tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17787671900788561112024-03-28T08:35:04.770-07:00Wheelchair WanderingJenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-27414222316470450142024-03-27T16:45:00.000-07:002024-03-27T16:45:33.625-07:00Road Trip with a Wheelchair: Wyoming (Yellowstone National Park)<p></p><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswfSuNt5sO2e0G_pX5Yo40hXiPo4sL7IvsAX9_uEoKvw7pZ32dT8PFD7hwFk74crtb7g-UKSA_RhcyHMC-ME5rc_ZeX3vScmDQ6ifDCXzSZmW0HjesP2d-NthxmRZ4AFyo6hv00Xw23LkOOa5y4u_ZkhkLTLJ0PpCt2KMwhvpAy8BZ2mqjAS6CoFV9XA/s1280/IMG_0247.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswfSuNt5sO2e0G_pX5Yo40hXiPo4sL7IvsAX9_uEoKvw7pZ32dT8PFD7hwFk74crtb7g-UKSA_RhcyHMC-ME5rc_ZeX3vScmDQ6ifDCXzSZmW0HjesP2d-NthxmRZ4AFyo6hv00Xw23LkOOa5y4u_ZkhkLTLJ0PpCt2KMwhvpAy8BZ2mqjAS6CoFV9XA/w400-h300/IMG_0247.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellowstone National Park</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br />The main lesson from Yellowstone was a reminder to “never say never.”</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 17px;"> </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">For me, Yellowstone had always conjured up images of crowds of people jockeying for position around an itinerant geyser — images exacerbated by some members of that crowd doing stupid things during encounters with wildlife (often resulting in them being gored or mauled or otherwise taught a lesson of their own).</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 17px;"> </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Of all the national parks, Yellowstone was the one I felt no interest in visiting.</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And, yet, Yellowstone was on the route. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even with the northern access road still closed from flooding, our route took us through the park, and we had a few extra free days, so we went to Yellowstone for a few days. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcxkMi4TMBJPRUpOZk1q8mEL2fjr7lMsn2nBANomy8PxBHYTzLd9T6IdViSKBzyK1nIcml8iX0JnyYhSDbKC7bXhCj2H83hFp0mlGjy4sDRBtgssFmZFLkBBs3ZQdAa45i11y4hx7YjzuM4c1mPwejNWYbxHJpn_lgbQOoypCwNXfVuN5dqxSacYmEWo/s809/IMG_0174.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="809" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcxkMi4TMBJPRUpOZk1q8mEL2fjr7lMsn2nBANomy8PxBHYTzLd9T6IdViSKBzyK1nIcml8iX0JnyYhSDbKC7bXhCj2H83hFp0mlGjy4sDRBtgssFmZFLkBBs3ZQdAa45i11y4hx7YjzuM4c1mPwejNWYbxHJpn_lgbQOoypCwNXfVuN5dqxSacYmEWo/w320-h203/IMG_0174.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellowstone parking lot<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Granted, some parts of the visit confirmed my earlier hesitations: the park and its facilities were swarming with people, cars, and buses in the sections around Old Faithful and Hayden Valley. Park lodging was ridiculously expensive, and there were no back-country options for those of us who can’t walk. And yet…. I enjoyed my three days in the park and could even have spent a couple more. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTotvfEf9G8cjk-T1OrwJbjapvTWAwtniDiNTIxncSmXcSVkFiw2g3XdS5muEPdHrFIjVMX2jGcIEEgxle4y23RBqncbS9_u7QyEp01R7sbnwgOHfqcQh1eAVryNonkHaA5W8VWrkiDfXnMnBExqcdQQmky7btW3LoZEjxNH_5UybVV5-MppciI3wygw/s1280/IMG_0310.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTotvfEf9G8cjk-T1OrwJbjapvTWAwtniDiNTIxncSmXcSVkFiw2g3XdS5muEPdHrFIjVMX2jGcIEEgxle4y23RBqncbS9_u7QyEp01R7sbnwgOHfqcQh1eAVryNonkHaA5W8VWrkiDfXnMnBExqcdQQmky7btW3LoZEjxNH_5UybVV5-MppciI3wygw/s320/IMG_0310.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">Front-country attractions are accessed<br />by a series of well-maintained <br />boardwalks</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCMikRjCGIzlzA-LaYjucHMkMLvMA8OMRa8CHwtkBehp4uSkjERR3j0rumUp8LJAheUVgtE_uikXy1U7sdKSOcQgQppt_vx8X4ec098b9PJ0IBo3aYMCRYbSohQFH7fEuRhI9DuwhZRg8N36elfBjHGlSNZkACRjPaOcVA_tMBga_giqN93MUBzMl9CI/s1280/IMG_0293.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1280" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCMikRjCGIzlzA-LaYjucHMkMLvMA8OMRa8CHwtkBehp4uSkjERR3j0rumUp8LJAheUVgtE_uikXy1U7sdKSOcQgQppt_vx8X4ec098b9PJ0IBo3aYMCRYbSohQFH7fEuRhI9DuwhZRg8N36elfBjHGlSNZkACRjPaOcVA_tMBga_giqN93MUBzMl9CI/s320/IMG_0293.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking lots boast disabled spots and<br />accessible vault toilets</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCMikRjCGIzlzA-LaYjucHMkMLvMA8OMRa8CHwtkBehp4uSkjERR3j0rumUp8LJAheUVgtE_uikXy1U7sdKSOcQgQppt_vx8X4ec098b9PJ0IBo3aYMCRYbSohQFH7fEuRhI9DuwhZRg8N36elfBjHGlSNZkACRjPaOcVA_tMBga_giqN93MUBzMl9CI/s1280/IMG_0293.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY_UiFRcJaMorFsCM1_ZtNEOvhbGyr5BPtcHZjYfJyQ5m1mPzDAEu8kKu7KPfXb8ilZGNM_IdbhDKVG9e9jvfrObG4najSKfm5dH3nTRcMmrd4jr6Vm5g148JDiBC7_UppF2dr7DYLCSyhUIR5pJVZbu0YMffL4vhXtIospxezy-lh1kTlXoB5zKcti0/s1280/IMG_0294.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1280" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY_UiFRcJaMorFsCM1_ZtNEOvhbGyr5BPtcHZjYfJyQ5m1mPzDAEu8kKu7KPfXb8ilZGNM_IdbhDKVG9e9jvfrObG4najSKfm5dH3nTRcMmrd4jr6Vm5g148JDiBC7_UppF2dr7DYLCSyhUIR5pJVZbu0YMffL4vhXtIospxezy-lh1kTlXoB5zKcti0/s320/IMG_0294.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And ramps of varying condition from<br />the parking lot to the sidewalk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Yellowstone’s front-country is extremely accessible. In order to protect the park’s geological wonders and the people who visit them, many of the park’s famous geothermal attractions are hiked and viewed by everyone on accessible boardwalks. They are accessed by gently-sloping ramps from paved parking lots, which usuoffer disabled parking spots and accessible vault toilets. smaller viewpoints are generally accessed from paved turn-outs with parking — <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>often with disabled spots, ramps from the parking lot to the sidewalk/trailhead, accessible vault toilets, and boardwalks or paved paths to the viewpoints. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In addition, the park boasts the nicest day-use sites I've ever seen. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There were numerous locations all over the park -- often with water views, picnic tables, and accessible vault toilets. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">By changing the my mindset and the way we explored the park, we were able to avoid the worst of the crowds and the parking and traffic stress. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We never went to Old Faithful or the Visitor Center, instead concentrating on less-trafficked areas, where we were rewarded with mostly-empty parking lots, accessible parking spaces, and stunning manifestations of the park’s underground super-volcano — geysers, hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, and a rainbow of colors. We had our most spectacular wildlife encounters not in Hayden Valley, but rather by being at the right pace at the right time (far away from any human crowds). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The lodging in adjacent West Yellowstone was still expensive, but less so than that inside the park. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> W</span>e’d have done even better if we’d brought Candy Harrington’s well-documented and photographed guide book, <i><a href="https://emerginghorizons.com/barrier-free-travel-glacier-yellowstone-and-grand-teton-national-parks-for-wheelchair-users-and-slow-walkers/media-room/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barrier-Free Travel: Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers</a></i>. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArHthF_exdpFGiLMINNUozD6GUpsxiKSJaNmMMe_S-YKNjjAWDaULJHCjyx0loloys1sHyPRzYaBNwtuD8310kvG2E5vJrBSi-eoWLQRozYz2PTdw_TGi1e7oDZUfUjhmdGhku9neEVBN4UUpAR4T9jamsQo23JyqPhPaVNtjPMvuJQwpg8lAXCj3UAI/s1280/IMG_0194.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArHthF_exdpFGiLMINNUozD6GUpsxiKSJaNmMMe_S-YKNjjAWDaULJHCjyx0loloys1sHyPRzYaBNwtuD8310kvG2E5vJrBSi-eoWLQRozYz2PTdw_TGi1e7oDZUfUjhmdGhku9neEVBN4UUpAR4T9jamsQo23JyqPhPaVNtjPMvuJQwpg8lAXCj3UAI/s320/IMG_0194.jpeg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Font cover of<br /><i><a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Accessibility Guide</a></i><br />For Yellowstone NP</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The second lesson was another potentially trite truism: “you don’t know what you don’t know.” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It turns out that someone in the Yellowstone park service has created a detailed and invaluable guide, showing all of the accessible features in the different sections of the park. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This guide is neither publicized nor offered nor even displayed. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m not sure even why I did it, but when entering the park (park entrance is free with an <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Access pass</a>, by the way), I asked if there was an accessibility guide. I was rewarded with a multi-page guide, which I used frequently and returned to the park ranger upon leaving the park, as requested. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I now will ask for an “accessibility guide” every time I enter a national park. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They might not have one, but —who knows? — they might. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It turns out that this <i><a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Accessibility Guide</a></i> is also available on the park’s webpage.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZegwPF8uQKsQvnkmT7X0pYCj64NkDXpee3ES1R_2ggYpSDT5ncmrkW5FFIPETSWhf0jEGSI78lH62EEeJ5KMlVeyrlYi4HNINvhM-i5lb3VYjGpKKPIJuBRSgVfuwktyUPdN3cPcRl4YhdSE-Rv4d6vPKQxPSWtsZvNoqeNC6Ej_kLXBlYq6AQEQ-ITw/s1280/IMG_0202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZegwPF8uQKsQvnkmT7X0pYCj64NkDXpee3ES1R_2ggYpSDT5ncmrkW5FFIPETSWhf0jEGSI78lH62EEeJ5KMlVeyrlYi4HNINvhM-i5lb3VYjGpKKPIJuBRSgVfuwktyUPdN3cPcRl4YhdSE-Rv4d6vPKQxPSWtsZvNoqeNC6Ej_kLXBlYq6AQEQ-ITw/s320/IMG_0202.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fumaroles (steam vents) <br />alongside the road in Yellowstone<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ya2A4mBR1tADjn-_HWfWSWpYfOtD_eX15JmH0eISIroEPY_EH33O3b3IhkeZ2VWqGyhkG2yI6DivRbY8tNTAIKRSeLcCjrFuFLAtOmqDwHsV7z2csxt0lwwtjvYmmhdkQxGslgiqgAS56zNWbJIpzFiBHkRSEZ8F3sbPgNg8b_txRDp04t4Xm1pxAjI/s1280/IMG_0201.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ya2A4mBR1tADjn-_HWfWSWpYfOtD_eX15JmH0eISIroEPY_EH33O3b3IhkeZ2VWqGyhkG2yI6DivRbY8tNTAIKRSeLcCjrFuFLAtOmqDwHsV7z2csxt0lwwtjvYmmhdkQxGslgiqgAS56zNWbJIpzFiBHkRSEZ8F3sbPgNg8b_txRDp04t4Xm1pxAjI/s320/IMG_0201.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sapphire geothermal pool</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We entered the park from the East Entrance from Cody, and red rock cliffs above the road turned into a fire damaged- forest and then to forest around a large lake. It was all magnificent mountain country. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And then we started to see evidence of the underground super-volcano — </span> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">wisps of steam rising from the ground in various locations. </span> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As we approached the center of the park, those fumaroles became larger and stronger, and we eventually passed geysers and pools.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHhLhnDikWoCyGMEmlFDJV8QNLmT-r0qYuGSHZK2s_2iuIC2TQcoJUjdD7GyrQvP6Ajg-KmEDOaUfUTT7NRl-1jA26Uzvi3u4LSfYPTHLNbYlI6kEgsULYblbPXYDbgqB1rENF7ii3sG5VLfhk6LX5U94XBaCbLloz0wdOao8yomlXpZhpfD9f6jrn6g/s1280/IMG_0257.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHhLhnDikWoCyGMEmlFDJV8QNLmT-r0qYuGSHZK2s_2iuIC2TQcoJUjdD7GyrQvP6Ajg-KmEDOaUfUTT7NRl-1jA26Uzvi3u4LSfYPTHLNbYlI6kEgsULYblbPXYDbgqB1rENF7ii3sG5VLfhk6LX5U94XBaCbLloz0wdOao8yomlXpZhpfD9f6jrn6g/s320/IMG_0257.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biscuit Basin</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Biscuit Basin </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In order to avoid crowds and crowd-behavior, the only attraction we stopped and saw in the Old Faithful area was Biscuit Basin. The paved parking lot boasts the usual accessible features: disabled parking spots, a ramp to the sidewalk, accessible vault toilets. The basin features a long, well-maintained boardwalk that loops past a series of geysers and springs. A boardwalk spur leads to a sandy trail to the waterfalls, but the threshold is high, and the trail is steep with rocks, roots, and loose sand, so wheelchair hikers may want to stick to the basin boardwalk. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKG7sCXZrXrD9sVf5wuq4tkHibjJVK7IREETxAiMwF_oDzOZsQvug9gercZEm8MjwvGINtMPFePM4-lm6dNrTIAvzMJtETZhfrYhzZNtuFeUWfepmL9bOGMxDmu7HTONRyxszJOoPHT-l5hb74tNq3vy9KzPJ6QWVVF9pWgi-DiRRfHOPUkzZVkeN7YZw/s1280/IMG_0191.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKG7sCXZrXrD9sVf5wuq4tkHibjJVK7IREETxAiMwF_oDzOZsQvug9gercZEm8MjwvGINtMPFePM4-lm6dNrTIAvzMJtETZhfrYhzZNtuFeUWfepmL9bOGMxDmu7HTONRyxszJOoPHT-l5hb74tNq3vy9KzPJ6QWVVF9pWgi-DiRRfHOPUkzZVkeN7YZw/s320/IMG_0191.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon’s Breath Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mud Volcano and Dragon’s Breath Spring</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">At this attraction, you can travel a boardwalk to see the mud volcano, the Dragon's Breath spring, and some sulfur springs in between. The paved parking lot had several disabled spots a couple of ramps up to the sidewalk, and several accessible vault toilets. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The site was encircled by a boardwalk, which has a minimal transition. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The slope is fine for a power chair, but it would be hard for a manual chair, and the cross slope is scary in the sections without a guard rail on one or both sides. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It's probably best to start at left trailhead and go clockwise since it’s less steep. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t go on the paved trail to the left of the mud volcano, since it’s steep and broken up.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0ZlWH0EQ2FDnxUYdgG1QUWyfXvNRGbVZ3zEMXY2MnVCVVdtcTjkoY56bUNpngorpo-Gttlj-_4Z0FyXWNy1nF9_ujAirV01NSvVjYyQ7_d9O1xQ1vVOKOesvHsL6BrBMDhnkE-YqMTrDMefkSUZJMC43at8yAzLbX7fiDod6vFacqN_8yj5WcCgi4_A/s1280/IMG_0221.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0ZlWH0EQ2FDnxUYdgG1QUWyfXvNRGbVZ3zEMXY2MnVCVVdtcTjkoY56bUNpngorpo-Gttlj-_4Z0FyXWNy1nF9_ujAirV01NSvVjYyQ7_d9O1xQ1vVOKOesvHsL6BrBMDhnkE-YqMTrDMefkSUZJMC43at8yAzLbX7fiDod6vFacqN_8yj5WcCgi4_A/s320/IMG_0221.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beryl Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Beryl Spring</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">There is a boardwalk leading to and in front of Yellowstone’s hottest spring, which has steam coming from a hole in the rock and bubbling water in bright blue pool (notice that the wooden posts have turned blue). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The paved parking lot turn-out has one disabled spot and a curb cut to the sidewalk, with no threshold to the boardwalk.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIYcC07Eb0AI1gOfgHsTSeYjmxVfr8dd3SwVbCDUo_5WcEoxevx8UOmFqnA6mAXPw9oIa7GPPTA12qlO3Jn_z-BqvG9KpjSUHgFMiZGRBlEJfmkCT2k6FgLaQVaUG_-2GVo_r43_TIUXL4AAnFATd0_b6FRXFoumGsP_wi-N4faZeiNGNrG2fdSzUoIg/s1280/new_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIYcC07Eb0AI1gOfgHsTSeYjmxVfr8dd3SwVbCDUo_5WcEoxevx8UOmFqnA6mAXPw9oIa7GPPTA12qlO3Jn_z-BqvG9KpjSUHgFMiZGRBlEJfmkCT2k6FgLaQVaUG_-2GVo_r43_TIUXL4AAnFATd0_b6FRXFoumGsP_wi-N4faZeiNGNrG2fdSzUoIg/s320/new_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist’s Paint Pots</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTapcwSbAu1UeOqxY-thyphenhyphenWBETTRHR57FFnACWu0HXuV148khxDgwJRDxWGbYzqCngM_H0_lDMDJStxwQSnyLlRrFPeLpFbhN1dfA80OMXfBFdsvcHkE_mPoDUtlug7vl1H_KrLFIBKV9spzIc07zWDorSze7o2IxcngY__mQny094uWrTarwNu2i1Ho0/s1280/IMG_0256.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTapcwSbAu1UeOqxY-thyphenhyphenWBETTRHR57FFnACWu0HXuV148khxDgwJRDxWGbYzqCngM_H0_lDMDJStxwQSnyLlRrFPeLpFbhN1dfA80OMXfBFdsvcHkE_mPoDUtlug7vl1H_KrLFIBKV9spzIc07zWDorSze7o2IxcngY__mQny094uWrTarwNu2i1Ho0/s320/IMG_0256.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail to Artists Paint Pots</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Artist’s Paint Pots</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The trail begins with a short boardwalk, turning into a path with a sand and small-pebbles surface, which is mostly hard packed. Power chairs would probably be fine, while manual chairs would probably want a third wheel. The slope up is noticeable but doable with hard work for manual chairs. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There are several roots in the trail, and they are a bit hard to dodge, because the trail presents a series of bumps and gullies. This uneven surface means that you are always looking down at the trail, but don’t forget to look up and see and smell the lodgepole pines. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The trail ends at a boardwalk around the pots. The thresholds to and from the boardwalk seem fine for manual chairs, but they might be too high for some power chairs. At the far boardwalk, you can see some of the pots and steam. You won’t want to go left and off of the boardwalk, because there is a high threshold, so just enjoy the view. If you go right for a short way to see the different colors of the pots, you will have to turn around before the dirt path and then boardwalk with steps going up the hill for a view. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The paved parking lot has one disabled spot, a ramp up to the sidewalk, and an accessible vault toilet.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWAa1aWq0WEM5mj4EyRk2B62Pr0JwpzUHxOrKjvBsMHnl_DIghan4w-sC_0j4YvER2dshZDTYGOGXJ5kmKH8ezwv-c1WW6tEkNgSkFP3KXCmHC4J1IOEfPvuc_oS238gLlU1epaIbvWiTkoORsLCM2aVZIM4igkBtxKxDtCKox08Z19LQpSyDw-3jPmA/s1280/new13_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWAa1aWq0WEM5mj4EyRk2B62Pr0JwpzUHxOrKjvBsMHnl_DIghan4w-sC_0j4YvER2dshZDTYGOGXJ5kmKH8ezwv-c1WW6tEkNgSkFP3KXCmHC4J1IOEfPvuc_oS238gLlU1epaIbvWiTkoORsLCM2aVZIM4igkBtxKxDtCKox08Z19LQpSyDw-3jPmA/s320/new13_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mammoth Hot Springs overlook</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNPGfBiG76SC3mWaBJ3M2EXM5QqoM2I_vOD6y6Lr8ZaSP4n60khz7Ugww4pxuybMEPKEr3NSwDMyDVi4NIwVrwrZwYKvSf_jZdmVu5EBJWGYTfG27iNiCOpP_nUT4GZVEufqu54r3g_ie-rf-8NnwovKTxQkcZ1AuIuLzyEiYrZZ4qCf9ov7jvHCqr5Y/s1280/new12_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNPGfBiG76SC3mWaBJ3M2EXM5QqoM2I_vOD6y6Lr8ZaSP4n60khz7Ugww4pxuybMEPKEr3NSwDMyDVi4NIwVrwrZwYKvSf_jZdmVu5EBJWGYTfG27iNiCOpP_nUT4GZVEufqu54r3g_ie-rf-8NnwovKTxQkcZ1AuIuLzyEiYrZZ4qCf9ov7jvHCqr5Y/s320/new12_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mammoth Hot Springs Boardwalk Network</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mammoth Hot Springs</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Perhaps my favorite area was Mammoth Hot Springs in the north of the park. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Unlike the rest of the park (which geologists will know sits upon rhyolite), this area lays atop sedimentary rocks, such as limestone. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As hot water rises to the surface, it dissolves the calcium carbonate of the limestone and deposits it at the surface in the form of travertine, forming the terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Colorful heat-loving micro-organisms called thermophiles live in the terrace pools, creating an ever-changing panorama. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This beauty is compounded by location (the area is far from the center). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Since the northern entrance was still closed, there were very few people there when we visited.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gvWVHi8Xk0FVMTyT_T2FDX2ay3aPPm14WiPy83lLcyK9-2tywAYmzSfS3CCre2OGmA3-cHBFjCedVOBuFgico_9LC4sReUPEKlAqcxWQQwc3rvc0V-9_L7YJwRvycnmkjyiaM0g28ccPpAsnfj8EMKtunRqbKnu_-3Mj9ED_AufDZyawnO55z-7MS8I/s1280/new10_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gvWVHi8Xk0FVMTyT_T2FDX2ay3aPPm14WiPy83lLcyK9-2tywAYmzSfS3CCre2OGmA3-cHBFjCedVOBuFgico_9LC4sReUPEKlAqcxWQQwc3rvc0V-9_L7YJwRvycnmkjyiaM0g28ccPpAsnfj8EMKtunRqbKnu_-3Mj9ED_AufDZyawnO55z-7MS8I/s320/new10_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Terraces Accessible Parking Area</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2STwEhEQWA6kKzMaEda3pbN3iSMXxksY43EwPFAzsaKaZi05WsO7uIP2-Bvl3o1UGI96o62DYDya6lL8hStiAo3sBsVUoY61z9jYD8Q0Z8MjB-yoLyBQw5yejGULDYMIblXGbv39zjvszGs6vYSD4fXC8A05mODuumh5MhkECPOkMrsOoikaFLMzcJbE/s1280/IMG_0250.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2STwEhEQWA6kKzMaEda3pbN3iSMXxksY43EwPFAzsaKaZi05WsO7uIP2-Bvl3o1UGI96o62DYDya6lL8hStiAo3sBsVUoY61z9jYD8Q0Z8MjB-yoLyBQw5yejGULDYMIblXGbv39zjvszGs6vYSD4fXC8A05mODuumh5MhkECPOkMrsOoikaFLMzcJbE/s320/IMG_0250.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Spring Mound</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs (Access to Main Terrace, Orange Spring Mound, White Elephant Back)</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Upper Terraces are not well signed, but lead to spectacular sights. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>An additional bonus for those of us in cars is that the road to the UpperTerraces is windy and prohibits trailers, buses, and motor homes. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The one-way paved loop road will take you past parking for Highland Terrace and the main terraces, the colorful Orange Spring Mound, and the White Elephant Back Terrace. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even where there are short boardwalks around the mounds the <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>mounds can be seen from inside the car (and, in fact, that may be the best viewpoint). </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBM700d18Ue-uF9U8wl7rm2De1Vxa_FPQ3_LvmSru8qYwNWRPjaTdEVGQa6_CBkkp0VccdELJjUpH2WFyoLuRz9N43Y9nSJTdugv1JB2RtUsmFV_Z1aowgHQCpS_-Llzrm-5S1qnuLiWiXdpeH_mTtmYuqV-nMXylf2toIz0czCAJEbJm4Dsh61tuhYfY/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-30%20at%2010.56.52%20PM_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1280" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBM700d18Ue-uF9U8wl7rm2De1Vxa_FPQ3_LvmSru8qYwNWRPjaTdEVGQa6_CBkkp0VccdELJjUpH2WFyoLuRz9N43Y9nSJTdugv1JB2RtUsmFV_Z1aowgHQCpS_-Llzrm-5S1qnuLiWiXdpeH_mTtmYuqV-nMXylf2toIz0czCAJEbJm4Dsh61tuhYfY/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-30%20at%2010.56.52%20PM_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canary Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zv2085uypeLZKQAH8u3H3hu83-n4bM2wPq9mWbNqE34TtRg6N8alOBqBitOh-jtKG8yazr63IuCA8kOHbrEDpHdXP38-jtpsHZ3-JnDtC5K5L5z1z8w4QJv8DVfx6WelE8HfUtXj-zzS-1-6B0zJN9c41sJqKS-PqI0J89Lb7viMMWpfhmHqYdh1JT8/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-30%20at%2010.58.30%20PM_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1280" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zv2085uypeLZKQAH8u3H3hu83-n4bM2wPq9mWbNqE34TtRg6N8alOBqBitOh-jtKG8yazr63IuCA8kOHbrEDpHdXP38-jtpsHZ3-JnDtC5K5L5z1z8w4QJv8DVfx6WelE8HfUtXj-zzS-1-6B0zJN9c41sJqKS-PqI0J89Lb7viMMWpfhmHqYdh1JT8/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-30%20at%2010.58.30%20PM_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canary Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zbPupz6JBV44l6Jg6AZl6qeaxkK-J5OF47FhWf39hCObFuHoJO1m9ZWJEVS71Hhh0oSRIAqUsVzc4qDAMRmblvhPXqrwmWC-ipsTgVAmbAoPzTPOsUXjo9sZrklMYfi9zANQ9k6xXk6K-8z3X6muQaAIkuylh8eGqS2ThFAvKDUwK0coyrGsRZkOgDo/s1280/new11_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zbPupz6JBV44l6Jg6AZl6qeaxkK-J5OF47FhWf39hCObFuHoJO1m9ZWJEVS71Hhh0oSRIAqUsVzc4qDAMRmblvhPXqrwmWC-ipsTgVAmbAoPzTPOsUXjo9sZrklMYfi9zANQ9k6xXk6K-8z3X6muQaAIkuylh8eGqS2ThFAvKDUwK0coyrGsRZkOgDo/s320/new11_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Main Terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs (also Canary Spring, Overlook)</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This was my favorite hike in the park, due to the surreal and beautiful landscapes. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The boardwalk for this terrace should be accessed from the first Upper Terrace parking area. (The terrace can also be accessed via boardwalk on the second Upper Terrace parking area or by climbing up from the Lower Terraces, but both of these routes have steps, so …). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The boardwalk takes you over and through the other-worldly landscape of the main terrace, complete with snow-like white fields, dead trees, and pools of water. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The second right turn leads to Canary Spring — a wall of colorful travertine pools with running water and thermophiles. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The view and the pictures just keep getting better, so enjoy the journey, and go as far as you can before reaching steps. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In the opposite direction, the view is in opposition to the bright colors. Keep to your left to head to the Overlook, bringing into view the entire moonscape of the main terrace.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKi20eDpLK5KnE48qXaG6DvPq-3VftPZ5qiRMnskwUlZ-51akqa5PioI6VmndSRoXYKRRb-O1unS7I8IPm-cUmqa8XPhtAGpYdij33BkO6tOMkJrVPyIMKU2q5eOS77bR3pw8ekO9T5jJAqlEDnNG12CX7lAgWsXqg7bNXb6AN7YJkcc94oKhDcmD6C48/s1280/new4_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKi20eDpLK5KnE48qXaG6DvPq-3VftPZ5qiRMnskwUlZ-51akqa5PioI6VmndSRoXYKRRb-O1unS7I8IPm-cUmqa8XPhtAGpYdij33BkO6tOMkJrVPyIMKU2q5eOS77bR3pw8ekO9T5jJAqlEDnNG12CX7lAgWsXqg7bNXb6AN7YJkcc94oKhDcmD6C48/s320/new4_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liberty Cap = Entrance to lower terraces<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2_8wN73jd-otOfDrjHTtX8TL-_WTm0-6vqSYJ-achxJcTvE9Zw2eihHXI9lUJEl94q7V4mK_VS2Kw9DPQyDMnSArA-QFRPQe3uCAMtpMYQGYWfifM8tjcDyGwV4337bUewD361jaXjwjWJW3ZSqaRPAzL30MHYrpHlC0NXg_fICSyo7fNTDfgzQLf9Q/s1280/new3_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2_8wN73jd-otOfDrjHTtX8TL-_WTm0-6vqSYJ-achxJcTvE9Zw2eihHXI9lUJEl94q7V4mK_VS2Kw9DPQyDMnSArA-QFRPQe3uCAMtpMYQGYWfifM8tjcDyGwV4337bUewD361jaXjwjWJW3ZSqaRPAzL30MHYrpHlC0NXg_fICSyo7fNTDfgzQLf9Q/s320/new3_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boardwalk to Palette Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUsyRh_qw3K5Fisnh-XpFGyym9w9aBxwvo5eM9tWujKYPq8XUsjNYLluhdLJoDSaDh2oPihJo3rUb0iv1YRG-mRhUt5u4Z9KQxV_dbAPv85TAs5pu1HtQDH00GfmEmkcQVSCXt34L3nQStPnRKr2QT8-zFLiFw1emoSHEy6NvV_mV2F-WtjDj1GsguFo/s1280/IMG_1920_Original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUsyRh_qw3K5Fisnh-XpFGyym9w9aBxwvo5eM9tWujKYPq8XUsjNYLluhdLJoDSaDh2oPihJo3rUb0iv1YRG-mRhUt5u4Z9KQxV_dbAPv85TAs5pu1HtQDH00GfmEmkcQVSCXt34L3nQStPnRKr2QT8-zFLiFw1emoSHEy6NvV_mV2F-WtjDj1GsguFo/s320/IMG_1920_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palette Spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Lower Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs (featuring Palette Spring)</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">At the parking lot by the phallic Liberty Cap, one can get on the accessible boardwalk to Palette Spring on the Lower Terrace. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This colorful wall of travertine pools rivals the spectacular Canary Spring on the Main Terrace, and the interplay of the setting sun and the rock’s colors, prompted lots of photographs.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Wildlife</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMes-2jQu9q5LnJ8hT5efiSQ3TesYxYfVyoyVzDMaOv5qxixfSY1OpK5qEpiyomNz7PFq5i2pP-kzPAODBmR5R1eLy_gR8TNZLihKjLyCLDiNwZcBguymopMaMpsNBDqIXJ7nqRnc1N4P7BJ35AQNfoBeHokHiDpxMJtg32UQQD7iLPeaayYx9WLITFk/s1280/IMG_0301.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMes-2jQu9q5LnJ8hT5efiSQ3TesYxYfVyoyVzDMaOv5qxixfSY1OpK5qEpiyomNz7PFq5i2pP-kzPAODBmR5R1eLy_gR8TNZLihKjLyCLDiNwZcBguymopMaMpsNBDqIXJ7nqRnc1N4P7BJ35AQNfoBeHokHiDpxMJtg32UQQD7iLPeaayYx9WLITFk/s320/IMG_0301.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bison Herd in Hayden Valley</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Along with geo-thermal phenomena, he other thing that Yellowstone is famous for is the wildlife -- especially the bison. Luckily, it is easy to spot herds of elk and bison from a car on the road. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In fact, wildlife viewing is a perfect wheelchair activity, in that you don't need or even want to be outside of the car when these large animals are close by you. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There are regularly stories of careless tourists being gored by bison — enough to keep you in the car with the window rolled up. One popular place to see bison and elk grazing is Hayden Valley. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If you can deal with the crowds and traffic there, you will probably be rewarded with sights of both from within your car.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Our most significant bison encounter was completely unexpected and perhaps too close for comfort. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>After our visit to Mammoth Hot Springs, we decided to take a safari through a large swath of the park on our way back to our hotel. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFf-iDwLe9fw6-mVXKoU__Vv9zpsL2eJArVU9RdepCsblA2KFNT8ueq3cUwM2UMr_apxe0FZrlFXEBeuRl2gTSS11x-999nlYCNQOOe5TDB2JfZ4WC6sgeZS8UC9fK22mzt0jj_OESvvC5dkXvAjksvQ7VXxMvIVdYL9pTQrQF2OjC26zehKf3LVuKbc/s1280/IMG_0220.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFf-iDwLe9fw6-mVXKoU__Vv9zpsL2eJArVU9RdepCsblA2KFNT8ueq3cUwM2UMr_apxe0FZrlFXEBeuRl2gTSS11x-999nlYCNQOOe5TDB2JfZ4WC6sgeZS8UC9fK22mzt0jj_OESvvC5dkXvAjksvQ7VXxMvIVdYL9pTQrQF2OjC26zehKf3LVuKbc/s320/IMG_0220.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on the Blacktail Plateau</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">From the hot springs in the north, we took the secondary Blacktail Plateau Drive east to Tower-Roosevelt, and then looped back south and west to West Yellowstone on the main park road through Mt Washburn and Madison. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Just after sunset, we descended from the grassy Blacktail Plateau to the wooded valley that ran into the main park road just before Tower-Roosevelt, and we finally saw herds of bison in the field next to the road. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As we hit the valley, we noticed groups of bison in the ditch lining the road, and then we noticed bison on the road directly in front of us. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We found ourselves surrounded by a herd of these large animals. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sh_6IvveBff-WuttsvYi8SP8XsAAFpbeiy_hOej24LHoaTNItCy3cwPMhntukjCeLUuoYsxDbw3O2umQw-E5aHITujBIoo_t6LPmaLFEHSgDMiiln_p9m7_iJobaRSO7eOO_l3sMgPySRZ4TdGf4jAMBuJecU2H7CgM1Ul8OEp-zHrYCEdsm56X2Ly4/s1280/IMG_0274.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1280" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sh_6IvveBff-WuttsvYi8SP8XsAAFpbeiy_hOej24LHoaTNItCy3cwPMhntukjCeLUuoYsxDbw3O2umQw-E5aHITujBIoo_t6LPmaLFEHSgDMiiln_p9m7_iJobaRSO7eOO_l3sMgPySRZ4TdGf4jAMBuJecU2H7CgM1Ul8OEp-zHrYCEdsm56X2Ly4/s320/IMG_0274.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bison getting too close for comfort</td></tr></tbody></table><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Proceeding with caution and rolling up the window when these prehistoric beasts wandered too close, we crawled along slowly, finally taking advantage of a break in the herd to squeeze by and continue on our way home. On the way back, we took a side-trip up Mt Washburn to gaze at the star-filled skies.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Lodging</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In Yellowstone National Park, all lodging is extremely expensive. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The nearby town of West Yellowstone (adjacent to the park, but actually in MT) is full of lodging options (as well as souvenir shops, restaurants, and tourists), and the rooms there are cheaper than those in the park, but they are still pricey in summer. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I couldn’t even fit into the bathroom at the cheapest motels, and I couldn’t find an ADA room available for less than a couple hundred dollars per night. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I ended up staying at the <a href="https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/days-inn/west-yellowstone-montana/days-inn-west-yellowstone/overview?iata=00093763&cid=PS:lnxdxjsyoer4gkl&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInPb6goCOhQMVDDutBh0wSATaEAAYAiAAEgLO1PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Day’s Inn in West Yellowstone </a>in a non-ADA room (they did have an ADA room, but it cost about $100 more each night. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The ground floor regular room had a level surface, a roll-under sink, wide doors and lots of room, so I accepted the lack of grab bars and the non-ideal but workable toilet and shower in return for a significant financial savings).</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Next stop = Grand Teton National Park…</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-74224165299264881172024-03-04T14:05:00.000-08:002024-03-04T14:05:26.296-08:00Road Trip with a Wheelchair: Little Car in the Big Woods and on the Prairie and in the Foothills<p><br /></p>
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Farms in the trees gave way to …
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… farms on the prairie
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After crossing the border at Sault Ste Marie, we began a real road trip within
the road trip, covering over 2000 miles in a little over 2 weeks.
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Gran Dad’s Bluff<br />Lacrosse, WI<br />(Mississippi River Overlook)
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In Wisconsin and Minnesota, we visited dozens of family and friends, during
trips to accessible Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Rib Mt and the Wisconsin River
in Wausau, Grad Dad’s Bluff in La Crosse, Marieke’s Gouda Cheese Factory in
Thorp and to the not very accessible Stone Hill Park in Canby.
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<br />We drove as quickly as possible through SD in order to avoid the extreme
heat, stopping only for a cold drink at a very accessible Wall Drug.
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Hills, SD</td>
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On the other (Western) side of Sturgis, where the Harley Davidsons were
gathering for their annual rally, we went for a sunset drive around the
Wildlife Loop at Custer State Park in the Black Hills.
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Pronghorn antelope<br />In Custer State Park
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</table>We only saw 2 bison from the herds for which this park is famous, but we
encountered lots of other wildlife on our mini-safari, including 2 beautiful
pronghorn antelopes.<div><br /></div>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil’s Tower,WY</td>
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Our first stop in Wyoming was Devil’s Tower National Monument. With the
five iconic musical notes from “Close Encounters” playing in our heads, we
took the detour to see what the fuss was all about.
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Trailhead up<br /> Devil’s Tower<br /><br />
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The paved parking lot has several disabled parking spots in
various places. Curb cuts are not everywhere and sometimes hard to find or not
where needed. So, it makes sense to park in the highest lot near the trailhead
if going up the trail, and park lower near the visitors center, if just going
there. The visitors center, restrooms, vault toilets, and drinking fountain
are all accessible.
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<br />The trail from the parking lot to Devil's Tower is accessible and
feasible up to the observation area with benches, although the steep slope is
difficult for manual chairs.
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Non-accessible trail<br />above observation<br />Area
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After the observation area, the trail gets even steeper and the cross slope
gets worse, but you could go up a little ways, until you come to benches and
signs. Beyond that, the trail is very steep and sometimes narrow, with
challenging cross slope. The view at any level is spectacular, and the trip
was worth it for the nostalgia of mashed potatoes and “Close Encounters.”
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Econolodge in Chamberlain, SD
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf6clfO3TGaT1gA6I2QDVTTRDUY7bx_7uoxJkUCLbHs0bQPniPpxIAxWI2lgPQe2SZW2-euVrRzRWJWKbsEhs5QYRiWRHnCJ7W1Rs6PcUBx545jg_r68WBzKAcuBU394LP_vmcDVoNqNApK6w4z9bPalC_y4YzSmLzw49b7lu1EIiDj3VkXQBOvzJ/s1280/IMG_1506.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> </a><br />Along the way we found several nice ADA rooms in hotels: The
Holiday Inn in La Crosse, WI had a king bed and roll-in shower.
The Econolodge in Oacoma, SD had a king bed and a bathroom with a
shower/tub combination and lots of grab bars (very nice, if you could
squeeze through the narrow aisle sided by the bed in order to get
there).
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Day’s Inn in <br />Worland, WY<br />
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Before entering Yellowstone from the east, we stayed overnight at the
Day's Inn in Worland, where our room and the motel were accessible
according to all ADA criteria, and the staff was extremely helpful and
friendly.
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After Devil’s Monument, the hills became mountains became higher.
We rode through the canyons, ending up in the mountains near the
border with Montana and Idaho.
