In
late November 2016, our family arrived in Alaska after an unforgettable red-eye
flight from Hawaii, trading tropical beaches and 80°F sunshine for the frozen
wilderness of Denali National Park and a bone-chilling -21°F—a
temperature swing of roughly 100 degrees in less than half a day. Alaska wasn't
just another destination. It was the 50th and final U.S. state
that Chris, Kellisa, and Egypt had visited together, completing a promise years
in the making.
Denali National Park and Preserve
Alaska
Kellisa and Egypt states hiked together: All 50!
With snow covering the landscape and
only a few hours of daylight, we bundled Kellisa into her rugged off-road
mobility chair and set off on the Roadside Bike Trail near the entrance of
Denali National Park. Our roughly 2-mile hike wasn't
about distance—it was about perseverance. Every breath froze in the air,
eyelashes collected frost, and the crunch of snow beneath our boots and wheels echoed
through an otherwise silent wilderness. The frozen trail demanded teamwork as I
pushed Kellisa through the Arctic conditions while Lisa and Egypt shared in the
excitement of reaching a milestone few families could imagine.
At the time, Kellisa
was 17½ years old, only months away from adulthood, while Egypt
was just 7½, already proving herself to be an adventurous
hiking companion. Together, the family celebrated not only visiting all 50
states but hiking in every one of them. It was the culmination of countless
road trips, flights, trails, and creative problem-solving to make the outdoors
available to Kellisa despite the challenges of using a wheelchair.
The spectacular winter scenery made
the accomplishment even more meaningful. Snow-covered spruce trees lined the
trail, the Alaska Range rose dramatically in the distance, and occasional
breaks in the clouds revealed glimpses of Denali, North America's tallest
mountain. The photographs capture smiling faces bundled beneath layers of
winter gear, a mobility chair dusted with snow, and a family celebrating much
more than a hike—they were celebrating years of determination, love, and
refusing to let disability define adventure.
For Chris, Lisa, Kellisa, and Egypt,
this short winter walk became one of the most memorable hikes of all. It proved
that an extraordinary adventure isn't measured by miles or elevation but by the
people beside you. Being together in one of America's wildest landscapes, with
Alaska completing their journey through all 50 states, we closed an
unforgettable chapter while hopefully inspiring others to believe that
accessible adventures are possible—even at -21°F
in Denali National Park.
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