El Paso Times- Kellisa Video

Below is the video that the El Paso Times made about our 2012 attempt to complete the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, NM. We completed 20 out of 26.2 miles because the temperature was above 90F and I was worried that the extreme desert sun and heat would trigger Kellisa's seizures. It wasn't worth the risk.

Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin

Lowest Point in North America

282 ft. Below Sea Level

Death Valley National Park

November 2010

Tropical Storm Beryl (2012)

Tropical Storm Beryl

Jacksonville, FL

May 27 and 28, 2012

Tracking as of 2pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012:

Satellite image of Beryl as it makes landfall:

1,345,596 people in metro Jacksonville and only four were at the south beach (accessible boardwalk) of Guana State Park as Tropical Storm Beryl (70mph sustained winds- just 5mph under hurricane strength) made landfall:

Egypt was a little hesitant, but this was her first tropical storm:

We tried to arrive just as the outer bands came ashore, butwe were a few minutes early. Kellisa was not as interested as she has been in the past (Flashback: Fay 2008):

However, after 15 minutes, the wind, rain and waves really started to meet our expectations. Egypt was done and went to the car with Lisa. As the weather deteriorated, Kellisa's enjoyment increased:

Looking south:

Three short clips of Kellisa enjoying the storm:

We lost one tree during the storm:

We were lucky, it fell within 10 feet of the house and Lisa's van:

Sassafras Mountain

Kellisa's 19th State Highpoint

Sassafras Mountain, SC

3,560ft.

Elevation Gain: 50ft.

June 2011

Guidebooks and online trip reports all agree, Sassafras Mountain is wheelchair accessible. The path is nice and wide,  but a little steep and rough. I would agree that the trail is wheelchair accessible, especially with help if it weren't for one little fact. When we visited Sassafras Mountain, we found a gate completely spanning the trail and beyond. Wheelchairs don't tip easily because they have anti-tip bars. The bars can be removed, but I doubt a wheelchair could be tipped enough to make it under the gate. The only option besides settling for "close" would be to lay the disabled person on the ground and lifting the wheelchair over the gate (probably a 2 person job, maybe more for a power chair). Then you would have to drag the person on the ground under the gate, lift them back into the chair. All before even staring the short ascent. This would have to be repeated on the return hike. Trust me and not the reports written by the able bodied trip reporters, this is NOT a wheelchair accessible trail, although it can be done with the right help and planning.

Luckily for us, we had Kellisa's "off-road" disability stroller and I was able to tip it back enough to pass under the gate:

Summit pictures:

Back at the parking lot, a beautiful view awaits at the end of a short walk:

I can't help but wonder how many people make the drive to the trailhead parking lot and walk to the overlook and believe they reached the summit of South Carolina? The path to the summit is not marked and without a guidebook, this could be an easy mistake.

2012 Bataan Memorial Death March

Bataan Memorial Death March

White Sands Missile Range, NM

March 25, 2012

I've completed the last three (2009-2011) Bataan Memorial Death Marches. Every year, I set two goals for myself. First, I wanted to finish no matter what. Second, I set a target finish time in my mind. I did not carry a watch or time myself in any way, I just knew how prepared I was each year and hoped for the best. The march is 26. 2 miles across the rolling hills of the New Mexico desert. Depending on who you talk to, there are two cruxes on the course. There's a mountain to traverse and approximately 3/4 of a mile of ankle deep sand after mile 21, fondly known as the "sand pit".

Elevation of the course:

My timing goal in 2009 was to finish under 9 hours. My time: 8 hours, 59 minutes and 19 seconds. In 2010, all I wanted to do was finish better than the year before. My time: 8 hours, 17 minutes and 28 seconds. My goal for 2011 was to finish in under 8 hours. My time: 7 hours, 59 minutes and 55 seconds. I'm 3 for 3 in finishing under my target finish time. My goal for 2012 will be to finish in under 10 hours. Why am I adding 2 hours and 5 seconds to my target time? I plan on completing the 2012 march with Kellisa!

The march has a strict no strollers policy. I wrote to the race director and pleaded my case. I explained that Kellisa was a disabled 12 year old girl who can't walk, weighs 80 pounds and is a patriotic supporter of our troops. I described the Advanced Mobility Independence Push Chair that Kellisa would ride in as I pushed her along the course. To further my case, I mentioned that I am a three time completer, so I know what I'm getting us into as far as understanding the difficulty of the course. I also promised to be 100% self reliant. They had a few questions and warnings, but on January 20, 2012, we received special permission to participate in the 2012 march.

I've been working on adapting custom rear wheels for Kellisa's chair:

Kellisa traveled to White Sands Missile Range to support my march in both 2009 and 2011 since it fell on one of her spring break weekends. Luckily, the 2012 march also falls during her spring break.

Lisa and Kellisa in the early morning cold before the start of the 2009 march:

Kellisa looking for me at the finish line:

Approaching the finish line:

I didn't want to get up, so Lisa and Kellisa joined me on the ground:

Participating in my first Bataan Memorial Death March was a life changing experience and I made a vow to myself to participate every year that I was able. I'm excited to take the march experience to the next level and share the course with Kellisa. I don't know if 10 hours is realistic considering I will have to stop and help Kellisa, including giving her water through the g-tube. Hopefully we will finish and claim to be the first "pushiking" team to complete the Bataan Memorial Death March.

Maybe we will inspire a team of soldiers to push a fellow veteran that lost a leg or two and can't complete the march under their own power???

Riding Run Trail

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Riding Run Trail
November 25, 2011

Distance: 4 miles

Elevation Change: 260 feet

We had the opportunity to take a pushike (me pushing Kellisa while hiking) in Cuyahoga Valley National Park the day after Thanksgiving. According to a Trail Guidebook, the Riding Run Trail has "several steep climbs and about two miles of wide, graveled path". Based on that description, I thought it would be a perfect path to push Kellisa along in her Independence Special Needs Jog Stroller. In my excitement, I did not realize that ONLY 2 of the 4 miles were along a graveled path. The guidebook did not mention the condition of the other 2 miles. It was a good thing, because we might not have ventured out on the Riding Run Trail and a great experience would have been missed.

The trail starts out wide and graveled:

and narrows as soon as we start to gain some of the 260 feet:

It's hard to tell, but half the trail is mud between 6 and 10 inches deep:

Leveling out for a scenic ridgeline walk:

The decent:

A small stream crossing near the end of the trail:

The home stretch:

The entire hiking party:

Back Row: Jim-Diane-Bob-Chris

Front Row Cousins: Jackie-Kellisa-Jen

Trail Map:

 

1,000 thank yous to the hike photographer: Jen!



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