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Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-42273426279766840672023-11-29T12:27:00.000-08:002023-11-29T12:28:49.875-08:00Road Trip with a Wheelchair: Ontario Great Lakes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygfsnRTiFyXqPI1BngPhy74ae_7wTngzeBsGNeejg4E16ofpXEw1PaC5yO_XMC6AUk2_Et6z9q97yKqaCnEBXipGOgJtNjSd1jVcQPAgfq8oW1EQVlg_Ll123cLIvDXpZY9WzPc5vNPIw5SufWvCB7Jg0tXrypdVv3gRuSD8vYkyHdZacn0wvZP7JQn4/s1180/IMG_1158_Original.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1180" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygfsnRTiFyXqPI1BngPhy74ae_7wTngzeBsGNeejg4E16ofpXEw1PaC5yO_XMC6AUk2_Et6z9q97yKqaCnEBXipGOgJtNjSd1jVcQPAgfq8oW1EQVlg_Ll123cLIvDXpZY9WzPc5vNPIw5SufWvCB7Jg0tXrypdVv3gRuSD8vYkyHdZacn0wvZP7JQn4/s320/IMG_1158_Original.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br />The I<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">nukshuk looks like a pile of stones marking a trail — but the stones are stacked by size in a way that gives them a human form. Traditionally used by the Inuit to mark trails and to commemorate events, the Inukshuk is currently used all over Canada as a symbol for events such as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Inukshuks also prevail on the top of rocky cliffs on the northeast shore of Lake Huron in Ontario.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"></span></span></p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdCjDjSryABH8LCOEh2FCdEDF7zzVywgzhpvi0N5GLVcKU7xpnkV9kuOVDHxeZB_r4it0bt6fmBIw8B6NrxDr1oFq_35_aEDWpScK0XzviccNCvIppnP1EFstMVBPpu3RujydKdbpuvNyUBGM_auwd5ksrDtOZ-ctqrrQhI8ievQbQmsS7og7Ah7x6HI/s1264/IMG_1119_Original.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="1264" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdCjDjSryABH8LCOEh2FCdEDF7zzVywgzhpvi0N5GLVcKU7xpnkV9kuOVDHxeZB_r4it0bt6fmBIw8B6NrxDr1oFq_35_aEDWpScK0XzviccNCvIppnP1EFstMVBPpu3RujydKdbpuvNyUBGM_auwd5ksrDtOZ-ctqrrQhI8ievQbQmsS7og7Ah7x6HI/w200-h129/IMG_1119_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach with MobiMat at<br />Cobourg Marina</td></tr></tbody></table>After following the St Lawrence River from its mouth in the Atlantic to its source in Lake Ontario, we headed toward Sault Ste Marie, as croissants turned into cakes. We traversed the north shore of Lake Ontario, passing by the lake-front town of Cobourg. The marina had flat, paved trails, and the beach had a MobiMat — offering access from the parking lot (or at least a couple of feet from the parking lot) to the sandy beach. </span></span><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVAxief8PfCN2JWYNxFTOnj_ctzzOM9mUaQFrKJjPb_xTXcvaZzALqae8qXnOnzMekB0BcAcFY6tUAPJ720InwhClFMZ30zb6P5kAUVPGLAMDQxZNDaIK5MaocKIN2tTgh9nr458I81_ovj5CXaEjDWXy0ydn7iV-JpQ5_aRH7vIcgGU49sEdVwuB_8U/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-27%20at%206.54.57%20PM_Original.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1280" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVAxief8PfCN2JWYNxFTOnj_ctzzOM9mUaQFrKJjPb_xTXcvaZzALqae8qXnOnzMekB0BcAcFY6tUAPJ720InwhClFMZ30zb6P5kAUVPGLAMDQxZNDaIK5MaocKIN2tTgh9nr458I81_ovj5CXaEjDWXy0ydn7iV-JpQ5_aRH7vIcgGU49sEdVwuB_8U/w200-h119/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-27%20at%206.54.57%20PM_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">At the west end of Lake Ontario, we headed toward Toronto. I had wanted to travel across Lake Huron by taking the ferry from Tobermory (at the top of the peninsula </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">northwest of Toronto) across the lake to Manitoulin Island (connected by bridge to the north shore of the lake)</span></span>, but the ferry was full for the next 2 days, so we drove along the north-east shore of Lake Huron to Sudbury instead. Topsoil was scarce, but beautiful rocks were plentiful, and the road was bordered on both sides by low rocky cliffs with flat tops covered by armies of Inukshuk.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj2Lh9-PVwMsO9CF-vz1vdtt3f1lK3LZ6rom6WKPhxjOBkgrmtvrnxgS2ej7tQjcEj64IsggHS_Bs6vEZ_wTyib295IycbiwMkUVzOgNr1sDg7grNeMM_BDkbPgCtxzWNfojXTwgVjEtrum7r6ACy_8PJljogAVo-KtNcHtHlUfJFA4CGY8NrWPIJn7c/s1280/IMG_3146_Original.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1280" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj2Lh9-PVwMsO9CF-vz1vdtt3f1lK3LZ6rom6WKPhxjOBkgrmtvrnxgS2ej7tQjcEj64IsggHS_Bs6vEZ_wTyib295IycbiwMkUVzOgNr1sDg7grNeMM_BDkbPgCtxzWNfojXTwgVjEtrum7r6ACy_8PJljogAVo-KtNcHtHlUfJFA4CGY8NrWPIJn7c/w200-h166/IMG_3146_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boreal College<br />Student Residence<br />In Sudbury, Ontario</td></tr></tbody></table>In Sudbury, we lucked into an overnight stay in the student dormitory of the Boreal College — part of a a network of student residences at colleges that opens to the general public for lodging during the summer. (<a href="http://StayRCC.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">STAYRCC</a>.com). Our spartan yet accessible suite included 2 wheelchair-accessible bedrooms with a twin beds and roll-under desk; a kitchenette with a full fridge, microwave, sink, and table; and an accessible bathroom with a small roll-in shower, a raised toilet with grab bars, and a roll-under sink with a tilted mirror. Bedding, towels and some dishes were included. If you could stand the spartan furnishings, the small separate beds, and the small group of students acting like (well-behaved) students, then this is an amazing find -- cheap and accessible.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p></p><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsh1-PCxR3XoM1cxvJ88ieCW4brD5-gMsK4xiXC7AchZmGJ28XaZKNDOnWv5vOnQmk_esXRm5EGp-g8H5WXPXBp5J_9dl0GUyUuCxCRx8mts3vuwj8kMSeQmXT3xQ14RS1Tf_vsjhR8iUeDZ6QTM5M4yxZuNTXN5s0tpeOqIOCi1g72wicn5bTT_KqHs/s1280/IMG_3194_Original.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsh1-PCxR3XoM1cxvJ88ieCW4brD5-gMsK4xiXC7AchZmGJ28XaZKNDOnWv5vOnQmk_esXRm5EGp-g8H5WXPXBp5J_9dl0GUyUuCxCRx8mts3vuwj8kMSeQmXT3xQ14RS1Tf_vsjhR8iUeDZ6QTM5M4yxZuNTXN5s0tpeOqIOCi1g72wicn5bTT_KqHs/w200-h150/IMG_3194_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boardwalk trail along <br />Lake Huron on<br />Manitoulin Island at<br />Providence Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After Sudbury, we drove along the north shore of Lake Huron, where we crossed the bridge to Manitoulin Island (the world’s largest island in a freshwater body of water). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFiyU0Rfgymg4WKznFI6czWZwf9vBKzi29YTYfGuR_2TzzkPKZGm_a5_-uOwhdlSZ0nLNZCR2XIWPTm7VV68mfwtv19OxB73dv_Vq3RI2EowGjpaG4lvO7nrZYaVSF23zykHWtfq8SSXlZ3L9tufP6bm7uBsQ0mhm3iS7Vp8-glF80wla7NzEsUgFQkQ/s698/IMG_3161_Original.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="698" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFiyU0Rfgymg4WKznFI6czWZwf9vBKzi29YTYfGuR_2TzzkPKZGm_a5_-uOwhdlSZ0nLNZCR2XIWPTm7VV68mfwtv19OxB73dv_Vq3RI2EowGjpaG4lvO7nrZYaVSF23zykHWtfq8SSXlZ3L9tufP6bm7uBsQ0mhm3iS7Vp8-glF80wla7NzEsUgFQkQ/w200-h81/IMG_3161_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence Bay<br />Beach and playground<br />On Manitoulin Island</td></tr></tbody></table>On Manitoulin Island, we spent some time in Providence Bay, where we were surprised with a beach covered with accessible beach mats and fronted by an accessible boardwalk. The MobiMats did not go into the lake and did have gaps near a couple of the connections, but they ran the length of the playground and went fairly far toward the lake on the sand. The lengthy boardwalk, built to counter sand erosion, had several platforms looking over the lake, and it went past a store that sold ice cream.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVk85884xU3BSL4mnyab1t-DbtMDIrTRrDXOb-1HFHqJ82b4-7hXBk_21r7zdYZ9WGa79P9QFnb_Nq7ImXK0vcsF6-OP-blB0uY6-7f-b20V3_qn00YUPuwAN52Vk82TG9d45bDcNVMcEyfysro010EFAeJxw7dUA4I72_THCuhPxnQSE_n31XIL7-ydo/s1280/IMG_3219_Original.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVk85884xU3BSL4mnyab1t-DbtMDIrTRrDXOb-1HFHqJ82b4-7hXBk_21r7zdYZ9WGa79P9QFnb_Nq7ImXK0vcsF6-OP-blB0uY6-7f-b20V3_qn00YUPuwAN52Vk82TG9d45bDcNVMcEyfysro010EFAeJxw7dUA4I72_THCuhPxnQSE_n31XIL7-ydo/w200-h150/IMG_3219_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridal Veil Falls near<br />Kagawong on<br />Manitoulin Island</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We also drove by the town of Kagawong and and Bridal Veil falls, which had good wheelchair access to the falls overlook. There was an easy trail along the river to the falls, but I’m not sure if it was wheelchair accessible. We then left the island and continued along the north shore of Lake Huron.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y4tFduhQgLbe07rDbH9WHACb8Kuz2tiCEXj2cPsdz4E6zD0J1ugJqYATpbYMeWu0A0KVfOixBP6o3lCFGEnwbTOa2khcuG4Ijw7jLIZSOXLIecHMLPdCvBAZoCp7fmEzNI-un_qceMaS8XEAQRejZuguZKfNtWbyoPrfQzPMeaRT86qFfKXleXbJKXA/s1280/IMG_3144_Original.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1280" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y4tFduhQgLbe07rDbH9WHACb8Kuz2tiCEXj2cPsdz4E6zD0J1ugJqYATpbYMeWu0A0KVfOixBP6o3lCFGEnwbTOa2khcuG4Ijw7jLIZSOXLIecHMLPdCvBAZoCp7fmEzNI-un_qceMaS8XEAQRejZuguZKfNtWbyoPrfQzPMeaRT86qFfKXleXbJKXA/w200-h172/IMG_3144_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Village Inn Motel in <br />Iron Bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We stopped in the town of Iron Bridge, where we couldn't find an accessible motel, but The Village Inn motel had very concerned and helpful owners, offering a room that was accessible with our usual means (use our ramp and take off the bathroom door). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The next day, we continued westward along the north shore of Lake Huron, taking short side trips to see the beautiful viewpoints at Thessalon and Bruce Bay on the lakeshore and Richard's Landing on St Joseph Island. Then we drove to Sault Ste Marie, where Lakes Huron and Superior meet. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-uGpLcJ8Z_hmomQY9S2N3Jtejy1jNxTIv58p2yiAobgX2MJjgY80f63xkIbu146W_6DzfaIXt_YlmCB6Gl2vGbpjOQnNyQR3jyALCBeEpLGiiPM6EB4woXUxL3OXAxrL372tWVEnq1j267WSEhYFFmhOcs32ocBdLAnEo1FvCPgT6hPGj77PTiywUO4/s1280/IMG_1345_Original.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-uGpLcJ8Z_hmomQY9S2N3Jtejy1jNxTIv58p2yiAobgX2MJjgY80f63xkIbu146W_6DzfaIXt_YlmCB6Gl2vGbpjOQnNyQR3jyALCBeEpLGiiPM6EB4woXUxL3OXAxrL372tWVEnq1j267WSEhYFFmhOcs32ocBdLAnEo1FvCPgT6hPGj77PTiywUO4/w200-h150/IMG_1345_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large cargo ship passing <br />through locks at<br />Sault Ste Marie</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The MI (southern) side has large locks, so that cargo ships as long as to 1000 feet can go between the iron ore mines of northern MN and the Midwestern steel mills. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Swlq88-BGT0wGWRfaJu0cmpCP38gwvjCuD2pOkYsGsaZan0ooZ5lcNLyMHyevB2kyF69pslCKTwZCjFC7DM-vzQzi2qheSS-I4qG_8AzzqoOBqJtnEZL2ydxrxmnA4Ij0ZWlj5cjI-pmR5b-tL0rskEweuIIYyYFdbnyxKugcJ5N2TJQyG2haRnKVI4/s1280/IMG_1284_Original.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Swlq88-BGT0wGWRfaJu0cmpCP38gwvjCuD2pOkYsGsaZan0ooZ5lcNLyMHyevB2kyF69pslCKTwZCjFC7DM-vzQzi2qheSS-I4qG_8AzzqoOBqJtnEZL2ydxrxmnA4Ij0ZWlj5cjI-pmR5b-tL0rskEweuIIYyYFdbnyxKugcJ5N2TJQyG2haRnKVI4/w200-h150/IMG_1284_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run-away bridge on<br />quieter Canadian side <br />of Sault Ste Marie</td></tr></tbody></table>On the Canadian (northern) side, however, there is only a small lock for pleasure craft…</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-Y8R6emBwsUt8HbFWiPWUfrDy4hX-SNatpUAHtsuXt090bnTWyCkyxRS3vH2pCQTaa7oWoncpnG0h0TNopGdWiAWiDHL3w54jzYG2f64Bsbo7z5btxOV8iQ5O58V59d9VlPjk0Go3AIJ6teoVHx8RFsVFnHTGYSBTmZhHTDA-xKVlWNGxW-s4p1EKHs/s1280/IMG_3264_Original.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-Y8R6emBwsUt8HbFWiPWUfrDy4hX-SNatpUAHtsuXt090bnTWyCkyxRS3vH2pCQTaa7oWoncpnG0h0TNopGdWiAWiDHL3w54jzYG2f64Bsbo7z5btxOV8iQ5O58V59d9VlPjk0Go3AIJ6teoVHx8RFsVFnHTGYSBTmZhHTDA-xKVlWNGxW-s4p1EKHs/w200-h150/IMG_3264_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sault Ste Marie rapids between <br />Lakes Huron on Superior<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />… and the rest of the area has been left in a more natural state -- the water is still wild with rapids, </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPjjQRMEN4VFcBxzHjwG0GTlTh6cnlIX_I4YeIaaq_l1bf8WjF2h0Pc6DJ8wi37PKr3BatXiqSHr6rB-zbR0cBDfK5yBk_BPMPEXp05h7oqC23cszbliCDyTxav-b42gKRCVwomme9ca6RlSBflbZFOaCib0vS_FPovyD0_BBC7TeNSUtSEZN9x7d5Dw/s1280/IMG_3306_Original.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPjjQRMEN4VFcBxzHjwG0GTlTh6cnlIX_I4YeIaaq_l1bf8WjF2h0Pc6DJ8wi37PKr3BatXiqSHr6rB-zbR0cBDfK5yBk_BPMPEXp05h7oqC23cszbliCDyTxav-b42gKRCVwomme9ca6RlSBflbZFOaCib0vS_FPovyD0_BBC7TeNSUtSEZN9x7d5Dw/w200-h150/IMG_3306_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Accessible trails on <br />Canadian side of<br />Sault Ste Marie<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />and the land boasts a series of (accessible!) trails of dirt and boardwalk, with views of the rapids, the “bridge to the US," and wet-lands with their flora and fauna. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEUROfWryM0_Gc8oaMFls7vjE0BBGw7c0mBG7EXTM3PONlx4pNWAG7MiML2SQECpLhNXcNDyv2AJZBxOyGQ4tLphD05DiF7kOLtIoizKQU9EPs7VPLfNC2xT2UYvDFgsw91KeK0roR-OewkawJHxg8lpRHE4OMxWWO0rb9J50hYGgVh5PPMKxphSoerw/s1280/IMG_3267_Original.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEUROfWryM0_Gc8oaMFls7vjE0BBGw7c0mBG7EXTM3PONlx4pNWAG7MiML2SQECpLhNXcNDyv2AJZBxOyGQ4tLphD05DiF7kOLtIoizKQU9EPs7VPLfNC2xT2UYvDFgsw91KeK0roR-OewkawJHxg8lpRHE4OMxWWO0rb9J50hYGgVh5PPMKxphSoerw/w150-h200/IMG_3267_Original.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whitefish Island at <br />Sault Ste Marie</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There is a network of trails on St Mary’s and Whitefish Islands there — most of them accessible.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlKjqIT5Tj8rgW2DZefZfmRkVDgHvIas3RfYa0AjJyUOGdSjzoRl21_Q049vmNbHl538aP4RF3EtF1clBsR9opbVUzWGvz7G1QsS2Hytz6s2G-6cfx8XrjNGqWQ773SNqWwsu4VHda0SN1Wt7TQokX_UtZK3vxVGOwTUneXM46vYcJfhjE64M0tdRmSQ/s1280/IMG_3268_Original.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlKjqIT5Tj8rgW2DZefZfmRkVDgHvIas3RfYa0AjJyUOGdSjzoRl21_Q049vmNbHl538aP4RF3EtF1clBsR9opbVUzWGvz7G1QsS2Hytz6s2G-6cfx8XrjNGqWQ773SNqWwsu4VHda0SN1Wt7TQokX_UtZK3vxVGOwTUneXM46vYcJfhjE64M0tdRmSQ/w200-h150/IMG_3268_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Accessible trails on<br />Canadian side of<br />Sault Ste Marie</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The trails are in varying condition (some parts were under water when we went), and AllTrails does not list them in the “wheelchair friendly” filter, but we were able to hike most of the trails with a wheelchair, and I really enjoyed the views and location. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In addition, the John Roswell Hub Trail is a paved 25km multi-use trail through the city, and at least the east-side waterfront boardwalk is accessible.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokZbNlhMfGymbULQoiKS6DXFg969VCiWT2CZz4oHclkPw0ctX8QwMVvPdGJK1PGhcNbf7mL0-nNgYTOrxXzEm1jYb4WsvdZOcxtJD3UBcJvBm0CG2l-DzBd0ZfK3d4oQIFEanT5QFzzOZBR8fvbMhr-wX48MC7pniCRhbem47vAqrM4epD620T5tigR8/s1280/IMG_1337_Original.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1280" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokZbNlhMfGymbULQoiKS6DXFg969VCiWT2CZz4oHclkPw0ctX8QwMVvPdGJK1PGhcNbf7mL0-nNgYTOrxXzEm1jYb4WsvdZOcxtJD3UBcJvBm0CG2l-DzBd0ZfK3d4oQIFEanT5QFzzOZBR8fvbMhr-wX48MC7pniCRhbem47vAqrM4epD620T5tigR8/w200-h132/IMG_1337_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US-Canada border crossing</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After a few weeks in Canada, we crossed over the bridge to America. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiABlyvfFxfLf1ygN3xu9Ir90ivHhyGDqetGKcF0F8jRTgJdpjrm-BOK51QA-HWJE0jYOYQZUiBlR4xUd83s-tOilb2t8xdSiQMFwU4FW3gKW4Akxb0NZR4y3sSYUZKMY0K4vfSLO8UQularf9X-6h2aLYrfYl5dTUsE8HmK4IhVOlsqioK2MhyvpCzw/s1280/IMG_3366_Original.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiABlyvfFxfLf1ygN3xu9Ir90ivHhyGDqetGKcF0F8jRTgJdpjrm-BOK51QA-HWJE0jYOYQZUiBlR4xUd83s-tOilb2t8xdSiQMFwU4FW3gKW4Akxb0NZR4y3sSYUZKMY0K4vfSLO8UQularf9X-6h2aLYrfYl5dTUsE8HmK4IhVOlsqioK2MhyvpCzw/w200-h150/IMG_3366_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lock at Sault St Marie (MI)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />On the MI side of Sault Ste Marie, we went to the viewing platform (the second floor is accessible via a ramp) and watched as the giant ships were raised or lowered between lakes.</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBV_eS0t8dILkn_vYg7KwPj-a7BhAcaRUVY9v7BKys5SNgx9aQ5XMGUkfeUHLIK9IBALQAWoqH1Wi-1JB5xg4ByanlxcMoFaaAJ0H7782qhhyphenhyphen3zln239HDBy_nc9Mz3C3LEBdlJFxotNyY0Qz6icOOU64IVqf7i9PX8YXzp-QScFxRSToQk9C0FQ7zqU/s1280/IMG_1346_Original.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1280" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBV_eS0t8dILkn_vYg7KwPj-a7BhAcaRUVY9v7BKys5SNgx9aQ5XMGUkfeUHLIK9IBALQAWoqH1Wi-1JB5xg4ByanlxcMoFaaAJ0H7782qhhyphenhyphen3zln239HDBy_nc9Mz3C3LEBdlJFxotNyY0Qz6icOOU64IVqf7i9PX8YXzp-QScFxRSToQk9C0FQ7zqU/w200-h137/IMG_1346_Original.jpeg" width="200" /></a>/</td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Ojibwe in<br />Sault Ste Marie (MI)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>We stayed at the Hotel Ojibwe on the Michigan side. It was an older hotel situated on the main street of town, right next to the garden and park fronting the locks, so we could watch the big ships right from our room. We got the accessible room, which was recently remodeled in one of the upper rooms with low, slanted alcove ceilings with sky lights (I only bonked my head once, but it was something to remember at all times). The room had wide doors, space for a wheelchair on one side of the bed, and a spacious bathroom with a roll-under sink and a tub/shower with grab bars and shower chair. Unfortunately, there were no side grab bars by the toilet.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A short, pleasant stay in a small, pleasant town, and then we were on our way to the US and its highways and people.<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div class="ii gt" id=":8y" jslog="20277; u014N:xr6bB; 4:W251bGwsbnVsbCxbXV0." style="direction: ltr; font-size: 0.875rem; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="a3s aiL" id=":8x" style="font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; overflow: hidden;"><div dir="auto"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div></div></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-62946711231317614702023-10-09T22:20:00.002-07:002023-10-12T14:42:58.471-07:00Road Trip with a Wheelchair: Montreal<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGAubIguk2n8p7HP7Nsd6A1HBLGDqkibF_3NcQQ3VgDTl2-stUr5FdZbMJu2o-9jXTdMDJkcOH5kTjfQw_SfBofw2uQWyLmEiRt39FjDhr-Z0qfs9sP9YWnTETfXnviC66cXfRXFGjMk7C9DxZ4tqzurL5ZKZVoDOXjrRFzMxnfJOJoMnIceaogQouaM/s1280/Frame-06-10-2023-03-36-33.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGAubIguk2n8p7HP7Nsd6A1HBLGDqkibF_3NcQQ3VgDTl2-stUr5FdZbMJu2o-9jXTdMDJkcOH5kTjfQw_SfBofw2uQWyLmEiRt39FjDhr-Z0qfs9sP9YWnTETfXnviC66cXfRXFGjMk7C9DxZ4tqzurL5ZKZVoDOXjrRFzMxnfJOJoMnIceaogQouaM/s320/Frame-06-10-2023-03-36-33.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montreal city-scape from namesake hill (Mount Royal)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>In her murder mystery series, Louise Penny depicts the city of Montreal as a foil to the orderly Quebec City, and to the peaceful village of Three Pines. In these Inspector Gamache books, Montreal is big and scary, full of shady characters and sketchy areas inhabited by drug addicts, poverty, and crime. As a matter of fact, when we arrived in Montreal, it was late in the evening, and we immediately noticed the dirty streets and the crowds of people, some of whom were distinctly separate from the well-dressed, purposeful, fast-moving flows. And yet I can’t wait to return! </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigigXJCwPZ09HYNe3SxFAEBsS46xvhgfZaadAQpjUoquIOdYoZ0a3PqOLNrXf1zHgT6HmcFMWG9iTyTOcfnGdWS3oStitnG1OYXNi57GUIS5kL18UJ6d94_Nti8OH-oFL2cwfEt1bxba6jJkm2Fk18XwZOL1aaOAUc7uqx8Rz4K3urwSPYeko2z1zyWUM/s1280/IMG_0033.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigigXJCwPZ09HYNe3SxFAEBsS46xvhgfZaadAQpjUoquIOdYoZ0a3PqOLNrXf1zHgT6HmcFMWG9iTyTOcfnGdWS3oStitnG1OYXNi57GUIS5kL18UJ6d94_Nti8OH-oFL2cwfEt1bxba6jJkm2Fk18XwZOL1aaOAUc7uqx8Rz4K3urwSPYeko2z1zyWUM/w200-h150/IMG_0033.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acrobat near University <br />of Quebec in Montreal<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>One of the reasons must be the magic of the circus. Montreal is the home of the national circus school and of many circuses, including the famous Cirque du Soleil. It bills itself as the North American hub of circus arts; in fact, we arrived on the last night of the annual Montreal Completement Cirque festival, where there were free circus performances just blocks from our hotel. These performances were absolutely stunning, and the professional acts were framed by music, lights, and drinks, which kept the crowds lively and the streets magical until late in the night. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkhITOiCDf3NtzKrNxsQ2lIlQgljqwCXed5JKoDwgiVWrjpGOr4xqv4AMX65mvFPmDL1P-0Trgr6AeFaS03FNixMnwHbqLKSkou4Xv9n6yWP6cybQ3xLcuGX_ylofddK9djLoNggYbsMy7dJNnO3ZuCTUAf0GT-9bZ4ZcselLyVNyzaSjrnqfN9gHX88/s1280/IMG_0022.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="1280" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkhITOiCDf3NtzKrNxsQ2lIlQgljqwCXed5JKoDwgiVWrjpGOr4xqv4AMX65mvFPmDL1P-0Trgr6AeFaS03FNixMnwHbqLKSkou4Xv9n6yWP6cybQ3xLcuGX_ylofddK9djLoNggYbsMy7dJNnO3ZuCTUAf0GT-9bZ4ZcselLyVNyzaSjrnqfN9gHX88/w200-h108/IMG_0022.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pedestrian Mt Royal street<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Another reason was the outdoor scene. Making full use of the short summer season, the city was bustling with outdoor restaurants, cafes, and bars. Most of the outdoor areas I saw were wheelchair-accessible. The outdoor spaces on Rue St Denis went on for blocks, starting in the heart of the city, then heading out to the suburbs. On the plateau, streets were often blocked off to vehicles, with outdoor cafes, restaurants, and bars lining the sides, interspersed with artwork and gardens. Many even had spritzers every few bocks, for walkers and cyclists to get some heat relief. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBTrOlnH_3sPLDopdbzNAvUtT4Ppndg8JmdgGDy197tq1qDL8a2V7N4T6R9PHoen9q9RLVK4BDFlDLKMun2EwIM2TXnvFINBSTi5DpDauDKaqGGmnDQ8QA5qIhcg1cx0nyvq4OwdNnaSUrQCgksDHp1U8Rw33XbCjgoMVbZmNaYx6XxEvSZyllwLKKcY/s1280/IMG_0032.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1280" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBTrOlnH_3sPLDopdbzNAvUtT4Ppndg8JmdgGDy197tq1qDL8a2V7N4T6R9PHoen9q9RLVK4BDFlDLKMun2EwIM2TXnvFINBSTi5DpDauDKaqGGmnDQ8QA5qIhcg1cx0nyvq4OwdNnaSUrQCgksDHp1U8Rw33XbCjgoMVbZmNaYx6XxEvSZyllwLKKcY/w200-h170/IMG_0032.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />A final draw was the food. Montreal is home to several world-class restaurants. Because of the pandemic, we did not sit down inside any; but, we did frequent the outdoor options, the produce markets, the delis, cafés and patisseries. Montreal is famous for its bagels, so we tried all competing versions. Unfortunately, the Kouign Amann bakers were on vacation, but we sampled various breads, pastries, and croissants.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_XIm3nDg0YIweJ9bkOCYOq66bqTmYov9ESTpsXqm9cFkcUHggCfCwNYj235q_ef-ZpNWLIx-tbChInSg-lBiJumiYnngCDtOLVaFYum5fHjyCNQwj-g_ay5I0G1ccjTjv8ullBn72aCreFDTFc7SEUgNqvEn95uvkWoRvKH5Ws0VIORA1diC4Bpi_kU/s1280/IMG_0023.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1280" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_XIm3nDg0YIweJ9bkOCYOq66bqTmYov9ESTpsXqm9cFkcUHggCfCwNYj235q_ef-ZpNWLIx-tbChInSg-lBiJumiYnngCDtOLVaFYum5fHjyCNQwj-g_ay5I0G1ccjTjv8ullBn72aCreFDTFc7SEUgNqvEn95uvkWoRvKH5Ws0VIORA1diC4Bpi_kU/w200-h164/IMG_0023.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike lane going by <br />Montreal’s Old Town<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Interestingly, we practically avoided the old town and its buildings, which are probably one of the main draws for most visitors. Instead, we spent our time exploring the various neighborhoods and their culinary offerings.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5aGN36W4IMH75zHyCUMj0JnQ2jyLzd1PqcBbEUPjzU8mQTCaUGSVoCwshZNkky-fRHxsG0BZvI1iypRMu77RTObNbQVXSUrBHn4PuRi4bpybo-E0s4ey0jUfxyhW0J91vuFtRfOIywRgihxCR3Ob0mcWJhz__VBClAj24d9SiJsH2K0fcSJ_9vHhtNo/s1280/IMG_0005.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1280" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5aGN36W4IMH75zHyCUMj0JnQ2jyLzd1PqcBbEUPjzU8mQTCaUGSVoCwshZNkky-fRHxsG0BZvI1iypRMu77RTObNbQVXSUrBHn4PuRi4bpybo-E0s4ey0jUfxyhW0J91vuFtRfOIywRgihxCR3Ob0mcWJhz__VBClAj24d9SiJsH2K0fcSJ_9vHhtNo/w200-h116/IMG_0005.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rue St Denis is lively <br />all day, but it is<br />especially alive at night</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We took advantage of the proximity of Rue St Denis, joining the lively crowds of outdoor revelers to enjoy veggie sushi and Canadian beer. Nearby parks hosted festivals until late at night.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg693TE4eGPTtkDQRT53P1V3JcJLGy-XUGnUzx45u1WUU5qJMlhGx_HAdRuOofmm4mJvVh-CxTQTMzSF75z6gIwnQOBh72oDx5hcHu57VbI2OCrMUpSI-opU9ZVdIuo10VCkIGtc9FjI_OAzBfg2Zlpnb3ONJYZ8ns9K2-rxmF-a3ILaIMI9xglUHaAz44/s1280/IMG_0029.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg693TE4eGPTtkDQRT53P1V3JcJLGy-XUGnUzx45u1WUU5qJMlhGx_HAdRuOofmm4mJvVh-CxTQTMzSF75z6gIwnQOBh72oDx5hcHu57VbI2OCrMUpSI-opU9ZVdIuo10VCkIGtc9FjI_OAzBfg2Zlpnb3ONJYZ8ns9K2-rxmF-a3ILaIMI9xglUHaAz44/w200-h150/IMG_0029.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cirque du Soleil on the<br />Waterfront</td></tr></tbody></table>Of course we saw Cirque du Soleil one night. It’s one of those attractions described as “expensive, but worth it” in guide books. There are many cheaper options in this circus town, so I’m not sure I agree 100%, but the waterfront location makes it difficult to top. The waterfront is easily reached by bike lanes and is itself an expansive flat area with lots of activities and people. Cirque du Soleil has accessible seats and a separate section of accessible restrooms,<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EroL0FB9lZZqquXL79x-183Uxqh0M77l45JypGAi86FdqmwFBdVbfgS4YgLuPHb_FUfKzRne-8A6lnT9nNq8wUIDyES6Eb_UXz_boGG4iulL2W2ZbaLxPBTlqrcyPNSrUukoEz097ytpOv-NassftM0ezD2acvE18UOyMXoWPC5kf1DY9va0GwW2iMY/s1280/IMG_0027.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1280" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EroL0FB9lZZqquXL79x-183Uxqh0M77l45JypGAi86FdqmwFBdVbfgS4YgLuPHb_FUfKzRne-8A6lnT9nNq8wUIDyES6Eb_UXz_boGG4iulL2W2ZbaLxPBTlqrcyPNSrUukoEz097ytpOv-NassftM0ezD2acvE18UOyMXoWPC5kf1DY9va0GwW2iMY/w200-h117/IMG_0027.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise from Mt Royal</td></tr></tbody></table><br />One day we drove up Mount Royal, for which the city is named, for a spectacular view. Ted hiked up there at sunrise another day to capture colorful photos.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_ygZLf2np6fOdpuiSKLtN-ocmN29LSuowAw1ebtIbPPKj8jbScmeOIzGwQAhAYUMSmuQt2gHKuMuZorZAsgeIWjt8JJDW4O1CPWRhtUoGjPndKCVm1VdikgwM3lVbioN6wytxBq9AKPmOX2zjRCWNSYgvl_F_fSeqW_dU69Bjzkb2rbaDpsIyf0_C7o/s1280/IMG_0028.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_ygZLf2np6fOdpuiSKLtN-ocmN29LSuowAw1ebtIbPPKj8jbScmeOIzGwQAhAYUMSmuQt2gHKuMuZorZAsgeIWjt8JJDW4O1CPWRhtUoGjPndKCVm1VdikgwM3lVbioN6wytxBq9AKPmOX2zjRCWNSYgvl_F_fSeqW_dU69Bjzkb2rbaDpsIyf0_C7o/w200-h150/IMG_0028.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />We also went to the Jean Talon market in Little Italy. The market is very accessible with long rows of fruit, flowers, vegetables, and other food.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PN7Q7PcVyOqX7cd_ukcDfDGDi2RpxjoFCG2GgJn7YTPDX5zKGnBAaMiKAkoYXi9FZbeVbG00fOOgl82z78Zn6ZS7bIdtB_D1wladMeuvrnT87kyBfw-4KjnK3Iv1g9Ow5nnb4jeAhBgfOjyocSiJeBkNoEgUxyUHoipo8rNtuZlpwnWP4paDZF8NCl0/s1280/IMG_0007.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1229" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PN7Q7PcVyOqX7cd_ukcDfDGDi2RpxjoFCG2GgJn7YTPDX5zKGnBAaMiKAkoYXi9FZbeVbG00fOOgl82z78Zn6ZS7bIdtB_D1wladMeuvrnT87kyBfw-4KjnK3Iv1g9Ow5nnb4jeAhBgfOjyocSiJeBkNoEgUxyUHoipo8rNtuZlpwnWP4paDZF8NCl0/w192-h200/IMG_0007.jpeg" width="192" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under a spritzer on<br />Mt Royal Street</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We ended up wishing for more time on the Plateau pedestrian streets, especially Mt Royal Street, where we explored the neighborhoods, sat outside and watched passers-by, and sampled the atmospheres of the cafes and wares of the boulangeries-patisseries. Favorites ended up being Joe laCroute, Boulangerie Toledo, and Boulangerie Premiere Moissan.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2D6OXLz-8RpuI8E6Y8LOLv_agQY29ZCGX6xA1j7qtxJPhZZU8wq6FasvQQuf4zIhhYUBbDPBVS9iXHdpDsDiG50ciJxxWagVuuDUXbFwYuoYvGO01p3OfjjKfvXIHV5B1-0u5NUNy31bKWZ3Iu-DoGw1mB1b4p03TPz-TQpoBspwAoVDklTkmqCsb2s/s1280/IMG_0003.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1280" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2D6OXLz-8RpuI8E6Y8LOLv_agQY29ZCGX6xA1j7qtxJPhZZU8wq6FasvQQuf4zIhhYUBbDPBVS9iXHdpDsDiG50ciJxxWagVuuDUXbFwYuoYvGO01p3OfjjKfvXIHV5B1-0u5NUNy31bKWZ3Iu-DoGw1mB1b4p03TPz-TQpoBspwAoVDklTkmqCsb2s/w200-h125/IMG_0003.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge new ramp to access store<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The question of accessibility depends upon location. As with Quebec City, Montreal is an old city, and the process of retrofitting old construction with lifts and ramps is visible, but gradual. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-RTUnQuamCsUguUBrR0g5F3DhUWIoEDwcYWi-CpEwrmYfz0LfefhqdHrLnCP5LUqYY2kHxFwIAxi9z4zri3JzGGZ_2sdu14BTZBXC_2m0c88vrJYMpsidPPXJq24TtYZaEhxCn2KL2kJZGFFcMGTQtZx2qVCFlEsY_wfMlW37iGa5Anz97SmR9Jn6g0/s1280/IMG_0025.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1280" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-RTUnQuamCsUguUBrR0g5F3DhUWIoEDwcYWi-CpEwrmYfz0LfefhqdHrLnCP5LUqYY2kHxFwIAxi9z4zri3JzGGZ_2sdu14BTZBXC_2m0c88vrJYMpsidPPXJq24TtYZaEhxCn2KL2kJZGFFcMGTQtZx2qVCFlEsY_wfMlW37iGa5Anz97SmR9Jn6g0/w200-h168/IMG_0025.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Many of the neighborhoods that we explored had curb cuts on the sidewalks of main roads, through these were often hacked-down corners of sidewalks. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0-9W7VNuzZwNPsztcxpNJYgVjcz9205PJf08e07sXDhWHQIwEj4UhikeFNl-DheBCw8kJVxt3hTpTXQDxLOrLdcRPFnFcW3SFK-PfmgYqitxuIPshsKHya5yXhb0zq2V3rJDB4leRBQvdsd-wgqb83iDOfK7YxJsnTZvATqpyhNpxMfnwLk2tlypQfM/s1280/IMG_0001.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1280" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0-9W7VNuzZwNPsztcxpNJYgVjcz9205PJf08e07sXDhWHQIwEj4UhikeFNl-DheBCw8kJVxt3hTpTXQDxLOrLdcRPFnFcW3SFK-PfmgYqitxuIPshsKHya5yXhb0zq2V3rJDB4leRBQvdsd-wgqb83iDOfK7YxJsnTZvATqpyhNpxMfnwLk2tlypQfM/w200-h125/IMG_0001.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />In general, the sidewalks were worse than those of my home city, Seattle (where sidewalks are not great), but Montreal is full of bikes and bike lanes. Utilizing them made traversing the city much easier. I would just join the throngs and line up with them at stop lights. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtx5fB6MUQEVNX8N7SlKdBNCi3FcuHBC9Nb2CKRupukZu7oSddrSTF6q2TJ9rtvbfzO16UJYHeyFdwqk0Ghnu9rR8-UDFlGdRP_lX2XbBAmRPVQmZWqfDJol6KsomduL6WMZdgNcGov3mDbvBNN8Ma3xz4Um01HVdV8WU9B4stqkZnhtEP4PzzaGmHtE/s1280/IMG_0021.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtx5fB6MUQEVNX8N7SlKdBNCi3FcuHBC9Nb2CKRupukZu7oSddrSTF6q2TJ9rtvbfzO16UJYHeyFdwqk0Ghnu9rR8-UDFlGdRP_lX2XbBAmRPVQmZWqfDJol6KsomduL6WMZdgNcGov3mDbvBNN8Ma3xz4Um01HVdV8WU9B4stqkZnhtEP4PzzaGmHtE/w200-h150/IMG_0021.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Only some of the subway stations have elevators, so it bears checking the information carefully. Fortunately, the university station near our hotel was accessible, and it looked as though they were retrofitting the station on the plateau to include elevators so it would be accessible. That would save a lot of time and shenanigans, since we had to use the accessible station beyond the plateau and then travel across trails and sidewalks back to the plateau. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UHQqkYX6e6a-qlNiqupuRfaA_9VDCO6hvENmc87hPjv3xpRfK7KpUOykMKVLpvt4eDNYX2WCOKsRCBl8WQsksknu8QsJSS0ztRMvpsM7UrVBoKnf9AiwzLtsGnS2GoRLXydHRHGjD3iel9mAG5pfBueX2PCOpDwYXfOa4wOFnhEQto_i7aC1TWtbSKs/s1280/IMG_0020.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UHQqkYX6e6a-qlNiqupuRfaA_9VDCO6hvENmc87hPjv3xpRfK7KpUOykMKVLpvt4eDNYX2WCOKsRCBl8WQsksknu8QsJSS0ztRMvpsM7UrVBoKnf9AiwzLtsGnS2GoRLXydHRHGjD3iel9mAG5pfBueX2PCOpDwYXfOa4wOFnhEQto_i7aC1TWtbSKs/w200-h150/IMG_0020.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />As mentioned, several of the streets on the plateau were closed to traffic, allowing me to wheel freely down the street.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6lqFs8dEOcuNAndpwJiquCZr6HpreJ9qE3XI6KbqSArV34IAZ8UjQK1XW7jD_FCUauZPZTCt9ijUiOunA60qGIzUrgqpXnNVporP7_RvQ8wEe4K5-8SqCADCZOLDavbZyn-Q1_qt5ZDtbD19kQh-d8VMunoizIYr2oQQCQvSK_CXe33EycxdZoBI2f8/s1280/IMG_0019.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6lqFs8dEOcuNAndpwJiquCZr6HpreJ9qE3XI6KbqSArV34IAZ8UjQK1XW7jD_FCUauZPZTCt9ijUiOunA60qGIzUrgqpXnNVporP7_RvQ8wEe4K5-8SqCADCZOLDavbZyn-Q1_qt5ZDtbD19kQh-d8VMunoizIYr2oQQCQvSK_CXe33EycxdZoBI2f8/w200-h150/IMG_0019.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completement Cirque<br />Circus Fest in the <br />Festival Quartier</td></tr></tbody></table>We stayed in the Quartier des Spetacles. I was a bit apprehensive about this location, but it turned out to be perfect for our stay — centrally located, near the circus performance, Rue St Denis, and university subway station, and lively . Our hotel was accessible, but the rooms were not. In the future, I would try the nearby Fairfield by Marriott Montreal downtown (seems as if they must have accessible rooms) or the Hotel de <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: Lato; font-size: 16px;">l’ITHQ,</span> in the same building as the tourism board (according to <a href="https://curbfreewithcorylee.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cory Lee’s travel blog</a>, the rooms are very nicely accessible) and not too far away (it was closed for remodeling while we were there).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QqBIGfdEcoKqQjmj_xsmu0ESITDzruH9-Qb2oB8MMCkHdNcE_EKy934XM63-1Ax780b7cQrgipsfgos5wv5OhkM3zVIlyVLSKYiD6EhqrsdTn8LzpucAOxPwI1bGKYAJfq3FAss9jFbhur89Mr8N0h7BVt-1p5HEFzxZOm5TJ06bk32_6Kq9iFFYz5A/s1280/IMG_0002.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1280" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QqBIGfdEcoKqQjmj_xsmu0ESITDzruH9-Qb2oB8MMCkHdNcE_EKy934XM63-1Ax780b7cQrgipsfgos5wv5OhkM3zVIlyVLSKYiD6EhqrsdTn8LzpucAOxPwI1bGKYAJfq3FAss9jFbhur89Mr8N0h7BVt-1p5HEFzxZOm5TJ06bk32_6Kq9iFFYz5A/w200-h137/IMG_0002.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">***Cafe on Montreal Plateau</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Alternatively, I would like to stay (and wanted to stay) on the plateau, but all I could find there were Airbnb’s rather than hotels, and they were not accessible. Maybe, with the change to an accessible subway station this will change as well?<p></p></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-52167812256039678512023-09-06T17:46:00.004-07:002023-09-06T17:48:42.593-07:00Road Trip with a Wheelchair: Quebec City<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBL8QS0NbyE26iB-7O6ivYXZgPeJw8dq6JXz1GV_hUYlGslzwnKeBf9iM3CzLtvXbzAx5IpXlau6gk7XtxlHz5kDAzTfdDuV4nUIBvcuit6y0BdMEJPO9a0b2db4qzpTKIuN4eUubfN4PpzrQ65MzqP0PxPDmnqkD2woL0CQ_YQpaInJMt4VSCkvT9-yw/s1280/NHKC7334.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="1280" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBL8QS0NbyE26iB-7O6ivYXZgPeJw8dq6JXz1GV_hUYlGslzwnKeBf9iM3CzLtvXbzAx5IpXlau6gk7XtxlHz5kDAzTfdDuV4nUIBvcuit6y0BdMEJPO9a0b2db4qzpTKIuN4eUubfN4PpzrQ65MzqP0PxPDmnqkD2woL0CQ_YQpaInJMt4VSCkvT9-yw/w320-h231/NHKC7334.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chateau Frontenac in Old Town, Quebec City</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BmVVLcvWGA6YGawPr14QPWu2ZZmdpLkl-qdHT_OPvyPVwqsEB6bLrq6gZ85iBLMJ4FY-8a5EwDFZ41wkVtKRFsRKQAJhe-_nw1yH4bts4nkDBeQwIFiKLsPf_K8kjD1eJHL4HFpYFVAd77YF4K7Y8Zxq7unO5bQ86bhBnbLz2TDs4wi4QPgwm6KjcaQ/s1280/IMG_0711.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1280" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BmVVLcvWGA6YGawPr14QPWu2ZZmdpLkl-qdHT_OPvyPVwqsEB6bLrq6gZ85iBLMJ4FY-8a5EwDFZ41wkVtKRFsRKQAJhe-_nw1yH4bts4nkDBeQwIFiKLsPf_K8kjD1eJHL4HFpYFVAd77YF4K7Y8Zxq7unO5bQ86bhBnbLz2TDs4wi4QPgwm6KjcaQ/w200-h146/IMG_0711.