Disabled Athletes to Climb Three Classic U.S. Peaks to Promote Open Mountain Access

Paradox Sports, a community of disabled athletes will climb three of the most classic and coveted peaks in the US, namely: Washington’s Mt. Baker and Utah’s Castleton this September and New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast, in March 2012. The climb is part of the group’s vision for open mountain access for all.

The vision is for everyone to be able to pursue their dreams because they have the opportunities, support and the adaptive equipment available to do so. To overcome obstacles, the disabled athletes will have to challenge themselves in conditions from sandstone to mixed snow and ice. They will be climbing alongside a team of International Federation of Mountain Guides and American Mountain Guides Association guides to reach the summit and expand the concepts of possibility and achievement while inspiring others.

The project is also part of a global effort by the Swiss outdoor gear and apparel manufacturer Mammut Sports Group to celebrate its 150th anniversary by encouraging 150 teams to climb 150 mountains in the next twelve months. Paradox athlete Chad Butrick of Arvada Colorado will ascend Mt. Baker, Pete Davis of Ridgway, Colorado and Sean O’Neill of Brownfield, Maine will look to climb Castleton Tower, and Mike Reddy from New Haven, Connecticut and Maureen Whalley of Stowe, Vermont will tackle Mt. Washington.

You can only envy the persistence of our disabled athletes in promoting open mountain access and would hope that those without disabilities would also push for such vision.