The recent pandemic left many people at home, trying to stay active, healthy, and happy from their homes or hometowns. Travel was made even more difficult than it already was. If you or someone you know is a wheelchair user or someone with mobility challenges, you know all too well that feeling stuck in one place isn’t necessarily unique to the pandemic. Everyone has had to — and continues to have to — adjust their approach to fitness to keep themselves, their loves ones, and the larger community healthy.
Staying inside and doing in-home workouts is, sometimes, the safest and most readily available option. Whether you’re putting a Freedom Chair on rollers to crank out some in-house miles, overhead-bench-pressing your levers, or in your kitchen curling the heaviest canned goods you can find, a little creativity goes a long way.
Looking to connect online with others interested in wheelchair hiking? Join the Beyond the Pavement Facebook Group.
And while there are tons of in-home workouts available, we’ll always get into the beautiful outdoors when possible! Here are a few things you should do in order to limit your risk while hiking:
1. Find a local hike or park.
There are more and more accessible parks popping up every day. There are of course apps like Trail Forks and AllTrails that are terrific places to start, but finding wheelchair-friendly trails can be a bit more difficult. Check out the GRIT Accessible Hiking Guide as a starting place — there may be trails you’ve seen, some that are new, and the guide may help you find other trails nearby. After that, check out this article from the New York Times to continue your search. After that, turn to the best source of information there is: Other wheelchair riders! Join Beyond the Pavement on Facebook to ask about your state or area and see what others can recommend.
2. Do your research.
Once you determine which park or mountain you’ll be hiking, you’ll of course want to choose a route. Consider the following criteria to find a trail that might be a good fit for you.
- Side slope – Is there any information about the cross-slope or side slope of the trail? Side slope can be tricky to navigate if wheelchair hiking solo, so if there’s any indication of extreme slope, bring a friend or two to help out.
- Elevation gain – There’s no reason not to tackle the biggest, steepest mountain you want, but these places require very different planning than a flat rail trail!
- Total distance – Will you need a hiking backpack? How much water/food do you need? Will there be enough daylight to complete your hike before dark?
- Surface material (gravel, dirt, sand, etc.) – Trails usually feature a whole mess of materials. Make sure you’re prepared with the right equipment so that when the ground surface changes, you can continue to power along.
- Parking availability – Are there only 5 parking spots available? Are you going to have to roll 2 miles to get to the trailhead to start your hike? Choose your destination and prepare accordingly.
- Accessible bathroom availability – Duty will call! Make sure you’re prepared for the potential…lack of accessible bathroom options. If you or someone in your party needs a fully accessible bathroom, make sure the location you select has one.
- Narrowest section of trail – While a bit of bushwhacking is a good time, nobody wants to be on a chair that is far too narrow for your wheelchair. Select a trail that has wide paths, limited bottlenecks, and enough foot traffic to stay wide.
- Are there any trail obstructions? Too often, the beginnings of trails will feature enormous boulders or felled trees to prevent vehicle traffic. These obstructions can make it tough for wheelchair users to even start their hikes. Check updated trail reports and even Google Earth to scope out the trail before you arrive.
Of course, not every trail is marked or signed with this information (there’s quite a bit to consider and there are many years of ableist infrastructure to overcome). GRIT and many others are working with trail builders, land trusts, and other organizations to improve signage and the accessibility of information, but if the above data isn’t posted, contact the group that owns the land. You may have to call a few folks, but these kinds of conversations can be fruitful — you’ll get the information you need and might even meet some friendly park staff along the way.
3. Keep yourself, your chair, and your park clean.
The dirt, the mud, the tree sap, and the grit of the outdoors are all reasons we’re out there! But, bring what you need to stay safe and clean while hiking. This post was originally written during the Coronavirus pandemic, when hand sanitizer and social distancing were of utmost importance; while restrictions have loosened up, be prepared to take care of yourself, your equipment, and the park itself.
Public bathrooms are, of course, not known for steadfast cleanliness. If you find yourself using one, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and hot water. Use hand sanitizer like it’s your job! If you have disinfecting wipes, don’t be afraid or ashamed to use them on the toilet handle, the doorknob, etc. It is also worth noting that some national and state parks have reported people stealing their toilet paper. If you plan on using a public toilet, it’s best to bring your own toilet paper, just in case they do not have any available.
The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace extend far beyond cleanliness, but they do set the groundwork for respecting the land and spaces we are so lucky to enjoy. Read them, know them, and share them! If you see that candy wrapper or empty plastic water bottle on the side of the trail, pick it up and dispose of it when you’re back at camp.
If using an all-terrain wheelchair or other mobility equipment, make sure to keep up on maintenance, too. Depending on your equipment, this may involve cleaning with fresh water and dish soap, lubricating chains and moving parts, tightening nuts and bolts, inflating tires. Check with the manufacturer of your equipment for best practices.
4. The most important rule of all: Focus on what you can control.
While you can’t control the rain, the wind, or the fact that someone stole all of the TP out of the park bathroom, there is quite a bit you can control. Bring to the hike your research, your creative spirit, your optimism, your first aid kit, your grit, and the excitement and peace of mind that comes with a few deep breaths of good ole’ outside air. Have a great time, stay safe, and keep those tires dirty!