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quebec City, <br />on the bluffs <br />overlooking the<br />St Lawrence River</td></tr></tbody></table>Is Quebec City accessible? Well, more than you'd think. This walled city was founded as a French settlement on bluffs overlooking the St. Lawrence River in 1608, so accessibility has to contend with history and geography. Buildings and sidewalks are old, and some of the streets are paved with cobblestones. In addition, much of the Old Town is on top of the bluffs, while the neighborhoods of the Lower Town are down at river level, with a steep transition between the two. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqcu4y5BM4rtv2AsQ0RJS7KpH-CSrgl5cV_sqvH6qvR0YIAA-w14KcMSixh6yBP3KjOSyyBLdEJmnGi9Si_nLT2kJqwdh7Q11YxDRoZKDyQC15VqdYcStCXlm8zRDbq7L_D08ffOER8s7VSoCy__tvAdyvfzwDcRvZYHN5kRF2LAaUZ0SUTpAgbSYnI8/s1280/IMG_2753.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqcu4y5BM4rtv2AsQ0RJS7KpH-CSrgl5cV_sqvH6qvR0YIAA-w14KcMSixh6yBP3KjOSyyBLdEJmnGi9Si_nLT2kJqwdh7Q11YxDRoZKDyQC15VqdYcStCXlm8zRDbq7L_D08ffOER8s7VSoCy__tvAdyvfzwDcRvZYHN5kRF2LAaUZ0SUTpAgbSYnI8/w133-h200/IMG_2753.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Ramped entrance<br /> to Library <br />Claire-Martíne<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Given the multiple challenges, Quebec City has done an impressive job of addressing accessibility, adding ramps and elevators, paving roads, designing accessible bypasses, hacking sidewalk corners to create curb cuts, etc. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuPD65mKgCt-aDPlll8AfAT86bLsQWPQPzinkOEvC4QO5k4N0b87NxxKjxVcDOZ5bi6z8Rmibjy4ylbPlrcftbd9o0UoP4KGoQmJhLFefrCAgLgfbM8B19Zy0K1twIXbMZDOXXznenc9vtpUjzdReiK8o0Qjw4jX-xNThBYrlmB250yo9U1_adZczHcE/s1280/IMG_0781.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuPD65mKgCt-aDPlll8AfAT86bLsQWPQPzinkOEvC4QO5k4N0b87NxxKjxVcDOZ5bi6z8Rmibjy4ylbPlrcftbd9o0UoP4KGoQmJhLFefrCAgLgfbM8B19Zy0K1twIXbMZDOXXznenc9vtpUjzdReiK8o0Qjw4jX-xNThBYrlmB250yo9U1_adZczHcE/w200-h150/IMG_0781.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curb cuts</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqe9zs4Kmx0AWDSFesYyvzzS64BW1UVeg4D8w7bYqIvibz3LfpR-2XMJFn4HV8jlmMTkSlvtARHSpSKuOZHym2x0cd2SELeh1QbVuDEn-p6ShvYq2_4w4m3jOvMsv3GBmpW01JRK8wSPzoQk8kV7ena-VzjR2TDg6vkzbPeAXTUplNhBIYxZp8OBt9_E/s1280/IMG_0706.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1266" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqe9zs4Kmx0AWDSFesYyvzzS64BW1UVeg4D8w7bYqIvibz3LfpR-2XMJFn4HV8jlmMTkSlvtARHSpSKuOZHym2x0cd2SELeh1QbVuDEn-p6ShvYq2_4w4m3jOvMsv3GBmpW01JRK8wSPzoQk8kV7ena-VzjR2TDg6vkzbPeAXTUplNhBIYxZp8OBt9_E/w198-h200/IMG_0706.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signs showing accessible entrance<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpfakrPZ3jCJ7BsiL425w6Pudp6I401MEcz9aSs5_nTIdPy38Zgk8M0u4-Q9RkTIJo_r9YwhcoZ10YaW8lGz0DbHhAjB_84CvYf5anKhdBQ1emCBki0J1QHB1hfhHPG9QUajGf3D2P25wZwim9dilDrvWv4BJPonNgCPlIYd5KgG_sb3q8PQWg7qvYoo/s1280/IMG_0705.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpfakrPZ3jCJ7BsiL425w6Pudp6I401MEcz9aSs5_nTIdPy38Zgk8M0u4-Q9RkTIJo_r9YwhcoZ10YaW8lGz0DbHhAjB_84CvYf5anKhdBQ1emCBki0J1QHB1hfhHPG9QUajGf3D2P25wZwim9dilDrvWv4BJPonNgCPlIYd5KgG_sb3q8PQWg7qvYoo/w200-h150/IMG_0705.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike lanes along<br />Waterfront</td></tr></tbody></table><br />With careful route-planning and creativity, such as using bike lanes (the hacked up sidewalk curb cuts, while admirable, are steep and chunky), the city becomes even more accessible.</div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>By far, the greatest attempt at uniting the upper and lower towns for the swarms of tourists of all physical capabilities is the existence of two contraptions between the two regions: the Old Quebec Funicular and the Flaubert Ascensor (elevator). </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfmjeSOvBo-bOqY4dMjSMES7RDQrfLUR_A5IVw9egnWYPlG5dbUZKze_PJdkYneXt0zXKBXd7sOOYqE0SpFvA2PY4Yw0155sw_bb_pD9VqZvyEU4ZcDJMnNnYIINKdOuuKZJDDTcbSOJxCPrAVI5u_SJpmQ0bJiN9gRc6llNMNYU8hrCbvybsq8ruz-c/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-30%20at%205.15.49%20PM.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="755" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfmjeSOvBo-bOqY4dMjSMES7RDQrfLUR_A5IVw9egnWYPlG5dbUZKze_PJdkYneXt0zXKBXd7sOOYqE0SpFvA2PY4Yw0155sw_bb_pD9VqZvyEU4ZcDJMnNnYIINKdOuuKZJDDTcbSOJxCPrAVI5u_SJpmQ0bJiN9gRc6llNMNYU8hrCbvybsq8ruz-c/w118-h200/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-30%20at%205.15.49%20PM.jpg" width="118" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funicular between<br />Petit Champlain <br />And<br />Dufferin Terrace</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The funicular runs between Petit Champlain below and the Dufferin Terrace above. It is wheelchair accessible, as long as the wheelchair user follow the signs detouring to an accessible entrance below. On the lower end, there are cobblestone streets surrounding the entrance, but the upper end at the terrace is smooth and flat. The cost is free for wheelchair users, though there is no wheelchair access in winter months, and I have read accounts of wheelchair users being denied access, even in summer. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkB1BMi9ubWQm8EoKDQ2fYsoyHYnlMhdwQmlBmUrh4qOVIer64ukzDALtHDNz8lgrIqFrsMhp8JbKkRLloty9AeS5nWw7OBgE2UTCDcbKyRZCovK6tO_v426Ly0cA-huuviWSVkun0YB_Zso3ThUs4R06le2iLcQZVF-fv2L3GcAgI5b4XR0xewNYso0/s1280/IMG_0773.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="820" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkB1BMi9ubWQm8EoKDQ2fYsoyHYnlMhdwQmlBmUrh4qOVIer64ukzDALtHDNz8lgrIqFrsMhp8JbKkRLloty9AeS5nWw7OBgE2UTCDcbKyRZCovK6tO_v426Ly0cA-huuviWSVkun0YB_Zso3ThUs4R06le2iLcQZVF-fv2L3GcAgI5b4XR0xewNYso0/w128-h200/IMG_0773.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flaubert Ascensor <br />(elevator) between<br />St Rochelle and<br />Upper St Jean Baptiste<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>The Flaubert Ascensor (elevator) runs between the neighborhoods of St Rochelle below and St Jean Baptiste above. The elevator is wheelchair-accessible through the cafe in St Rochelle, which is entered after a steep hill climb on a paved road with a bit of cross slope at the end. The top at upper St Jean Baptiste is accessible, with one paved street running parallel to the elevator and one cobblestone street going up to St Jean Baptiste. Despite the challenging street access, the entrances are accessible, and the elevator is free.<p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSjlLoIgLwjaVR6Pv2Xrl0oGK6f94IMTJER30PgjzYRBAZCuNUEirVg5gr7ELN9UTFI6QmMdE40h6g_iW8ZKG_Z9e6LQoHw7A0Vimf4EMixk6SEwCaHRPZJ5FKQfdcg6yBbO7Ej0BI9QZXhpVMJyF-Pi-C8wKhrCDslhdLVg91upjTMuPbrXxPbZ_qWY/s1280/IMG_2822.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSjlLoIgLwjaVR6Pv2Xrl0oGK6f94IMTJER30PgjzYRBAZCuNUEirVg5gr7ELN9UTFI6QmMdE40h6g_iW8ZKG_Z9e6LQoHw7A0Vimf4EMixk6SEwCaHRPZJ5FKQfdcg6yBbO7Ej0BI9QZXhpVMJyF-Pi-C8wKhrCDslhdLVg91upjTMuPbrXxPbZ_qWY/w200-h150/IMG_2822.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rue St Joseph <br />in St Rochelle</td></tr></tbody></table>We stayed at the Best Western Hotel in St Rochelle, which was only one block from Rue St Joseph (a pedestrian only street at night and on weekends in summer, with lots of stores, restaurants, bars, and outdoor eating and drinking). It turned out to be only two blocks from Le Croquembouche Boulangerie, which our guide book says is the best in town (we had pastries along with our Ile d’Orleans strawberries at least every morning for breakfast). </span><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"></span></p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2BjlzM704sMB-6DK2fiYcqRUuCJnqhhTY-bLzFsplrFACBVVwBDwWTH-918IAd5gQZP_WVQliocXPLghzDsrvQ2vR2Oth0YfRumpMC98laCcSfV_oQcMXlpGVd32QEuOc4g-2BzqAg86LZYCYyRwERaVT8kGDCm87j36PUNCMOZKwMOsB8YscjtAst4/s1280/IMG_2810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1280" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2BjlzM704sMB-6DK2fiYcqRUuCJnqhhTY-bLzFsplrFACBVVwBDwWTH-918IAd5gQZP_WVQliocXPLghzDsrvQ2vR2Oth0YfRumpMC98laCcSfV_oQcMXlpGVd32QEuOc4g-2BzqAg86LZYCYyRwERaVT8kGDCm87j36PUNCMOZKwMOsB8YscjtAst4/w200-h185/IMG_2810.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best Western Hotel in<br />St Rochelle </td></tr></tbody></table>The location and amenities of the Best Western made it a perfect base for our stay in Quebec City. Our “Disabled room” had 2 queen beds, wide doors and spaces, a roll-under sink, grab bars near the toilet and shower, </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">and a roll-in shower with a hand-held shower head. There was parking nearby in a (gravel) parking lot with two designated disabled spots near the sidewalk. </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: small;">From the hotel, it was just a short walk/roll on streets and sidewalks to the elevator up to the upper St Jean Baptiste neighborhood and the Plains of Abraham. A combination of bike lanes and sidewalks allowed a walk/roll to the lower Old Town at St Jean Baptiste street, the waterfront, the neighborhood of Petite Champlain (with the funicular up to the Old Town at Dufferin Terrace), and the </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">paved steep hill streets leading to the upper Old Town.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"></span></span></p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkSy7PKUS3e93QV9q-aImK8O0lZv2XmMabeh7FBcMEdT6WNaSDIfKRHX1kfd1N6N_7BrZANyiPfegQJP3sznfIqBMx6himgoQ3ECoxjN0Kk1_THWMWnzbjlnOPPoY_QGWy3LYxpeqeyOwNY7w5L4mWEhfJuORx0ei6_KCcAGizL4jTgs6jMNXH7XgP-o/s1280/LQZR2176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkSy7PKUS3e93QV9q-aImK8O0lZv2XmMabeh7FBcMEdT6WNaSDIfKRHX1kfd1N6N_7BrZANyiPfegQJP3sznfIqBMx6himgoQ3ECoxjN0Kk1_THWMWnzbjlnOPPoY_QGWy3LYxpeqeyOwNY7w5L4mWEhfJuORx0ei6_KCcAGizL4jTgs6jMNXH7XgP-o/w200-h150/LQZR2176.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pedestrian-only<br />Rue St Joseph in<br />St Rochelle</td></tr></tbody></table>We spent much of our time exploring the neighborhoods and figuring out how to get to them, watching people, and eating well. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">In the summer, many of the neighborhood close off the streets, so that they are pedestrian-only at all times or at least during certain hours. The streets, paved with either blacktop or flat stone, are generally lined with stores, restaurants, cafés, and outdoor seating, making them pleasant ways to explore the city. The outdoor seating areas offer varying degrees of accessibility, but I encountered many with ramps. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgxY4HfQAnP7qZi3odjZtR6-VQ5JIi3YoLUVBMGTGToEs62Ss3Ep1Q7D05f2ubeGfYjFBRBr0KG1TmIj5bJEKhAvA4DJQqllOj-g4XWvTIQ59uci83FMTDVyGLmFcPUFBSBQuvKD0zhFd8V0eGBMJQXhFdc_AGjcDelba3dmzI6Yh7gNOy6qIzV8d8ok/s1280/IMG_0809.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgxY4HfQAnP7qZi3odjZtR6-VQ5JIi3YoLUVBMGTGToEs62Ss3Ep1Q7D05f2ubeGfYjFBRBr0KG1TmIj5bJEKhAvA4DJQqllOj-g4XWvTIQ59uci83FMTDVyGLmFcPUFBSBQuvKD0zhFd8V0eGBMJQXhFdc_AGjcDelba3dmzI6Yh7gNOy6qIzV8d8ok/w200-h133/IMG_0809.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montcalm neighborhood</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CRqzO2ZnAA1eaZ7LcKyelNbLdfTq5RP9QwwVfdmq4T7C8WEkIrMK9PNPlYvqmG-R6jmTSNdr9J2tjcQ9rnkGINo9ISCVOzGa4jDZ-31UPNdbkzxsOttnT37XgcLinRRxGcv278IbcEZCcC-AADa42-52BD_yX6w-K63ecoiQrGbabG9aCDDnLSH2bOY/s1280/IMG_0827.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CRqzO2ZnAA1eaZ7LcKyelNbLdfTq5RP9QwwVfdmq4T7C8WEkIrMK9PNPlYvqmG-R6jmTSNdr9J2tjcQ9rnkGINo9ISCVOzGa4jDZ-31UPNdbkzxsOttnT37XgcLinRRxGcv278IbcEZCcC-AADa42-52BD_yX6w-K63ecoiQrGbabG9aCDDnLSH2bOY/w200-h150/IMG_0827.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Rochelle neighborhood</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDPPzIG4r_jmMKatNyPzIQ4QvcpeytE0Eg9V2Pq_mbpeIglthcZ-zovzEX_ZybkdIUG09sfbnhSaomsWzcVQk4a9djvbyxU8L7kh1IPhdSM09TWO0zzIjY6K2RYsx5Mxfbl-4B0tzvv50Fxs7XQUACx9dX1b8fGOXYyP1ADc8Xh_dRvO6tNFuPqPQ_3o/s1280/IMG_2758.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDPPzIG4r_jmMKatNyPzIQ4QvcpeytE0Eg9V2Pq_mbpeIglthcZ-zovzEX_ZybkdIUG09sfbnhSaomsWzcVQk4a9djvbyxU8L7kh1IPhdSM09TWO0zzIjY6K2RYsx5Mxfbl-4B0tzvv50Fxs7XQUACx9dX1b8fGOXYyP1ADc8Xh_dRvO6tNFuPqPQ_3o/w167-h200/IMG_2758.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper St Jean Baptiste</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><br />I especially enjoyed people watching in upper St Jean Baptiste (not lower!), lower St Rochelle, and the gentrified Montcalm neighborhoods. For a truly Canadian (or, perhaps, Canadian tourist) option, there are several locations of Poutineville, where you can create and eat your own version of poutine. There are also many acclaimed restaurants — often away from the touristy areas.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQm4Bu1FsToKA5KHV8PSHnpAk3w2yP_T_7TgT29hkFuNrsIlTA730gEmaBJAGKLSF-8vwISIL06Y0DSeAbecxkH4w1V5qjsC0L16vZKxJS8vAwuh9jtAgsfvi_kJF1Da4YV5c6WTqxkdSoIEP2v1K6A7-D15FPnREScsNrQizZ2LF5Pgjq8mly4VguiI/s1280/IMG_2718.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQm4Bu1FsToKA5KHV8PSHnpAk3w2yP_T_7TgT29hkFuNrsIlTA730gEmaBJAGKLSF-8vwISIL06Y0DSeAbecxkH4w1V5qjsC0L16vZKxJS8vAwuh9jtAgsfvi_kJF1Da4YV5c6WTqxkdSoIEP2v1K6A7-D15FPnREScsNrQizZ2LF5Pgjq8mly4VguiI/w200-h150/IMG_2718.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Waterfront<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The waterfront was flat and relatively smooth, with bike lanes leading to the views and ferries (although I couldn’t find any good restaurants there). </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNIdjU2o8Lcfqd6AZOTsdmhfo5MVhYe9L4_20Gu87SSkCdTUZ9ZQRZnVzgsBEO-l4gTqxYxnVSFxxYYc4s8Euo286rXDf5jvcgQGcHjd4bAXm1snu3LD7XO6tuzAcJQNH1u8JcSH1T8GFJTPENcixkK8TDJDpeKKeU3-8n3LPX4oS9HXkvcVfaKKKCts/s1280/IMG_2764.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNIdjU2o8Lcfqd6AZOTsdmhfo5MVhYe9L4_20Gu87SSkCdTUZ9ZQRZnVzgsBEO-l4gTqxYxnVSFxxYYc4s8Euo286rXDf5jvcgQGcHjd4bAXm1snu3LD7XO6tuzAcJQNH1u8JcSH1T8GFJTPENcixkK8TDJDpeKKeU3-8n3LPX4oS9HXkvcVfaKKKCts/w200-h150/IMG_2764.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plains of Abraham</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br />Also, the Plains of Abraham was a nice, big park with a fantastic river view and paved paths.<p></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"></span></span></span></p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4uM4ntOKIoRb7p0rm5_-i8o3yq_FULCNdzb_Cp0QZTeCkoFWkgInYORBB_Ce8uXjRp7PCEOgDOi3X7uHH-h_BilK9JB-LP57zQKx24IFfyJz_pHzVy9UXZmzBKwqMTyNXwTSGBrBdxmgbYzUJFjIozS2gZSksCNA8PySBhBCrQSbXcXS75PXfpKOPJE/s1280/IMG_2707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4uM4ntOKIoRb7p0rm5_-i8o3yq_FULCNdzb_Cp0QZTeCkoFWkgInYORBB_Ce8uXjRp7PCEOgDOi3X7uHH-h_BilK9JB-LP57zQKx24IFfyJz_pHzVy9UXZmzBKwqMTyNXwTSGBrBdxmgbYzUJFjIozS2gZSksCNA8PySBhBCrQSbXcXS75PXfpKOPJE/w200-h150/IMG_2707.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After midnight in Old Town</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Interestingly, I spent little time in the upper or lower Old Town. I loved the feel and the view when I rolled home from the chateau bar after midnight, and I would do that again. However, the daytime and evening hoards of tourists made it too crowded</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> to be enjoyable. Most streets were paved, and sidewalks had curb cuts, but the crowds and crowded sidewalks made the Old Town my least favorite section. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbv3p3NwlDFOPbyKij3NescVDAFgUp4_6ogG-NtGlvl3wlJw0D9m-bbeaYVI3ZXS2eG28FOS_BT0hwrgtc9od7of94ds75VnrVYDn4tBvNFz30q2RgPKi-rWNWvg2kVyPfL6DZFDlWO18MaPTkgRHMyXIDlRAgtJpY6IOy7w4c17lBmBLIWwaRmLe_3k/s1280/IMG_2730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="959" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbv3p3NwlDFOPbyKij3NescVDAFgUp4_6ogG-NtGlvl3wlJw0D9m-bbeaYVI3ZXS2eG28FOS_BT0hwrgtc9od7of94ds75VnrVYDn4tBvNFz30q2RgPKi-rWNWvg2kVyPfL6DZFDlWO18MaPTkgRHMyXIDlRAgtJpY6IOy7w4c17lBmBLIWwaRmLe_3k/w150-h200/IMG_2730.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petit Champlain <br />neighborhood</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The cobblestone streets, crowded sidewalks and bad touristy restaurants of Petit Champlain countered the quaint architecture of that section for me as well.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"></span></span></p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5n0c6CNluT_K9Mmt6fIjdo9yS0O6lXP1QNDaHCJgsI9J1UVK-LZcDR3d-8jul3bTmTynl6kD-J-FdZRKQH92sUZP5kNQ1r_kt8SOWdiVmt2vOx-KbwA0XYGJLPYcxACGteOvDTz8Qk79htdrRWC8pQgioQlODmfspftnZFsVUQo2_ksjW0Ie4Bs49UA/s1280/IMG_2776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1280" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5n0c6CNluT_K9Mmt6fIjdo9yS0O6lXP1QNDaHCJgsI9J1UVK-LZcDR3d-8jul3bTmTynl6kD-J-FdZRKQH92sUZP5kNQ1r_kt8SOWdiVmt2vOx-KbwA0XYGJLPYcxACGteOvDTz8Qk79htdrRWC8pQgioQlODmfspftnZFsVUQo2_ksjW0Ie4Bs49UA/w200-h186/IMG_2776.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small musical stage in<br />Old Town for<br />Fest D’ete</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Coincidentally, we happened to be there during the annual two-week <a href="https://www.feq.ca/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fest D’ete</a>, a multi-stage music festival that brings in big name entertainers and large crowds. We watched one free concert and enjoyed the atmosphere, but tried to avoid the crowds. Regrettably, we missed the <a href="http://Www.mcq.org/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Museum of Civilization</a>, which appeared to be interesting and accessible. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"></span></p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1duag9jLHVny0JwG859N3tX2lzCcvF3VEqV8hYNn0V9i52ObJIoXMKjcZ65Jb_y2uZGaeZ6sPXKEqLsmYERazZPPaDKI04Gw7W9Q_YnUZNcfGrZE3YiUdIA_3Epw2SK-PPWAqrE3No6FKR320xatwx9UDfFFClyNKuOkXy8a3eJzr_VG43reiF26JJR0/s1280/IMG_2705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1duag9jLHVny0JwG859N3tX2lzCcvF3VEqV8hYNn0V9i52ObJIoXMKjcZ65Jb_y2uZGaeZ6sPXKEqLsmYERazZPPaDKI04Gw7W9Q_YnUZNcfGrZE3YiUdIA_3Epw2SK-PPWAqrE3No6FKR320xatwx9UDfFFClyNKuOkXy8a3eJzr_VG43reiF26JJR0/w200-h150/IMG_2705.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chateau Frontenac</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We met friends at the 1608 bar in the Chateau Frontenac in the Old Town. The hotel is a symbol of Quebec, so visiting it is kind of mandatory, and the hotel bar is accessible, but crowded. There is a ramp to get into the hotel and the women’s restroom has a large wheelchair-accessible stall.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"></span></span></p><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUG-C_2zVYe2Zx_lkTPLhZ0PoSdADlWBho3v0rjpeIIHn112r3P4pco4i-L9ZdPThxaJ1ex3psZCcgptyPbqgyFu6NffPTnAQl01ra54EwqQB6WyNhwK8zT5GscojRdDNS0RjZoFlJyeufrRa_fJXJRBhGnE8ntnXFZkF6fbhoeEbmRY5vvGsHvR4HACU/s1280/IMG_0750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1280" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUG-C_2zVYe2Zx_lkTPLhZ0PoSdADlWBho3v0rjpeIIHn112r3P4pco4i-L9ZdPThxaJ1ex3psZCcgptyPbqgyFu6NffPTnAQl01ra54EwqQB6WyNhwK8zT5GscojRdDNS0RjZoFlJyeufrRa_fJXJRBhGnE8ntnXFZkF6fbhoeEbmRY5vvGsHvR4HACU/w200-h139/IMG_0750.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Town skyline from<br />Levis waterfront at sunset</td></tr></tbody></table>One of my favorite activities was actually not in Quebec City itself. From the harbor on the Quebec waterfront, we took a ferry across the St Lawrence River to the town of <a href="https://www.ville.levis.qc.ca/loisirs/installations-sportives/quai-paquet/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Levis</a> in the evening. The Levi waterfront offers a stunning view of Old Town Quebec and its skyline. It seemed like an entire town was out, gathering at the waterfront park to enjoy the sunset, the views, the 160 water jets, the nightly sound and light show, and the big chairs.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFYCn3DLE9wcFM6eeH2Aa8XEOLKj2UQymqQkp0kJaQfvAh3oEUUdcl0LAR15xO0DCtSftae40u-UxWmIt-C_LsxuCvaehzrVPYrKtpAs-u85HR0kWlyLSzQ64YVgPbmkSQa5BAObqEOslZPggerX4oa55ZTLEmI6UJOH9Igdcw9hAUoQ4UqaCUDk7ay8/s1280/IMG_2809.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1280" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFYCn3DLE9wcFM6eeH2Aa8XEOLKj2UQymqQkp0kJaQfvAh3oEUUdcl0LAR15xO0DCtSftae40u-UxWmIt-C_LsxuCvaehzrVPYrKtpAs-u85HR0kWlyLSzQ64YVgPbmkSQa5BAObqEOslZPggerX4oa55ZTLEmI6UJOH9Igdcw9hAUoQ4UqaCUDk7ay8/w200-h151/IMG_2809.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montmorency Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="color: #222222;">We also spent an enjoyable afternoon outside of the city at <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/destinations/parc-chute-montmorency/index.dot?language_id=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Montmorency Falls</a>, which tumble 272 feet into the a bay on the west side of the St Lawrence River, north of the city. If you ca</span><span style="font-family: Times;">n ignore the carnival-like atmosphere and the crowds, you can get a wonderful view of the falls and a roll over a high suspension bridge at the top of the falls You pay for parking at the top (although I’ve heard of people parking for free higher up) and extra for tickets to ride the cable car, experience a via Ferrara course, and ride a zip line. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH0kEZ3jJzk5y-JkDxOIogeFHDW4GKmWjj7DumfgA_mkv7XYCt4-3MTfoG4obv8muCPqq5yhNpbRr4p8svOTx97btFeoeLZlHC7UtvN9k18F_OdlswQ_mYjSXCsyW2UpiQDo-S_sZDz-_nhnoWBxvNeqbXoWB9d-TovOb5Y4eY_OFgb8BqZlZAz27uHM/s1280/IMG_2795.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1101" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH0kEZ3jJzk5y-JkDxOIogeFHDW4GKmWjj7DumfgA_mkv7XYCt4-3MTfoG4obv8muCPqq5yhNpbRr4p8svOTx97btFeoeLZlHC7UtvN9k18F_OdlswQ_mYjSXCsyW2UpiQDo-S_sZDz-_nhnoWBxvNeqbXoWB9d-TovOb5Y4eY_OFgb8BqZlZAz27uHM/w172-h200/IMG_2795.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><br />Once in the park, however, you can view the falls from the (accessible) suspension bridge (wheelchairs should approach the bridge by going behind the back of the main building and then going down a gravel/dirt path for a bit). At the lower end of the falls, is a 3 mile out-and-back <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/quebec/parc-de-la-chute-montmorency--2?u=i" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wheelchair-accessible boardwalk.</a></span><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQrvORpEIaR24EZ5tJTxvXYsYRN3SFg2zkd-lh_cW5fVzlYRhqEZcZA34Secs2f9y3-ux_sA0sXtfT1bHMtEmngdB1gycMx4aN53Tx8AoCkZNabF4Boj3yj4vZFi4T0xRRZ0PwLJw5fNPM3HcPqbEGTAfz7_5iacsgXEI8G1Ni2B4tleI01NXO3SzENc/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-27%20at%206.35.33%20PM.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="632" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQrvORpEIaR24EZ5tJTxvXYsYRN3SFg2zkd-lh_cW5fVzlYRhqEZcZA34Secs2f9y3-ux_sA0sXtfT1bHMtEmngdB1gycMx4aN53Tx8AoCkZNabF4Boj3yj4vZFi4T0xRRZ0PwLJw5fNPM3HcPqbEGTAfz7_5iacsgXEI8G1Ni2B4tleI01NXO3SzENc/w99-h200/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-27%20at%206.35.33%20PM.jpg" width="99" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br />One of my persistent memories of Quebec City is the crosswalk buttons; I never did figure them out. Next time (and I hope there will be a next time), I want to understand the crosswalks and to visit the Museum of Civilization, and the Ile d’Orleans. And, of course, I want to eat more croissants, strawberries, and cheese.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times;">Next stop Montreal…</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" class="cf adz" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; table-layout: fixed; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 864px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ady" style="align-items: center; display: flex; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; text-overflow: ellipsis;"><div aria-haspopup="true" aria-label="Show details" class="ajy" data-tooltip="Show details" id=":7o" role="button" style="align-items: center; border: medium; display: inline-flex; justify-content: center; margin-left: 4px; outline: currentcolor; position: relative; vertical-align: top; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-78117976163066454152023-07-26T11:58:00.002-07:002023-07-26T16:38:51.069-07:00Road Trip with a Wheelchair: St Lawrence River <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8T0nsZ2ZRyYulE2uVQrLoFpt4N8c5B6olyZxO-b9A5ksudYRYfvWrAMruRsekFmBkmKED4t_0LIt1gxKb9zGks0lnF5i0q8tmHEDY8WgxC7p95N7kR3q9ugy1ixT56aL_CwTMqm6-Jfl72aapJaMoxjCB_CCr5Yg2eP_biqSYtj9pQ-G-wZQkne_MRo/s774/IMG_0862.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="774" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8T0nsZ2ZRyYulE2uVQrLoFpt4N8c5B6olyZxO-b9A5ksudYRYfvWrAMruRsekFmBkmKED4t_0LIt1gxKb9zGks0lnF5i0q8tmHEDY8WgxC7p95N7kR3q9ugy1ixT56aL_CwTMqm6-Jfl72aapJaMoxjCB_CCr5Yg2eP_biqSYtj9pQ-G-wZQkne_MRo/w400-h131/IMG_0862.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Lawrence River<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>I grew up in the middle of the North American continent; yet one of my most indelible childhood memories is watching the ocean-liners from around the world sail under the St Louis Bridge. Thanks to the St Lawrence Seaway, Duluth, Minnesota became a sea port, with ocean-going cargo ships from ports as far away as Europe and Asia. These behemoths could enter the St Lawrence River from the Atlantic Ocean, and then traverse the waterways, canals, and locks of the Great Lakes. Even though the majority of these ships today seem to be "lakers" that remain on the fresh water of the Great Lakes, there are still some "salties," that sail the length of the St Lawrence and out the gulf to the ocean beyond. At any rate, after centuries of dreaming about it and decades of building it, the St Lawrence connects the middle of the continent to the rest of the world. So, it was with both anticipation and nostalgia that one the "points" of the road trip was to follow the St Lawrence River from its mouth, where it mixes with the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of St Lawrence, to its source in Kingston, Ontario, where it flow out of Lake Ontario.</p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldSliRSmWVnG9ryLXNn6fjCG9xJZMYGnlNywZqQ930LBDnufCM3EAQxj4DHz37sW95EqwwvW9tyviQB9wJTNSzp18b45lE_dPckfLWM0G6b7KChDvKTI7fpC3qfFETyjxVjqTE7n6_35XlWdKbVf9jv-W4x1CL2r4ulIEZT7CdZ28V-pVw_2Bx1krgf4/s1280/IMG_2673.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1280" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldSliRSmWVnG9ryLXNn6fjCG9xJZMYGnlNywZqQ930LBDnufCM3EAQxj4DHz37sW95EqwwvW9tyviQB9wJTNSzp18b45lE_dPckfLWM0G6b7KChDvKTI7fpC3qfFETyjxVjqTE7n6_35XlWdKbVf9jv-W4x1CL2r4ulIEZT7CdZ28V-pVw_2Bx1krgf4/w200-h127/IMG_2673.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cap des Rosiers lighthouse<br />and the mouth of the<br />St Lawrence River</td></tr></tbody></table>At the north end of Forillon National Park (<a href="https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/qc/forillon/visit/accessibilite-accessibility">https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/qc/forillon/visit/accessibilite-accessibility</a>), the wheelchair-accessible trail, Sentier du Banc (<a href="https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/qc/forillon/visit/accessibilite-accessibility/sentier-du-banc">https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/qc/forillon/visit/accessibilite-accessibility/sentier-du-banc</a>), runs 2km along the coast from the visitors center to the Cap des Rosiers lighthouse. The location of the lighthouse can be considered the mouth of the St Lawrence River.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5Swue6fGauHW4vsbustL_xCDyIR7nQ1XCnll8dOEFFl4k22YouDKJh4JjOwqjAWj0QuQZbgdFtDMRiZCJJJwGUarPSgmT8kkPPyj7X29wfGhpLDIA6xeiGj65l_ZnxCvdToC5UsGoEdo-4nGRsz-SsGHyYU2XenV2WAXsj8Unfz5NiWMAMIPuLzeQtc/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-30%20at%2011.13.55%20PM%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1280" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5Swue6fGauHW4vsbustL_xCDyIR7nQ1XCnll8dOEFFl4k22YouDKJh4JjOwqjAWj0QuQZbgdFtDMRiZCJJJwGUarPSgmT8kkPPyj7X29wfGhpLDIA6xeiGj65l_ZnxCvdToC5UsGoEdo-4nGRsz-SsGHyYU2XenV2WAXsj8Unfz5NiWMAMIPuLzeQtc/w200-h120/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-30%20at%2011.13.55%20PM%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Lawrence River,<br />N Gaspe Peninsula, <br />Quebec<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>This cape, where the river empties out into the Gulf of St Lawrence in the Atlantic Ocean, has been witness to numerous shipwrecks. Widening to 62 miles across near the mouth, we couldn't even see the other side, and this northeast section of the river felt more like an ocean. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMthAGYtXYcrkGW348QFJ5y_A4y-gObIlF8GiLTs3zgRkwaIj6Wp-L5di-ECNu-exUbuWH20dKUidck5DG4zFUnlBu0iOATNQiiKvc6JtKp-J9vztZWGSg3nSuKkdw7WfOqpln09qGHXksUwEZGDNzRbR0-jHPDxv7Jn_TwPe-bAWdlVvn21ZtAoCiik/s1280/IMG_0678.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMthAGYtXYcrkGW348QFJ5y_A4y-gObIlF8GiLTs3zgRkwaIj6Wp-L5di-ECNu-exUbuWH20dKUidck5DG4zFUnlBu0iOATNQiiKvc6JtKp-J9vztZWGSg3nSuKkdw7WfOqpln09qGHXksUwEZGDNzRbR0-jHPDxv7Jn_TwPe-bAWdlVvn21ZtAoCiik/w200-h150/IMG_0678.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike trail along<br />St Lawrence River</td></tr></tbody></table>We spent over a day driving west to Quebec City along the north coast of the Gaspe Peninsula, following the St. Lawrence River. The road was accompanied by bicycle paths with frequent municipal rest stops offering views of the water, picnic tables, and access to rocky beaches. Near the river's mouth, the landscape was similar to that of the Atlantic coast -- starkly beautiful and isolated. It was a challenge to find an accessible motel, and we ended up staying at our most inaccessible room of the trip (though planning ahead may have allowed us to find one). As we approached Quebec City, the river narrowed, and the landscape became more urban.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Quebec City and Montreal are indeed part of the St Lawrence River experience, but since there is so much in each, they each get a whole separate blog post.</p><p><br /></p><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw14DRC8EXrjrabvj4DccyoLvQ5FwBFuZXfvtQgeBb9H7eLK1EETknnjR7IZ0t7qyQDY1aqildQ08zYvtfDW6TdafWiwhOJmp1i66AKdaOFjLp0F937cB80gFDTgLYfNxo_2A-mnbdTo8c6EFAyEpMItRvTSIAKsfcd4TTgV-BaQkLAl5RL4IR_YeYA78/s1280/IMG_2763.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1280" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw14DRC8EXrjrabvj4DccyoLvQ5FwBFuZXfvtQgeBb9H7eLK1EETknnjR7IZ0t7qyQDY1aqildQ08zYvtfDW6TdafWiwhOJmp1i66AKdaOFjLp0F937cB80gFDTgLYfNxo_2A-mnbdTo8c6EFAyEpMItRvTSIAKsfcd4TTgV-BaQkLAl5RL4IR_YeYA78/w200-h136/IMG_2763.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ile d'Orleans strawberries<br />in Quebec City<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>In the middle of the river, just north of Quebec City, is the Ile d'Orleans (Orleans Island). I'm sure there are numerous travel guides about the multitude of wonderful destinations on the island; however, I know it for one very important reason: the island is the source of strawberries by the same name, equal in taste to the amazing Hood strawberries of western Oregon, and they were at the height of their season in mid-July 2022, which is when I happened to be in Quebec. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuBX6ObZ2d9bxLG_EhhpCFIemtgv8wrFx5vtcOnz-stJ3HYFokNLG3y2TvBKRKXi6UodrjIT4VJbPbWs7-n2NesJsaZampu2U_dWO7gVwFK4PnCOvMLDp_xK8mSNBiXd0ulOHehV3a2sjIqMhW6gx9OxiqN6NUY3FmYl6fzazNtmhm3Hys-f9rqZNefE/s1280/IMG_2736.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1280" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuBX6ObZ2d9bxLG_EhhpCFIemtgv8wrFx5vtcOnz-stJ3HYFokNLG3y2TvBKRKXi6UodrjIT4VJbPbWs7-n2NesJsaZampu2U_dWO7gVwFK4PnCOvMLDp_xK8mSNBiXd0ulOHehV3a2sjIqMhW6gx9OxiqN6NUY3FmYl6fzazNtmhm3Hys-f9rqZNefE/w200-h107/IMG_2736.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Boulangerie Pâtisserie <br />Le Croquembouche<br />in Quebec City</span></td></tr></tbody></table>We didn’t have time to explore this pastoral island, but we often enjoyed the fruits (literally!) of its harvest. And we loaded up on Quebec produce before leaving to continue following the St Lawrence River to Montreal: bread, croissants, and coffee at <a href="https://www.lecroquembouche.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Boulangerie Pâtisserie Le Croquembouche</a> in St Rochelle, (accessible) and Ile d’Orleans strawberries and tomatoes at Tradition Marche on Rue St Joseph in St Rochelle (also accessible). <br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiNYPU0eWW8j4tldNzGqj-RiJSWzHEY8oaerJQXNNnkiLgvZF30JA6c2iqAgudTlSwWMYfRgwSGrMChgB4GVZdjapWomv16qZtTaxgMGwEGtaEaCK1MRGf2reqrIj_DdzeJggGkWMA-1WnXKdrrW4iOAv4AtIAUiK02BN7CCIfnwvShzC3eZ-DDqPX70/s1280/IMG_2731.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1280" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiNYPU0eWW8j4tldNzGqj-RiJSWzHEY8oaerJQXNNnkiLgvZF30JA6c2iqAgudTlSwWMYfRgwSGrMChgB4GVZdjapWomv16qZtTaxgMGwEGtaEaCK1MRGf2reqrIj_DdzeJggGkWMA-1WnXKdrrW4iOAv4AtIAUiK02BN7CCIfnwvShzC3eZ-DDqPX70/w200-h117/IMG_2731.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />For about 3 hours, we followed the St Lawrence River from Quebec City to Montreal, where the narrower river (still wide, for a river) seemed to be another road for transport.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-Za2cXSY42QWemlV49eU89alsG344JquAwCJhEWzY_dYhpfO8G0yzvaHNvepmcDvx4sXGDXMtQeH1DdJPwO90lxVHKYOO8_qacHT3JXnOJYkuJAfvNl991zyINqCznKdKJ5J8OuCoYXSail5nTcCPjHmTR1q3nwwovZ8kVV5r31GkZLZOtlLGQRLH9o/s1280/IMG_2841.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-Za2cXSY42QWemlV49eU89alsG344JquAwCJhEWzY_dYhpfO8G0yzvaHNvepmcDvx4sXGDXMtQeH1DdJPwO90lxVHKYOO8_qacHT3JXnOJYkuJAfvNl991zyINqCznKdKJ5J8OuCoYXSail5nTcCPjHmTR1q3nwwovZ8kVV5r31GkZLZOtlLGQRLH9o/w200-h150/IMG_2841.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portneuf Harbor trail--<br />(unpaved section)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />About 60 km southwest of Quebec City, we stumbled upon the town and harbor of Portneuf, and we got out of the car to try the accessible harbor trail. The trail, partially paved and partially surfaced with hard-packed stone, loops around the harbor near an accessible restaurant and on the river. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoVWinXKhNmiruxdSa1tNKF5tg9_k2VeWQA-YvW7JeMQkdI2_tFxTy9lR9nY7lSLqSGotBhVRZxS2nJubxdZ66T5pIHlINcZdbDhzK06NQYl7lqPk_VKoStm6EX_Zi9wZLhUUroY6kC7CfGsQ7Tfw_KoVKTDcxOUfkM6onnn5EClpN2aJEKOEQx7aumE/s1280/IMG_2854.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoVWinXKhNmiruxdSa1tNKF5tg9_k2VeWQA-YvW7JeMQkdI2_tFxTy9lR9nY7lSLqSGotBhVRZxS2nJubxdZ66T5pIHlINcZdbDhzK06NQYl7lqPk_VKoStm6EX_Zi9wZLhUUroY6kC7CfGsQ7Tfw_KoVKTDcxOUfkM6onnn5EClpN2aJEKOEQx7aumE/w200-h150/IMG_2854.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />The Portneuf harbor includes a boat ramp — a great way to wheel down to the river and test the temperature. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4Tx_ULTg2MrHKtbXmaNw5MxIK-6t25Mr4XNEi8L1sRSb_G8X_SpYMmqrSIDCunjdSTSChREdzArrMXGyIIyb8oS04bbZ7loe4JN4lsbc7JTFE-kWcKzSLtdeeetMehtefW9vm2AalpoV6VsnHGM3g4LEo2fcLPQJSyDEzTXhQf-kJaDMKsFjuSyoK0A/s1280/FYKU0276.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1280" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4Tx_ULTg2MrHKtbXmaNw5MxIK-6t25Mr4XNEi8L1sRSb_G8X_SpYMmqrSIDCunjdSTSChREdzArrMXGyIIyb8oS04bbZ7loe4JN4lsbc7JTFE-kWcKzSLtdeeetMehtefW9vm2AalpoV6VsnHGM3g4LEo2fcLPQJSyDEzTXhQf-kJaDMKsFjuSyoK0A/w200-h164/FYKU0276.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fromagerie du Grondines<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Another serendipitous find was the <a href=" https://auxterroirs.com/en/cheeses/portneuf/fromagerie-des-grondines/le-grondines" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cheese shop in Grondines</a>. It looked inaccessible, but they invited us to roll up the ramp to the delivery entrance. We were rewarded with a cabinet full of cheese with flavors I'd never heard of before. Luckily, the guy behind the counter had recommendations, and I will forever dream of the ones I ended up buying and trying,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYrnFBIDrHBltnFYJXoU_J4Ttyrdxe3-HmGT9Rl4B6AT_7Fe2oJt8aBDj_Fgt0YvsGM_YNVbcsSfwdawD79D2abPH65E7nGneTSWo9TCMbJ5KrSZRNcbvuKQ1K_MOYxY3V13z5WoHe0jt1HG1wruZ-xZphpxMWhtKbJp3Gq8bBWsZ-C9kCk2V6ZKhr5M/s1280/IMG_2891.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYrnFBIDrHBltnFYJXoU_J4Ttyrdxe3-HmGT9Rl4B6AT_7Fe2oJt8aBDj_Fgt0YvsGM_YNVbcsSfwdawD79D2abPH65E7nGneTSWo9TCMbJ5KrSZRNcbvuKQ1K_MOYxY3V13z5WoHe0jt1HG1wruZ-xZphpxMWhtKbJp3Gq8bBWsZ-C9kCk2V6ZKhr5M/w150-h200/IMG_2891.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ecological Park of<br />Anse du Port<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Before reaching Montreal, we stopped at the <a href=" https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/quebec/parc-de-l-anse-du-port--4?u=i" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ecological Park of Anse du Port</a> near Nicolet. The highlight of the park is a 3-mile accessible boardwalk loop through woods and over wetlands to a platform overlooking the spot where the River Nicolet flows into Lake St Pierre. There is also an accessible visitors center with an accessible restroom.