerful results of our summer overnight outdoor experiences and their remarkable therapeutic value,” explains Sarah W. Volf, REC Director, Challenge Aspen. “Most of these Soldiers received their injuries in 2003 or 2004 and have been working and living in their own communities for several years. This is a big commitment for Challenge Aspen and for each of the participants, as all have different disabilities, including amputations, 3rd degree burns, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), nerve damage and fragment wounds. Careful preparation in advance is just as important as the trip itself,” she adds.
The group will spend time skiing and snowboarding in Snowmass, enjoying lunches on the mountain, and special dinners, before expertly packing and traversing by snowshoe, ski and/or snowmobile, six miles up in typically severe back country conditions to 11,300 elevation. Once they reach their destination just below timberline, the men will stay for two nights in Margy’s Hut, one of the first huts in the 10th Mountain Division Huts (huts.org) constructed by former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The huts were named to honor the men of the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, who trained in Colorado during World War II. The group will return to their homes on February 9.
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About Challenge Aspen
Since 1995, Challenge Aspen has provided adaptive recreational and cultural opportunities to thousands of individuals with disabilities from around the world. Based in Aspen, Colorado, Challenge Aspen is an internationally established charitable organization. As a leader and innovator offering participants safe, expert instruction and the best competitive ski-racing and educational programs available in the world, Challenge Aspen also provides outstanding summer therapeutic art and drama camps to children with physical and cognitive disabilities. In addition, Challenge Aspen creates adaptive wilderness experiences and provides elite race training for Veterans with disabilities. Critical partnerships with sponsors like Aspen Skiing Co., combined with the generous support of the Founders’ Circle, National Council members and annual fund raisers, provide the funding necessary for Challenge Aspen to empower all participants through its outdoor and cultural experiences, regardless of financial status. For more information visit www.challengeaspen.org
About Aspen Alpine Guides
Aspen Alpine Guides is a fully licensed, professional guide service, providing quality mountain guiding adventures since 1987. Their adventures include guided summer and winter trips including hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, snow-shoeing, X-C ski instruction and tours, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, backpacking and hut trips on the 10th Mountain Hut System. We specialize in creating custom backcountry adventures for individuals and groups of all abilities and sizes. Aspen Alpine Guides have combined experience of over 75 years of backcountry guiding. All are certified in emergency backcountry first aid, also many are: Mountain Rescue volunteers, professional members of the American Mountain Guides Association, certified ski instructors and mountain guides through the Professional Ski Instructors of America, and NOLS instructors.
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Entry Filed under: Uncategorized, Snowmass, Pitkin County, Colorado
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