Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Ohio
April 2011
Kellisa and Laurel states hiked together: 4/50.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Saturday, October 22, 2016
New Mexico
White Sands National Monument
Carlsbad Caverns
New Mexico
March 2011
Kellisa and Laurel's states hiked together: 2/50.
Friday, October 21, 2016
California
Death Valley National Park
California
November 2010
Kellisa and Laurel's states hiked together: 1/50.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Murphy's Gate to Robie Point
Auburn State Recreation Area
California
October 2016
Kellisa and I found this awesome trailhead only 15 minutes from our house. We had the Hippocampe in the car, so we pulled over to explore a little. The trail looked wide and flat (flat doesn't have to mean level, it just has to be free of major barriers that prevent our forward movement) as it descended into a little side canyon of the American River. The picture above shows the start of the trail and how it's blocked by a locked gate and large boulders. I had to lift the chair over the boulders and then carry Kellisa to her chair. This effort would have been unnecessary if they would make the trail opening just a little wider, but I guess they want to keep ATVs off the trail along with all other wheeled devices. This minimal effort would be more than rewarded as we pushiked 1.8 miles from Murphy's Gate to Robie Point and back. If we had more time, we could have continued farther. According to the website, the Auburn State Recreation Area has over 100 miles of trails and we look forward to returning many times to explore.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop Trail
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Nevada
September 2016
Between settling in our new home in California and summer's heat, we weren't able to explore any local trails for several months. That changed at the end of September when we hiked a nice little trail high above Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop Trail was the perfect trail to get back outside. It was wide and free of obstacles for Kellisa's Hippocampe. As usual, Laurel took the lead on the trail and even volunteered to push Kellisa several times. The girls were excited to have mom join us on this trail close to our home.
Kellisa had pushiked in Nevada before, but never with Laurel. With this trail complete, the girls have hiked together in 41 states.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
The Remaining States
 |
| Brazos Bend State Park, Texas March 2014 |
After my post that the girls are getting close to visiting and hiking in all 50 states, some have wondered what is left before completing the lists. I wanted to double and triple check my lists to make sure we didn't miss anything.
Kellisa still needs to visit Iowa, Hawaii, and Alaska. In addition to those three states, Laurel needs to visit New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Utah.
The girls have visited Illinois and New Hampshire, but haven't hike a trail in these two states.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Getting Close to All 50 States
 |
| Tahoe Meadows (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada) September 2016 |
What started out as a promise back in May 1999 only to be forgotten for several years before being turned in to a real goal is close to being realized after several revisions.
The promise was to take Kellisa to visit all 50 United States by her 18th birthday. The promise grew to include hiking at least one trail in each state.
Along the path, Kellisa became an older sister to Laurel who started joining adventures to new states and without much planning, both girls are close to hiking a trail (together) in all 50 states.
Kellisa has visited 47 states to Laurel's 43 and together they've shared a trail in 41 states. Trips are planned to visit and hike the remaining states by the end of 2016.
Monday, September 19, 2016
All Are Welcome, Except the Disabled
It's nearly impossible to find a disabled/family restroom available to use when out with Kellisa. I'm guessing we find the door locked at least 90% of the time. It is usually an able bodied person who is using the bathroom as a personal throne. Sometimes it's someone using it as the smoking lounge. Rarely is it a family with small children and almost never is it another disabled person.
To give space to "all genders", they are using the disabled bathroom which really means they are taking it away from the disabled because I'm going out on a vary short and sturdy limb by guessing this will make it absolutely impossible to ever find a bathroom available for Kellisa. I see this as theft from the disabled. At best, a public location might have one bathroom set aside. Besides privacy and sanitary reasons, we need the extra room to safely use the facilities with Kellisa.
Since I frequently travel alone with both girls, what is my alternative? Wheel Kellisa in the men's room? If yes, what do I do with 7-year-old Laurel? Do I bring her with us? Does she curiously look around? Do I leave her outside the men's bathroom and hope for the best?
Our picture is from the San Diego Airport and I'm afraid that it will become the new normal. The disabled have so few resources and it is disturbing to think this may start a new trend. In my opinion, we only have one option and our odds of finding a bathroom for Kellisa will go from maybe 10% to far less than 1% if "All Are Welcome, Except the Disabled" becomes public policy.
The disabled need a powerful voice and lobby!
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
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