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_NZcce2Y0m32F2-VzW2c3VOF0xITuAN0V_hLP7TFP01rz94W9Qzo_TkcfJ7gmM4fGO6R9BueQ3QtzCC6EHSa69cRGH94g5aalE8N2DKCGeYXPfg_blj0cb3K8jXMrCBHjsqRg8btyTYyeHha_vFOhHAXvzs63s7GMzjxctw59vkvBy_3OyMtk6zxe_E/s1280/EVOR6861.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_NZcce2Y0m32F2-VzW2c3VOF0xITuAN0V_hLP7TFP01rz94W9Qzo_TkcfJ7gmM4fGO6R9BueQ3QtzCC6EHSa69cRGH94g5aalE8N2DKCGeYXPfg_blj0cb3K8jXMrCBHjsqRg8btyTYyeHha_vFOhHAXvzs63s7GMzjxctw59vkvBy_3OyMtk6zxe_E/w200-h150/EVOR6861.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ecological Park of<br />Anse du Port</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-RtnVO4H74R-dAB4Y3FsQvFZ13ejK57mCXOt1ojmi-9Hknpa28Dh6vr6gEiA1PM-R_h2LH9VWN1J2qZqnaM9hWHz_HHtTHphOlt2cm5jMagygfaR6u6AwMoSb54Q_iiLDejUqz4yAwnuc4zHCncoSE5jQNid9sDzNTQeLHV5N41IGBxJyUxvtDeypqs/s1280/IMG_2890.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1280" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-RtnVO4H74R-dAB4Y3FsQvFZ13ejK57mCXOt1ojmi-9Hknpa28Dh6vr6gEiA1PM-R_h2LH9VWN1J2qZqnaM9hWHz_HHtTHphOlt2cm5jMagygfaR6u6AwMoSb54Q_iiLDejUqz4yAwnuc4zHCncoSE5jQNid9sDzNTQeLHV5N41IGBxJyUxvtDeypqs/w200-h142/IMG_2890.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail overlook:<br />Lake St Pierre</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: small; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration: underline;"></span><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmo5KVTzWPUiOyPl-PfKkMmFjBrp-Su0uiznTOpVqh7srpyetGS7RBj9nMkqZEwh1Fqezi9w8AA7xHeMkGHyS6c8KTR4fmPx9kYMlL1hBRyezhJDBoz-YgNS8TJ6wRPY_ERO_yGjZdC5Eb3pBbFOafxhVAyG61ZLftR_f99-e3h8hBisQopLSbt9i9LAc/s1280/IMG_1048.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1280" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmo5KVTzWPUiOyPl-PfKkMmFjBrp-Su0uiznTOpVqh7srpyetGS7RBj9nMkqZEwh1Fqezi9w8AA7xHeMkGHyS6c8KTR4fmPx9kYMlL1hBRyezhJDBoz-YgNS8TJ6wRPY_ERO_yGjZdC5Eb3pBbFOafxhVAyG61ZLftR_f99-e3h8hBisQopLSbt9i9LAc/w200-h111/IMG_1048.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div>After our time on the island of Montreal, we continued southwest up the St Lawrence River. After about 200 km, we entered the town and harbor of Brockville, ON. On another trip with more time, I would have stopped here, since the town looked historically and architecturally interesting, and the harbor seemed to have an accessible path around it. </div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3EknxNwsiqxXj8MaBzhwkqAdIB2OkNSnEmfZSaUKLHhgD-ea__uOrEZe3xa8p_uIuWVVrPRJNHDh2Mvy4WFPL1RlKlgzrdzfwahOibfwsbQ1qvSlZGtu4WPWWlBrcA-oTDMpnt3MP1-4WWTxtX2uDSVFQi2IMrn1unfndQ2xAqZIXuarxGZM2y1nJe4/s1280/IMG_3113.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="1280" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3EknxNwsiqxXj8MaBzhwkqAdIB2OkNSnEmfZSaUKLHhgD-ea__uOrEZe3xa8p_uIuWVVrPRJNHDh2Mvy4WFPL1RlKlgzrdzfwahOibfwsbQ1qvSlZGtu4WPWWlBrcA-oTDMpnt3MP1-4WWTxtX2uDSVFQi2IMrn1unfndQ2xAqZIXuarxGZM2y1nJe4/w200-h103/IMG_3113.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 of 1000 Islands</td></tr></tbody></table><br />From there, one could board boats offering tours of the 1000-Islands region, with its castles and vacation mansions. I think every rock was counted as an island in order to reach the lofty title of this historic vacation-land. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZE5fVLTjHGyJBGGOM5U3iNdm-P04mbd8FteDxngM3Gp8_jOQVsvRM_Rz7lU9lpFCMvGO1PjnkUbpI3y8Wk2m8DMNE8qlzLbKQgt-3qbzreQb1hKDoF_8kAnzOaF1UX4eOwrLBYrC53AEMdMJ-KbLDZbrWKmn9dRayYbzc0DW4S5eXshnUXybKBCeGFc/s1280/IMG_3102.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1280" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZE5fVLTjHGyJBGGOM5U3iNdm-P04mbd8FteDxngM3Gp8_jOQVsvRM_Rz7lU9lpFCMvGO1PjnkUbpI3y8Wk2m8DMNE8qlzLbKQgt-3qbzreQb1hKDoF_8kAnzOaF1UX4eOwrLBYrC53AEMdMJ-KbLDZbrWKmn9dRayYbzc0DW4S5eXshnUXybKBCeGFc/w200-h143/IMG_3102.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Along the way, we passed huge cargo ships headed to the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean, plying their way through the river and locks, <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDh_MjdDEJg6yKLiuAHV3ZNpHo5SHnuPjI9rKQU-vIqd_fZZsbuETMfR7jOnCo2-NNIyZLpFU3WUnoGg8p5XWH2LxNBvWpm5uNHEEtXdiXoY4hDPtlGBG1NIf7onU1nZkob_qFKC9G5rVmGJ_Tvns0bTZH_jBfA-j-tiPNXoxiODaDIjM8xeNfbNsiXg/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-27%20at%206.52.18%20PM.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1280" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDh_MjdDEJg6yKLiuAHV3ZNpHo5SHnuPjI9rKQU-vIqd_fZZsbuETMfR7jOnCo2-NNIyZLpFU3WUnoGg8p5XWH2LxNBvWpm5uNHEEtXdiXoY4hDPtlGBG1NIf7onU1nZkob_qFKC9G5rVmGJ_Tvns0bTZH_jBfA-j-tiPNXoxiODaDIjM8xeNfbNsiXg/w200-h136/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-27%20at%206.52.18%20PM.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Ontario -- source of<br />St Lawrence River</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />After about 3 hours, we reached Kingston, ON and Lake Ontario — the source of the St Lawrence River. With our usual Mario Andretti driving to catch the sunset, we were able to use some of the paved trails along the edge of the lake to watch the setting sun.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The trip continues: Northern Ontario by Lake Ontario and Lake Huron</p><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-35223890051488981492023-07-12T16:59:00.011-07:002023-07-21T15:45:10.328-07:00Road Trip with a Wheelchair: East Coast & Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEEfcGVWv7-Wtvd2Y4qdsiYONs0Dc2TqX09bIdbkFFxNvNW9X2byQkBWKO6Ah1NQjgVGRrg0iCUjCyI6Lw7vY4q0CNgNDWEXgc6b81D6f_gKxmWH20vM-OA7dpWZmetwKjb4fTiEhyHdHX8aYeVp2lOBvniHfv5CzqquVP7iDqyXnwm7wUB76bsbIanA/s1280/IMG_2599.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEEfcGVWv7-Wtvd2Y4qdsiYONs0Dc2TqX09bIdbkFFxNvNW9X2byQkBWKO6Ah1NQjgVGRrg0iCUjCyI6Lw7vY4q0CNgNDWEXgc6b81D6f_gKxmWH20vM-OA7dpWZmetwKjb4fTiEhyHdHX8aYeVp2lOBvniHfv5CzqquVP7iDqyXnwm7wUB76bsbIanA/w150-h200/IMG_2599.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Having already driven the Prius to the northernmost point in the contiguous USA (the Northwest Angle in the chimney of Minnesota), it seemed obvious that this trip should be expanded a little to incorporate two similar destinations: the easternmost and westernmost points of the contiguous USA. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKao6St_HOvA6Tf41TpnLiJ8Axgnsy2as1LUswZjJJAYiOSHQKeCMvKHRIRI5ax6DMvE1ZH6H9GZSTfchqMLymxYHczdT4L4w8mcq9naTJDPFX6bUyJmnw4iPY_3XgG3YkukxYe5eTlEULfngbzV7hRIk6eQSYOCzUqzhlKY6yGRGr7TFQh-gIK5TV4JA/s1280/ICVP5231.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKao6St_HOvA6Tf41TpnLiJ8Axgnsy2as1LUswZjJJAYiOSHQKeCMvKHRIRI5ax6DMvE1ZH6H9GZSTfchqMLymxYHczdT4L4w8mcq9naTJDPFX6bUyJmnw4iPY_3XgG3YkukxYe5eTlEULfngbzV7hRIk6eQSYOCzUqzhlKY6yGRGr7TFQh-gIK5TV4JA/w200-h150/ICVP5231.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic Ocean at <br />Stonington Point, CT</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The beginning of our trip was a mad dash across the country, as we couldn’t leave Washington until the car was serviced, while we needed to be in Connecticut for a reunion a few days later. With the exception of a few stops, we drove straight through, making it from Seattle, WA to Stonington, CT in less than 5 days. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfI2zGF4xMG6f5IaGPOnJIv7R1M8GHGedMzaPS9-zosDnbMhSSHCLLZ7QQ-4z2RYrVN-u6so6xMnBCBA9LO2vD7xUuPEmIA__QKHdr35Ue6k6xp15L2ntL6biCEEpMij7H0t2WXAWlwnZEIl6G-Czx7nX14_oviIqUR2pTQCj5NnVYqw2Hb7Ryv0neAQ/s1280/IMG_0382%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfI2zGF4xMG6f5IaGPOnJIv7R1M8GHGedMzaPS9-zosDnbMhSSHCLLZ7QQ-4z2RYrVN-u6so6xMnBCBA9LO2vD7xUuPEmIA__QKHdr35Ue6k6xp15L2ntL6biCEEpMij7H0t2WXAWlwnZEIl6G-Czx7nX14_oviIqUR2pTQCj5NnVYqw2Hb7Ryv0neAQ/w200-h150/IMG_0382%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Quoddy Head, ME <br />(the easternmost point in the <br />contiguous USA)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />After the reunion and a brief meeting with more relatives, we headed north and a bit more east to the easternmost point in the contiguous USA –West Quoddy Head, ME. Racing the sun, we made it in time for sunset and a short amble around the lighthouse before the ranger kicked us out.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloX1JHtknfsdPUP_9LxvbIV1VQg1Bjw2gvzRkJjSDQL0NNEBgH_DQCz04bPLGkejCx2gN8CDS2isp357Z4alYHJBNr_ZeMKjuSpbByHq0u8G8hLL2Qu9EHCvvzqw-Rsb9EvrB-f1gCXLNxmA9wUMhEmc-XoUuSgR9Jg3PHi__Y8TdEUquyHWaI29gEFU/s1280/IMG_0454.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1280" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloX1JHtknfsdPUP_9LxvbIV1VQg1Bjw2gvzRkJjSDQL0NNEBgH_DQCz04bPLGkejCx2gN8CDS2isp357Z4alYHJBNr_ZeMKjuSpbByHq0u8G8hLL2Qu9EHCvvzqw-Rsb9EvrB-f1gCXLNxmA9wUMhEmc-XoUuSgR9Jg3PHi__Y8TdEUquyHWaI29gEFU/w200-h128/IMG_0454.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Brunswick <br />moose warning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />In the dark, we continued driving north to the border town of Calais, ME, from which we crossed into Canada the next day, following dirt roads and highways to the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8gtRXWg2ZUTZe5EBHOuL7_9VV-iQRcVW6doIt96HeN-qWGs4F7B5U-Td1pLiB4PkBKvL93Ave2JtY2LjlUlrrWUZu4wEgs_t9aCF4XD_d_omh66oVVAFhNsPpWlV3YPA6BzfrTIKKD-hjfrORMLZd4tW9c3ZQRrvlVBug2tEkKBqGF0b1JRycYpDoe0/s1280/IMG_2573.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1280" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8gtRXWg2ZUTZe5EBHOuL7_9VV-iQRcVW6doIt96HeN-qWGs4F7B5U-Td1pLiB4PkBKvL93Ave2JtY2LjlUlrrWUZu4wEgs_t9aCF4XD_d_omh66oVVAFhNsPpWlV3YPA6BzfrTIKKD-hjfrORMLZd4tW9c3ZQRrvlVBug2tEkKBqGF0b1JRycYpDoe0/w200-h165/IMG_2573.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabin in the heart of the<br />Gapse Peninsula<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />After a few days of respite and laundry at a remote river cabin in the middle of the peninsula, we headed even further east toward the Canadian Atlantic coast on the Gaspe Peninsula.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7QkyFbCRiH7Cy08OuS2HcfEjwCHQ4pErnYK5V_Q5zir9wUqIYJSBHCBFCZne6Sn4dAjWDfmGCfC-9k5FFtoBrnVhm4Gwq7NBBwhAXVkpbTKPNqlFzH1i7g-sPiHvdzTN01aHR0dHwbguBTqgYO_-4JYqp3qXoDvU0qOkAlcVricwu743EZwZN42KGW0/s1280/IMG_0574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1280" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7QkyFbCRiH7Cy08OuS2HcfEjwCHQ4pErnYK5V_Q5zir9wUqIYJSBHCBFCZne6Sn4dAjWDfmGCfC-9k5FFtoBrnVhm4Gwq7NBBwhAXVkpbTKPNqlFzH1i7g-sPiHvdzTN01aHR0dHwbguBTqgYO_-4JYqp3qXoDvU0qOkAlcVricwu743EZwZN42KGW0/w320-h237/IMG_0574.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perce Rock off of the Gaspe Peninsula</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOvyuCcd8zkJO5SD-iWVcwUJcQwCv0Z7ruAGNsP4WtZNByIxvWKWyPGXCrTLlo5FGz2t373PIJ5RHe3es19QztI7wB_st3-vNdjD8lIJf-U7HzsJI58Ioj3krk2QVKiGmsyRCzwwimLhPVh8iB2TZ7ViNC7qtNLDIB86_xgNRf0Tji7eOrjxx3SLRLZc/s1280/IMG_0674.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1280" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOvyuCcd8zkJO5SD-iWVcwUJcQwCv0Z7ruAGNsP4WtZNByIxvWKWyPGXCrTLlo5FGz2t373PIJ5RHe3es19QztI7wB_st3-vNdjD8lIJf-U7HzsJI58Ioj3krk2QVKiGmsyRCzwwimLhPVh8iB2TZ7ViNC7qtNLDIB86_xgNRf0Tji7eOrjxx3SLRLZc/w200-h149/IMG_0674.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In the summer season, the coast of the Gaspe teems with tourists swarming through cute little tourist town and beaches. In the winter, I imagine, the Gaspe is more like the forlorn and desolate, backdrop described by Louise Penny and Inspector Gamache. Luckily, we were there in July! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuB3vIsf7r7Qx8UnMcVs46vLA8NqYxz16sk34PRaUHmLGNUOVORmmEV-7CcPtzkU-7DGqt0BvBQ0O0cN222xvTvTdEo9XqtcvdGKC6m7K1jnhdtqDWgINyxMFjdmAsPbBAMgXl-uRgeYJ8gxU68JC6pabpiE2iWkRX2QHGzyy5tN05NMYM4XaVW6YXfE/s1280/IMG_0568.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuB3vIsf7r7Qx8UnMcVs46vLA8NqYxz16sk34PRaUHmLGNUOVORmmEV-7CcPtzkU-7DGqt0BvBQ0O0cN222xvTvTdEo9XqtcvdGKC6m7K1jnhdtqDWgINyxMFjdmAsPbBAMgXl-uRgeYJ8gxU68JC6pabpiE2iWkRX2QHGzyy5tN05NMYM4XaVW6YXfE/w200-h150/IMG_0568.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Either time, visitors are rewarded with stunning coastal and ocean views, and cyclists (and wheelchair users) can ride on paved bike lanes along and on the side of the highway with regularly spaced rest stops boasting views and picnic tables. We had a difficult time finding a cheap motel that was at all accessible (maybe a higher price range or more advanced planning would help?).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqp0T46q5j49QnB0lK3O-RBW_wuXOQ1sV4VUaS2UkOecA2SD2QeZ42c6FBsvSJh04q1MYN3WHqM-Sn0L4jTwL8LnAXB_7S_IcgonhnrhZVStyasyzfYvBc5gsQH3NQcTJ0aKYIvOyg7wJ-vDjaLjSMsVfLeRKc6rLwwfF8ymTHEwJ4NMnkXNryiDYYxc/s1280/IMG_2596.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="1280" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqp0T46q5j49QnB0lK3O-RBW_wuXOQ1sV4VUaS2UkOecA2SD2QeZ42c6FBsvSJh04q1MYN3WHqM-Sn0L4jTwL8LnAXB_7S_IcgonhnrhZVStyasyzfYvBc5gsQH3NQcTJ0aKYIvOyg7wJ-vDjaLjSMsVfLeRKc6rLwwfF8ymTHEwJ4NMnkXNryiDYYxc/w200-h159/IMG_2596.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Mie Veritable<br />Boulangerie-Patisserie<br />in Carleton-sur-Mer</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On the way, we passed the small town of Carleton-sur-Mer – a Francophone town with steepled churches, bike paths and bikes. Most importantly, we visited the first boulangerie-patisserie of the trip -- Boulangerie La Mie Veritable (sadly, up a series of steps, so Ted had to bring me my pastries). We were in town only a short while, but I left convinced that I wanted to return (in summer months and with an able-bodied person who could climb those patisserie steps!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb1sGhbFcSFr4-2p-zJCjU44_NIjZQ661vY2Mo6wYMu6KxKwD5purN-koUkFlXCuXGpl8Tf76nl9ehAzEX3mtPKkyQuCsaNqZ9rTGmaHq65P7j_jFsgI3ekDrTzXhyvkknEvcYJEvvoIqpQIz8a4Ze2CoJjYrYo3ERUx0ey3IWrQH3wVYLfxMx1n2BK4/s1280/IMG_0510.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb1sGhbFcSFr4-2p-zJCjU44_NIjZQ661vY2Mo6wYMu6KxKwD5purN-koUkFlXCuXGpl8Tf76nl9ehAzEX3mtPKkyQuCsaNqZ9rTGmaHq65P7j_jFsgI3ekDrTzXhyvkknEvcYJEvvoIqpQIz8a4Ze2CoJjYrYo3ERUx0ey3IWrQH3wVYLfxMx1n2BK4/w200-h150/IMG_0510.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking trails at <br />Pointe Tracadigash <br />outside of<br />Carleton-sur-Mer</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />A breakwater and a sandy spit out to Pointe Tracadigash leave the mainland next to the town. Before leaving, we drove out the spit to the point, alongside a paved bike path and beaches and past a campground, with accessible restrooms and a ramped dining cabin. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgVuNtWLnd5Akjh5dwsla_d5yVaZvjgDNrx_QGXvMPKwrC8lZw0q4WhDOz4b1VU5EWQ6UABYDNfbMvoK4vKWp6yTN85kBZdCWG63iFIVvI_-ImIaKLkqFESLQoFQiDmGBu_FG3SiAKyZuyThySLIuvI4Bqx3nkXQ800kEvcCWPppTHiJ5kgp8C8KqqgI/s1280/IMG_2607.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgVuNtWLnd5Akjh5dwsla_d5yVaZvjgDNrx_QGXvMPKwrC8lZw0q4WhDOz4b1VU5EWQ6UABYDNfbMvoK4vKWp6yTN85kBZdCWG63iFIVvI_-ImIaKLkqFESLQoFQiDmGBu_FG3SiAKyZuyThySLIuvI4Bqx3nkXQ800kEvcCWPppTHiJ5kgp8C8KqqgI/w200-h150/IMG_2607.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking trails at <br />Pointe Tracadigash<br />outside of<br />Carleton-sur-Mer<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div>We consumed our first Quebecois croissants at the beach, traveling on trails that were very well maintained and accessible in and near the campground to trails that were not so well maintained but still accessible further out and up until the beach. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_m_p4-BU4fQ157o3ScALkSux5U9uYG2zUnB-ahqrc2ts_nE8yay2QRt5uVeexPK_c5U6ykSk-DjMoYRBE_MIkEoW_i-xhNHuoGa9wPUBEM9E4NH83I4I8UDIoM92uWkKmShEne-AKNOhKYzelVqRnYAQmB80Uar3pomxaBiqvARnF46YLWM52mJr_yQ/s1280/IMG_2639.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_m_p4-BU4fQ157o3ScALkSux5U9uYG2zUnB-ahqrc2ts_nE8yay2QRt5uVeexPK_c5U6ykSk-DjMoYRBE_MIkEoW_i-xhNHuoGa9wPUBEM9E4NH83I4I8UDIoM92uWkKmShEne-AKNOhKYzelVqRnYAQmB80Uar3pomxaBiqvARnF46YLWM52mJr_yQ/w200-h150/IMG_2639.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pointe St Pierre<br />(Easternmost point <br />of our trip)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br />We then got back in the car and headed east and then north, reaching the easternmost point of the Gaspe peninsula at Pointe St Pierre: 4444 miles from Seattle. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdZPfzJhRNSRF1S7eqb4ehKAgIil8pdsdkZMywuY7jvzlYEDKvo0FE3pXvfI_ojsOoRBrrOYlrbt9m3g-HO7dsp9knjv7BmQNmTo-miygJLoLaPa3NDEWiBYeKfloleHZI7Ti64c8SMJxE-o0kW-LDnmBVzHtk5fIqO4Z_2SMwLW-G29xNrekE0Z2TeI/s1280/IMG_2646.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdZPfzJhRNSRF1S7eqb4ehKAgIil8pdsdkZMywuY7jvzlYEDKvo0FE3pXvfI_ojsOoRBrrOYlrbt9m3g-HO7dsp9knjv7BmQNmTo-miygJLoLaPa3NDEWiBYeKfloleHZI7Ti64c8SMJxE-o0kW-LDnmBVzHtk5fIqO4Z_2SMwLW-G29xNrekE0Z2TeI/w200-h150/IMG_2646.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trails at<br />Pointe St Pierre<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />To mark this key location -- the easternmost point of our trip -- we got out of the car, and I went a short way on a narrow trail to see the ocean. I hadn't gotten very far before rain began to fall in earnest, so our hiking was limited, but the trail was too narrow anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYQsCQz5Gyi2YVq38riiyWGjYLoTyAY2Z6D2PHc_vAL0njW8nBQPl-6Hx8AP8ZoO_A6yp-O4HaeQ3V9VgR3LmMHfBu41TPZmxlKZW0QoX3BBX7IA8vNjadYE6ltamMqZQwtAB6dDzdM1veEkog_3x1Wgd44wVIhnMTpvlRSOy7IkuNxk0aufftwyneOc/s1280/IMG_2675.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYQsCQz5Gyi2YVq38riiyWGjYLoTyAY2Z6D2PHc_vAL0njW8nBQPl-6Hx8AP8ZoO_A6yp-O4HaeQ3V9VgR3LmMHfBu41TPZmxlKZW0QoX3BBX7IA8vNjadYE6ltamMqZQwtAB6dDzdM1veEkog_3x1Wgd44wVIhnMTpvlRSOy7IkuNxk0aufftwyneOc/w200-h150/IMG_2675.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forillon National Park on<br />Cap du Rosiers<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After Pointe St Pierre, we circled clockwise around Gaspe Bay, then drove northeast past Forillon National Park. If we’d had more time, I would have like to have spent time in this park. The park has a webpage geared toward accessibility and accessible activities, (<a href="https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/qc/forillon/visit/accessibilite-accessibility">https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/qc/forillon/visit/accessibilite-accessibility</a>), and it has several accessible activities, including hiking trails, different camping options, an accessible beach, indoor centers, and a swimming pool.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-McNxN2Bkxc7qtgAWov90195OXXTFxVoztPDZV5dbtnZHVzTRTvMFnmnbMobSAfT54I3VQ3K8rOqQ6_zKwdFVvcaJ6mcyWnYLIQo9caCJXSLaI6FfrxWotJ46o7HTgngC-QYgEg3LOaNiQO_idyh2ReYxIXOAbR7_JMUlAW-RZVpNc91vN-Ggh7B6ab8/s1280/IMG_0640.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-McNxN2Bkxc7qtgAWov90195OXXTFxVoztPDZV5dbtnZHVzTRTvMFnmnbMobSAfT54I3VQ3K8rOqQ6_zKwdFVvcaJ6mcyWnYLIQo9caCJXSLaI6FfrxWotJ46o7HTgngC-QYgEg3LOaNiQO_idyh2ReYxIXOAbR7_JMUlAW-RZVpNc91vN-Ggh7B6ab8/w200-h150/IMG_0640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sentier Du Banc at<br />Forillon National Park<br />south of Cap du Rosiers<br />Lighthouse</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>The only activity we came close to exploring was the Du Banc trail (<a href="https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/qc/forillon/visit/accessibilite-accessibility/sentier-du-banc">https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/qc/forillon/visit/accessibilite-accessibility/sentier-du-banc</a>), which offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Forillon cliffs, and Cap du Rosiers lighthouse. The hike connects the (accessible) visitors’ center with the parking lot via a mostly-flat, 4 km (round trip) trail on boardwalk and hard-packed stone dust. At the visitors’ center and along the way you’ll find accessible restrooms and an accessible picnic table. The park “rents” (for free) a GRIT Freedom Chair – a manual all-terrain wheelchair with levers).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcojV-peRQA0l1wy4S5ILPApRl8U91j2GIwxkCzwa9TOjXWLCHe3IZvw-w85L_HS7LAWQMZHyZTRZQAHaAI00aboLz8doVXfTHo_CE-JMNo3SyiVFeaHq4DifEr8AVmRH3BnvrD8EprPJj6QgWi311_GTrGyGMKsjkqvlynTPkHmYQF8DK83iiJ24YFhw/s376/IMG_0845.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="376" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcojV-peRQA0l1wy4S5ILPApRl8U91j2GIwxkCzwa9TOjXWLCHe3IZvw-w85L_HS7LAWQMZHyZTRZQAHaAI00aboLz8doVXfTHo_CE-JMNo3SyiVFeaHq4DifEr8AVmRH3BnvrD8EprPJj6QgWi311_GTrGyGMKsjkqvlynTPkHmYQF8DK83iiJ24YFhw/w200-h156/IMG_0845.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Cap du Rosiers is the point where the Gulf of St Lawrence in the Atlantic Ocean becomes the mouth of the St Lawrence River. From there onward, the Prius journeyed west.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>up next: traveling west from the mouth to the source of the mighty St Lawrence River ...<p></p>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-68412562382239373592023-07-05T15:08:00.004-07:002023-07-05T15:14:37.027-07:00Road Trip with a Wheelchair: Lodging <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
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<p>
I was really excited to explore the world of Motel 6 and accessible
lodging. Motel 6 was often the cheapest motel, and yet its status as a
national chain assured some sort of standards. Plus, as a result of a
recent ADA settlement with the US Department of Justice, Motel 6 was forced to
update its facilities, adding roll-in showers and the promise that if they
didn't have an accessible room that slept two people, they would provide a
second room free of charge. Motel 6 seemed a great way to organize our
road trip. That optimism and enthusiasm lasted about 800
miles.
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Motel 6 in Spokane, WA<br /><br /><br /><br />
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<p>
The first night we stayed at a Motel 6 in Spokane, WA. It offered cheap,
accessible ground-floor lodging in clean environs, with a wheelchair-height
queen bed, a roll-under sink, toilet grab bars, and a roll-in shower.
Perfect!
</p>
<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This lucky streak ended the second night, with the reminder that not all cheap
motels are used by travelers. We no sooner pulled into this urban Motel
6 than we noticed the people and activity in the parking lot, and we were
quickly warned by the people leaving that they had observed 2 drug deals in
their short time there, while checking out the rooms -- which they claimed had unwashed bedding. Unfortunately, although there were several cheap
motels in that neighborhood, they all seemed to have similar
problems. </p>
<p>
Luckily, we were able to find an appropriate, cheap, accessible room in a
nearby neighborhood, with the help of the Super 8 reservations agent.
Two lessons learned: 1. Never commit to a cheap motel until seeing it, and 2.
Join a group like Wyndham Rewards (even though there were no accessible rooms
at the Super 8 that I called, the agent was able to find me one at a nearby
Howard Johnson's, because those hotels are part of the same hotel
group).
</p><p><br /></p>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ADA Bathroom</td>
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The folly of my plans became more apparent along the road, as I learned that not
all Motel 6's have ADA rooms, and, in fact, most cheap motels do not. In fact, many cheap motels do not even have elevators, and
ground-floor rooms were usually already taken by the time we rolled into town
(generally around 9 pm).
<p></p>
<p><br /></p>
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Roll-in Shower<br /><br /><br />
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Thus was dictated our usual routine: after dinner, we'd assess how far we
thought we'd go that night. While my husband drove, I poured over Google
maps and Booking.com, trying to find cheap and available rooms for the night.
Seldom were those rooms officially accessible, so I'd call around, asking for measurements or whether a
wheelchair might be able to get into -- and maneuver around inside -- the
room. Of course, I'd have to provide a list of minimum requirements to
answer this question, which changed with experience (ground floor, 0-1 steps,
wide entrance door, space for the wheelchair beside the bed, and a sink I could
access). Often this would require the person to call me back, as they
needed to measure and check. Sometimes, they reached an incorrect
conclusion, or it was simply unclear until we arrived and looked for
ourselves. </div><div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /> </div><div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgpLfivLWPh6hJ9BA2pY2M5oUPpBuehiklKqlZUkJUasX0ytlChIzSBVYGqBaW6mg5N6mRkaE0SfgB5biMYqWotoCjZNGBu72B0HpmFl3MtKiB96T4s-0g_bnBBk7JV-SPxdGslMYXBmhxa2ENNT8CY72KhoKyp-xofxiLpFM41rpWVBkI4obECc5/s1280/IMG_3144.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1280" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgpLfivLWPh6hJ9BA2pY2M5oUPpBuehiklKqlZUkJUasX0ytlChIzSBVYGqBaW6mg5N6mRkaE0SfgB5biMYqWotoCjZNGBu72B0HpmFl3MtKiB96T4s-0g_bnBBk7JV-SPxdGslMYXBmhxa2ENNT8CY72KhoKyp-xofxiLpFM41rpWVBkI4obECc5/w200-h156/IMG_3144.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Using motel's plywood and<br />our portable metal ramp<br />to get
inside Masterson's Motel
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
All of this was predicated on finding the local front desk number (rather than
the off-site reservations number), which turned out to be quite difficult.
It also relied on the goodwill of the staff. As my husband commented, the
best people in the world are front desk clerks who like their jobs. I
would especially like to call out Jan at the International Motel in Calais,
Maine, the woman at who found plywood for a ramp at Masterson's Motel in
Napanee, Ontario, the concerned owners at the Village Inn Motel in Iron Bridge,
Ontario, and the woman who pushed all sorts of food on me at the Day's Inn in
Worland, WY. The right person and attitude can sometimes make up for a
non-accessible room.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /> </div><div><br />
<p></p>
<p></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOeU8-9hRuG-vlctSppbOmnU0pZVtvqDtxYXxkbPkNN4uT8t_82gIW4KSGa6pi6XFVMLjO2plosWuN3rQELZ-8j7WniJLREKFwaC7LGVwiV4xAl1UFMhi4QE1U8anyc7m3BLXLxMfXewL3kPPqGpn87Va23fE4dCP9-jY0i-isG_CZV5TEcXTZHju/s1280/IMG_2082.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1280" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOeU8-9hRuG-vlctSppbOmnU0pZVtvqDtxYXxkbPkNN4uT8t_82gIW4KSGa6pi6XFVMLjO2plosWuN3rQELZ-8j7WniJLREKFwaC7LGVwiV4xAl1UFMhi4QE1U8anyc7m3BLXLxMfXewL3kPPqGpn87Va23fE4dCP9-jY0i-isG_CZV5TEcXTZHju/w200-h125/IMG_2082.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Fairfield by Marriott has <br />ADA rooms<br /><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In retrospect, if you need a truly accessible room, it is probably worth
it to budget for higher-priced cheap motels, such as Holiday Inn Express,
Fairfield Suites, etc, where the ADA usually applies to at least one
room. This, of course, entails plotting your trip to ascertain that overnight stays happen where this is possible -- often suburbs or travel centers (truck stops).<p></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGedrMVeUUK7TzsRcLaeVuAVip7elY0Pkz_22M6H9_9yWeWucUEWmxMbbiCYqJz_G6xoXnKkNknOJTArEpvN93aFond9C5OSTBWMtTj15WwahHirW00UbddNoDZH-TYhrZLwR6tzTkmUQpWnw07e2gvdLjIXW6dWSooE0P0m50kQ0L1z_2Il557k9O/s1280/IMG_1114.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="1280" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGedrMVeUUK7TzsRcLaeVuAVip7elY0Pkz_22M6H9_9yWeWucUEWmxMbbiCYqJz_G6xoXnKkNknOJTArEpvN93aFond9C5OSTBWMtTj15WwahHirW00UbddNoDZH-TYhrZLwR6tzTkmUQpWnw07e2gvdLjIXW6dWSooE0P0m50kQ0L1z_2Il557k9O/w200-h81/IMG_1114.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Some cheap motels do<br />not have official accessible<br />rooms, but
are accessible <br />with creativity
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Many of the places we stopped had no such options available. However, we
made it work, and we got to meet great people and motels that we otherwise would
have missed. Also, even the cheapest motels had microwaves, mini-fridges,
coffee, ice, and internet connectivity.
<p></p>
<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>
On the road, we almost always had phone connectivity, which was
invaluable. I can't imagine doing this without smart phones. After
the trip ended, I learned about a website that provides reservations for
accessible lodging. This seemed to me to be unbelievable gold, and I
wish that I had known of it before the trip. For the USA, and site
is <a href="https://accessiblego.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">accessiblego.com,</a> and for Europe, I found
<a href="http://disabledaccessibletravel.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">disabledaccessibletravel.com</a>. </p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Most of the time, we ended up staying in rooms that were barely
accessible. I came to expect to move furniture around. I also came
to expect to remove the bathroom door, since even those wide enough for a
wheelchair were often wide enough only without the hinges. Even so, I had
to rely on the commode chair instead of a toilet and to forego showers many
nights.
<p></p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VueN9nLvMJ4L7GkM38scTP6ThH3T58FlTa5eenmhu6PmDOR-zco-p7avBeBHws7CeQUui59DQCI73RIOI50V05vujPuIB3bvTdeGwA2lcd5dnts8_SjsT40Zp7P4sstY_WgTeqg-GPEJCg1fgYQ1Ss-YGEQHXQ7jWSQEAHv-sie_9PyNgPo32XEx/s1280/IMG_1624.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VueN9nLvMJ4L7GkM38scTP6ThH3T58FlTa5eenmhu6PmDOR-zco-p7avBeBHws7CeQUui59DQCI73RIOI50V05vujPuIB3bvTdeGwA2lcd5dnts8_SjsT40Zp7P4sstY_WgTeqg-GPEJCg1fgYQ1Ss-YGEQHXQ7jWSQEAHv-sie_9PyNgPo32XEx/w200-h150/IMG_1624.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
<br />Fortunately, some of the units had sinks outside of the bathroom, so that
the sink was accessible, even if the bathroom wasn't. This was often
the design that made an otherwise non-accessible room usable.
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are some of the (accidentally brilliant) items we packed to make
wheelchair life possible, even in non-ADA motels and rooms:
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>
Transfer board (a Hoyer Lift would be an energy- and back-saver, but it
requires space under the bed)
</li>
<li>
Screwdriver (often the bathroom door was too narrow with hinges on, so we
removed door)
</li>
<li>Short (3') foldable metal ramp (to get over steps</li>
<li>Self-propelling shower/commode chair</li>
<li>Long shower chair to get over/in tub </li>
<li>Portable under-mattress bed rail</li>
<li>Suction cup grab bars (warning -- they don't always stick!)</li>
<li>Electric kettle (for instant meals)</li>
<li>Dishes and dish soap</li>
<li>
Towel to put on chair after shower (some motels did't have enough towels for
this)
</li>
<li>Wet wipes</li>
<li>Washcloth</li>
<li>Hair washing tray</li>
<li>Dry shampoo</li>
<li>Hand sanitizer</li>
<li>Electric foot heater (to plug in while sleeping)</li>
<li>Pillow (for car and for some motels)</li>
</ul><div><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCVQwcddsGNSrit4Ko8L6ospoy5DAs8zabjJqxBKohYy7SnBP56RcUpHKYsbQ_B-5_rfhTvjiMRyGUFFRM3cczn0bJlLd4Bo5RzDc_QECLKxsunuttFYcFz3RonPrJQGLJ_-PFQI5xv24zNs2jH3a0vZydH3NMNNmOTNPTmsmvjOCUu5X5M7fc47i/s1280/IMG_2574.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="1280" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCVQwcddsGNSrit4Ko8L6ospoy5DAs8zabjJqxBKohYy7SnBP56RcUpHKYsbQ_B-5_rfhTvjiMRyGUFFRM3cczn0bJlLd4Bo5RzDc_QECLKxsunuttFYcFz3RonPrJQGLJ_-PFQI5xv24zNs2jH3a0vZydH3NMNNmOTNPTmsmvjOCUu5X5M7fc47i/w200-h108/IMG_2574.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Portable folding metal<br />ramp (3' length fits in car<br />and helps
wheelchair<br />over 1-2 steps)<br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR_SJb62x6LnnXYuJxLkL1PfYWFkXmK_OCf5No9bOyuDlOO_1lFkDoKrpfCJynl1UqYrtLdbG0ewR2RIV9olMNn0Kr4MjWjx2zz6_Tv3W4ahvrZSUFpRSyjz81FdbOYT_ELQoi-es_IWLm09jx2tgVzBQB2RVknv0RSR_4Ox75zymUSOX8tjXNXv5/s1280/IMG_1204.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR_SJb62x6LnnXYuJxLkL1PfYWFkXmK_OCf5No9bOyuDlOO_1lFkDoKrpfCJynl1UqYrtLdbG0ewR2RIV9olMNn0Kr4MjWjx2zz6_Tv3W4ahvrZSUFpRSyjz81FdbOYT_ELQoi-es_IWLm09jx2tgVzBQB2RVknv0RSR_4Ox75zymUSOX8tjXNXv5/w150-h200/IMG_1204.jpg" width="150" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Self-propelling <br />shower-commode <br />chair<br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG4RV5ztAXbEn83IfCSp1bZ7fyvXP2da1rBVrLAQXarbtib-stgei175RT5xGdkFZ6vfPeKmiig8iYvYFQsM0uCLLRLdWjaxPR56U7iSUIdeN4L_16sEkMku-yUmjdCfpODN0f5tQyiEClNQnkxiX54tpz6FyCA_h_aHHHXk1QOoKFwPuxK6LcI4T/s1280/IMG_3481.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1248" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG4RV5ztAXbEn83IfCSp1bZ7fyvXP2da1rBVrLAQXarbtib-stgei175RT5xGdkFZ6vfPeKmiig8iYvYFQsM0uCLLRLdWjaxPR56U7iSUIdeN4L_16sEkMku-yUmjdCfpODN0f5tQyiEClNQnkxiX54tpz6FyCA_h_aHHHXk1QOoKFwPuxK6LcI4T/w195-h200/IMG_3481.jpg" width="195" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Long sliding tub/shower chair
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxluvbQGB_aw3VImZs0qX2rGEFQb6r1FbGNcUc_LnwCBfZ7uhc5zxwtAmmpzltaKXsCnhE2NbIDr7Cou9V3JrY4Lz96LAqzwOy0AeDEGZ5VvCaycTggBoeJpPvNU9ZlNxPbOdSoSv57UXVMyygIAyK0lJ21TnUGg17B62blk2jJYFn3lrUvx4omuk0/s1280/IMG_2167.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxluvbQGB_aw3VImZs0qX2rGEFQb6r1FbGNcUc_LnwCBfZ7uhc5zxwtAmmpzltaKXsCnhE2NbIDr7Cou9V3JrY4Lz96LAqzwOy0AeDEGZ5VvCaycTggBoeJpPvNU9ZlNxPbOdSoSv57UXVMyygIAyK0lJ21TnUGg17B62blk2jJYFn3lrUvx4omuk0/w174-h200/IMG_2167.jpg" width="174" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Under-mattress bed rail
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sometimes we got lucky and stayed in a
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1oya_jSrUCMft-4sVXb_h8noZw4RXa6k&usp=sharing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">motel with an ADA room</a>:
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpn5ucwR4bpHMedYSIe_va5HY4JIB51zHwEKh72JRd5VuTl4MeE4HukYw0VX6bTdPDUnQ6NqNrJ2yk2MLc8jfA32jnm8xH3hRj5gtydk5HBTF7XMd9UZM7SSYoSyMUfTmaVhz8WlfUe8JibpBcZ7gLWH1MRsW9rKIWIYHSy5mF1IYClJzdaekYo2X/s1280/IMG_0037.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1280" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpn5ucwR4bpHMedYSIe_va5HY4JIB51zHwEKh72JRd5VuTl4MeE4HukYw0VX6bTdPDUnQ6NqNrJ2yk2MLc8jfA32jnm8xH3hRj5gtydk5HBTF7XMd9UZM7SSYoSyMUfTmaVhz8WlfUe8JibpBcZ7gLWH1MRsW9rKIWIYHSy5mF1IYClJzdaekYo2X/w200-h135/IMG_0037.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
<p>
Spokane, WA: Motel 6 -- ADA room with a low queen bed and an ADA bathroom with
a roll-in shower
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWIy2DDEtOiLpYhjSdXEVUw4wORQIbWEstdWNhjy5t-aPsu_39Xb5vHb1cAZTrMGg2ifYz-FYYO_XWQDcqoW9I-XuhKb2rjPLxbR1gU-i86EQx5iV1JBWfuLH6wLe56Q53_jjw3pUJjouPDQ-w_cO4iiiFTL36IKqXzBM2FFJ01Aih0ynkjn_V1ou/s1280/IMG_2165.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWIy2DDEtOiLpYhjSdXEVUw4wORQIbWEstdWNhjy5t-aPsu_39Xb5vHb1cAZTrMGg2ifYz-FYYO_XWQDcqoW9I-XuhKb2rjPLxbR1gU-i86EQx5iV1JBWfuLH6wLe56Q53_jjw3pUJjouPDQ-w_cO4iiiFTL36IKqXzBM2FFJ01Aih0ynkjn_V1ou/w150-h200/IMG_2165.jpg" width="150" /></a>
</div>
<br />Pendleton, OR: Red Lion Inn --ADA room and ADA bathroom with a roll-in
shower: it seemed like an older resort, which had passed its prime
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEMBnoIx4nMth0PaJV8FSP9p68NWbmsH19WdngBt-vtiCJ3kBg8WKWF2NB1a1_nk-nslGv0Eev0cdUDCrSzTLlVGkn08PtGePW1CIz4DzlDpXPEu4yXjSGP4l0GNj4LaPHNImXVsmhyk83uTqWakv-UdJN_uXF72YA4HzeyVeeR8uVNWHImkrNIQW/s1280/IMG_2082.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1280" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEMBnoIx4nMth0PaJV8FSP9p68NWbmsH19WdngBt-vtiCJ3kBg8WKWF2NB1a1_nk-nslGv0Eev0cdUDCrSzTLlVGkn08PtGePW1CIz4DzlDpXPEu4yXjSGP4l0GNj4LaPHNImXVsmhyk83uTqWakv-UdJN_uXF72YA4HzeyVeeR8uVNWHImkrNIQW/w200-h125/IMG_2082.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
<br />Idaho Falls, ID: Fairfield Inn -- ADA room with a king bed and ADA
bathroom with a roll-in shower
<p></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKmyR3qeKPc9FXyl4-4ZxjSQt5whe8x5uTZGaFApLvTuDyVGI4HMV2bUB-EQOg8Vs1q6mvLWhOLqIadIvlL5TbF6lrAS1_6Cs2qwjlobAsz1IBX1MX2n6McSB6q07IhLFpxuRc7IC7BWdUZzxY15dAaRPIKc-VbyHe0Xslbz1TpvhcfjyEMql0qyK/s1280/IMG_1937.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1086" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKmyR3qeKPc9FXyl4-4ZxjSQt5whe8x5uTZGaFApLvTuDyVGI4HMV2bUB-EQOg8Vs1q6mvLWhOLqIadIvlL5TbF6lrAS1_6Cs2qwjlobAsz1IBX1MX2n6McSB6q07IhLFpxuRc7IC7BWdUZzxY15dAaRPIKc-VbyHe0Xslbz1TpvhcfjyEMql0qyK/w170-h200/IMG_1937.jpg" width="170" /></a>
</div>
West Yellowstone, MT: Day's Inn -- Small town full of tourists, motels,
restaurants, and souvenir shops. Motels were cheaper than those in the park
(park lodges were $300+/night), but non-park motels were still pricey
($200+/night, $150+/night if no access to bathroom). We didn't stay in an
ADA room, since it was $100 more than our ground floor double-queen regular
room, which worked. There was a wide entrance door, with a big room and
bathroom. The shower/tub combo had a fixed shower head and no grab
bars. In the large bathroom was a low toilet with no grab bars. There was
a large roll-under sink outside of the bathroom. There was an official ADA room,
but it was $100 more expensive.
