Access Challenge History 1999 - 2006
In the words of Brad Jacobsen, an avid hiker prior to a diving injury and an avid rider since, Access Challenge "allowed my spirit to get away somewhere it hadn't been in awhile, and definitely needs to be. I felt like I was back home again. It gave me balance, and that's important."
Access Challenge 2008
Location: Elbow-Sheep Wildlands Provincial Park, Kananaskis, Alberta
This three-day backcountry adventure enabled five people with significant disabilities to explore this ruggedly beautiful provincial park and wildlife reserve.
It included a trip to Rawson Lake in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, along with a kayaking expedition on Lower Kananaskis Lake in tandem sea kayaks equipped with outrigger pontoons.
The adventure was made possible by a team of volunteers, and the support of Friends of Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks, and the Community Recreation Initiatives Society (CRIS) of Kelowna.
More information here.
Access Challenge 2006
Location: Roberts Creek on the B.C. Sunshine Coast
Six teams of hikers and sherpas climbed the Dakota Ridge area, for three days and two nights of hiking, mountaineering and camping in the remote and spectacular Tetrahedron Provincial Park - testing themselves and the new Black Diamond TrailRider model. Approximately 40 volunteers made it possible for hikers Alexis Chicoine, James Willetts, Cheryl Hutchinson, Star Trickey, Jack Levesque and Ken Quayle.
Quadriplegic James Willetts said: "One of the reasons I went was to show people that it's possible to go out and do everything that I used to be able to do. And to show myself, too."
"The hike started off difficult... and then got tougher. It was a real challenge."
Tetrahedron Provincial Park is located north and east of Sechelt on the
Sunshine
Coast, and features a number of pristine mountain lakes and spectacular
views that are only visible via steep, rocky trails. It featured
treks throughout the park to Edwards Lake and McNair Lake, with
the journey down highlighted by a zip-line crossing of a small canyon and
creek, provided by members of the North Shore Search and Rescue team.
Access Challenge 2005
Location: Zajac Ranch, Mission, B.C.
The three-day adventure included hiking, archery, kayaking, swimming, music and stargazing in the spectacular forests around Stave Lake near Mission, B.C. (50 kms east of Vancouver).
An 18-km. trek around Hayward Lake took participants through the picturesque Mission Municipal Forest and the Hayward Lake Reservoir Recreation Area. A series of guided explorations highlighted the region's native plant and animal life, and evenings included a showcase of musicians with disabilities and a hands-on session with an astronomer.
Access Challenge 2004
Location: Capilano Pacific Trail, North Vancouver, B.C.
This event was dedicated to further refinement and development of the TrailRider – which, of course, required an ambitious route through challenging terrain.
Two TrailRider crews – Sam Sullivan, founder and co-developer of the TrailRider, and Brian Bell of North Vancouver – were test pilots.
The one-day trek followed the course of the Capilano River, from its head at the Cleveland Dam to its mouth at Burrard Inlet, near Vancouver's famous Lions Gate Bridge.
Wade Lander, a Vancouver-based industrial designer and volunteer with both BCMOS and the Tetra Society, was a principal sherpa for this trek. His observations and discussions with both hikers and other sherpas had a significant bearing on the final design of the Black Diamond TrailRider model.
Access Challenge 2003
Location: Black Tusk, Garibaldi Provincial Park, B.C.
Six hikers with disabilities, aided by their sherpas, took to the trails of Garibaldi Provincial Park's Black Tusk Mountain for a three-day backcountry wilderness expedition covering 37 kms. of arduous terrain.
The excursion marked BCMOS's fifth annual Access Challenge and drew participants from as far away as Ontario and New Hampshire. The teams reached the snow line and eventually ended their journey by crossing the Cheakamus River via a zip-line strung over a canyon, 20 metres above the water.
"The hike was fantastic," said participant Alexis Chicoine. "It's fantastic and eye-opening and a great experience for anyone who has been out in the bush - and for somebody who hasn't."
"I loved the whole thing. It's just amazing to be able to get back to the mountain."
Access Challenge 2002
Location: Black Tusk, Garibaldi Provincial Park, B.C.
This was the first time the expedition had been attempted over a three-day period, with the slightly longer timeframe allowing exploration, competition and education along with the more familiar camping, hiking and mountaineering.
There was a marked attempt to make this event more challenging than previous years - with an orienteering exercise, in which teams had to plot a course using navigational gear, and a crossing of the Cheakamus canyon made via a zip-line engineered by North Shore Search and Rescue crew members.
"It was like dessert after coming down the mountain," said participant Michelle Amerie, of Toronto, describing the river crossing. "It really was a piece of cake."
The trail was scouted and planned with the help of Scott Flavelle, a master mountaineer and former resident of Vancouver. Scott, who was technical race director for the Eco-Challenge race series filmed for television, applied his knowledge and expertise to ensure the Access Challenge route was challenging, spectacular and safe.
Access Challenge 2001
Location: Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC.
Two-day event in the scenic Garibaldi Provincial Park. This culminated in a race, down a mountainside to the parking lot, to conclude the event.
"The experience to get back into the mountains, though bittersweet because of my dependence on others now to get there, was uplifting," said participant Alexis Arhens. "I found that being up on that mountain looking down at the view and feeling the breeze on my face made me feel 'normal' again. I felt less handicapped, more like myself.
"The hike definitely caused many aches and pains in my team mates. It was hard not to say, 'I'm sorry' all the time since I knew that it was I, indirectly, causing those aches and pains. Pushing and pulling the TrailRider up a mountain is pretty brutal work. Each one just shushed me and said, 'don't worry about it, we're having fun!' So I sat back and enjoyed the ride."
Access Challenge 2000
Location: Manning Provincial Park, B.C.
Two-day trek through Manning Park. Located in the heart of the Cascade Mountains, this has tremendously diverse landscapes and plentiful flora and fauna.
"We arrived at the river we would camp beside and set up our tents while we waited for the four other groups," said participant Sherry Caves. "That evening, under stars that were brighter than many of the participants had ever seen, we relaxed by our big campfire and joked about the different experiences of the day."
Access Challenge 1999
Location: Manning Provincial Park, B.C.
The challenge that started the whole movement. Back in 1999, people with significant disabilities did not get opportunities for backwoods access. This overnight adventure through Manning Park, in the Cascade Mountains, was trailblazing.
"This was the first time in 14 years that I really felt one with nature," said participant Roger B. Jones. "Being in the alpine with the mountainous backdrop was an awesome experience. The view from a highway is just not the same. How many quads can say they went where no quads have gone before?"
"We must also be cognizant of the huge part played by the able-bodied participants. Without them it would have been impossible for people like me to have been a part of this historic event. Their efforts helped me to realize that in spite of my disability, I can still enjoy the same pleasures that I did prior to my accident."