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div>
Billings, MT: Howard Johnson's -- ADA room and ADA bathroom with roll-in shower;
big, old & moldy
<p><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
Worland, WY: Day's Inn -- huge double-queen ADA room with 2 high beds. Big ADA
bathroom, raised toilet with grab bars behind and on side, and tub with grab bar
on side and hand-held removable shower head with long hose. The room had wide
doors and a short ramp over the threshold of the outer door. There was a
designated disabled parking space and flat curb access on the side opposite room
140. The roll-under sink was outside of the bathroom. There was a ramp to the
outside picnic tables and grill, a ramp to the ice machine and to the laundry
room, and a ramp to the main office, as well as lots of food and drinks.
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</div>
Oacoma (Chamberlain ), SD: Econo Lodge -- ADA room with a king bed and
wide doors. The bathroom was a bit grungy, and the sink was too low to get
under, but the tub had horizontal and vertical grab bars, with a hand- held
shower that slid down a vertical pole at different levels, and the toilet was
high, with grab bars behind and on the side. The owners were very
concerned. Interestingly, the space between the dresser and the foot of
the bed was almost too narrow, making it difficult to reach the roomy far side
of the bedroom and the bathroom.
<p></p>
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</div>
<br />LaCrosse, WI: Holiday Inn-- ADA room with a king bed. and ADA bathroom
with a big roll-in shower. They offered us a walk-in discount.
<p></p>
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Sault Ste, Marie, MI: Hotel Ojibway -- ADA room with a king bed, wide doors,
lots of space in the bathroom, tub/shower with grab bars and shower chair, and a
roll-under sink. There is just barely enough space for a wheelchair
next to the bed, and the toilet has no grab bars on the side. The room has
slanted alcove ceilings with sky lights, and the hotel is next to the park and
locks on the main street.
<p></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p></p>
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N Stonington, VT: Hilltop Inn -- ADA room with a king bed. ADA bathroom
with a roll-in shower that has a big threshold and a bench on the opposite end
from the controls (even though shower hose reached).
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Quebec City, Quebec: Best Western -- Disabled room with two queen beds
(plenty of room beside bed). The main door is plenty wide; the door to the
bathroom is wide enough, but it involves a tight turn. The shower has a
hand-held shower, sliding shower head holder, and grab bars on wall. There are
grab bars on the side of the toilet, where the seat is cut out in the front, and
there is a roll-under sink.</div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">Montreal, Quebec: We did not stay in a hotel with an accessible room, but I
know that Cory Lee (who writes the blog,
</span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://curbfreewithcorylee.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Curb Free with Cory Lee</a></i><span style="text-align: center;">) has a suggestion on his website for the Hotel de l'ITHQ, which is located
in the heart of Montreal. Also, I saw a Fairfield by Marriott downtown,
and I bet that has an accessible room.</span><p><br /></p>
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Sudbury, Ontario: College Boreal Student Residence -- Two wheelchair-accessible
suites, each with 2 accessible bedrooms (each with a twin bed), and with a
kitchenette (full fridge, microwave, sink, and table). Each suite had 1
accessible bathroom with a raised toilet with grab bars, a floating sink, a
tilted mirror, and a small roll-in shower with a fold-down bench and hand-held
shower head. The suite was cheap and spartan, with no carpet, in the
dorm. There is a whole series of dorms and conference centers offering
rooms for summer travelers in Canada. The website is
<a href="http://StayRCC.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">StayRCC.com</a>.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next week's blog: the trip begins!</div>
</div></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-56886408229216534192023-06-28T15:01:00.002-07:002023-06-28T16:49:04.883-07:00Road Trip with a Wheelchair <p><br /></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lkX-E752_W1j6JoAJMNl0DufMUNZhM6KCjnmtUpFjIEiKsa1AcYe8WcIEeqikJ8HZlFClnCD_V31Ya1EIWtKodhB5_kFmbQikvnG7DiwW9Ijzh3QWCtkKva_TiyNuLjMeYKfSEUmefWHhEAo4Md7K3UrnWP5Mh_FXG3SEvgujzXZ_luWH6W8vwOc/s2874/Road%20Trip%202022%20Route.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2874" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lkX-E752_W1j6JoAJMNl0DufMUNZhM6KCjnmtUpFjIEiKsa1AcYe8WcIEeqikJ8HZlFClnCD_V31Ya1EIWtKodhB5_kFmbQikvnG7DiwW9Ijzh3QWCtkKva_TiyNuLjMeYKfSEUmefWHhEAo4Md7K3UrnWP5Mh_FXG3SEvgujzXZ_luWH6W8vwOc/w590-h247/Road%20Trip%202022%20Route.jpg" width="590" /></a>
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<br />2022 Road Trip <br />From Cape Flattery in WA state to W Quoddy
Head in the state of ME, <br />then up the Gaspe Peninsula of
Quebec, following the St Lawrence River<br />west to the Great Lakes,
crossing the border at Sault Ste Marie<br /><br />
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<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>
This past summer, I took an epic road trip. 6 weeks and 9604 miles. 19 US
states and 3 Canadian provinces. Against the backdrop of the pandemic,
we rarely ate inside restaurants, so the final count includes innumerable
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, supplemented with many just-add-water
meals and not nearly enough French pastries.
</p>
<p></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-DRNWwmvI-wA5VXzC5PGaok_gJvBdibrJ14oCa1BgtYrkTvBJHd1PFjRk9Ea-LCAASeVMXtHXwnBaRhML5jxxLyzKe2xE69kMD7L95ucGnkxvjr2E9mNrV0uqUkWdouDMm12HyYROPUOSjtc18TvF7uW0nGww9O2ow0FLbOhBDq_CPbzCe4iEjET/s1989/2%20Seattle%20T&J.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="1989" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-DRNWwmvI-wA5VXzC5PGaok_gJvBdibrJ14oCa1BgtYrkTvBJHd1PFjRk9Ea-LCAASeVMXtHXwnBaRhML5jxxLyzKe2xE69kMD7L95ucGnkxvjr2E9mNrV0uqUkWdouDMm12HyYROPUOSjtc18TvF7uW0nGww9O2ow0FLbOhBDq_CPbzCe4iEjET/w320-h82/2%20Seattle%20T&J.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
From the Pacific Ocean (Seattle, WA)
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<p></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx25KaMyGn9i2ysLdo1leC4o0jtwC0DBa9dpKCZYr8UkqS1WjfgckdvUEtCpmQJNvb243qvd63uHDCq-fymzRcjGsEzbUXMue-4V98vJHPgmG_icIkFwwZb8veaZlfDpzGi6zZVSZfHQyfOpwCc-lwdNpcTNHGiUgPSxkMp-TKiVE9PPd5uK4GZL7/s4032/13%20Stonington%20Point.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx25KaMyGn9i2ysLdo1leC4o0jtwC0DBa9dpKCZYr8UkqS1WjfgckdvUEtCpmQJNvb243qvd63uHDCq-fymzRcjGsEzbUXMue-4V98vJHPgmG_icIkFwwZb8veaZlfDpzGi6zZVSZfHQyfOpwCc-lwdNpcTNHGiUgPSxkMp-TKiVE9PPd5uK4GZL7/w194-h150/13%20Stonington%20Point.jpg" width="194" /></a>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
To the Atlantic Ocean<br />(Stonington, CT)<br />in 5 days<br />
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<p></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOgh2WucU4VofFyEtSFCirkrSNFxfTLkmKz4KCtzgbBGqerKA-NlDjoM6Fri_O1kUDFDL1-C5X2kZwoj2L6Wb4UC0glqjkfTNvJ9iSmBpywM7k9Tc4ztcQ-OmWxOi-y82SNVXPEwlidWDdakVF-hZgMjtS2-jWMJLaDCBEadRC_iJH07NbptcVW-8/s2600/9%20Minnesota%20Windmills.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="2600" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOgh2WucU4VofFyEtSFCirkrSNFxfTLkmKz4KCtzgbBGqerKA-NlDjoM6Fri_O1kUDFDL1-C5X2kZwoj2L6Wb4UC0glqjkfTNvJ9iSmBpywM7k9Tc4ztcQ-OmWxOi-y82SNVXPEwlidWDdakVF-hZgMjtS2-jWMJLaDCBEadRC_iJH07NbptcVW-8/w320-h111/9%20Minnesota%20Windmills.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
What all these states have in common:<br />Wind turbines in corn
fields<br /><br /><br /><br />
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<p style="text-align: left;">
The trip was inspired by insanely high plane ticket prices, the death of a
much-loved cat, a progressive disease, photos of Quebec's pastry shops, the
pandemic, and the inability to decide what else to do. The six-week trip
was goal-posted by medical appointments, and the time frame was
held firm by two family gatherings with distinct dates. Therefore, this
was not a leisurely, "explore America" kind of road trip, but rather one in
which car travel was a means of reaching the next destination.
</p>
<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM71k4Pp15A2sw5oetvYriEa9qa9xaXzx9eQqVV2S1HcDN5JgtQHtBsSST4nRRA_b5Bh5kyuuM2ooR2LqMoXPoGVQnP4GEZKx6aDT7tIwrH5jUuSLHg4F_VA-Zat1k2A_HpaBgdSUyVuVPSh0JP_z03xe71Bv7qSVKQsSA8_EWACxGx1d2BrNHmm3/s2582/14%20Quoddy.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2582" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM71k4Pp15A2sw5oetvYriEa9qa9xaXzx9eQqVV2S1HcDN5JgtQHtBsSST4nRRA_b5Bh5kyuuM2ooR2LqMoXPoGVQnP4GEZKx6aDT7tIwrH5jUuSLHg4F_VA-Zat1k2A_HpaBgdSUyVuVPSh0JP_z03xe71Bv7qSVKQsSA8_EWACxGx1d2BrNHmm3/w320-h201/14%20Quoddy.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Maine --<br />Easternmost point in the
contiguous US
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<p>
Nevertheless, the destinations were spectacular -- family visits in CT and
WI, multi-day vacations in Quebec City and Montreal, a respite in an
off-the-grid Quebecois cabin, driving the upper Mississippi and the length
of the St Lawrence Rivers, and exploring Yellowstone National
Park. In addition to the multi-day destinations, we designed the trip
to meet key geographical markers: the westernmost and easternmost points of
the contiguous USA (Cape Flattery, WA and West Quoddy, ME). Even when
traveling between destinations, we experienced amazing scenery, visited old
friends, and discovered new locations and activities.
</p>
<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
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<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RbYgRX45oeTbMxkTno1-hdyA8u39KbTor5UEVYyfY3_GlPO6Zz-WEWUx12oq704KKKWfMQImfBniIPDTLElUMcHVUfc67Bd-KWSonTypxOHxLU8WYaNzqs1WWMfpkNSIQqSLzJ7Sb6aYjk84fPA_jpNGVwKMrvSBfmUsH5ZFq9k3dnExFmVtMfHo/s4032/16%20Gaspe%20East.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RbYgRX45oeTbMxkTno1-hdyA8u39KbTor5UEVYyfY3_GlPO6Zz-WEWUx12oq704KKKWfMQImfBniIPDTLElUMcHVUfc67Bd-KWSonTypxOHxLU8WYaNzqs1WWMfpkNSIQqSLzJ7Sb6aYjk84fPA_jpNGVwKMrvSBfmUsH5ZFq9k3dnExFmVtMfHo/w200-h150/16%20Gaspe%20East.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
The Prius at the eastern-most <br />point of the trip,<br />in Quebec
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The trip was also a victory for our 2006 Toyota Prius. Approaching
200,000 miles and questionable operation, the car had already been driven to
the Arctic Circle and beyond. It had also been to the northernmost point
of the contiguous USA -- the Northwest Angle of Minnesota. So, we
decided to see if the old car had a little more magic in her. A mechanic
checked her out and added a belt and brakes on Monday; we left on
Tuesday. With the addition of a secondary battery in NH and a new
muffler (some dead animal got the old one) in CT, we were able to reach all of
goals and complete the trip.
<p></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
<p></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqmsXCIVsi9B5so8WjT7sr6NWaIDcO7hLsWQ2CwM9Qx_Hox2sdYOCPFrUz8vcQ-5hEt2vqYKGPLth2ogCTFfXVuddMK7tWpWScCBE2ck1P28R0oaRC1C9I5VRrR1AgjwrrEy76lxGHCALpuNE2ZkNdIo9VZ1YxXWc5Bp844hy3Q71pxj0kj0ATyT8/s4032/1%20Seattle%20Waterfront.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqmsXCIVsi9B5so8WjT7sr6NWaIDcO7hLsWQ2CwM9Qx_Hox2sdYOCPFrUz8vcQ-5hEt2vqYKGPLth2ogCTFfXVuddMK7tWpWScCBE2ck1P28R0oaRC1C9I5VRrR1AgjwrrEy76lxGHCALpuNE2ZkNdIo9VZ1YxXWc5Bp844hy3Q71pxj0kj0ATyT8/w200-h150/1%20Seattle%20Waterfront.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Big smiles at the start<br />(hopefully at the end, too)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The trip was made possible by a strong and willing husband. He helped me
transfer in/out of the car, put my wheelchair in the car, carry our luggage
in/out of the motel rooms, and help me in uncountable ways in motels that were
varying degrees of (in)accessible. I realize that not everyone has a "Ted" in
her/his life. For them, I still believe this type of trip is possible;
it is simply more challenging and expensive -- requiring an accessible van (or
else a light-weight wheelchair that can be lifted into a car) with hand
controls, as well as significant and diligent planning to choose a route and
lodging that are accessible. Because of time and money constraints,
we did not have this luxury, and because of Ted we did not need it. Still, I
was glad for the independence allowed by my transfer board (actually, I forgot
the board, so I stopped along the way and bought an extra-large cutting board,
which accomplished the same trick). I wouldn't mind a portable Hoyer
Lift for back-up security (backs do go out!) at some point.
</div>
<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
<br />
<p></p>
<p></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT5FGL7KJpaKvg1PZZXuVlqEQIXWVqaB5I-Ar8-PgHXm5eNBDA54M32Ocew3r6wh8gz7sDqXn8g3-qbdr7nHOmfvSp3IOkTdNQ5CKM2GOGr2vfowqk1YiSVFzM9entSwOcJZFfrUFPcf8F-MtRQevRSZMltuBxjPIZjcf3hrg8OS2Evs1sg-PDj2U/s1280/IMG_3840.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT5FGL7KJpaKvg1PZZXuVlqEQIXWVqaB5I-Ar8-PgHXm5eNBDA54M32Ocew3r6wh8gz7sDqXn8g3-qbdr7nHOmfvSp3IOkTdNQ5CKM2GOGr2vfowqk1YiSVFzM9entSwOcJZFfrUFPcf8F-MtRQevRSZMltuBxjPIZjcf3hrg8OS2Evs1sg-PDj2U/w200-h150/IMG_3840.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Rain gear on the trail <br />at Yellowstone<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
I do not travel light. Once upon a time, I traveled for a year with a
backpack. That is not now. We wanted to bring our camping
equipment in order to have a cheaper lodging option along the way, but that
would have entailed a car top carrier to contain this equipment and
countless additional hours of labor to set it up and take it down, so we left
it at home. We tried to take the minimal amount of luggage into the
motel each night, but even minimal was a lot, and I was usually just lucky to
get inside the room -- leaving one person to do all of the carrying.
Typically, this meant one personal backpack and roller suitcase for each of
us, as well as one bag of medical supplies for me. Unfortunately,
because most of the motels we stayed at did not have accessible rooms, we also
ended up bringing a lot of equipment to make lodging possible (see next blog).
Because of the pandemic, the desire to save money, and the need to save time,
we often ate in the motel room, meaning we also needed the cooler and a bag
for food, dishes, all of our water bottles. The rest was left in the
car.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />
I dream of a van rigged out for camping, like the kids have. Of course,
mine would also be accessible, with a ramp. This van would have been ideal for
this journey, providing cheap(er) and easier lodging (no search for lodging
each night and no carrying luggage back and forth), a means of hauling a
wheelchair, and accessible seating.
</div>
<div><br /></div><div>
<br />
<p></p>
<p></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRnvoxIFpAGWh6iVhIO4gPvUdGnRtax5qKdkXAwwf_1zzEw9rf7NxuNnMOeUcT7b_adSsOraZV5FhPkeJH2y9sjR82OCb8VL2DI8G_MUyo_GDSriSsvsIkoSNehToKRrO_St6zC7d68QDjQtCnVdzc1T0AJLWF9DyEjKHrnIFP93q6RS6SXjSBL3Y/s1280/IMG_2602.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRnvoxIFpAGWh6iVhIO4gPvUdGnRtax5qKdkXAwwf_1zzEw9rf7NxuNnMOeUcT7b_adSsOraZV5FhPkeJH2y9sjR82OCb8VL2DI8G_MUyo_GDSriSsvsIkoSNehToKRrO_St6zC7d68QDjQtCnVdzc1T0AJLWF9DyEjKHrnIFP93q6RS6SXjSBL3Y/w200-h150/IMG_2602.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Trails on the Gaspe Peninsula <br />in Quebec
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p>
Unfortunately, we still don't have this dream vehicle; but we do have the
trusty Prius and a Fold N Go power wheelchair. This wheelchair is
great at handling distances and hills, drives by a joystick, folds up
easily, has rugged tires with big casters, and is waterproof; however, it is
heavy, doesn't fit me well without an extra seat cushion, and is dangerous
when fighting slope and cross-slope simultaneously. The jury is still
out on their -- maybe fantastic, maybe horrible -- customer service.
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">
Here is a list of some of the (accidentally brilliant) items we packed to
make the road trip possible (For motel items, see the list in the
following blog):
</p>
</div>
<div>
<ul class="ul1" style="text-align: left;">
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Roho MiniMax inflatable seat cushion (to sit on in the car)</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Pillow and blanket (for the car and for cheap motels)</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Phone charger for cigarette lighter</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Folding metal ramp</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wooden transfer board </span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Compression socks</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Tablet for all e-books</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Hand sanitizer</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Therabands and TENS/NMES kit for exercise</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Cooler</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Electric kettle to boil water</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Spoons, forks, and cups</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Dish soap</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Wheelchair and cushion repair kit</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Rain poncho, rain hat, and stadium blanket</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pee bottle, for car</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Phone apps:</span>
</li>
<ul>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gaia (fee)</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">NPS</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Accessiblego</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Booking</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">AirBnB</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yelp</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Libby</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Spotiify (fee)</span>
</li>
<li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kindle</span>
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The trip gave me fodder for several topics and posts. The photos
gave me all sorts of memories (thanks to Ted for taking most of
the photos and for editing all of them)!
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-1879346265495272392023-06-12T15:52:00.004-07:002023-06-28T11:06:44.081-07:00Seattle Arboretum Waterfront <p> </p>
<p>
Last year, the
<a href="https://www.wta.org/go-outside/hikes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WA Trails Association (WTA)</a>
rolled-out a filter for “wheelchair friendly” trails on its online hiking
guide. My friends and I participated in this project – hiking the trails,
collecting and refining data, and publicizing results.
</p>
<p>
One of the biggest challenges was simply defining what was meant by “<a href="https://www.wta.org/news/signpost/hikers-using-wheelchairs-have-new-tool" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";" target="_blank">wheelchair friendly.</a>” Usually taken as obvious and standardized, it is actually neither. For the
WTA database, a “wheelchair friendly” trail was defined as a trail that any
wheelchair (no matter what the type) is able to complete. In general, the
starting point for guessing whether or not a trail is “wheelchair friendly” is
based on the following criteria.
</p>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1">
Is the trail – including the entrance and exit – barrier-free (no gates,
stairs, or steps/rocks/roots over 3” high)?
</li>
<li class="li1">
Is the trail wide enough for a wheelchair (generally, at least 30 - 36”)?
</li>
<li class="li1">
Is the trail surface firm (not loose sand, dirt, or gravel) and comfortable
(not too rocky or rutted) enough for a wheelchair and its seated hiker?
</li>
<li class="li1">
Is the cross-slope minimal enough for the comfort of a seated hiker?
</li>
</ol>
<p>
The final answer, of course, is whether or not a wheelchair – any wheelchair –
has actually hiked the trail.
</p>
<p>
This definition of “wheelchair friendly” means that any given trail will NOT
be accessible to all wheelchairs, and it relies heavily on enough pertinent
detail in each trail description to allow each individual hiker to decide
whether or not this trail is feasible for them. This decision depends not only
upon the trail and its features, but also on the individual hiker and their
wheelchair. In addition, the accessibility of a trail can change over time,
depending on weather and trail conditions and the hiker’s own energy. So, the
final definition of whether or not a trail is truly “wheelchair friendly” is
neither obvious nor standardized.
</p>
<p>
Since I am lucky enough to hike with a strong and spirited pusher, I can hike
on some trails that can not be classified as wheelchair friendly by reason of
some impediments, such as barriers or steps. This expands my hiking options,
but I am mindful of the reality that my hikes are not always on technically
"wheelchair-friendly" trails.
</p>
<p>
That was the case recently when we hiked the
<a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/foster-and-marsh-island-loop" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Foster and Marsh Island Loop of the waterfront trail between Seattle’s
Washington Park Arboretum and East Montlake Park</a>.
</p>
<p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97ImsNPinsiAoqmYUkzk88nv9jlxKzhD74nq8KSfP-vTudm_bD4h-wvx_UU4pVtKASfhMmeKlcZXCLNTcwstKfy2hwpKKjKX4pscuG0FGSz4FlxjNnh5WIua3sfSBJAxVDYF6bGQp0iJ7aymSM51CBb86ax6qQyqsCCquI7nCdGk-4bk777IUseYq/s1280/IMG_2647.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1280" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97ImsNPinsiAoqmYUkzk88nv9jlxKzhD74nq8KSfP-vTudm_bD4h-wvx_UU4pVtKASfhMmeKlcZXCLNTcwstKfy2hwpKKjKX4pscuG0FGSz4FlxjNnh5WIua3sfSBJAxVDYF6bGQp0iJ7aymSM51CBb86ax6qQyqsCCquI7nCdGk-4bk777IUseYq/w200-h107/IMG_2647.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Waterfowl along 520 bridge</span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
Inspired by a photo of an otter feeding in the water along this path, we set off
on this trail in search of otters. We didn’t find any otters, but we did see
waterfowl and wonderful views.
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
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</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2KePpwVHLw1VEdy-umjWa6VaczofiNiS7pvnsgfyJjHgg6GdOTMMwz9Er6TbKPhosOY3cmAH3-I1gu3lAbxLw8fTndihHnQct5Ek6pAsZB7nhgrcRAVbZ4lx1Ly4cEEn8_OveUqoZRoJnxXeF8nJ6FzH1UjjCcxIT49NZO6hPoKkZkEzV9wpZLME/s1280/IMG_2602.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1280" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2KePpwVHLw1VEdy-umjWa6VaczofiNiS7pvnsgfyJjHgg6GdOTMMwz9Er6TbKPhosOY3cmAH3-I1gu3lAbxLw8fTndihHnQct5Ek6pAsZB7nhgrcRAVbZ4lx1Ly4cEEn8_OveUqoZRoJnxXeF8nJ6FzH1UjjCcxIT49NZO6hPoKkZkEzV9wpZLME/w200-h134/IMG_2602.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Designated parking at<br />E Montlake Park</span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />The good news is that both ends of the trail have good parking and
excellent views: East Montlake Park and the Washington Park Arboretum. At East
Montlake Park, there is street, parking with a disabled spot and a ramp up to
the sidewalk.
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGjvyAm90Sbs5P9a2sJ807wLLgVia1w8jRxmvaLxotCz5PzpbYpI2ivjX2EojRZ8ALp9_dkk84cHDdoGocWdQorbM27AFoRDpMJrF8UK0-nRoEI7N4bg4_t-yxgepil4pqGfWA01iOUnFkFc7IzIl2Lz2mamhoPIi_RY0e8l8XFhYeGoOjxXUgzQv/s1280/IMG_2604.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGjvyAm90Sbs5P9a2sJ807wLLgVia1w8jRxmvaLxotCz5PzpbYpI2ivjX2EojRZ8ALp9_dkk84cHDdoGocWdQorbM27AFoRDpMJrF8UK0-nRoEI7N4bg4_t-yxgepil4pqGfWA01iOUnFkFc7IzIl2Lz2mamhoPIi_RY0e8l8XFhYeGoOjxXUgzQv/w200-h150/IMG_2604.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Path to water at<br />E Montlake Park</span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<br />On the western edge of East Montlake Park is a short and mostly level path
to the water
<p></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarNeM57UzjxqJU-ZLpT0kbX1sCmStR86r4kUR-yO342p9MtQXZqqB0kTV6kin6GuheZj50nYcMyzfziGCcDqDBNJEvR6NrObkRR7GlIDq5DpfXAzYK2V1W3rAh-JQX5Vw-6wbsvWdbbHqb7W5-TrA6WD7kTXOjnjsb_D1faVoEmJM9vqTP66044Rb/s1280/IMG_2610.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarNeM57UzjxqJU-ZLpT0kbX1sCmStR86r4kUR-yO342p9MtQXZqqB0kTV6kin6GuheZj50nYcMyzfziGCcDqDBNJEvR6NrObkRR7GlIDq5DpfXAzYK2V1W3rAh-JQX5Vw-6wbsvWdbbHqb7W5-TrA6WD7kTXOjnjsb_D1faVoEmJM9vqTP66044Rb/w200-h150/IMG_2610.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Platform overlooking Montlake Cut at E Montlake Park</span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
and a platform overlooking the spot where the Montlake Cut joins Lake
Washington. (The trail continues along the cut for a little way, eventually
running into the steps at the University Bridge.)
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyukPRuVfTZ1Bjkh_M20nRAWpijD-lGCwUN41ypxNYkrHQNX0gTOIO05UbHFsedYRiJTjgcQ-YeVwOR3fs8ZjCvDUimN30wtq2t2BEkqLFl5hV9CLAkyVoJDQlrMXIEH2YrGGrXTZtn1AaRz81mCJn1dQ01VeRvAQqn-1KbzGubscS9WYrmtFeqS-/s1280/IMG_2609.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="1280" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyukPRuVfTZ1Bjkh_M20nRAWpijD-lGCwUN41ypxNYkrHQNX0gTOIO05UbHFsedYRiJTjgcQ-YeVwOR3fs8ZjCvDUimN30wtq2t2BEkqLFl5hV9CLAkyVoJDQlrMXIEH2YrGGrXTZtn1AaRz81mCJn1dQ01VeRvAQqn-1KbzGubscS9WYrmtFeqS-/w200-h184/IMG_2609.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bald eagle and nest at E Montlake Park</span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
Near this platform is a tall tree with a large nest, above which we saw a pair
of bald eagles.
<p></p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPgJC8g0l_QaSyI5SiFXKwUrW0KRKxyEV5hYpFST2bcuDLvIgFS9g7gGyhFqGfQUVnSFkpPfvuymFha3pSV5BssEUqpQvK8UM1JTFzikFUbAsXoPqhCFegygaPcn1wQa-bY9pCdQBUmMcX8iSEEicRpAqTEOgV0_bJKqX7y53nWU7vAGOk8PYAT1z/s1280/IMG_2621.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPgJC8g0l_QaSyI5SiFXKwUrW0KRKxyEV5hYpFST2bcuDLvIgFS9g7gGyhFqGfQUVnSFkpPfvuymFha3pSV5BssEUqpQvK8UM1JTFzikFUbAsXoPqhCFegygaPcn1wQa-bY9pCdQBUmMcX8iSEEicRpAqTEOgV0_bJKqX7y53nWU7vAGOk8PYAT1z/w200-h150/IMG_2621.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Entrance to Marsh Island trail<br />at E Montlake Park</span><br /><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>To the north and east, you can reach the trail to Marsh Island, either by
the paved sidewalk above or by the dirt path below.</div><div>
<p></p>
<p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZz0BsBwZKfWS9-kzRSzJdBblpMXn3jgkZISS60IhgJpfgcsn3j6_DL3QxkMA4hukJuCA6mCapmE63CTSbPd7MqE8DNkzGNpx19lKdXhrCKV7faZAZNbcQwI_qsS4JZXQNrs7HqdE7rQW1_xMRHjK0p-fkKnYQSahOBDKkRB-UUGiEGNycJQCYcD5/s1280/IMG_2642.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZz0BsBwZKfWS9-kzRSzJdBblpMXn3jgkZISS60IhgJpfgcsn3j6_DL3QxkMA4hukJuCA6mCapmE63CTSbPd7MqE8DNkzGNpx19lKdXhrCKV7faZAZNbcQwI_qsS4JZXQNrs7HqdE7rQW1_xMRHjK0p-fkKnYQSahOBDKkRB-UUGiEGNycJQCYcD5/w200-h150/IMG_2642.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Foster Island</span><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />At the other end, at the Arboretum, you could either park in the paved lot
up the hill or in lot #14 down by the entrance and the water.
<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A short traverse leads over a
bridge from the mainland to Foster Island, which has mostly level, wide trails
with firm surfaces.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0IJP-AE5q-TsUFrlbb1u6TCvA0mY2GF2PMmHjylKa_UQ4fgpxG8Oh1u6H3BAnow7XiGchbrWh9iMPMsfuVkCwFtmP8Fw01Dg-3SsYAqpFEjbB7-MdKFj2EbLQbPcw8nQkDHbUY3NhPM9UZn7_q341iySTf4ZmQXrxdO7c-FyXej8kba-OQr0tl_y/s1280/IMG_2638.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0IJP-AE5q-TsUFrlbb1u6TCvA0mY2GF2PMmHjylKa_UQ4fgpxG8Oh1u6H3BAnow7XiGchbrWh9iMPMsfuVkCwFtmP8Fw01Dg-3SsYAqpFEjbB7-MdKFj2EbLQbPcw8nQkDHbUY3NhPM9UZn7_q341iySTf4ZmQXrxdO7c-FyXej8kba-OQr0tl_y/w200-h150/IMG_2638.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Construction under 520 Bridge</span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
The only exception is the area underneath the 520 bridge, which is (hopefully
temporarily) under construction and more difficult to maneuver.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIue0yn6we0g7PLxpPJaaUFYpxDbYO5_oIAB3Eu0D0mja9PRiqDh2qIr8LYDdoZwc0BnaQ71gHBQqW05x1dbonr9EN_pRpK5cBp3gG_udN0c79dknj181T4dd5taxE7kPGhhA8QbFt1bfMt-POm-hmUQZFATZ0rM9mgopVQmi5NOUislqsEFf3w7C/s1280/IMG_2634.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1218" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIue0yn6we0g7PLxpPJaaUFYpxDbYO5_oIAB3Eu0D0mja9PRiqDh2qIr8LYDdoZwc0BnaQ71gHBQqW05x1dbonr9EN_pRpK5cBp3gG_udN0c79dknj181T4dd5taxE7kPGhhA8QbFt1bfMt-POm-hmUQZFATZ0rM9mgopVQmi5NOUislqsEFf3w7C/w191-h200/IMG_2634.jpg" width="191" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
View from Foster Island
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br /><br />
<div><br /></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
On the other side of the bridge, Foster Island boasts well-maintained trails,
picnic tables, a small beach, and a view of Husky Stadium and surroundings.<br />
<p></p>
<p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<div>
The bad news is that the loop between the two parks is not truly accessible,
requiring back-and-forth travel on city sidewalks, or perhaps 2 separate car
trips, to see the views.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRglcwpyBD3kgcsiW-W0r-mGwRG2YkdldFerDzl9f4t4aj1NB8nzdmKVWfCAgpn8UIHhj7zkiUcprQ_B86c5IrFt-0xyaKL9Rv4oSwtwc_ZYCY5YcfbJxdmTt25xVx7HkSi_57N0_ZEheSWJhoYNk41I3tdg25KJidx_9UeI7s3IIFsf_KzYBGJceL/s1280/IMG_2622.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRglcwpyBD3kgcsiW-W0r-mGwRG2YkdldFerDzl9f4t4aj1NB8nzdmKVWfCAgpn8UIHhj7zkiUcprQ_B86c5IrFt-0xyaKL9Rv4oSwtwc_ZYCY5YcfbJxdmTt25xVx7HkSi_57N0_ZEheSWJhoYNk41I3tdg25KJidx_9UeI7s3IIFsf_KzYBGJceL/w200-h150/IMG_2622.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Trail from E Montlake Park<br />to Marsh Island</span><br /><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
The “boardwalk” bridge between East Montlake Park and Marsh Island is
technically accessible, but there are 2 significant up-and-down steep points
to allow canoes and kayaks below to pass through the bridge.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAUlQGmnum31YEmAk1N4BV-kDYRtilEmS6l6NXYiVeBMhkgHtGGRnvXA116l-fRWkJCCDlmjP2ZgI3dtY11AK5jilZtKQh1zkABklo7YsvjAXpsHY1pVheERuQ-ylgKm_Nv9Jvc85SFCIIeVoIi00fz_pOuT3BaCito3_dAEMNTSBtJZ2TxyG9g_T/s1280/IMG_2627.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAUlQGmnum31YEmAk1N4BV-kDYRtilEmS6l6NXYiVeBMhkgHtGGRnvXA116l-fRWkJCCDlmjP2ZgI3dtY11AK5jilZtKQh1zkABklo7YsvjAXpsHY1pVheERuQ-ylgKm_Nv9Jvc85SFCIIeVoIi00fz_pOuT3BaCito3_dAEMNTSBtJZ2TxyG9g_T/w200-h150/IMG_2627.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Trail on Marsh Island</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
</div>
<div><br /></div>
The well-marked nature trail on Marsh Island is also accessible, but the island
itself is so close to the water that the trail can be wet and muddy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Worst of all is the bridge between Marsh Island and Foster Island.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /></span>
<p></p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2lz_wryYfIgjoeFv_ZdCzxLfhYwFPPzqgIBowIRuemGD36dqFdBqFj-zYpubZzG74rsBOPmeC9CD-2Q1IZeFxHh5EtFtMc3lz-sA-s46mj3rtYB0MYwu3Htlhe-x-UgPTt7Q2Bn4QYlgqaHLqXVBNi3X1C7XLv3FmoI3Hs0yZaGPFSHCpyCgbcpA/s1280/IMG_2645.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2lz_wryYfIgjoeFv_ZdCzxLfhYwFPPzqgIBowIRuemGD36dqFdBqFj-zYpubZzG74rsBOPmeC9CD-2Q1IZeFxHh5EtFtMc3lz-sA-s46mj3rtYB0MYwu3Htlhe-x-UgPTt7Q2Bn4QYlgqaHLqXVBNi3X1C7XLv3FmoI3Hs0yZaGPFSHCpyCgbcpA/w200-h150/IMG_2645.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Steps on trail between <br />Marsh and Foster Islands</span><br /><br /><br /><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<p></p>
Along with the expected upward points to allow boat access below are unexpected
steps, rendering this part of the journey inaccessible.
<p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</p>
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<p>
The views and proximity to the water are worth the trip, in my mind. But
hikers with wheelchairs will probably want to make 2 trips with short hikes.
The first trip would be to East Montlake Park (and maybe across the pointy
bridge to Marsh Island and back) to see the Montlake Cut, the eagle pair, the
waterfowl, and the views. The second trip would be to the Washington Park
Arboretum at Foster Island to see the beach and views.
</p>
<p>
Is the loop wheelchair-friendly? I don’t think so – because of the steps on
the bridge between Foster and Marsh Islands. Is the loop feasible for
wheelchairs? Only with a lot of attitude and assistance. Is it worth it? Yes!
</p>
<p>
As an added bonus, we finished just before sunset, when hundreds (thousands?)
of crows gathered in the trees. Perhaps they were nesting there for the
night, but Google seemed to indicate that this was a meeting point before
migrating to the nightly resting spot. We didn't stay long enough to
confirm which was the true meaning of this gathering; either way, it was
spectacular!
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LBKFWty9BAeCBBghN_MvonitDXZWRFIYBDVelXkB_QCKlmAxkQArDVsuUriNFAo9AH15DJVaQxvUDAQPbFpSP1RzU1tk4tzEEKAq-AGlK25eRWULQ6X1Up2R8Nyn5WtdhxTrdqlRYOC1STGWngIym9P2uUWj7chgSjn0wXeuDbTd1qUNNjQkyZxm/s1842/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-09%20at%206.08.50%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="1842" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LBKFWty9BAeCBBghN_MvonitDXZWRFIYBDVelXkB_QCKlmAxkQArDVsuUriNFAo9AH15DJVaQxvUDAQPbFpSP1RzU1tk4tzEEKAq-AGlK25eRWULQ6X1Up2R8Nyn5WtdhxTrdqlRYOC1STGWngIym9P2uUWj7chgSjn0wXeuDbTd1qUNNjQkyZxm/w640-h138/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-09%20at%206.08.50%20PM.png" width="640" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Crows nesting at East Montlake Park in trees before sunset<br /><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br /></p>
<p>
** Since that time, I have seen that the floating bridge connecting the trail
to the land at East Montlake Park is a few inches underwater, necessitating
getting muddy and wet. However, I have also seen online reports that the
trail is scheduled to undergo re-strengthening and rebuilding in the summer of
2023.
</p>
</div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-39443851537325068242023-03-25T12:09:00.022-07:002023-06-28T11:18:33.866-07:00Participation: Kicking Horse wedding<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaFxL7hHX4rg97dUALAbJmDblNkC4jXF5tcc4yco4B72sGN1klhNvgh9RxFPWFIVEinFy_2DZe1VEvZCl83oDeBlwqMEThuu1jMeCisLy_djpnhxTyUPx9N1f8LoWKj-qGHplrqdDiTKTJx3V2eJiVRTSBGFr1fyM3Onbti8RyBvWAzUIp89wyPSR/s1280/IMG_2012.HEIC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaFxL7hHX4rg97dUALAbJmDblNkC4jXF5tcc4yco4B72sGN1klhNvgh9RxFPWFIVEinFy_2DZe1VEvZCl83oDeBlwqMEThuu1jMeCisLy_djpnhxTyUPx9N1f8LoWKj-qGHplrqdDiTKTJx3V2eJiVRTSBGFr1fyM3Onbti8RyBvWAzUIp89wyPSR/w320-h240/IMG_2012.HEIC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Riding the gondola at Kicking Horse Resort in<br />Golden, BC (Canada)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Many of my friends love skiing. Some are so obsessed that they talk of nothing but snow reports as soon as the temperature drops below 50 degrees. Several of them volunteer with the alpine ski program at <i><a href="https://outdoorsforall.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Outdoors for All</a></i> - an organization which offers outdoor adventures to people with disabilities. It is through my own participation in this ski program that I re-discovered active outdoor life post-wheelchair, leading me to the discovery of other outdoor adaptive adventures and a re-definition of my self-identity. It is also through this organization that I have met good friends and that I have been able to participate in the ski culture and its discussions prevalent in the Pacific Northwest.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuSw8JUs-wjK4fvHE1NjygI9csIMtPkEYrXt2xlGSwQRLdWXZRzm5APXDvhkey1Xg3069ZmbIIw_rs_0nGqcUt3nhlRBJ6q2Gy2C3bzmINYtKbZZMu2-P1nzrDvsnOmFBJVfpEDcUyaIsntf5Hq2obYQ4ULK2YzltnqGSqQ1P_UqAL3_kYbGVmY0N/s1280/IMG_4998.HEIC.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1280" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuSw8JUs-wjK4fvHE1NjygI9csIMtPkEYrXt2xlGSwQRLdWXZRzm5APXDvhkey1Xg3069ZmbIIw_rs_0nGqcUt3nhlRBJ6q2Gy2C3bzmINYtKbZZMu2-P1nzrDvsnOmFBJVfpEDcUyaIsntf5Hq2obYQ4ULK2YzltnqGSqQ1P_UqAL3_kYbGVmY0N/w200-h96/IMG_4998.HEIC.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain top wedding at<br />Kicking Horse Resort<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of these ski-loving friends recently married another ski-loving person, and they aptly exchanged their wedding vows on the top of a 7700 foot mountain at Canada's Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnf84LJRGh0xasiUVUX_mabpNiDYcz5hwZoVd0MsUVIoehnDGQcrr80y1Oh_XysiFjV7kVvvnwPTBGi1DrCXs_l9fnYRYvU9wQUOAARdeN86wOWi2wHPcClSmYwlC5d43Y2hEwn79JpCekRD65NPpmJVu9s6vhF1IkolgLVevQHsekLyn-Hg3N7tK/s664/IMG_5052.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="664" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnf84LJRGh0xasiUVUX_mabpNiDYcz5hwZoVd0MsUVIoehnDGQcrr80y1Oh_XysiFjV7kVvvnwPTBGi1DrCXs_l9fnYRYvU9wQUOAARdeN86wOWi2wHPcClSmYwlC5d43Y2hEwn79JpCekRD65NPpmJVu9s6vhF1IkolgLVevQHsekLyn-Hg3N7tK/w200-h89/IMG_5052.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalets and lodges at <br />Kicking Horse Resort</td></tr></tbody></table>The mountain-top ceremony was followed by a reception in a chalet at the 3900 foot base.<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSYu8FZtsDMGOE3FC73iTWtI0Pmsn2PUEwUmYEki1MCTAOFIww2hLNu745YEcTIZ7ojiKMeSo7x5riba8SFvCd0ouu9NxLRRBS14Zp8201yGq5D78Ic-clAzOmw86sZS-hcKVCpIrWq_rAB3-YS7zTU27OVPvCY8LyP1GhyvZzOQgk7FE56FzhV0n/s1280/IMG_5020.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1280" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSYu8FZtsDMGOE3FC73iTWtI0Pmsn2PUEwUmYEki1MCTAOFIww2hLNu745YEcTIZ7ojiKMeSo7x5riba8SFvCd0ouu9NxLRRBS14Zp8201yGq5D78Ic-clAzOmw86sZS-hcKVCpIrWq_rAB3-YS7zTU27OVPvCY8LyP1GhyvZzOQgk7FE56FzhV0n/w200-h159/IMG_5020.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The way from the gondola<br />to the wedding terrace</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>In order to reach the ceremony, guests rode up on the resort's gondola and crossed a swath of snow to reach the restaurant terrace.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7RMkW7wXWbnvhBMoKnpCHM-JRhbqZBBvCfKEgB0FwhjmKQwRP2oYNOUeMHWGRXs5vp43A-cDM01SnSf9tPr-XCHxLPT9ejdhsSVGI6hZVsSXQPGlRrNuNHkZUCwGH0uu9vJtSXGG6wYHzFh8LBoeomudZGY5UmWFUKnV-Qn_CCgWAMmTZLL3x0oR/s1280/IMG_5068.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7RMkW7wXWbnvhBMoKnpCHM-JRhbqZBBvCfKEgB0FwhjmKQwRP2oYNOUeMHWGRXs5vp43A-cDM01SnSf9tPr-XCHxLPT9ejdhsSVGI6hZVsSXQPGlRrNuNHkZUCwGH0uu9vJtSXGG6wYHzFh8LBoeomudZGY5UmWFUKnV-Qn_CCgWAMmTZLL3x0oR/w200-h150/IMG_5068.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>In order to reach the reception, the majority of guests donned skis and followed the newly-married couple down the mountain to the reception in the chalet at the base. About 50 people skied together for nearly 4000 feet down the catwalk and headwalls of the green runs.<p></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z1K2fH2_eCZ3DC7oMPoUR2zuMB_15q9i6QkHs42E7lkHoWU7PBkvnGqa83FW02sRFIBzA2eSVdWLHY27HvBwLDC9lQGOf-6bV_gNhfGeJPgYuvQn9Mmjf7jgVcF3sqRxFdz7MlOF0M0MDGgylx40NyhjTBgM-HAPQtukQ26RrnOLzdUzsGTGtd3q/s1280/IMG_5054.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z1K2fH2_eCZ3DC7oMPoUR2zuMB_15q9i6QkHs42E7lkHoWU7PBkvnGqa83FW02sRFIBzA2eSVdWLHY27HvBwLDC9lQGOf-6bV_gNhfGeJPgYuvQn9Mmjf7jgVcF3sqRxFdz7MlOF0M0MDGgylx40NyhjTBgM-HAPQtukQ26RrnOLzdUzsGTGtd3q/w200-h150/IMG_5054.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>I am overwhelmed by the amount of detailed planning that must have gone into this weekend, as well as by the number of people who showed up and and joined the ski procession down the mountain from the ceremony to the reception. Although the "how" was vague to uncertain until the last minute, with help and creativity, I was able to participate in this amazing weekend.<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbUDyPguDOZuV64pH8IRlKAKqn4MmV-1caIHLiqz3zhYOu5cYUKco3DFxGnBOJGGQMcsNo90Wi2NAi9ivom-EgV_px4eC96ImggA3nTwp-JtldBLWcbLXFkDzKj9z4fWgGaHYJQkAPyo41BE-vzFBwP5xNeo1sPmzlrb3YADMBpGzZtfA1suXTr2h/s1280/IMG_5013.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1116" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbUDyPguDOZuV64pH8IRlKAKqn4MmV-1caIHLiqz3zhYOu5cYUKco3DFxGnBOJGGQMcsNo90Wi2NAi9ivom-EgV_px4eC96ImggA3nTwp-JtldBLWcbLXFkDzKj9z4fWgGaHYJQkAPyo41BE-vzFBwP5xNeo1sPmzlrb3YADMBpGzZtfA1suXTr2h/w174-h200/IMG_5013.jpg" width="174" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the gondola<br />on the Dynamique,<br />on top of the dolly<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>A major part of my participation was the equipment. I rented a Dynamique sit ski from <i><a href="https://outdoorsforall.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Outdoors for All</a></i> in Seattle, and they included a dolly to transport it. I transferred from my wheelchair to the sit ski at the lodge's main patio behind the locker room, from where Ted pushed me to the gondola. At the gondola, the liftees helped me ski onto the dolly. They then stopped the gondola temporarily, which allowed my friends to push and pull the dolly (with the ski and me on it) into a gondola car. At the top, the gondola was temporarily stopped again, and I was helped out of the gondola to the edge of the concrete (un)loading pad, from which I slid off of the dolly onto the snow. Ted pushed me across the snowfield to the terrace, while the liftees sent the dolly back down to the base (a procedure they were obviously used to). <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_17rfWl2G3qnGLjMCEHI-BnhsEDjNCAK21KFDkxRXIYJ4PqY5BznzvJa3qFqNJfStV9J4c4kX5DvVL3q7jHqLTogcNni09Q4-EmFTCtgPKUQscC-27NbjvcjU4kdCA0uV2hnZQSktXvbbnOosALc0YXSXZHrBxKKYJZ6YAZqIxDfGRQl2D2uh6hd_/s1280/IMG_2045.HEIC.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1280" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_17rfWl2G3qnGLjMCEHI-BnhsEDjNCAK21KFDkxRXIYJ4PqY5BznzvJa3qFqNJfStV9J4c4kX5DvVL3q7jHqLTogcNni09Q4-EmFTCtgPKUQscC-27NbjvcjU4kdCA0uV2hnZQSktXvbbnOosALc0YXSXZHrBxKKYJZ6YAZqIxDfGRQl2D2uh6hd_/w200-h179/IMG_2045.HEIC.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ted and I skiing down<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I watched the ceremony from my ski, and afterward I joined the group for the ski down the mountain to the reception. I went last, after the skiers and snowboarders, because I ski across the whole face, and because I anticipated falls (I hadn't really skied for years, due to the pandemic). <p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tN4BQNeowFbo886Ll2ziOd_ML1d8pSbGKJO6PNyMi9qugOyJruOONwXCZTaImb_a7MYDNBRz7zv8vVtI5JIRbZUHsTCs9fUEF0-quvzHVoT1vfg-C_NIc1cEHW2vxRjNYxsRBqaM5fUXZiptSUBFN27srZFv7C4ouEWG9Yk-wyn960eh4CCvRzfK/s1280/IMG_1983.HEIC.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tN4BQNeowFbo886Ll2ziOd_ML1d8pSbGKJO6PNyMi9qugOyJruOONwXCZTaImb_a7MYDNBRz7zv8vVtI5JIRbZUHsTCs9fUEF0-quvzHVoT1vfg-C_NIc1cEHW2vxRjNYxsRBqaM5fUXZiptSUBFN27srZFv7C4ouEWG9Yk-wyn960eh4CCvRzfK/w200-h150/IMG_1983.HEIC.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking over the valley <br />from the top<br />before the ski down<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>As with many situations, it takes a village. The bride and groom checked with me about the wheelchair in several situations. The staff at Kicking Horse -- especially the sales coordinator (Rachel) and the liftees -- were eager to help and to offer suggestions. The wedding guests --both old friends and new -- held the sit ski, helped slide the ski onto the dolly, helped maneuver the dolly on and off of the gondola, blocked for me while skiing down, and helped to pick me up when I fell over (yes, I did that a few times). A big thank you to all of them for their help. <br /><p></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPf1fzV-By3HuxaRyUSCh_qhv6-Lalw7jkkRapPwpAes-qS8JuVXJcjLB-xQgaw8HlE-92PcHFiKKByyHaovh99GyjJd7Jsx67JkZ83tdUGL4zzcAB68SPcuU5uDPBlc2XOC3hX8qnI8JzCS6Dbut8B50lo6vBVazHMe3czhXE9MvsI_hKuSG8vFoT/s1280/IMG_1990.HEIC.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPf1fzV-By3HuxaRyUSCh_qhv6-Lalw7jkkRapPwpAes-qS8JuVXJcjLB-xQgaw8HlE-92PcHFiKKByyHaovh99GyjJd7Jsx67JkZ83tdUGL4zzcAB68SPcuU5uDPBlc2XOC3hX8qnI8JzCS6Dbut8B50lo6vBVazHMe3czhXE9MvsI_hKuSG8vFoT/w200-h150/IMG_1990.HEIC.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with the bride<br />after the ceremony<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>Between the people and the equipment, I was able to participate in an amazing weekend and to feel like a part of the weekend, the festivities, the wedding, and the group. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEEJ_Vn3ur7tK-6wPq6Atx6wJIhI75jNJcHzF_uX8OyaU6bmaYg08g26u8z0796xc30Pl67Sh4PKyyXulp7D3V9sc2DqbKJXBTuWYrhBgrDvfSsdha2CD28AYwYNKNxUyTzlG70Bv-ejRV5isRNV-R9jpZ3dWXyJjff6lO-LXC5rnE5HjsEwNIlg9/s1280/IMG_5033.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEEJ_Vn3ur7tK-6wPq6Atx6wJIhI75jNJcHzF_uX8OyaU6bmaYg08g26u8z0796xc30Pl67Sh4PKyyXulp7D3V9sc2DqbKJXBTuWYrhBgrDvfSsdha2CD28AYwYNKNxUyTzlG70Bv-ejRV5isRNV-R9jpZ3dWXyJjff6lO-LXC5rnE5HjsEwNIlg9/w200-h150/IMG_5033.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the ceremony ...<br />from outside the terrace!<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>I can't overstate my gratitude for this feeling of participation and belonging. It is, I know, not to be assumed or taken for granted, and I was fortunate to experience this confluence of people and opportunity.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would, however, be remiss, to omit the fact that even in the height of inclusion, I felt like I was on the fringe. We couldn't stay with the rest of the guests, because the on-mountain lodge was not accessible (no Act for <i>Americans</i> with Disabilities in Canada!), and because stairs prevented me from accessing the food and the restroom at the reception. This is, in no way, to detract from the kindness and concern of the people involved. It's just a fact of life for people with disabilities that is probably only noticed/felt by us.<br /></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-83763197866721836452022-12-08T16:13:00.003-08:002023-06-28T11:14:30.842-07:00Redwoods National and State Parks<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuoutD5WhaztvhrJZADpWYYlrGcQS4wPoWfbm9HwHvmV9X7MGebq-USTSKlw7sV3vp5DHKuwOFjOxjGZGaGLpdbQme3YQS9Hg9OuGrxZ2j6W6sdICTLXoWNvb9XJ0Gvs7n6Pm6SH0uAqj_WoC8zF7bdon2fAH1DXtMf1Ssa-VtTl4JqBe_HRO2OLa/s372/IMG_7767.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="132" data-original-width="372" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuoutD5WhaztvhrJZADpWYYlrGcQS4wPoWfbm9HwHvmV9X7MGebq-USTSKlw7sV3vp5DHKuwOFjOxjGZGaGLpdbQme3YQS9Hg9OuGrxZ2j6W6sdICTLXoWNvb9XJ0Gvs7n6Pm6SH0uAqj_WoC8zF7bdon2fAH1DXtMf1Ssa-VtTl4JqBe_HRO2OLa/w400-h143/IMG_7767.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In my experience, the hardest thing about the Redwoods National Parks was getting there, I planned to meet my brother and his kids there in Spring 2000 ... but Covid jumped onto the scene, and the parks closed. After the pandemic closures abated, I hoped to go with my husband, but West Coast wildfires closed that area in in late summer 2000. Finally, in the summer of 2021 conditions allowed us to meet my brother and family there for several days of tree hugging and neck-crimping gazing. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hil7B7x5EEROTfk124kfkGV1QoLh-oaorIQLhQApncXJtupeoaDU5O_ToKj7MOLIP2VHSEp1I8glIJ9VjbMmT7C-n4TZgvOBzJpRUopeDR9g0wS6VYeWm77GgCPe2-c-A8bmCnBXi-1Z2JyeGZhU1j_at5IkMFuixdyTU7VT6OTjiIj38iajTRRH/s1280/IMG_7459.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1280" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hil7B7x5EEROTfk124kfkGV1QoLh-oaorIQLhQApncXJtupeoaDU5O_ToKj7MOLIP2VHSEp1I8glIJ9VjbMmT7C-n4TZgvOBzJpRUopeDR9g0wS6VYeWm77GgCPe2-c-A8bmCnBXi-1Z2JyeGZhU1j_at5IkMFuixdyTU7VT6OTjiIj38iajTRRH/w200-h167/IMG_7459.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and a separate picture<br />for the tops!</td></tr></tbody></table>It was a wonderful trip, followed by the second most difficult challenge -- transferring my experience to words online. Despite a fantastic trip, accompanied by well-documented and accessible trails that were artistically photographed by my teenage nieces, I was stymied by by my own reliance on technology (I usually keep notes on my mobile phone, but there was no electricity to re-charge the battery), as well as the procrastination inherent in a busy life and in human nature. Of course, the longer I waited, the more difficult it became to reconstruct my travels and travails, based solely on photographs. Fortunately, others have documented the accessibility of CA redwood trails in detail, and I can at least provide encouragement to go (GO!) and direction toward some useful information.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwsjpX3wqI81r5XmBCeQWibm9Hya3NCyJ7gHD5WpmeVy9QuGX51UKu4FFrVk3RTK3UqBJ8T6I7EaE7h08TGM4iiyaVzisSyq3EAfAQrTj75llV1shkL1fQuLckMqg-VGCBfu6VcE9nukruSGzPaUn4JpGN1JBwL8zqVrHEjsQ7LHIeTB3ZnrgWn2K/s1280/IMG_7663.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1280" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwsjpX3wqI81r5XmBCeQWibm9Hya3NCyJ7gHD5WpmeVy9QuGX51UKu4FFrVk3RTK3UqBJ8T6I7EaE7h08TGM4iiyaVzisSyq3EAfAQrTj75llV1shkL1fQuLckMqg-VGCBfu6VcE9nukruSGzPaUn4JpGN1JBwL8zqVrHEjsQ7LHIeTB3ZnrgWn2K/w200-h129/IMG_7663.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Accessible cabin<br />at Elk Prairie in <br />Prairie Creek Redwoods<br />SP<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The northern redwoods region in CA includes Redwoods National Park and 3 state parks. Redwoods National Park has no developed campground of its own, but it is home to back-country campgrounds, a visitor center, and several redwood groves and trails. Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is the most steep and inaccessible, although Mill Creek Campground and several beach overlooks are wheelchair accessible. The most accessible hikes are found in <a href="http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=12" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prairie Creek</a> and <a href="http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Parks</a> -- each boasting a visitors center, at least one developed campground with a few accessible sites and restrooms, a few accessible cabins, and a network of accessible trails. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiwVfsm1CRI6YVfpfVH86NmF9QgPEWvSxJha8dQopclt9zf-_-6baSlsCSQEaY5Gf_eK_P_ZeJ9QB3EqlHc_g5iqe_ugDNiQ_s-yznGVzFXGYzJxA9m89_Bro-8BMJE7W2xBZ2QiHvus7HWeeyPWNK9Bg7y6ApVkKkv1Uk52O5DzDwoEv60Z1EWmP/s1280/IMG_7572.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiwVfsm1CRI6YVfpfVH86NmF9QgPEWvSxJha8dQopclt9zf-_-6baSlsCSQEaY5Gf_eK_P_ZeJ9QB3EqlHc_g5iqe_ugDNiQ_s-yznGVzFXGYzJxA9m89_Bro-8BMJE7W2xBZ2QiHvus7HWeeyPWNK9Bg7y6ApVkKkv1Uk52O5DzDwoEv60Z1EWmP/w200-h124/IMG_7572.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Accesible restroom --<br />except for the threshold<br />and the loose gravel!</td></tr></tbody></table>The great thing about national and state parks is that most of them try to comply with the ADA, whenever possible. In general, visitor centers, restrooms, vault toilets, picnic grounds are more apt to be accessible than in non-governmental areas. The problem, of course, is that accessibility -- even ADA compliance -- is not always practical, complete, or even effective. For example, although there are many "accessible" restrooms in these parks, several of them are built on concrete pads with a 2" threshold (sometimes<br /> adjoining a soft surface). And the visitor center at Prairie Creek State Park is indeed accessible -- once you get to it, which entails going up a short yet steep bank.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcMk-NfRXgBPoEWnxkKzXrQcERarzcnkepLJjQTOxOA4wDKW7AC7rtG9fKM93CwUsNuEjf7-TjB93yQNmCEDP6V4LR4SQNSvU21i7uZcfXZOm5ZHvw9rBInFtu-G5ZfsqojuPGuhMpQS6U5EvvSSaSes6Fc-S3SEVdsFk0oQKr_x-iLFgyg8aKkvV/s1280/IMG_7657.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcMk-NfRXgBPoEWnxkKzXrQcERarzcnkepLJjQTOxOA4wDKW7AC7rtG9fKM93CwUsNuEjf7-TjB93yQNmCEDP6V4LR4SQNSvU21i7uZcfXZOm5ZHvw9rBInFtu-G5ZfsqojuPGuhMpQS6U5EvvSSaSes6Fc-S3SEVdsFk0oQKr_x-iLFgyg8aKkvV/w200-h150/IMG_7657.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ADA campsite across from<br />the field of elks</td></tr></tbody></table>We ended up camping at the aptly named Elk Prairie Campground in <a href="http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=12" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prairie Creek State Park</a>, and our campsite provided front-row observation of the herds of elk grazing in the prairie that draws tree-weary tourists from all over. Our campsite wasn't very private in front, but it was very accessible -- with a large paved center and a nearby accessible restroom with a separate accessible toilet/shower. There were also accessible cabins for rent nearby and there were accessible campsites more surrounded by trees behind us (though they seemed more crowded).<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlM0QQA1SuR5U-5eTfM4s3mMYDizqb8JhYTssSXdbfxs7iTXIoEUp-3CJFS01G61LK9aLEgvgGLkyd6RqgBcfXK8VovfQlD_o_JkP3TdPUIIhxylc2t05R3Ez05TL2bN1qGBYmvo02i8Yiajdv5blKsco9UcxCuX6VlXDDf8bvCIeiWWzZZ5VY-fsU/s1280/IMG_7513.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlM0QQA1SuR5U-5eTfM4s3mMYDizqb8JhYTssSXdbfxs7iTXIoEUp-3CJFS01G61LK9aLEgvgGLkyd6RqgBcfXK8VovfQlD_o_JkP3TdPUIIhxylc2t05R3Ez05TL2bN1qGBYmvo02i8Yiajdv5blKsco9UcxCuX6VlXDDf8bvCIeiWWzZZ5VY-fsU/w200-h150/IMG_7513.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>The large herds of large mammals were impressive, but the true stars were the redwood trees themselves. Towering over 200 (and a few even over 300) feet and more than 50 feet around, these giants watched over us mortals as we travelled between groves and craned our heads upward to gaze. Several of the trails in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park were wheelchair-accessible (see below). <br /><p></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio946CNPCZcTz7rjRVw5ZrQfqWVAlsCfuzlgp8DVCITx_BS7ojp77XAQ9igGcdakbymCTRXYSlWDOmyp2qMDWvk8XBgaPi8KffYSDpuD82q__EsMgkpme7OVKZxjw356NG_gwS15b2AQiAgVpu5Vwl8Pa5W7KbUf-d718b7u1bK5Ad_5yTPGB2nMpp/s1280/IMG_7564.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1280" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio946CNPCZcTz7rjRVw5ZrQfqWVAlsCfuzlgp8DVCITx_BS7ojp77XAQ9igGcdakbymCTRXYSlWDOmyp2qMDWvk8XBgaPi8KffYSDpuD82q__EsMgkpme7OVKZxjw356NG_gwS15b2AQiAgVpu5Vwl8Pa5W7KbUf-d718b7u1bK5Ad_5yTPGB2nMpp/w200-h105/IMG_7564.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cal-Barrel Road in Prairie <br />Creek Redwoods SP<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Even those not wishing to hike could take a gentle stroll or roll underneath the trees and feel their majesty. In fact, one could drive on Cal Barrel Road or on the Newton B Drury Parkway and see and feel the giant trees without even exiting the car.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofK42Y6pPOR85yvdvR3M4W4K6HE7TJnEyKXU8GFFi2ckyGgXMIhXoPibRz8jnIZJj9tZ6c4W-uLRMfur8ximVUY2FYEsFmiLC19gcFzMcigWiJ_WtTmTQe7hE1nHUqIasAElmF9oQ7dB3UlO56Zw2SOSCxlYt6X4Y4VByiFq6bpYNzA75a5Njka5l/s1280/IMG_7766.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofK42Y6pPOR85yvdvR3M4W4K6HE7TJnEyKXU8GFFi2ckyGgXMIhXoPibRz8jnIZJj9tZ6c4W-uLRMfur8ximVUY2FYEsFmiLC19gcFzMcigWiJ_WtTmTQe7hE1nHUqIasAElmF9oQ7dB3UlO56Zw2SOSCxlYt6X4Y4VByiFq6bpYNzA75a5Njka5l/w200-h150/IMG_7766.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park</a>, at the north end, also offers a multitude of choices for visitors with wheelchairs. In fact, it was really a coin-toss as to whether we camped there or in Prairie Creek. This<br /> park also boasts accessible picnic grounds and waysides, redwood groves, campsites, and trails (see below), as well as drives along the big trees. such as the Howland Hill Road. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfwur8nMxbEmhb9Qp5ljsyW_CKoN1RNoBOSZDZXJXMvRI3HiGgQQDgzPC9eoT4B1fJbqcA8vrv8iouJtjALl46sJF6zavFEFopM1Epk2wcC6PLzvi3KhLYuN_1Jljdw8gtvjago-3zVsQ9jLN2R9-VdAnfHblReNQBAegm7N483po5PeLrgGjv-E4/s1280/IMG_7497.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfwur8nMxbEmhb9Qp5ljsyW_CKoN1RNoBOSZDZXJXMvRI3HiGgQQDgzPC9eoT4B1fJbqcA8vrv8iouJtjALl46sJF6zavFEFopM1Epk2wcC6PLzvi3KhLYuN_1Jljdw8gtvjago-3zVsQ9jLN2R9-VdAnfHblReNQBAegm7N483po5PeLrgGjv-E4/w200-h150/IMG_7497.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />The Redwoods parks offer excellent trails for hiking with wheelchairs. Several paved, boardwalk, and dirt trails are firm, wide, and well-maintained, with good thresholds. Of course, some trails have gentle to serious slope, and there is some cross-slope on hilly areas. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNOOfLC2bHb82zFK2M0-tEFWcjx1avYOscaRuxaA_x-Opoxgu-nQllMmU5Rbj_z31B4_paVB4Guzu-__2btclBl8YK_j4QhNKk6to3J8eNUnMSzfjb_LCKlWCYvUaC8yBmWXi2P5xXS8f3jAoXReDaJt41hENvZFQEvH8ezqGqCx2cH0-uF954_Io/s1280/IMG_7814%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1280" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNOOfLC2bHb82zFK2M0-tEFWcjx1avYOscaRuxaA_x-Opoxgu-nQllMmU5Rbj_z31B4_paVB4Guzu-__2btclBl8YK_j4QhNKk6to3J8eNUnMSzfjb_LCKlWCYvUaC8yBmWXi2P5xXS8f3jAoXReDaJt41hENvZFQEvH8ezqGqCx2cH0-uF954_Io/w200-h166/IMG_7814%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>CA has done an excellent job of documenting slope, cross-slope, and other accessibility features in printed literature and at trailheads. The non-profit group <a href="https://www.savetheredwoods.org" target="_blank"><i>Save the Redwoods</i> </a>has done an outstanding job of including disabled visitors in its marketing. In fact, they have actually teamed up with the <a href="https://disabledhikers.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disabled Hikers</a> to publish a <a href="https://www.savetheredwoods.org/blog/path/15-great-redwood-parks-for-people-with-disabilities/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">guide to hiking in the CA redwoods for those with disabilities</a>. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEU4h6AqdFGc3NouKOMvyngoSr9CatXUCvItlhZ1gsX_zc4RRFuLk2xCP5tIy1BPT3Glt9rcyl6NGiYlUbIpQC4X_MYYqspz_1x0YFw0vSqZBLN5nwdmxQSf87lnCjlg6Dg5ADCM_CZi70mND7lBERxF3jFTlzyZ6BPsQ7IYKlqj78nwP8Usj3Nnt/s1280/IMG_7684.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEU4h6AqdFGc3NouKOMvyngoSr9CatXUCvItlhZ1gsX_zc4RRFuLk2xCP5tIy1BPT3Glt9rcyl6NGiYlUbIpQC4X_MYYqspz_1x0YFw0vSqZBLN5nwdmxQSf87lnCjlg6Dg5ADCM_CZi70mND7lBERxF3jFTlzyZ6BPsQ7IYKlqj78nwP8Usj3Nnt/w200-h150/IMG_7684.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />In <a href="http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=12" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park</a>, Redwood Access Trail (.7 mile ow), Revelation Trail (.3 mile loop), Foothill/Prairie Creek Trail (2.3 mile loop) and the Big Tree Wayside/Circle Trail (.16 mile) are all accessible. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8fSIk1QlEkTZmkDy8mpM8gI9Gr503RDw64eTcmD40CdMv2KAW5nSZFH2440hmXhPj7b7WihJTDXh1-lEpcCYGdc3sBA1efzD_ycI4Shami_-uwOzVUvylSSoltPsNJYAOy2XhhFh1qDx-hNwfE3UXthTh2Vjb5K9YNtYj3kyqxfw74Xb8ZV87hKR/s1280/IMG_7813%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1280" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8fSIk1QlEkTZmkDy8mpM8gI9Gr503RDw64eTcmD40CdMv2KAW5nSZFH2440hmXhPj7b7WihJTDXh1-lEpcCYGdc3sBA1efzD_ycI4Shami_-uwOzVUvylSSoltPsNJYAOy2XhhFh1qDx-hNwfE3UXthTh2Vjb5K9YNtYj3kyqxfw74Xb8ZV87hKR/w200-h163/IMG_7813%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In <a href="http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park</a>, the Simpson Reed-Petersen Memorial Trails (.93 mile loop) and the Leiffler Trail (.88 mile ow) are accessible. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT5lWzlA_lWNH-5gy6Ew_EwSCeEcdw1-QDRErtfn1fGefXLEWAA-o8Ms1QUOgq-wTmBMCVb3Ff9M6O6CE76cTve-NZsZIqESUee09kOjeBtozre9h5m8sxs96Na2AsV1wb9jJTlDJrjdUuWDJQ-uHWnGpB0vCaofERcEGgJJxLDxkR1dodzYRSa-v/s1280/IMG_7773.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1280" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT5lWzlA_lWNH-5gy6Ew_EwSCeEcdw1-QDRErtfn1fGefXLEWAA-o8Ms1QUOgq-wTmBMCVb3Ff9M6O6CE76cTve-NZsZIqESUee09kOjeBtozre9h5m8sxs96Na2AsV1wb9jJTlDJrjdUuWDJQ-uHWnGpB0vCaofERcEGgJJxLDxkR1dodzYRSa-v/w200-h165/IMG_7773.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Two of the more famous redwood groves are only sort-of accessible but worth it if you can do it. Stout Grove in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and Lady Bird Johnson Grove in Redwood National Park both are truly magical with their displays of huge trees, surrounded by wood sorrel, ferns, and rhododendrons. The trails around both groves (. 5 mile for Stout Grove and 1-2 miles for Lady Bird Johnson) are mainly accessible, with wide, moderately firm dirt surfaces that are well-maintained and seem to be kept clear. (Some areas have slopes steeper than 1:12, so hikers in manual chairs may need assistance in the groves.) <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDzX_nxa_25lZw6bPMUx695dX79cyJQjFSUaxkNVXm7GZCiwzjnqSGpzW6Nu8rKPIQ2t696DNzsI6XyFzZ11phfKeZsMzRCdqcxYkRSGmgVcBId5jeq81rwFx_1N3qJXa-N8NBfln_y9rMUW6vZNB_s6Y9GhL3pMNXwTfx-5fTYttmqNrzAkKLKuu/s1280/IMG_7575%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1280" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDzX_nxa_25lZw6bPMUx695dX79cyJQjFSUaxkNVXm7GZCiwzjnqSGpzW6Nu8rKPIQ2t696DNzsI6XyFzZ11phfKeZsMzRCdqcxYkRSGmgVcBId5jeq81rwFx_1N3qJXa-N8NBfln_y9rMUW6vZNB_s6Y9GhL3pMNXwTfx-5fTYttmqNrzAkKLKuu/w200-h130/IMG_7575%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Lady Bird <br />Johnson Grove</td></tr></tbody></table>Unfortunately, both groves are reached via a very steep slope. There are<br /> blog posts from a hiker in a power chair who was able to go down and up, but hikers in manual chairs will definitely need strong assistance. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiuK376knJf3_3Vo3CvIwtNklSApQN5COgo6rN-4Lxyfr38L40041KsEtbdoGXj0bvEnAPDi77vRxCdDgUqwFETsGopXLbNvjv4rXeObCwaiVK7FSQHZw_0XQCJtR-83urBkSfZPimYHuUJ_uX37NC7mHnqn3jeOPHUOutbQBZZ8PCz2XNCiLK14l/s1280/IMG_7470.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiuK376knJf3_3Vo3CvIwtNklSApQN5COgo6rN-4Lxyfr38L40041KsEtbdoGXj0bvEnAPDi77vRxCdDgUqwFETsGopXLbNvjv4rXeObCwaiVK7FSQHZw_0XQCJtR-83urBkSfZPimYHuUJ_uX37NC7mHnqn3jeOPHUOutbQBZZ8PCz2XNCiLK14l/w200-h150/IMG_7470.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I frequently encountered<br />roots in trails; <br />almost all could be <br />circumvented</td></tr></tbody></table>Keep in mind that this is a land dominated by nature. Even in summer, the air was cool in the woods and even cold and foggy at the coast. Phone connectivity was spotty to non-existent. On trails, we frequently encountered tree roots which had broken through above ground or had pushed up the trail in their attempt to do so. Thresholds between trail and bridge or boardwalk were generally well-maintained and low exposure, although I can easily imagine this may change in inclement weather. There were numerous fallen trees, although in my experience the trails had always been cleared for through-hiking. We had to schedule our travel between parks around major repair work on Highway 101 between the two state parks.</div><div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I found the trees and forests magical, the cool temperature lovely, the crowds manageable, and the accessibility surprisingly good. I have a feeling that recent publications for disabled hikers make accessibility decisions even easier and worth a return trip!</p><p><br /></p><p>For more info on this area, the following websites may provide helpful information:</p><p><a href="https://emerginghorizons.com/californias-accessible-coastal-redwoods/">https://emerginghorizons.com/californias-accessible-coastal-redwoods/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.savetheredwoods.org/get-involved/visit/disabled-hikers-guide-to-the-redwoods/">https://www.savetheredwoods.org/get-involved/visit/disabled-hikers-guide-to-the-redwoods/</a></p><p><a href="http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=12">http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=12</a></p><div><p><a href="http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=10">http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=10</a></p><p><a href="http://wheelchairtraveling.com/visit-the-california-redwood-trees-with-a-wheelchair-scooter-seniors-accessibility-accessible-hiking-trails/">http://wheelchairtraveling.com/visit-the-california-redwood-trees-with-a-wheelchair-scooter-seniors-accessibility-accessible-hiking-trails/</a></p></div><p><a href="https://www.visitredwoods.com/listing/disability-accessible-trails/32/">https://www.visitredwoods.com/listing/disability-accessible-trails/32/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.redwoodskywalk.com/faq/">https://www.redwoodskywalk.com/faq/</a></p><div><br /></div><p>Many people also visit the redwood trees farther south, where there is a famous drive-through tree, as well as several accessible hikes. The following websites may provide helpful information:</p><p><a href="https://emerginghorizons.com/californias-accessible-coastal-redwoods/">https://emerginghorizons.com/californias-accessible-coastal-redwoods/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.visitredwoods.com/listing/disability-accessible-trails/32/">https://www.visitredwoods.com/listing/disability-accessible-trails/32/</a></p><p><a href="http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=22">http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=22</a></p><p><a href="http://wheelchairtraveling.com/visit-the-california-redwood-trees-with-a-wheelchair-scooter-seniors-accessibility-accessible-hiking-trails/">http://wheelchairtraveling.com/visit-the-california-redwood-trees-with-a-wheelchair-scooter-seniors-accessibility-accessible-hiking-trails/</a></p><div><br /></div></div></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-11927037644191396462022-03-26T16:16:00.000-07:002022-03-26T16:16:15.388-07:00Sources for Wheelchair Hiking Trails -- March 2022<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blogs:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.wheelchairwandering.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wheelchair Wandering</a> (WA & beyond, esp: 5/17, 5/18, 8/18, 11/20, 4/21)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://rollingwashington.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rolling Washington</a> (Western WA)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.tales-trails.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tales of Trails</a> (national)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.accessiblenature.info " rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Accessible Nature</a> (national)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Online organizations:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://outdoorsforall.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Outdoors for All</a> (WA wheelchair and bike rentals)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://disabledhikers.com " rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disabled Hikers </a>(WA guides and programs)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.iansride.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ian's Ride</a> (West Coast, annual multi-day trail ride to promote accessible trails)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.healthandoutdoors.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Health and Outdoors Initiative</a> (OR programs)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Books:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Rugged Access for All </i>by Chris Kain (national)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to W WA and OR b</i>y Syren Nagakyrie (upcoming) (Pacific Northwest)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Online videos:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5394541#videobyforest" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Forest Service Accessible Adventures in the Pacific Northwest</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Articles:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.wta.org/news/magazine/features/wheeling-in-the-wild?fbclid=IwAR1hrzug7Xpa_kLR3OEhJZDabSGW8wPRRLAxAMacnQpXN5o5odUzMYn9azY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wheelchair Hiking in WTA magazine</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/where-to-hit-the-trail-in-a-wheelchair/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Accessible trails near Seattle, WA</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://editions.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=63410&i=702586&view=articleBrowser&article_id=3993834&fbclid=IwAR2kUNpDYbkPpmFd_Zi8AYTNddutjd-5OdBLzHWXCjk1Jz5oSv4eknSDa1I" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Accessible wildflower hikes in the Pacific Northwest</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lists:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m6o30I8PHEm16N7fIdCvMCx1onUqddF5Hwm5Qgw97U8/edit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wheelchair-accessible trails in WA from Outdoors for All (compiled by two of their participants)</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Trail Databases:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.traillink.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TrailLink</a> (national (former railroad) trails, filter for accessible trails)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.alltrails.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AllTrails</a> (national trails, filter for accessible trails)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.wta.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WTA</a> (WA trails, stay tuned for improvements to accessibility)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, look for webpages from state and national parks, webpages from forest lands, bike trails, and closed roads.</div></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-51406560190816539022021-11-07T14:22:00.005-08:002023-06-28T11:00:20.248-07:00Mt Rainier National Park<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd6ivu82ib07KAyx_bMNFcbGOsP-vtldL-TpG-C2NRMOLNxjaSnCOUknrjBLaL7e8kkBF_QDpoq6O8BaUgXhWvkA1ATcl3awBr_hWap_CYG9IjaiXeecJwHYUPh24d61mkRcwY7pFxPA/s1280/242728809_10227378067545417_7633841525857121509_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd6ivu82ib07KAyx_bMNFcbGOsP-vtldL-TpG-C2NRMOLNxjaSnCOUknrjBLaL7e8kkBF_QDpoq6O8BaUgXhWvkA1ATcl3awBr_hWap_CYG9IjaiXeecJwHYUPh24d61mkRcwY7pFxPA/w400-h300/242728809_10227378067545417_7633841525857121509_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Clutching the brakes on the steep paved trails <br />at Paradise in Mt Rainier National Park</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>In different online forums, I've seen the question, "Is Mt Rainier wheelchair-accessible?" Even though it's in my own backyard, I never really knew the answer, so I decided to do some research. The answer will be disappointing to lovers of clarity, since it depends on what you mean by "accessible" and what you want to do.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhcMEHikoELQ_MA6R_1CRi7n2SdcZBznq20DqUGbJM_lD0P-yApUS8n1U2ruOi3MXyVGJfbA0pfC2BxihPXJsuNsfvHJSoTSbCBcx8rS6KIVePThxsX_LRulbI8NmBJwz0XuTI3f2gYQ/s1280/IMG_7998.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1280" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhcMEHikoELQ_MA6R_1CRi7n2SdcZBznq20DqUGbJM_lD0P-yApUS8n1U2ruOi3MXyVGJfbA0pfC2BxihPXJsuNsfvHJSoTSbCBcx8rS6KIVePThxsX_LRulbI8NmBJwz0XuTI3f2gYQ/s320/IMG_7998.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Mt Rainier from Paradise trails<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>In early September, my husband and I spent three days at <a href="https://www.nps.gov" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mt Rainier National Park</a>. Answering the question of accessibility did not even cross my mind until about half-way through our visit, so there was not nearly enough time to explore this park of over 200,000 acres. Acknowledging that the park is huge, I wanted to narrow my exploration to what was unique about this place -- the mountain, with its alpine meadows, and the big trees below. Even with this truncation, the area is too large for such a limited visit, so I relied not only upon my own experiences, but also on previous posts, suggestions from friends, and the insightful guide book, <i><a href="http://barrierfreeolympic.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barrier-Free Travel: WA National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers</a></i> by Candy B. Harrington of <a href="https://emerginghorizons.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emerging Horizons</a>. In addition, I trained myself to think of this as a contribution to that answer, rather than a comprehensive conclusion.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOAwzKnlrm6rycOu14zp-v2r84tgJuxN882-BUdlWQMszWBFXh248lB-cvNYaT9b24dhOBuJpNe4lYjsiPv57XRGoJd6ihyphenhyphen7vagv_6lzXaTjkyLUjHvJz3KRfyvPUnyW67nqwXx4Vqpo/s1280/IMG_0302+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOAwzKnlrm6rycOu14zp-v2r84tgJuxN882-BUdlWQMszWBFXh248lB-cvNYaT9b24dhOBuJpNe4lYjsiPv57XRGoJd6ihyphenhyphen7vagv_6lzXaTjkyLUjHvJz3KRfyvPUnyW67nqwXx4Vqpo/s320/IMG_0302+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Blazing fall colors<br />from Paradise meadows at <br />Mt Rainier National Park</td></tr></tbody></table>Before I get to accessibility, let me briefly go off on a tangent of beauty. The magnificent and awe-inspiring Mt Rainier floats above the horizon at a distance, boggling the mind as to how earlier humans could have understood it. Covered in (unfortunately melting and receding) snowfields and glaciers, the lower half boasts fragile and lush alpine meadows. Further below, the park visitor can enjoy mountain views, rushing rivers, and big trees. The growing season is short, but the meadows explode with colorful wildflowers in the second half of summer, berries (and berry eaters) around Labor Day, and fall colors in mid- to late- September. Our visit corresponded with the last warm(ish) sunny day of the season, rewarding us with the picture of a mountain seemingly on fire, as the mountain ash, vine maple, berries and other plants of the alpine meadows were awash with fall color. The insane beauty of that day was definitely a highlight -- even in a life filled with beautiful memories.<br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHGJcP-7ppAfmvh1LAcY2Msw4uWlkRL1_H6un3fsyUH6XY0G1UDZYatothCRJZayaBJaTGJZvInAIVkVpwE9RuG-B6cGrVbfQ_1flhjPVtm650zIwGFdDoTww_OgxIGeZdpoMHQ9qXLI/s1280/IMG_0264.HEIC+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHGJcP-7ppAfmvh1LAcY2Msw4uWlkRL1_H6un3fsyUH6XY0G1UDZYatothCRJZayaBJaTGJZvInAIVkVpwE9RuG-B6cGrVbfQ_1flhjPVtm650zIwGFdDoTww_OgxIGeZdpoMHQ9qXLI/s320/IMG_0264.HEIC+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Mt Rainier from trail near <br />Myrtle Falls, Paradise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now, on to the main topic -- accessibility. It's important to remember that Mt Rainier is a 14,411 foot volcano, and because it is so close to sea level, its prominence is over 13,000 feet. This means that the land around the mountain is necessarily extremely steep, and accessibility needs to be accommodated to this geographical reality. My conclusion? The accessibility of the park is related to your goals. If you want to see the mountain up close, the park is quite accessible. If you want to experience the mountain by hiking its trails, not so much! Here's my humble run-down:<p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Visiting the park</b></p><p>You will definitely need a car and the ability to drive curvy mountain roads. An <i><a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/access-pass.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Access</a></i> pass, available for free by mail to disabled visitors, can be used to gain entry into the park.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Viewing the mountain</b></p><p>The main reason for visiting the park is to experience the mountain up close. This is best accomplished by visiting the tourist areas of<a href="https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/maps.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Paradise and Sunrise</a>. As the official park brochure reads, "Most visitor centers, restrooms, picnic areas ... are accessible or accessible with help for wheelchair users." To me, this is frustratingly vague, because "most" does not mean "all" and "accessible" is different from "accessible with help."</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj00-TJZZM7YPPVgm-hbR0V4dNDPw_DXpDmjmDrpg8cAqOTIYXmwrE58_TNjUWp1ZgQDFRbJurxyEX5MFrjD6wjmrTYlPbpcxpKUBFJtcaUupmJ7DNRMcGWl7S5ROBnyAvz6UqqKKg9RI/s1280/IMG_0241.HEIC.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1280" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj00-TJZZM7YPPVgm-hbR0V4dNDPw_DXpDmjmDrpg8cAqOTIYXmwrE58_TNjUWp1ZgQDFRbJurxyEX5MFrjD6wjmrTYlPbpcxpKUBFJtcaUupmJ7DNRMcGWl7S5ROBnyAvz6UqqKKg9RI/w200-h106/IMG_0241.HEIC.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Parking lot at Paradise in<br />Mt Rainier National Park</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>The Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise is fully accessible. Outside, there is a picnic area on pavement, but no specific tables designed for wheelchairs (wheelchair users can sit at the table ends). The large paved parking lot fills up quickly, but there are many disabled parking spots to the right of the visitor center and near Paradise Inn at the top. There are seasonal accessible restrooms inside the visitor center and year-round accessible restrooms with flush toilets outside of Guide Services. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacTQqoJHSMSYnqnb6hyYyTTaMnE0i91xDSa3sIiX8Q0Yl7V8WTW1ClFWpyl2nvJP41uOeLFNcoWMBuNMZaKlqqvrYwK9MK0DaXGZCg53Kdn0lORK_KfeD5dEEyj-NRJ6qKSViSO-5to4/s1280/IMG_7973.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1280" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacTQqoJHSMSYnqnb6hyYyTTaMnE0i91xDSa3sIiX8Q0Yl7V8WTW1ClFWpyl2nvJP41uOeLFNcoWMBuNMZaKlqqvrYwK9MK0DaXGZCg53Kdn0lORK_KfeD5dEEyj-NRJ6qKSViSO-5to4/w200-h114/IMG_7973.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paradise Inn</td></tr></tbody></table>The Paradise Inn has an accessible indoor dining room and an accessible cafe, with an accessible outdoor porch that offers a great mountain view. The beautiful meadows at Paradise can be viewed from the parking lot, the inn or cafe, or from the visitor center. They can also be viewed up close from the lower reaches of the meadows (there is a steep path that bypasses the stairs). The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/mora/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm#CP_JUMP_636381" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paradise webcams</a> offer good pictures of actual conditions on the mountain and in the parking lot.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The Sunrise Visitor Center is accessible with help (steep ramp), through the north side entrance. There are accessible restrooms, with flush toilets, and there are disabled parking spaces. There may be accessible picnic tables. I have read that there is a semi-accessible seasonal snack bar opposite from the Visitor Center (but I did not visit or verify that). <a href="https://www.nps.gov/mora/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm#CP_JUMP_636381" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sunrise webcams</a> offer good pictures of actual conditions on the mountain and in the parking lot.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEXQD726oNxp97kfkXjkTFyfCEOxKvL9O-OvjjSnclemdBlNbHpHh-JGh5g8FeqBs7gWC6Rj3J4FmrLWpaXTBJBEJfGKK2nnnE_ziLn68hisF48QWRTuWKjcD8EQSuLZls6-pAZLgndU/s1280/IMG_7941.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEXQD726oNxp97kfkXjkTFyfCEOxKvL9O-OvjjSnclemdBlNbHpHh-JGh5g8FeqBs7gWC6Rj3J4FmrLWpaXTBJBEJfGKK2nnnE_ziLn68hisF48QWRTuWKjcD8EQSuLZls6-pAZLgndU/w200-h150/IMG_7941.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Log outside of<br />Ocanapecosh Visitors Center</td></tr></tbody></table></div>The Longmire and Ohanapecosh areas do not offer mountain views, but Longmire is a good place to learn about the history of the park and both are filled with big trees. The visitor center at Ohanapecosh and the Longmire museum and the national park inn are accessible, as is the dining room at the inn. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/mora/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm#CP_JUMP_636381" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Longmire webcam</a> offers a good picture of actual conditions.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Throughout the park, there are various pull-outs on the road. Some of them are unnamed and unmarked -- you can pull out and gaze at the mountain from your car whenever it is safe. Some of them are officially designated, and you can pull off and park. Waterfall views are tricky for wheelchairs, since most paths end in narrow, rocky trails with steps, meaning you can only see the falls from the top. However, mountain views are scattered throughout the park and definitely appear on the way up to Paradise and Sunrise.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCTItDXRTUX4Wo8fXsi0UXil3ntLs0JpfreIkQ_x88DKNUWU422V617b2dL8i1a1q-FnRFJTsB7jwoyVjxQY6SurPz_6fxhH4ArAaqiKnBDpaIFGzXKZJy6gSLp4B42LkpjdvnI-lPss/s1280/IMG_0231.HEIC.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCTItDXRTUX4Wo8fXsi0UXil3ntLs0JpfreIkQ_x88DKNUWU422V617b2dL8i1a1q-FnRFJTsB7jwoyVjxQY6SurPz_6fxhH4ArAaqiKnBDpaIFGzXKZJy6gSLp4B42LkpjdvnI-lPss/s320/IMG_0231.HEIC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflection Lakes and Mt Rainier<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of these official pull-outs is at the aptly named (on a calm, sunny day) Reflection Lakes, east of the turn-off up to Paradise. Along with the view, there is a paved lot with disabled parking and some benches (but no picnic tables). Unfortunately, there is no accessible path to reach to trail around the lake, but the mountain is best viewed from the parking lot anyway.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77E1aI_s05qyCSWdoyz7_Cv4utN7aN8EO54pCI2PAplFnCJoLqLlNQ7nHCCMmL3cAqwVaFm9e-R0mwxDs3zaPPHhIsE077vA8yg2aufFiIfh6fJP01F47vZX0NKwJKHeNEaUZoHIW7T0/s1280/IMG_8027.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77E1aI_s05qyCSWdoyz7_Cv4utN7aN8EO54pCI2PAplFnCJoLqLlNQ7nHCCMmL3cAqwVaFm9e-R0mwxDs3zaPPHhIsE077vA8yg2aufFiIfh6fJP01F47vZX0NKwJKHeNEaUZoHIW7T0/w200-h150/IMG_8027.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking lot for Box Canyon<br />and Cowlitz River</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Farther east is the pull-out for Box Canyon. As I remember it, the parking lot side was a bust -- the path to the restroom is inaccessible and the path to the overlook is paved but steep, without a good view at the end. (The Box Canyon Picnic Area further on is also very inaccessible.). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuilmUJh2j6XqbCTOt1buh8mC3DoML1XHEuEkLOewriEIpj_5XHs2ooIocD_VeseAO6SoJeMb2omaycHLqDjdtggM6C0r8bDxwg-UmpJCu5wFKeYatP0Npwjp9CPE9HHAxa8kCHFSjscc/s1280/IMG_8032.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuilmUJh2j6XqbCTOt1buh8mC3DoML1XHEuEkLOewriEIpj_5XHs2ooIocD_VeseAO6SoJeMb2omaycHLqDjdtggM6C0r8bDxwg-UmpJCu5wFKeYatP0Npwjp9CPE9HHAxa8kCHFSjscc/w150-h200/IMG_8032.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Rainier from <br />Cowlitz River</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />On the other side of the street, the short, paved trail along the Cowlitz River is better, leading to a bridge with a view of the river and mountain. However, the trail is steep enough to make it very challenging for a manual chair, and the final downhill before the bridge has an evil cross-slope, so even power chairs may just want to stop and admire the view before the descent to the bridge. Beyond the bridge, the trail completes a loop as a dirt trail that quickly becomes inaccessible, so it's better to turn around and return down that same paved path.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEVGCY2vK7uTp0HJZjv-1Nfwc_Qi_1Mj7rSWushYyjA79hyphenhyphenHcGRGUIE0b3TpKVx2PQCVAVrh62hVchkj02vCYthh5RdvS6hj85FH-WObt1h9vWfjQh1gCA3fqmBnjvKKocPOD8jDvTmg/s1280/10582956_10204516952671833_4712327551410279907_o.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEVGCY2vK7uTp0HJZjv-1Nfwc_Qi_1Mj7rSWushYyjA79hyphenhyphenHcGRGUIE0b3TpKVx2PQCVAVrh62hVchkj02vCYthh5RdvS6hj85FH-WObt1h9vWfjQh1gCA3fqmBnjvKKocPOD8jDvTmg/s320/10582956_10204516952671833_4712327551410279907_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Tipsoo Lake and Mt Rainier<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>My favorite viewpoint is at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/tipsoo-lake.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tipsoo Lake</a> on Chinook Pass (eastern edge of the park on Highway 419). A large paved parking lot (I think with disabled parking spaces and accessible restrooms?) offers a view of the mountain, which positively glows at sunset --thus the crowds of people and tripods. The trail around the lake <i>should</i> be accessible, but is definitely not (narrow and bumpy).<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Lodging</b></p><p>The recently-renovated <a href="https://mtrainierguestservices.com/accommodations/paradise-inn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paradise Inn at Paradise</a> has at least two accessible rooms. </p><p>The <a href="https://mtrainierguestservices.com/accommodations/national-park-inn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Park Inn at Longmire</a> also has an accessible room.</p><p>Despite our intention, we didn't stay at the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">White River Campground</a>, so I'm not sure about its accessibility. There were a few sites along the river, which seemed nice and flat, but not official ADA sites. Otherwise, the campground looked and felt rather crowded.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsy3JWn4yDjifNVxGcQg5T7S_3U0RtSY_q4ybAYvG753jpClqELHzsMN6POyhjbK0ZJVzfmMYB8tNqa5AWuGE24e3zvvtLZcYnrwNCHyOcAMsfHoMi43RGtZEM6HMcsgj1t-RXgORfw40/s1280/IMG_7949.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsy3JWn4yDjifNVxGcQg5T7S_3U0RtSY_q4ybAYvG753jpClqELHzsMN6POyhjbK0ZJVzfmMYB8tNqa5AWuGE24e3zvvtLZcYnrwNCHyOcAMsfHoMi43RGtZEM6HMcsgj1t-RXgORfw40/w200-h150/IMG_7949.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ADA site at <br />Ohanaecosh Campground</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We ended up camping at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ohanapecosh Campground</a>. I think it is often overlooked, because it is shaded and far from mountain views, but that means that the trees are bigger and campsites more private. Loop D contains a couple of ADA sites (D20, D21) and a few flat non-ADA sites (the nicest was D24), next to an accessible restroom. Unfortunately, Loop D is closed after Labor Day, and there are no other ADA campsites (and the Loop A restroom by our site was truly inaccessible).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY4hBDn43dJWTATaz0yjMttBl3lUESQbSJdvLkYkReQZQub5dbBYUwABzJtEj-pwM28eyNdldZrOXguzrGF8gZhW4OLyTfJO3pzzb1g9kDJyvvknNU26xo-ZdxBuNY917fsm70KD-aXw/s1280/IMG_7954.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1280" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY4hBDn43dJWTATaz0yjMttBl3lUESQbSJdvLkYkReQZQub5dbBYUwABzJtEj-pwM28eyNdldZrOXguzrGF8gZhW4OLyTfJO3pzzb1g9kDJyvvknNU26xo-ZdxBuNY917fsm70KD-aXw/w200-h146/IMG_7954.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Accessible restroom at<br />Ohanapecosh Campground</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>A ranger told me that <a href="https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cougar Rock Campground</a> has ADA campsites and an accessible restroom open past Labor Day. A brief stop there showed that many sites were closed for tree hazard, including an ADA site.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>There were several campgrounds on the map just outside of the park, and I just feel like some of those might be accessible. But, I don't know yet!</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Hiking</b></p><p>The official park brochure tells me that I can "find fully accessible trails at Kautz and Paradise. Some trails at Paradise and Longmire are accessible with help." So, my husband and I set off to explore.</p><p>We didn't make it to any of the <a href="https://visitrainier.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2016-Sunrise-Area-Trails_access.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sunrise</a> area trails, because of time. Two of the trails are listed as "Easy," so they may be accessible; then again, they may not. Does anyone know?</p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIX9IQwqykeFEUfCnOoGg2hcLLFAQBX-fcQ_e68aJjlIJCe32cas4NMMR_1f9m96qbw92xv_Qp8b0g9iUhe5E7L6mTOSMgcJN7iIQhdy88tdVotuVWDIw8qQOXyBSD8q_CRNkIQ_T7lQ/s1280/IMG_7962.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIX9IQwqykeFEUfCnOoGg2hcLLFAQBX-fcQ_e68aJjlIJCe32cas4NMMR_1f9m96qbw92xv_Qp8b0g9iUhe5E7L6mTOSMgcJN7iIQhdy88tdVotuVWDIw8qQOXyBSD8q_CRNkIQ_T7lQ/w200-h150/IMG_7962.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ohanapecosh hot springs --<br />very warm water<br />springing from the ground</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The trails in the <a href="https://visitrainier.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2019-Ohanapecosh-Area-Trails_508.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ohanapecosh</a> area were disappointing. We tried to roll to the hot springs from the campground, but the trail soon grew narrow and rocky. Likewise, the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail <i>should</i> be accessible, since the path is a boardwalk around big trees, but the path to and from the boardwalk is frighteningly inaccessible. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLUIeFvqYG4xaoD9VPI2CRnrh6qHuLv56tHsDLimjJe3bKgtJ5ygOHz0Ug6K-l_GU8kJAnd6jYXrT6i4WB4-7bpNnTGw67mWM9ctIHzvdvwaUxj_lQFzwS-F2bsTpBilDb2PVjibofys/s1280/IMG_0240.HEIC.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLUIeFvqYG4xaoD9VPI2CRnrh6qHuLv56tHsDLimjJe3bKgtJ5ygOHz0Ug6K-l_GU8kJAnd6jYXrT6i4WB4-7bpNnTGw67mWM9ctIHzvdvwaUxj_lQFzwS-F2bsTpBilDb2PVjibofys/s320/IMG_0240.HEIC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Paradise, Mt Rainier <br />(most trails near the visitors center<br />were paved)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://visitrainier.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2019-Paradise-Area-Trails_508.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paradise</a> offers a network of trails, sprouting from the visitor center and parking lot. Wheelchair hikers can head toward the stairs and mountain on a paved path to right of visitors center, and then turn right before the steps onto a short gravel path, leading to alpine meadow trails. The mountain's steep prominence makes for difficult/thrilling/dangerous wheelchair hiking even though the paths leading out of the visitors center are paved. The park brochure claims that there is at least one fully accessible trail at Paradise, while other trails are accessible with help. The park ranger at Ohanapecosh Campground told me that the Skyline Loop was accessible. My take is colored by the type of chair I use (manual off-road Freedom Chair by GRIT) and by my assistance (super-human spirit and strength of an able-bodied pusher/braker who does not want me to get hurt). Nonetheless, I would not call any of the trails accessible for manual chair hikers, and they are only barely accessible for hikers using power chairs. Unfortunately, two of the most iconic views are not accessible -- you can get close to Myrtle Falls and Glacier Vista on the steep paved trails, but the accessibility stops short of the actual viewpoints. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZreoJnmHv0LvUk9vntAkiUYBjxpgjnayac26_84gCjZH_nrXVQ8Nnq5_Adqx67hWPTwcoOMmt9dMIV4wv2zmDD70Ote25jam7_Z54Uwg_2ZA0RONYYZ-ASi4O_WrdNb5HTbkzgQuRSs/s1280/242847319_10227372444484844_8111503046852331359_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="713" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZreoJnmHv0LvUk9vntAkiUYBjxpgjnayac26_84gCjZH_nrXVQ8Nnq5_Adqx67hWPTwcoOMmt9dMIV4wv2zmDD70Ote25jam7_Z54Uwg_2ZA0RONYYZ-ASi4O_WrdNb5HTbkzgQuRSs/s320/242847319_10227372444484844_8111503046852331359_n.jpg" width="178" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Inaccessible Iconic View #1: <br />Mt Rainier from Myrtle Falls<br />Overlook</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>The Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls is paved, but very steep. The paved part ends at bridge over the falls, so you can see the river as it disappears over the edge, but you can't actually see the falls. The trail beyond the bridge becomes unpaved and inaccessible. The greatest travesty is that the trail to see the falls, which turns off of the main trail just before bridge, is totally inaccessible --meaning that you can get near to the falls (with a lot of steepness and difficulty), but you can't actually see them. I asked my husband to hike the short distance from the main trail to the falls, and he took a photo for me, which is one of the most gorgeous spots accessible to walking visitors -- but not to those of us in wheelchairs!</p><p></p><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We also took the Skyline Trail to Glacier Vista. The Skyline Trail is paved, but this part is incredibly steep. I ascended only because of my Freedom Chair's levers and husband's strength. I survived the descent only with clenched teeth, aching brake muscles, and the tenacious hold of my husband behind me. I know that at least one hiker in a power chair uses a chest sling so as not to fall forward off of the chair. Maybe going on the Waterfall Trail to Deadhorse Trail instead of Skyline is better, but I have also heard that Deadhorse Trail is incredibly steep. Either way, you can only get so far, because the trail to Glacier Vista becomes hard-packed dirt with water channels --obstacles which probably prove impassable to all but the most sturdy off-road wheelchairs. This is truly unfortunate, because the view at Glacier Vista is amazing. Inaccessible Iconic view #2: Mt Rainier from Glacier Vista:<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyOTOFsFwB4ZpEgEYA5L15TaNljXNgmbcGHitKNMoImOUrWr-gqVUUUhFfYPJtSzr8uAb_xaJuOwk6duc1qpA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8AhIUASe9wwfOtiZKvx0kRyuHvqmseY-HHysZklRgM65J86rP_4odP-oFGXcpeGRd2AhhLggNBLJlJYaTlChVnI0pUGWBhCzgdB6TSwukwBhNOzhfB4fE6_5kEvDUpBV5F0ItTaPZ4g/s6000/DSC_1614.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8AhIUASe9wwfOtiZKvx0kRyuHvqmseY-HHysZklRgM65J86rP_4odP-oFGXcpeGRd2AhhLggNBLJlJYaTlChVnI0pUGWBhCzgdB6TSwukwBhNOzhfB4fE6_5kEvDUpBV5F0ItTaPZ4g/s320/DSC_1614.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nisqually Valley</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Perhaps most forgiving of the inaccessible accessible trails is the Nisqually Vista Trail. I actually hiked this trail a couple of years ago (<a href="http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2017/10/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">see 2019 post</a>), so things may have changed. The typical access to the trail is from the lower parking lot at Paradise, but this involves a large staircase, so we approached the trail from behind the visitors center. There are views of the Nisqually Glacier and the mountain, and there is a multitude of blue/huckleberry plants. The trail is paved, and the altitude gain is minimal, but the trail is very hilly, and it is extremely challenging for a hiker in a manual chair. A hiker in a power chair with a strong battery should be able to enjoy this 1.2 mile loop and the berries -- but watch out for bears!<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GAKs69fvkz3EWfyWBFVHe3Wxjvq9902GwKtrVYsBvIlfPaWnYk4YT0eKBiwhY775juOFIR349D5cDYPUEVXXs9Y1EcdGz0ed7__Ed5dog6naCdeST4vv9MKGDi3H-PUEx8E-gaSLRyw/s1280/IMG_8045.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GAKs69fvkz3EWfyWBFVHe3Wxjvq9902GwKtrVYsBvIlfPaWnYk4YT0eKBiwhY775juOFIR349D5cDYPUEVXXs9Y1EcdGz0ed7__Ed5dog6naCdeST4vv9MKGDi3H-PUEx8E-gaSLRyw/w200-h150/IMG_8045.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Rainier from overlook <br />at end of Kautz Creek<br />boardwalk</td></tr></tbody></table><p><a href="https://visitrainier.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2016-Longmire_Cougar-Rock-Area-Trails_access.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Longmire</a>-area trails hold a little promise. The Kautz Creek Trail, highlighted on the park brochure, was easy to find. It begins across from a a paved lot with accessible vault toilets and with picnic tables on hard-packed gravel, about halfway between Longmire and the south-west Nisqually entrance. Unfortunately, there is a steep approach from the highway to the trail. The trail itself is a short (500 feet each way) boardwalk ending with hard-packed gravel and a view of the mountain. Unfortunately, the slope on the trail would be challenging for hikers in manual chairs, and the poor access from the highway makes it difficult for any chair.</p><p>The Trail of the Shadows begins across from the National Park Inn at Longmire. I've read that this historical interpretive trail of hard-packed dirt through the woods is accessible for about 700 feet, although I don't think there are any mountain views. I didn't actually try this trail, so I can't speak to the conditions.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnGOMjYMCkvRBXEFQ4WHFLpASIGwf2TQAlYKOC5zV0sZ7ax9t6uYnDQn_I1mNlKrxb46hS2SZwvdRN7SAWP2R0SEVxMdbSfQmebPQ3IiozcSHje-72xX-lIbcGJ3h_ky2_iusvJV_uJY/s1280/IMG_8068.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1280" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnGOMjYMCkvRBXEFQ4WHFLpASIGwf2TQAlYKOC5zV0sZ7ax9t6uYnDQn_I1mNlKrxb46hS2SZwvdRN7SAWP2R0SEVxMdbSfQmebPQ3IiozcSHje-72xX-lIbcGJ3h_ky2_iusvJV_uJY/w200-h194/IMG_8068.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Rainier from Westside Road</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Westside Road, now closed to vehicles, provides good wheelchair access to a river with mountain views for a short while, but the road surface soon devolves into rocky unpleasantness, so it's more of a short roll to a viewpoint than a hike.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Is Mt Rainier National Park accessible? If you want to visit the park to experience the mountain, the park is quite accessible. If you want to stay overnight in the park, it is minimally accessible (a few rooms and a few campsites). However, if you want to go hiking in the park (which, of course, I do!), the park is woefully inaccessible. Every year, power wheelchairs descend onto Paradise for "Ride Tahoma" (they have a group by that name on Facebook), to help raise awareness about the need for accessible trails. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-GdbFaQcuLRqIxszP3hb8d93Y2wBkupDVg7v6rMnXxmYSwyM_FL7h4iOltjIoZ7KtBYf_siaDWWqHNLUzyWSVpakvZBoZpMnoa6ELXClgHnDSe75DTqCUamuDpiSwBxlH82OfCmlS28/s1280/10582956_10204516952671833_4712327551410279907_o.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-GdbFaQcuLRqIxszP3hb8d93Y2wBkupDVg7v6rMnXxmYSwyM_FL7h4iOltjIoZ7KtBYf_siaDWWqHNLUzyWSVpakvZBoZpMnoa6ELXClgHnDSe75DTqCUamuDpiSwBxlH82OfCmlS28/s320/10582956_10204516952671833_4712327551410279907_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Tipsoo Lake -- future ADA trail???</td></tr></tbody></table>The other mountain passes in WA boast at least one wheelchair-accessible trail each (Rainy Lake Trail in the North Cascades, the Iron Goat Trail near Stevens Pass, and Gold Creek Pond Trail near Snoqaulmie Pass). Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a wheelchair-accessible trail at Mt Rainier's Chinook Pass, as well? An accessible trail around Tipsoo Lake at Chinook Pass seems feasible, since there already exists an inaccessible trail. The lake and trail sit at a large paved parking lot, with accessible vault toilets and disabled parking spots (I think), and a spectacular mountain view.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-61113557106838933632021-10-04T11:52:00.000-07:002021-10-04T11:52:20.582-07:00Flying without the wheelchair (skydiving)<p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs8dV5xCvKnjm37-s4e8ExNtjawWwlnbhDHK3Y3nlbgTgkep8mwKzaWNiejTy0hGnsU2SkhA99hxOBWNkSZFPIDkyG6TrDkBTOzHWdXSnnQt1Zsn-Hgn4_3i1-bpWpmu6jUZuTOcOMr4/s1920/GH011486_652491945_3843840.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs8dV5xCvKnjm37-s4e8ExNtjawWwlnbhDHK3Y3nlbgTgkep8mwKzaWNiejTy0hGnsU2SkhA99hxOBWNkSZFPIDkyG6TrDkBTOzHWdXSnnQt1Zsn-Hgn4_3i1-bpWpmu6jUZuTOcOMr4/w400-h225/GH011486_652491945_3843840.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying with Vlad at Skydive Snohomish</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">I thought that my favorite quote was from Mal Reynolds, Captain of the Serenity (Firefly). Recently, I</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">discovered that his quote was actually a bastardization of a statement by Martin Luther King, Jr. Putting the two together creates my own meaningful sentiment,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "If you can't fly, then run; </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">if you can't run, then walk; if you can't walk, then crawl; if you can't crawl, find someone to carry you." Although, based on recent experience, I might just change that to "If you can't walk, then fly!"</span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have always wanted to fly and dreamed of flying. Loss of mobility has only strengthened that desire, and I can't wait until jetpacks become de rigueur. In the meantime, though, I content myself with flying down hills in my wheelchair, with occasional ventures into flying down snow-covered hills or across water. I've never had any desire to try sky diving .................... until now!</span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am fortunate enough to have access to an <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sponsored/active-therapies-keep-ms-patients-doing-what-they-love/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adventure Club at the local MS Center</a>. I call them my adrenaline enablers, since they sponsor adventures for people with MS -- usually including modifications for people in wheelchairs. Several years ago, they advertised an outing to the local indoor skydiving center, and it was open to people in wheelchairs. As I said, I had never been interested in skydiving, but I feel compelled to take advantage of any opportunity given to people in wheelchairs, so I joined them at <a href="https://www.iflyworld.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iFLY</a> in Tukwila, WA, a suburb south of Seattle.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxsAsa-FBo-v4tlkoDyrWjnsef3Prcxm33vr7pHM3fm1xvCW9_kpRJu5rBftRYw7vqDVfAuDTMKv_SRC10cTg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Admittedly, it was a challenge to put on the required flying suit and earplugs, but I had someone to help me, and the staff were very helpful, as well. The flyer enters the transparent vertical tube with the assistance of 2 iFLY staff members. In order to simulate the free-fall of skydiving, a huge fan is turned on, forcing air from the bottom to the top of the tube, holding the flyer aloft. Depending on the flyer's position, s/he moves in different directions. The basic flying position involves arching the back, so that the hips are the lowest point, with the head and feet up high. Those of us with no control over our lower limbs need not fear; iFLY has created a contraption </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">that </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">holds a flyer's legs in that raised position</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The flight was short -- only a few minutes -- and I was lucky enough to do it twice. At the end, I was completely exhausted and dehydrated, but overjoyed. In fact, I was so excited about this experience, that I did it another time.</span></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrmzdPR2fGrt1SWHLySckIaBZH01SUKOwAmlTGR-N2PRyEZKltTUgt-JOvRGvCs997dpiJRbPvL8FT86bqB-92roUYusjc1XDBOD9GrivilFWrxK9IZFNW9KrlOkqNbX_oOBuga6kKpw/s1280/IMG_0003.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrmzdPR2fGrt1SWHLySckIaBZH01SUKOwAmlTGR-N2PRyEZKltTUgt-JOvRGvCs997dpiJRbPvL8FT86bqB-92roUYusjc1XDBOD9GrivilFWrxK9IZFNW9KrlOkqNbX_oOBuga6kKpw/w200-h150/IMG_0003.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skydive Snohomish</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fast forward several years. The same MS Adventure Club sent out a notice about actual skydiving, including spaces for people in wheelchairs. There was again this compelling feeling that if someone offered an opportunity for wheelchair-users, I ought to take advantage of it. This was now combined with a love of flying, a memory of a fantastic time at the indoor center, and the knowledge that the free-fall part was not a stomach-dropping fall. Daunted by Covid the first year, I signed up the second year, and I was happily rewarded.</span><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh35q1IsJASAN20GrSwaYn0_3Yk5nTlwSaQZlWoKkJBWyA2w9G9cwKtfGqPM_dU9biH8enRljEYUVU8-0tZviXEKjJ4QvgbCkKiPPwFeHWxBU0ycJezn0BhyH_8WfOnP6ZpixcTfRpc0/s1280/IMG_0007.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh35q1IsJASAN20GrSwaYn0_3Yk5nTlwSaQZlWoKkJBWyA2w9G9cwKtfGqPM_dU9biH8enRljEYUVU8-0tZviXEKjJ4QvgbCkKiPPwFeHWxBU0ycJezn0BhyH_8WfOnP6ZpixcTfRpc0/w150-h200/IMG_0007.jpg" width="150" /></a><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>We went to <a href="https://www.skydivesnohomish.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>Skydive Snohomish at Harvey Airfield in Snohomish, WA, a town just north of Seattle. </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The front door was not wheelchair-accessible, but the staff were waiting for me, and they directed me to a side door, which was accessible. </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The restrooms were outside, next to the staging area. There were several unisex rooms, and the first one was designated "accessible." I suppose it was, because I could get to and inside of it with my wheelchair, and there was a grab bar on the side wall. However, the room was narrow, so I couldn't turn my wheelchair with the door closed, and I couldn't fit the chair to the side of the toilet. </span><div><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kuQnU1sTwDsuWZN5MbZeKfhVyk8_2CicwCH5GOsVveobQOZMsh55XApbSB85HytLOvO9BJl3YFz4vzGkSRsNGEfkTsROtpy4e0X0YrYdxGTd7DQY-0j0K7sMbK3tREAVGI6djpWSOGQ/s1280/IMG_0008.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kuQnU1sTwDsuWZN5MbZeKfhVyk8_2CicwCH5GOsVveobQOZMsh55XApbSB85HytLOvO9BJl3YFz4vzGkSRsNGEfkTsROtpy4e0X0YrYdxGTd7DQY-0j0K7sMbK3tREAVGI6djpWSOGQ/w200-h150/IMG_0008.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>The first step was watching an video, which went through the basic positions and procedures of tandem skydiving -- including preparation, flying to altitude, free-fall, parachuting, and landing. </span><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyxbpJcL4GtgecC8DUgK2g21IQqPP9M_WOUVYNrBdjDk8URdRr1OEOUx5StHsvn5607I_U1WpYLLqthvBuUo7w1bbtp8ttOfTGThOGEwJcsmCyLfkTbTQFG7CP6k7zfMfthsxDUuWpOM/s1280/IMG_0024.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyxbpJcL4GtgecC8DUgK2g21IQqPP9M_WOUVYNrBdjDk8URdRr1OEOUx5StHsvn5607I_U1WpYLLqthvBuUo7w1bbtp8ttOfTGThOGEwJcsmCyLfkTbTQFG7CP6k7zfMfthsxDUuWpOM/w200-h150/IMG_0024.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting strapped in before <br />the jump</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We then went outside to the staging area, where we were strapped up (we didn't put on the usual flight suits or helmets, due to Covid) by the tandem instructors. For wheelchair users, they had additional straps, so that the tandem instructor could pull up on our legs when it was time to land. My tandem instructor, Vlad, did everything pretty much by himself: lifted me out and back in to my wheelchair, rolling me from side to side on the ground in order to fasten all of the straps. He had obviously done this before. It was quick and easy. Since I am used to people poking and prodding me, it didn't even seem intrusive.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxS2qAYpuA7D4GQGVYLHxyMNOGKZhpDO_44v9zMNVE4ne6LpyhQgNp8huzlEFQgZd5Vw5eCRNMSJPhPMOTSDle5jHOgCmcKacuQMRGyv9FaEQoRUCmbx3gOcYtQv_6eNfWHM0f18skfA/s1280/IMG_0025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="557" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxS2qAYpuA7D4GQGVYLHxyMNOGKZhpDO_44v9zMNVE4ne6LpyhQgNp8huzlEFQgZd5Vw5eCRNMSJPhPMOTSDle5jHOgCmcKacuQMRGyv9FaEQoRUCmbx3gOcYtQv_6eNfWHM0f18skfA/w87-h200/IMG_0025.jpg" width="87" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All strapped in,<br />including the special<br />straps for the instructor to <br />pull up my feet for landing.</td></tr></tbody></table>
</div><br /><br /><br /><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="color: #050505;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-HQmKRw22Rigrf-_NHJw-bPLorMamcl0dHDPL_MbWFrMheEe-avFf7_X-2oYld4d0kyA5Fjdua5rT9KUqDrECNy8-wcLRwN6indYwUl2xbkU_dEBDqJlGB9YcMIe49CpG097wSWbeT8/s1280/IMG_0029+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1280" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-HQmKRw22Rigrf-_NHJw-bPLorMamcl0dHDPL_MbWFrMheEe-avFf7_X-2oYld4d0kyA5Fjdua5rT9KUqDrECNy8-wcLRwN6indYwUl2xbkU_dEBDqJlGB9YcMIe49CpG097wSWbeT8/w200-h99/IMG_0029+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plane and my <br />team of helpers.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We boarded the plane in small groups, with some people waiting in the staging area. The plane </span><span style="text-align: center;">made continuous trips to transport</span></div></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="text-align: center;">jumpers to the sky, making the entire operation seem like an efficient factory. It made me think, "How bad could this be, if all of these people were doing it?"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order to get in the plane, I backed my wheelchair up to it, just below the opening, and two staff members lifted me up into the plane, then helped me to the proper sitting position. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrZ6NY-xLKcKk2Mcd1gtOcWZwZM2erX2Neo4V3ojv3f8ojmRBYXjf0AKuF5KmHQeo_td3xqs4wqrAztfW8HMdDSla1ooOIYNgNMVYhyphenhyphenn8R-59CCi_iqRWIfQjKr_O3CuMxbe_6OyJNSc/s1920/GH011483_652491947_240240.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrZ6NY-xLKcKk2Mcd1gtOcWZwZM2erX2Neo4V3ojv3f8ojmRBYXjf0AKuF5KmHQeo_td3xqs4wqrAztfW8HMdDSla1ooOIYNgNMVYhyphenhyphenn8R-59CCi_iqRWIfQjKr_O3CuMxbe_6OyJNSc/w200-h113/GH011483_652491947_240240.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the plane<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We all sat on the floor, in-between the legs of the person behind. I was in the front of that chain, right by the open door, so I would be able to get out of the plane first and easily. The flight itself was noisy, but short. </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the flight, the tandem instructors attached themselves to us. </span></div><div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggV2y75qznzLpMM0XS95JlSu6guRVGdwma3nHwnbwJ-HddimXcSx6HtAEZKlzOR4GS24M9IKZIBLQlhN3I0ipZYA0hdPCRX9lCLs3r8wUS1xk97PhJBn8KzxIDotN_39gnAMfYsGkOFi0/s1920/GH011486_652491944_3123120.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggV2y75qznzLpMM0XS95JlSu6guRVGdwma3nHwnbwJ-HddimXcSx6HtAEZKlzOR4GS24M9IKZIBLQlhN3I0ipZYA0hdPCRX9lCLs3r8wUS1xk97PhJBn8KzxIDotN_39gnAMfYsGkOFi0/w200-h113/GH011486_652491944_3123120.jpg" width="200" /></a><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we reached altitude, my instructor and </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I opened the door and rolled out, while the others scooched forward. There was no moment of hesitation, because we were attached to the instructors, and they quickly rolled out. </span></div><div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctLRXdhoZ-iCHtLW82qSf7L6IHiHdABX7Dn4qy5_6Aa6GLbhvfhWtlLEeFvJ4V17mrkTEScJLwip9jct2eUJujDlmGJnbdVFG-DhPwzG336M2-BEO5vCfPmJpWM-T1wXtAA_Ri9rkqRk/s1920/GH011486_652491946_6846840.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctLRXdhoZ-iCHtLW82qSf7L6IHiHdABX7Dn4qy5_6Aa6GLbhvfhWtlLEeFvJ4V17mrkTEScJLwip9jct2eUJujDlmGJnbdVFG-DhPwzG336M2-BEO5vCfPmJpWM-T1wXtAA_Ri9rkqRk/w200-h113/GH011486_652491946_6846840.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The free-fall was in fact similar to the indoor skydiving experience, and the tandem hook-up seemed to keep us in position. The only negative part of the experience was that -- despite swallowing and breathing out -- my ears were blocked and a little painful.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J_wGqvwsVTOuR5ztaXiMGtVJIwG2Dgzr4yTKbWIVDvyswf1oO30DFBWC8IyOa_W8i3P3_HAPwbvRg8wTeiJS7OcnryuxoDfXT1-Woe9ULuEXyY889Wk7h19k2UeVNo-5r9oIu1bRn2w/s1920/GH011487_652491952_1681680.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J_wGqvwsVTOuR5ztaXiMGtVJIwG2Dgzr4yTKbWIVDvyswf1oO30DFBWC8IyOa_W8i3P3_HAPwbvRg8wTeiJS7OcnryuxoDfXT1-Woe9ULuEXyY889Wk7h19k2UeVNo-5r9oIu1bRn2w/w200-h113/GH011487_652491952_1681680.jpg" width="200" /></a><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After a minute or two, the parachute opened with a jolt, and we spent a couple of minutes gliding and turning under parachute. </div></span><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjkiFxdxTg8EcBaOyoHwJNZby6ZrI-B5212D62Ro4xwRDlOUV0fB2dz7BkQcvdh1aagmN6gvWJ7p2dQiVir7wzx9j6MtLdya-0eDCegZ-iqVSxBjGunw57zctLK9dgNeFxMxWYA62fKE/s1920/GH011489_652491943_2882880.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjkiFxdxTg8EcBaOyoHwJNZby6ZrI-B5212D62Ro4xwRDlOUV0fB2dz7BkQcvdh1aagmN6gvWJ7p2dQiVir7wzx9j6MtLdya-0eDCegZ-iqVSxBjGunw57zctLK9dgNeFxMxWYA62fKE/w200-h113/GH011489_652491943_2882880.jpg" width="200" /></a><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>All too soon, it was time to land. Almost all of us first-timers landed gently on our butts. My instructor was able to pull on the special straps to raise my legs, so that I didn't get them tangled in the landing. </span><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmzTXfNAann6EgK4p7H64Nm20TJBDurnjjTNO7bMc22X4d790shl0kYoe-aOmifcgTFFZl5crWg0cu9ydOIJkQYu1M75PS-jbD46QY_sT9G2Ojqbr3VzjZAd_RRrxC0V2sPK1qGfscNs/s595/IMG_0045.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="565" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmzTXfNAann6EgK4p7H64Nm20TJBDurnjjTNO7bMc22X4d790shl0kYoe-aOmifcgTFFZl5crWg0cu9ydOIJkQYu1M75PS-jbD46QY_sT9G2Ojqbr3VzjZAd_RRrxC0V2sPK1qGfscNs/w190-h200/IMG_0045.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The staff brought my wheelchair out to the landing spot, and after removing the parachute, they lifted me into my chair. It was a short and level roll back to the building. As with indoor skydiving, I was exhausted, deaf, and parched, yet overjoyed, after my flight. </span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The entire experience was fantastic! The efficient and smoothly-run organization was staffed by extremely helpful, friendly, and knowledgable staff. I was able to communicate my needs and concerns before the flight day. Nobody looked surprised to see a wheelchair in their midst. Vlad, my tandem instructor, inspired the utmost confidence, with his skydiving experience, positive attitude, and helpful approach. I might wish the restroom were larger (I think I would advise simply avoiding it, if possible), but</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that was a minor inconvenience in a wonderful day. The only really challenging part for me was the speed and noise which guided the event from the moment the training video ended through the landing. I guess my advice would be to be prepared for that, and to voice any concerns to your instructor before you are strapped in (don't assume that s/he has any prior knowledge). </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hopefully, the club will sponsor skydiving again next year, as I am already hoping to fly again.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx2pTRKkursIHnLrDARQciFZ5bYwmVQal22dNgCcubpFH4k5AONSAm7AB45k0tKwH2p2eLvBIg7W1QfO4O5OA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p></div></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-64859401285486855602021-07-05T17:27:00.000-07:002021-07-05T17:27:27.553-07:00Traveling with a wheelchair (revisited)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyIEo0-O17yAT6vXt5qfUd7ActFQ5zVR0bnMz1yVzTp8HakyF0gSjv3MjMElWtueuJX9S8G69AIMMzh53FD7gTUiGwIBup8zCQcyMransPlJAOwUXu99C-Irp8MFRUga25hcL3eJcH8o/s1280/IMG_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1280" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyIEo0-O17yAT6vXt5qfUd7ActFQ5zVR0bnMz1yVzTp8HakyF0gSjv3MjMElWtueuJX9S8G69AIMMzh53FD7gTUiGwIBup8zCQcyMransPlJAOwUXu99C-Irp8MFRUga25hcL3eJcH8o/w400-h230/IMG_0012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A recent trip to Wisconsin included a visit to -- <br />you guessed it -- a cheese factory!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2021/07/on-road-again-post-covid-travels.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br />A recent flight to WI t</a>aught me a lot about myself and my relationship to the Corona-virus pandemic. It also reminded me about the challenges of flying with a wheelchair. After I returned, I took a short road trip to a neighboring state to see some friends. This jogged my memory about the challenges of staying in a hotel. I'd recorded some of my travel tips before, but these recent trips were a good memory-dredge, so I figured I'd mention them again. </span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><u>Travel Wheelchair</u></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">My husband has a collection of skis and chooses a pair based on conditions. Likewise, I have a collection of wheelchairs and choose a chair based on conditions. For most domestic travel, I choose my <a href="https://www.goldentech.com/power-wheelchairs/compact-consumer-power-chairs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Golden LiteRider </a>portable battery-powered chair. The pros are that it dissembles and fits into a space as small as a Toyota Prius trunk. The heaviest piece is 35 lbs. The battery seems to last as long as I need, and it takes me up significant hills. I can roll a carry-on suitcase behind me with the non-joystick hand, and the charger fits in the basket below the seat. The cons are the lack of customization (one size fits all), and the wiggle in the joystick that makes it difficult to steer. There are always plenty of outlets in airport, so emergency battery charging is not a problem, and I bring an extension cord for charging in hotels, which are sometimes limited in outlets. When I board the plane, I take the joystick with the cord and the charger with me. So far -- knock on wood -- the chair has not been extensively damaged.</span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><u>Pre-flight</u></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkawNnakCjgjf3K1P54noKu_PK2jvFQjhUBWfTY25-fKhBYHfy85zLz0pNG-rAvIXlcVHrowlAnGqxYZYNXVVP4BWrfuq56IIugU5NTGSAUIk4nXzF_qdwc971-mP7vrrbIYYqWZ-yY5U/s1280/IMG_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkawNnakCjgjf3K1P54noKu_PK2jvFQjhUBWfTY25-fKhBYHfy85zLz0pNG-rAvIXlcVHrowlAnGqxYZYNXVVP4BWrfuq56IIugU5NTGSAUIk4nXzF_qdwc971-mP7vrrbIYYqWZ-yY5U/w200-h150/IMG_0033.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">When making an online flight reservation, I always find and fill out a form requesting wheelchair assistance (<a href="https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/accessible-services/specialservices-wheelchair/wheelchair-information-form" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">and some airlines have even more forms</a>) that lets the airline know I'm traveling with a wheelchair. These forms differ and require different details. I've found that some airlines don't allow me to check in at a kiosk, because of the wheelchair, but I never know which ones they are, so I always just head to the line to check in. I always remind them at check-in that I require an aisle chair to get to my seat, because that information seems to get lost.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><u>Airport Security</u></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">I think that my golden ticket for flying is my <a href="https://www.tsa.gov/precheck" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TSA pre-check</a> authorization. Yes, it costs ($85 for 5 years), but it is worth every penny, because it allows you to keep your shoes on, to leave your electronic items off, and -- most importantly -- to skip the extensive and invasive "body search". Instead of the whole long and painful process, the assistant simply swabs your cushion and hands to check for suspicious residue.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><u>Aisle Chair</u></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAI064sVpoYD-DXa71YzjltXxd5aZ_MAmaiIvQFP2AJnJM-ex8_wdJK5LDB12_7ChEowWRu0uJXIJMj4TjyK7kQ7CEwAiXAgWWJJLfRJmruhBBi8nHvuEl8-cq8Tho3HofVcIZDFUQtk/s300/Aisle-Chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAI064sVpoYD-DXa71YzjltXxd5aZ_MAmaiIvQFP2AJnJM-ex8_wdJK5LDB12_7ChEowWRu0uJXIJMj4TjyK7kQ7CEwAiXAgWWJJLfRJmruhBBi8nHvuEl8-cq8Tho3HofVcIZDFUQtk/w200-h200/Aisle-Chair.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">If everything goes smoothly, you can ride your own chair to the plane's entrance, where you will swap it (don't forget to take the joy stick and charger with you and to turn off the brakes) for a narrow aisle chair, pushed by two assistants. They will often assert that all straps must be buckled (and there are a lot), but not tightening the straps can cause your knees to bump or your clothes to get caught. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">You may have to remind them that many aisle seat hand rails can be moved up and out of the way when a secret button is pressed. For de-planing, this process is done in reverse. Remember that you are usually the first to board and last to de-plane, so arrive at the gate extra early (about an hour) and avoid tight connections. In fact, you will probably reach baggage claim after all of the baggage has been removed, so you may need to go to the unclaimed baggage office to collect yours. If everything doesn't go smoothly (I'd say about 20-25 % of the time), everyone -- including you -- waits to get on, or you wait to get off.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><u>Airplane lavatories</u></span></p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">Most airport bathrooms are reliably accessible. Most airplane lavatories are reliably not. When wheelchair users no longer travel, the most common reason is the difficulty of going to the bathroom. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">Dual-aisle planes are required to have an accessible lavatory (usually this is accomplished by temporarily collapsing the wall in between two neighboring lavatories), but this requirement</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"> is not very helpful. Firstly, it only covers dual-aisle planes, which are generally a subset of trans-oceanic flights. Secondly, accessing such a lavatory necessitates calling the flight attendant for assistance, assuming there is an aisle-chair on board (legally, there should be), assuming that the flight attendant knows how to assemble the aisle chair (you may want to learn how before your flight, just in case), cutting in front of the line of waiting people while the lavatories are combined for you, transferring to and from the toilet by yourself, and pulling down/up your pants on a public toilet or wheelchair. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">For many, this is understandably too much. Some consciously dehydrate and hope for the best, which is risky and probably unhealthy. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">For men, the best option may be a condom catheter with a leg bag and collection bottle. For women, the best option may be an in-dwelling Foley catheter (urethra or supra-pubic) with a leg bag and collection bottle. All in-dwelling catheters must be inserted in the hospital, but a temporary urethral one can be inserted rather </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">quickly</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"> and painlessly by a urology nurse, can be kept in for awhile, and can be removed at home by you.</span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><u>Hotel accessibility</u></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">The other big ticket item is lodging, which often requires a lengthy conversation with the front desk agent, even when the room is advertised as "ADA compliant." The main thing is a level entrance to the building and room, with doors wide enough to get into room and bathroom. I've found that asking someone whether or not their location is "wheelchair accessible," is often useless, as people have different interpretations of that definition, and they often don't consider one small step a problem. If the room is not specifically ADA-certified, I ask the front desk person to measure the bedroom and bathroom doors, then I compare that to my wheelchair width. Remind them to measure passable width with the door open, and not the width of the door frame, since the hinges impede passage. I have taken off the bathroom door by removing hinges, when it was just inches too narrow (a good reminder to bring tools and a handyperson or else ask hotel engineering).</span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><u>Hotel bathrooms and beds</u></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">For the shower/tub, ask if you can get in (width, configuration, shower door, threshold) and if there's a shower chair/bench. If the shower has a fixed bench, ask how far it is from the controls and from the shower head (holder). For the </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">toilet, ask if you can get to it (width, configuration), how high it is, and if there are any grab bars. You may have to bring your own vertical pole or toilet seat ???riser or even a commode chair. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">For </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">the bed, ask how high it is (the perennial problem!), if there is space beside the bed for a wheelchair, and if there is an electrical outlet nearby to charge your chair at night. You might want to bring a bed rail or vertical pole, and an extension cord. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">If the bed is too high, you may have to remove the box spring or base frame (lots of work!), so again, be prepared with those tools and engineers. You may even have to use a roll-away bed (they're usually lower). </span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><u>Accessible activities</u></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeyrXIL5LvyoI1uNHZgtw8-4YmgXLH5jcv4myf7zUvJ8lNGBPzNkg3ySLrvJqfRchczzl4iIjjvWfdBl0ZnAMJrQGhh-1sVddzojhw-IsgK3rn-EvQgluW4F3EMsBFZBy0mObF1r1ujQ/s1280/IMG_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeyrXIL5LvyoI1uNHZgtw8-4YmgXLH5jcv4myf7zUvJ8lNGBPzNkg3ySLrvJqfRchczzl4iIjjvWfdBl0ZnAMJrQGhh-1sVddzojhw-IsgK3rn-EvQgluW4F3EMsBFZBy0mObF1r1ujQ/w200-h150/IMG_0028.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">We found accessible activities where we didn't expect them. Along with internet research before leaving, we relied on on-the-spot personal referrals, informational phone calls, and tourist brochures. If someone is savvy to accessibility, then asking them about accessibility by name may work. Luckily, it seems the world may be heading in this direction. In many cases, however, it might be better to ask specific questions related to your needs.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">Obviously, there are a lot of challenges and a lot of preparation involved in traveling with a wheelchair. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">To me, it's still worth it. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-12420273719353072682021-07-05T13:58:00.000-07:002021-07-05T13:59:25.608-07:00On the road again -- post(?)-Covid travels <p><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_uIbqKYIgRKaC_pZ5ZIV3uUkFXXJtC1cokHO4HfqGxn1M0k8v88Qy4iBzsNCp-0pysAym9EhhTq1p2F2-AhtAdnrieEtjqhlGUxl35ayeO1Bv0LrEwoWIvxRyPNPYZ6IMPjWYFDjGFI/s1280/IMG_7305+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1280" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_uIbqKYIgRKaC_pZ5ZIV3uUkFXXJtC1cokHO4HfqGxn1M0k8v88Qy4iBzsNCp-0pysAym9EhhTq1p2F2-AhtAdnrieEtjqhlGUxl35ayeO1Bv0LrEwoWIvxRyPNPYZ6IMPjWYFDjGFI/w400-h296/IMG_7305+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passengers arriving at CWA (Central WI) airport with masks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">I have spent the last year living in fear --only a low level, but fairly constant. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">I take an immuno-suppressive drug to counteract an auto-immune disease, leaving me susceptible to the weakest virus. So during the Corona virus pandemic, I adhered strictly to WA state's restrictions, and isolated myself from family, friends, and travel. For those of us in WA, those restrictions began in March 2020, so that was a very long time, and there were very few exceptions. Doing my part to "flatten the curve" for the community morphed into doing everything possible to protect myself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For me, the approval of the vaccine was almost a miracle. I say "almost," because there was some concern as to the effect of the vaccines for those with suppressed immune systems, leading to the depressing thought that I might be stuck in isolation forever. However, my neurologists assured me that the vaccine was probably working for me through unmeasurable mechanisms. With this, I felt this miraculous sense of freedom and permission to once again see friends and family, interact with people, and travel. I decided to take advantage of the extra security of </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">airports and planes still requiring masks, in order to fly to WI and see my parents. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">I think that the trip to WI was the best thing I could have done to ease myself out of a Covid-restricted life. Flying was not as scary as I thought it might be: my neurologist assured me that airline flights were not known virus-spreaders, my research indicated that plane's air filtration systems worked to prevent disease spread, and Delta was very conscientious about requiring all passengers to wear masks, except when eating or drinking. Airports were also not as frightening as expected, since they required masks and distancing, as well (though the passengers in SeaTac and MSP were a little less likely to comply, and the staff was less likely to enforce the rules)</span></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFntFe6ZmD1b7pL98gB3Ujm6zXlkb6mEVIN2zXmJo1NNL4x2QupzdkLIQqyRBcS2YICR1LfZXvcSHKW_yvj0xN1U467zVGXWYwh948aUF_urwS-VkEthnAuemn_ZsBfSlukHQRcfGVlaY/s1128/IMG_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="649" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFntFe6ZmD1b7pL98gB3Ujm6zXlkb6mEVIN2zXmJo1NNL4x2QupzdkLIQqyRBcS2YICR1LfZXvcSHKW_yvj0xN1U467zVGXWYwh948aUF_urwS-VkEthnAuemn_ZsBfSlukHQRcfGVlaY/w115-h200/IMG_0035.jpg" width="115" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign at MSP airport</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpRuQCaLGl8QOv-Zi_co5NswpLO4tCu01sbL7w6dltHZKoL1E2DjfZly312JzMBtnzhvCZF5g4uyHK9dwDbM1Nmd70KwcNpltJi1uB3T3OFIyPPS50aGnzu1W8GhX_5kU1nxcx0WT93w/s1146/IMG_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="729" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpRuQCaLGl8QOv-Zi_co5NswpLO4tCu01sbL7w6dltHZKoL1E2DjfZly312JzMBtnzhvCZF5g4uyHK9dwDbM1Nmd70KwcNpltJi1uB3T3OFIyPPS50aGnzu1W8GhX_5kU1nxcx0WT93w/w127-h200/IMG_0036.jpg" width="127" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign at MSP airport</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNMxMUia7gYT4I7ruDMmscGpgZdACo4W-Fz-holwnIM9i1-oHhH32S-rkqCj7TiiAGtYMbiv_JMRDoQ6FbV4OEiSY7PN5cn03zxKHrdYWgegAr0vXmNvj3X8ZdNgIGimp5fwvisW2mOA/s1280/IMG_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1280" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNMxMUia7gYT4I7ruDMmscGpgZdACo4W-Fz-holwnIM9i1-oHhH32S-rkqCj7TiiAGtYMbiv_JMRDoQ6FbV4OEiSY7PN5cn03zxKHrdYWgegAr0vXmNvj3X8ZdNgIGimp5fwvisW2mOA/w200-h191/IMG_0038.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free vaccinations and coffee<br />at the MSP airport</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">At my destination, I mainly visited with family and friends, who were also vaccinated. When we did venture into public spaces, it was always and only outside. WI was a scary place for a West-Coaster to visit, because of a contentious history with the virus, masks, and restrictions. Still, I clung to the data showing that no case of Covid-19 transmission had occurred outside. Every time I've visited, the town has been different: at first, changes, such as the installation of city utilities, seemed oriented toward residents. Then the big-box stores moved in, incorporating the desires of the whole region. Current changes are oriented toward residents and visitors alike, and the concept of "accessibility" seems to have entered into the language and mind-set. For example, a local park has a paved and accessible path, a paved walk-way was built along the river, and botanical gardens were being built with an eye toward accessibility. Thus, we were able to enjoy outdoor activities relatively free of crowds.</span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixZnYwEUrPakPLcr_9-M02gYP2ITKujkSUCQ-bg4kjvuWmm6-y86XaO_6itTylilp5OMekI5nTx4u09fglwbkgh38c2Cz_2HbSbRTletYM3pfN8me8qO4tYIrlLzl_XCQQoXjm_mXC1E/s1280/IMG_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixZnYwEUrPakPLcr_9-M02gYP2ITKujkSUCQ-bg4kjvuWmm6-y86XaO_6itTylilp5OMekI5nTx4u09fglwbkgh38c2Cz_2HbSbRTletYM3pfN8me8qO4tYIrlLzl_XCQQoXjm_mXC1E/s320/IMG_0016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New river walk in Wausau, WI<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08DBFhjpvjm_giXLKfUVCKgzcgLYLHEJ5Y6KI6Re-ER8QvF91p_iiCu6otvHCBQ6aWsz9BhsZIX7gTpAvIpLFlOU030dXBpeuBqjABelcUyCft-c3vNJZKWkU5WTSIdrvTHeHouDuJjw/s1280/IMG_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08DBFhjpvjm_giXLKfUVCKgzcgLYLHEJ5Y6KI6Re-ER8QvF91p_iiCu6otvHCBQ6aWsz9BhsZIX7gTpAvIpLFlOU030dXBpeuBqjABelcUyCft-c3vNJZKWkU5WTSIdrvTHeHouDuJjw/s320/IMG_0028.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign for accessible paved path to Eau Claire Dells, WI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;">I doubt that the cavalier approach to potential virus transmission was good for the state of WI. Still, I think it may have been good for me -- confronting my extreme caution with extreme unconcern may have allowed me to settle on a happy medium, which helped me to prepare for the flight home and the upcoming end of restrictions in WA. I realize that the articles in <i>The New York</i> <i>Times</i> may be accurate, and my immuno-suppressant medicine may yet be proved to render the vaccine less effective. However, for now, I have to believe in the power of these vaccines, the assurances of my neurologists, and my experience during my travels. And I must admit that it felt wonderful to travel again!</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-72915491394830533912021-06-26T23:01:00.000-07:002021-06-26T23:01:34.483-07:00Shadow of the Sentinels<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-j3fXS8CC01xE1VOComJo1Sjk2rxx4Ia_4S0-1ghQC80zj8fO_xdU2QHvLY4Ga7oGRWmeG4tXUi1n5pKX4DhAvuoF9mOxr4oGr0yUJGhkz1WeTR02-Lu811T4m6rmTCLXeAO-zgnyWc/s1280/IMG_0027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-j3fXS8CC01xE1VOComJo1Sjk2rxx4Ia_4S0-1ghQC80zj8fO_xdU2QHvLY4Ga7oGRWmeG4tXUi1n5pKX4DhAvuoF9mOxr4oGr0yUJGhkz1WeTR02-Lu811T4m6rmTCLXeAO-zgnyWc/w400-h300/IMG_0027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shadow of the Sentinels Trail </td></tr></tbody></table><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>Last fall, I did a great loop through the <a href="http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/11/nc.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">North Cascades</a>, hiking, camping, and blogging about many of the trails and sites. This spring, I hiked one of the several trails I had written about, but hadn't had time to try: the <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/shadow-of-the-sentinels" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shadow of the Sentinels</a> near Baker Lake.</div><div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOiYSiOl7iSFpHL5lHaBoTFnKksFPYlyMbnylOgFFJW6QVdXplDTGYWD5_7htSoSJ8l9lq3p8CmJ7XEeD2-K2Ql75j1APBQ4BdKFgdJZyFkR6KfcHAOpdXJBZYwdd0rk8zkhju5zKftI/s1280/IMG_0045.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOiYSiOl7iSFpHL5lHaBoTFnKksFPYlyMbnylOgFFJW6QVdXplDTGYWD5_7htSoSJ8l9lq3p8CmJ7XEeD2-K2Ql75j1APBQ4BdKFgdJZyFkR6KfcHAOpdXJBZYwdd0rk8zkhju5zKftI/s320/IMG_0045.jpg" /></a></div>The trees along this hike are amazing. The trail through the old-growth forest frequently passes up-close single and small groups of ancient and huge Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock, Silver Firs -- many estimated to be 700 years old.<p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyUVmY8_K7fQKZgX3is-VzlXNmEAXpFViEhCaR3fjF87qFPDBgHzAe8E-KfafaUpo2HE-EqelGeMm5_OiAgc717SiedxCGr2HWYBb7R0tFN5HZynTGP1KHDA3AmaN-cIiddhEvoP2gXE/s1280/IMG_7194.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyUVmY8_K7fQKZgX3is-VzlXNmEAXpFViEhCaR3fjF87qFPDBgHzAe8E-KfafaUpo2HE-EqelGeMm5_OiAgc717SiedxCGr2HWYBb7R0tFN5HZynTGP1KHDA3AmaN-cIiddhEvoP2gXE/w200-h150/IMG_7194.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The trailhead begins at a paved parking lot with an accessible outhouse. There is a picnic table, that can be accessed from the parking lot, but it is not cut out for wheelchairs. Parking requires a Northwest Forest Pass (people with a permanent disability are eligible for the nation-wide interagency "<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5353055" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">America the Beautiful" access pass</a>, which is valid at all sites managed by the US Forest-Service and some other agencies).<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgeOrYMAEimiwt1hfEGc06ZrtsmUTRAAhdInEWyv3cKRgJot1moO7I7yf02rt5NM3vbYP_vqNFspVLTXlQVqz7v5AP22rRXpxJa9h-X57d4DQbfCBP2KjvGbOPmEjGg17GS1mXHwCYts/s1280/IMG_0022.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgeOrYMAEimiwt1hfEGc06ZrtsmUTRAAhdInEWyv3cKRgJot1moO7I7yf02rt5NM3vbYP_vqNFspVLTXlQVqz7v5AP22rRXpxJa9h-X57d4DQbfCBP2KjvGbOPmEjGg17GS1mXHwCYts/w320-h240/IMG_0022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The trail itself is a .5 mile loop, surfaced mainly with pavement and boardwalk. The path is mostly level, and I was able to push myself, except for one short but steep hill on a boardwalk, where I needed help. The transitions between pavement and boardwalk were flat. There were a couple spots where roots were pushing up through the pavement, but I think they could be passed by all types of wheelchairs.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmexD2E0r0q0txtp3KHjI9de16c3b-MwGuBantvJ60NEOKT0wFlwgRAiZ1RtJQ9dY5sqZRm-HB7RBWcyagS35yJ8KFFale19pJhUop5thQ8ppyqcVIPjeN2EYl3eB9RTEBfMfVP4mxVYM/s1280/IMG_0035.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmexD2E0r0q0txtp3KHjI9de16c3b-MwGuBantvJ60NEOKT0wFlwgRAiZ1RtJQ9dY5sqZRm-HB7RBWcyagS35yJ8KFFale19pJhUop5thQ8ppyqcVIPjeN2EYl3eB9RTEBfMfVP4mxVYM/w320-h240/IMG_0035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx1vwQ1T_UCjj-lReeLg60uOeIDpjiKI6sYL2mrtTqRGUK947-yu_ek7n_E81bhfSB4SxMnlefBmokzBlF5dAJbu828oQIAgvMfrv4lflbQCUtYeg9ob_oPECYUbE2y36nP12-TBcsk4/s1280/IMG_0038.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1280" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx1vwQ1T_UCjj-lReeLg60uOeIDpjiKI6sYL2mrtTqRGUK947-yu_ek7n_E81bhfSB4SxMnlefBmokzBlF5dAJbu828oQIAgvMfrv4lflbQCUtYeg9ob_oPECYUbE2y36nP12-TBcsk4/w320-h202/IMG_0038.jpg" width="320" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3W58Et2ybrjGHmisYpIqYCwyVJS-ts4XYab8pvFmOg1RbkSNpsmAt6GOIdsQrC95QpGmWEhahhq5JulR2kI8XiseER-BzHBgUdR53FWREZUQn7nH-UzqMd4x6bMf2crr1hbvx7z4oXzQ/w200-h150/IMG_7204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tremendous number of downed<br />trees in early spring</td></tr></tbody></table>This trail is a lesson in the necessity of advanced research. As with any trail, you can find excellent descriptions at the websites of the <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/shadow-of-the-sentinels" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Washington Trails Association (WTA)</a> and <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/shadow-of-the-sentinels-trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AllTrails</a>. Just as importantly, both trail websites show Trip Reports written by members. Recent reports inform you of trailhead and trail conditions, alerting you to obstacles and challenges. For example, thanks to WTA trip reports, we were somewhat prepared for the fallen trees on this trail. (Although, honestly, nothing could adequately prepare us for the sheer magnitude of the blowdown -- the incredible number of trees that had fallen over, their size, and the damage caused by their ripped out roots. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWyffJMAkOCwK3cUYUnD6HpMu_k1v2OyXUMAUmL_wUoJxpwKowle5zjeOaBLyJCH63ECCp5mf3eqwBjEoDXuW7MOxw94ZaPri38u7cWypcqqi866G-CLCIdEYjeCLICIRIPDaWdh8IX0/s1280/IMG_7226.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWyffJMAkOCwK3cUYUnD6HpMu_k1v2OyXUMAUmL_wUoJxpwKowle5zjeOaBLyJCH63ECCp5mf3eqwBjEoDXuW7MOxw94ZaPri38u7cWypcqqi866G-CLCIdEYjeCLICIRIPDaWdh8IX0/w200-h150/IMG_7226.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damaged trail and temporary<br />"bridge" constructed to<br />go around it</td></tr></tbody></table>Were I a good citizen with a decent amount of energy, I would create accounts with both of those organizations and add my own trip report with information especially pertinent to wheelchair hikers. You see, part of the damage caused by the falling of these huge trees was significant trail damage. Many sections of the paved trail were fixed with packed dirt. And one tree's roots pulled up a small section of the trail, leaving a gaping hole that walking people could go around, but wheelchairs could not. We passed through only because my husband built a bridge and seriously helped me cross over; others may need to go the "wrong" way around the trail (the hole is near the start if one goes the correct way), and then turn around, going back along the same loop the "right" way.</div><div><br /></div><div><p><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZISVEYrDZ9CHaOsUh8lKF0rnXb4-1Gw8UmELu1kP9BD7lIBrgYo4rkci2rEWRoISEKl7UbB-d4Ti9kfROUF2vjivyRQWCmx5_BxeB4TJxvA-rm1qqK_GPGbbLgFPHE4kxUsEXR5WDjQ/w320-h240/IMG_0012.jpg" width="320" /></p>The trail is covered with snow in winter, and it is subject to fallen trees in spring, so the best time to hike in a wheelchair is probably summer to mid-fall.<br /><p></p><div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJHsHmY2jsrx6tk30B5zehy5pihik0tUxtHx9SlgjHK1pVWCP-7iqFabfK4dpkX8dinw7tvhPRPDLmRxegjAB63cI5tA6o0CXHEognlNUQHp6UPH3IpD_BuCWnigdK2PvyiiiELhRmX0/s1280/IMG_7189.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1280" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJHsHmY2jsrx6tk30B5zehy5pihik0tUxtHx9SlgjHK1pVWCP-7iqFabfK4dpkX8dinw7tvhPRPDLmRxegjAB63cI5tA6o0CXHEognlNUQHp6UPH3IpD_BuCWnigdK2PvyiiiELhRmX0/w320-h189/IMG_7189.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baker Lake Dam (road with a view)</td></tr></tbody></table>The trail is relatively easy to find. Drive east on Hwy 20 for about 17 miles, and turn left on to Baker Lake Road at Milepost 82. Then drive north for about 15 miles.</div><div><br /></div><div>For an stunning view, it is worth taking a short side-trip across the Baker Lake Dam between Baker Lake and Lake Shannon, 2.3 miles south-east of the trailhead.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Lucida, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 16.95px;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><br /></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-11990812811532985242021-04-07T16:48:00.000-07:002021-04-07T16:48:07.843-07:00Accessible Hikes in WA: March 2020 - March 2021<p> </p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc1UhA0qGqfBEd2ae3qo8EtGhtuybDkzO-nZPa0H1zEcnuA1W5dseUBpo0xxd8VR8Zh4GhRH2613pwQHxNGTWGv1wZ9YgfwwioAVt-hC9pRQ5c5dyNwV0xp5UTIyTfY7WqxO2GzAlxTM/s1280/IMG_6907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc1UhA0qGqfBEd2ae3qo8EtGhtuybDkzO-nZPa0H1zEcnuA1W5dseUBpo0xxd8VR8Zh4GhRH2613pwQHxNGTWGv1wZ9YgfwwioAVt-hC9pRQ5c5dyNwV0xp5UTIyTfY7WqxO2GzAlxTM/w400-h300/IMG_6907.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iron Goat Trail near Steven's Pass, WA</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Over a year ago, Covid19 began to dominate life in Western WA. <span>D</span><span>aily counts of the increasing infections and deaths became a regular morning roll call,</span><span> with each day bringing a new list of closures, cancellations and restrictions. The outdoors -- always important to residents of this region -- became one of the few opportunities for escape. Before </span>the March 23 "Healthy at Home" lockdowns were implemented, I took a hike and jotted down some notes for a post about hiking with a wheelchair during the pandemic. At that time, people outdoors did not wear masks and were uncertain or even unconcerned about trail etiquette during a pandemic. My notes at the time expressed my anxiety about hiking on local trails, which were over-run by families and teenagers in the early afternoon, giving way to an endless stream of runners and dog-walkers in the evenings. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">A couple of weeks later, I went on another hike. This time we drove over an hour outside of Seattle, hoping distance would diminish the crowds. To our surprise, the trailhead parking lot was full, so we waited until 5 pm, when the lot was empty, and we had the trail to ourselves.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Over time, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">people in Western WA have settled into Covid-prevention behaviors. Mask-wearing, even on trails, has become ubiquitous, and the majority of the hiking community seems to abide by a </span><a href="http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/05/wheelchair-hiking-in-time-of-covid-19.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">set of pandemic hiking protocols</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Still, because the outdoors offered one of the few safe outlets for recreation during the pandemic, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">many trails in Western WA suffered from over-use. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The vaccination roll-out and the coming of summer</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> bring new recreational possibilities and lists of creative and safe openings, which may lower the impact on Western WA trails. On the other hand, the discovery of the great outdoors and the joys of hiking may be one of the lasting changes brought by the pandemic conditions. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">All the more thanks and donations that are due WTA and other organizations working on trail maintenance. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In the past year, I've been fortunate to try a variety of trail settings in Western WA. I stuck to recommendations, and most of the trails were truly accessible (there may have been a downed tree, oversized root, or exposed bridge edge that required creative thinking or a turnaround, but hopefully those obstacles were temporary). Here is my latest list of wheelchair hiking suggestions, which can be added to previous compilations of accessible trails (see below). For this list, I've included trail smoothness (which considers exposed roots, rocks, and bridge edges -- mostly for power chairs) and levelness (which considers hills and side slope -- mostly for manual chairs). </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As always, these descriptions are limited by my less-than-perfect memory and by Blogger's strange formatting results. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Seattle</u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail: <span style="color: #436590;"> </span>Interlaken Park</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrXdn7YkJ-XxXUcUGAOdQLrOh8nWCWgnY0jMJ3IfwafR50oY7TPHauorym6LfsS_QeohUd8DaMU1q9gQM3TWfmqC4pVW2DC-yoRCmMs3Qn6RBfsrgprIpHoSIH5e-gvzfq8Yx_t9yVwc/s1280/IMG_6568.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrXdn7YkJ-XxXUcUGAOdQLrOh8nWCWgnY0jMJ3IfwafR50oY7TPHauorym6LfsS_QeohUd8DaMU1q9gQM3TWfmqC4pVW2DC-yoRCmMs3Qn6RBfsrgprIpHoSIH5e-gvzfq8Yx_t9yVwc/s320/IMG_6568.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Location</b>: Capitol Hill/Montlake, Seattle<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: .4 m each way<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Paved road<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Smooth road</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Levelness: </b>Minimal hills, but some side slope</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Trees<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: One end is at E Interlaken Blvd & 19th Ave E. One end is at E Interlaken Blvd & 21st Ave E.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Other</b>: There is no parking lot nor facilities. The neighborhood has winding roads, making the park difficult to find.</span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Salish Sea</u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/visit/union-bay-natural-area/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2021/02/padilla-bay-shore-trail.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Padilla Bay Shore Trail</a></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N1rvdj0BjE1KDoNIY771eglxsxOHirqKrnTRuInsQbZ3-CnlRbcuTStWWxtBZ5n-pXf6Pcqg3RKRMeQlBFcsnNwMiK-YnLZ8FynF_93AcxrSr-viuozySpbwcX0EcHsbapIGowH64Hk/s1280/IMG_7035.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N1rvdj0BjE1KDoNIY771eglxsxOHirqKrnTRuInsQbZ3-CnlRbcuTStWWxtBZ5n-pXf6Pcqg3RKRMeQlBFcsnNwMiK-YnLZ8FynF_93AcxrSr-viuozySpbwcX0EcHsbapIGowH64Hk/s320/IMG_7035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Location</b>: 72 m north of Seattle on coast<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: 2.25 m each way<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Hard- packed gravel<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Excellent when dry</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Levelness: </b>Flat</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Estuary with birds, Salish Sea with islands, and oil refinery.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: South Trailhead has parking lot with (accessible) Honey Bucket and wheelchair-accessible ATV-guard</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Other</b>: </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px;">Breadfarm and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Farm to Market Bakery in nearby Bow and Edison</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/visit/union-bay-natural-area/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2021/02/deception-pass-state-park.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sand Dunes Trail</a> </span></b></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztdiDPI5CWDeI9Y0qWzFyWu6rx1T5q5a7vC14ORJQDtjfeZkWLyYQt-vwGZXfHBNEM9ArwXjvF_ElP3KpEIyHT1R-YNgRnwbqK1XTbf38VgrB3w54_uSLXtpKqNJMjMDzhAiZjWJTNQM/s1280/IMG_0077.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztdiDPI5CWDeI9Y0qWzFyWu6rx1T5q5a7vC14ORJQDtjfeZkWLyYQt-vwGZXfHBNEM9ArwXjvF_ElP3KpEIyHT1R-YNgRnwbqK1XTbf38VgrB3w54_uSLXtpKqNJMjMDzhAiZjWJTNQM/s320/IMG_0077.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Location</b>: Deception Pass State Park, North-west Whidbey Island<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: 1.2 m loop<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Paved<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Mostly good; one section wind-swept with a little sand; one section with 2 large upswells in pavement from roots (can be circumvented)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Levelness</b>: Flat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Salish Sea with islands, beach with dunes and driftwood, stand of (big) trees<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: West Beach has a large paved parking lot with disabled parking and restrooms.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Other</b>: Trail passes Cranberry Lake with beach, picnic tables </span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px;">(1 accessible)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">, restrooms, and concessions</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Snoqualmie</u></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/visit/union-bay-natural-area/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/12/camp-brown.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Camp Brown</a></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunTPEOGZYZghRQuIs4Dgj955cRbYRG9phAqbap0u3iqfwQBjC0t-IxyWd8Uz-A_OPCc4iXkTJ7wGXlQN0I1lKbGJY0cw2NwXt990kehYBhvZJEO3M8UrZeSVPf55Bn11TiMXaoNAWBbM/s1280/IMG_6953.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunTPEOGZYZghRQuIs4Dgj955cRbYRG9phAqbap0u3iqfwQBjC0t-IxyWd8Uz-A_OPCc4iXkTJ7wGXlQN0I1lKbGJY0cw2NwXt990kehYBhvZJEO3M8UrZeSVPf55Bn11TiMXaoNAWBbM/s320/IMG_6953.jpg" /></a></div><br />Location</b>: Middle Fork Snoqualmie River (past Mailbox Peak)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: .45 m loop<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Hard-packed dirt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Good in good weather</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Levelness</b>: Flat, except for hills at beginning and end<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Trees, Middle Fork Snoqualmie River, mountains<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: Paved parking lot with disabled parking and accessible outhouses.</span></div></div><div><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Other</b><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">: Picnic tables and areas (many accessible) with views</span></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Mountain Loop Highway</u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/visit/union-bay-natural-area/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/04/north-sauk-river-trail.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Old Sauk River Trail</a></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.6667px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh598XSGRa4q1Sph14Lv8RBRuL5wdRdwMTihkmnoZKeMohEnOMTfrlgO657Q_PHn3gAcpFpJellkPZsMNa-HnF4-gJKbjXKlUlqMNCw-Zb4UBdKkB3stUrAhXq_7tEADloEwsysZsy6N_U/s1280/IMG_6283.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh598XSGRa4q1Sph14Lv8RBRuL5wdRdwMTihkmnoZKeMohEnOMTfrlgO657Q_PHn3gAcpFpJellkPZsMNa-HnF4-gJKbjXKlUlqMNCw-Zb4UBdKkB3stUrAhXq_7tEADloEwsysZsy6N_U/s320/IMG_6283.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Location</b>: </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px;">5.4 m from Darrington T-intersection on Hwy 530 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: 1 m loop<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Hard-packed dirt<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness</b></span></span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px;">: </b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px;">Good (in good weather)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Levelness:</b><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> </b><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Minimal hills</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Forest, Sauk River<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: Medium-packed gravel parking lots with accessible outhouse and picnic tables. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/visit/union-bay-natural-area/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2019/06/big-four.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Big Four Ice Caves</a></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxkTmuZX639sHlS_OUrEl102sTtiJqdQHZ7wFe54yAu30M8QVaoh4hdKyeb5dDrMIhgY5kWqDp3NfYPF-DKRsav_jaPlK3KPBMhFMPdwosx_o5OSzVn0RWTiC4TayWfdtfk4Xyj2XOdY/s2048/IMG_5054.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxkTmuZX639sHlS_OUrEl102sTtiJqdQHZ7wFe54yAu30M8QVaoh4hdKyeb5dDrMIhgY5kWqDp3NfYPF-DKRsav_jaPlK3KPBMhFMPdwosx_o5OSzVn0RWTiC4TayWfdtfk4Xyj2XOdY/s320/IMG_5054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Location</b>: About 25 m past Granite Falls on Hwy 530<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: about .8 m popsicle loop from picnic parking lot to bridge (boardwalk) and then 1/2 way back to dirt trail leading to second parking lot, and then on paved trail between parking lots<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Boardwalk, paved, hard-packed gravel and dirt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Good</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Levelness</b>: Mostly flat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Mountain, forest, bog, river<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: Two entrances with paved parking lots (with disabled parking spaces and accessible outhouses) connected by paved trail. One entrance has picnic tables with mountain views; one is in forest</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Other</b>: Trail continuing up to ice caves is steep and has steps.</span></div></div><p> </p><p><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/visit/union-bay-natural-area/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2021/01/monte-cristo.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Monte Cristo</a></span></b></p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.6667px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmYa6Ox4_cP9J37gXALO7THX_ewEwWYgp4u0zWtv3DYNBg5HJBLFYnILDHzlFooZtk7iQ0eCBd3xUGQdMD4D3MUkMVlLQ9gyReN-20kbFRwpBxwksvthUuMEQtH28RiOvWENuSben04E/s1280/IMG_1045.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmYa6Ox4_cP9J37gXALO7THX_ewEwWYgp4u0zWtv3DYNBg5HJBLFYnILDHzlFooZtk7iQ0eCBd3xUGQdMD4D3MUkMVlLQ9gyReN-20kbFRwpBxwksvthUuMEQtH28RiOvWENuSben04E/s320/IMG_1045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Location</b>: Barlow Pass, 31 m east of Granite Falls on Hwy 530. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px;">1.6 m there and back (turn-around when trail takes short but steep downhill)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Hard-packed dirt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Good</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Levelness</b>: Flat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Woods, river, mountains, berries, bears<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: Locked gate requires key from Snohomish County Dept of Public Works</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Other</b>: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">turn back when trail takes short but steep downhill at .8 m; otherwise, tr</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px;">ail becomes narrow, steep, and overgrown, eventually running into river</span></div></div><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Highway 2</u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/visit/union-bay-natural-area/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2021/02/erinswood.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Erinswood</a></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.6667px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2xBXO13XehwdJC1sCPGHYiBHnArK_xdY8jHMZMShVTrlGhLecy_vqr4fTLHyfzetxsKVskKUIBPXocbSf-yHZ-ThBd1m3rmKpL9jRN2q1_e4WyvqMp-_mBqC3OeIDY0mROxSC0rhJDk/s1280/IMG_2313.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2xBXO13XehwdJC1sCPGHYiBHnArK_xdY8jHMZMShVTrlGhLecy_vqr4fTLHyfzetxsKVskKUIBPXocbSf-yHZ-ThBd1m3rmKpL9jRN2q1_e4WyvqMp-_mBqC3OeIDY0mROxSC0rhJDk/s320/IMG_2313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Location</b>: Index, WA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: .6 m loop (+.2 m each way to get there)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Hard-packed dirt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Good, once on ADA trail</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Levelness</b>: Mostly flat (a few small hills)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Trees (especially cedars and big leaf maples), fungi, ferns<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: Small, medium-packed gravel parking lot with no facilities at Heybrook Ridge County Park on Index-Galena Road off of Hwy 2.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Other</b><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">: As of fall 2020, the loop was being built to be fully ADA accessible. There-and-back from/to parking lot was a narrow path, overgrown on the sides.</span></span></div></div><p><br /></p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2021/03/iron-goat.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #436590;"> </span>Iron Goat Trail</a></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.6667px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskjON3Vw5iT1Z7mYxzE21RYTRo0Oq0GNbuDjD7CAsUdWdKAeytBaHFaFHdAr62yntergzEM6MDTFq2YCbBjaRpeFcdtCwdfj35SSuWD7-j2oXkUHb4XvgwORLfhJhJeXrSn63RUQ_WTA/s1280/IMG_2407.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskjON3Vw5iT1Z7mYxzE21RYTRo0Oq0GNbuDjD7CAsUdWdKAeytBaHFaFHdAr62yntergzEM6MDTFq2YCbBjaRpeFcdtCwdfj35SSuWD7-j2oXkUHb4XvgwORLfhJhJeXrSn63RUQ_WTA/s320/IMG_2407.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Location</b>: FR 6710 (sharp left at junction with Old Cascade Hwy), which is found at Milepost 55 on Hwy 2, near Stevens Pass </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" face=""Trebuchet MS", "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Lucida, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-size: 16.95px;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: 3 m one-way ADA (part of 6 m loop)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Mostly hard-packed dirt; some boardwalk and bridge with boards<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Excellent</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Levelness</b>: Railroad grade, but best if manual chair goes downhill direction only (arrange to shuttle); minimal side slope<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Trees, railroad tunnels & bridges, mushrooms, mountains<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: Martin Creek trailhead (high point of ADA trail) has gravel parking lot, with disabled parking, accessible outhouse and non-accessible picnic tables</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Other</b>: Former Railroad; has interpretive signs </span></div></div><p><br /></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/11/nc.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">North Cascades</a></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/visit/union-bay-natural-area/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/11/nc.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rainy Lake Trail</a></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 14.6667px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzdJzx67fZuTSSXYNV6fyJEOWH8lk5b0hXEXl2-QnA55diA23jkG9BEzfFaMrilsoYiflKCaYuJMkI-pULC7u-tMncBVwwomjqOeEmu-IF7sT_RvbNgnVg0Cr1zKJwVp1GTFlAm1GaHE/s1280/IMG_6771.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzdJzx67fZuTSSXYNV6fyJEOWH8lk5b0hXEXl2-QnA55diA23jkG9BEzfFaMrilsoYiflKCaYuJMkI-pULC7u-tMncBVwwomjqOeEmu-IF7sT_RvbNgnVg0Cr1zKJwVp1GTFlAm1GaHE/s320/IMG_6771.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Location</b>: Rainy Pass (Exit 158) on Hwy 120<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: 1 mile each way<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Paved<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Excellent</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Levelness</b>: Steep, significant hills; side slope toward down-hill side</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Through forest to overlook of lake and surrounding peaks (distant larches visible in Oct)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: Paved parking lot at Rainy Pass (Exit 158), with disabled parking spots, picnic tables and outhouses</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Other</b>: This section of the road is closed in winter till the snow melts</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Trail:<a href="https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/visit/union-bay-natural-area/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/11/nc.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Black Pine Lake Trail</a></span></b></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyhnsMUqz_PS55buUpa3ZUa8vV4RJ3qLr4r-xZMkaavObF_ZR6xccNWrrEspSHkpjIpuA2SoagMo7IqTZ9UPb8cfGiT-ebOG0TmVO_2oPjtRSIovHOlLH4lwDEodyGubUkci_Qtn9SlE/s1280/IMG_6819.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyhnsMUqz_PS55buUpa3ZUa8vV4RJ3qLr4r-xZMkaavObF_ZR6xccNWrrEspSHkpjIpuA2SoagMo7IqTZ9UPb8cfGiT-ebOG0TmVO_2oPjtRSIovHOlLH4lwDEodyGubUkci_Qtn9SlE/s320/IMG_6819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Location</b>: West of Twisp, WA, down County Rd 9114 (Twisp River Rd) for 10m, then FS Rd 43 for 8 m<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Distance</b>: .5 m each way<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Surface</b>: Paved<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Smoothness: </b>Excellent</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Levelness</b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">: Very good</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>View</b>: Black Pine Lake, rosehips, ponderosa pines<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Trailhead</b>: Trail begins at boat-launch at Black Pine Lake Campground -- a large, paved lot, with disabled parking spots, wheelchair-accessible picnic tables, an accessible outhouse, and an accessible pier</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Other</b>: Lake offers swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating. Campground has accessible drive-up spots above lake and 1 accessible "walk-in" spot at lake level.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><div><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">For more accessible hikes in WA and on West Coast, see earlier blog posts:</p><p><a href="http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2017/05/accessible-trails-in-washington-state.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2017/05/accessible-trails-in-washington-state.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2018/08/wrapping-up-my-compilation-of.html">http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2018/08/wrapping-up-my-compilation-of.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/09/suggestions-for-accessible-hikes-in-wa.html">http://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/09/suggestions-for-accessible-hikes-in-wa.html</a></p><p><a href="https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/11/nc.html">https://www.wheelchairwandering.com/2020/11/nc.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><br /></p></div></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-70289216116550999822021-03-13T15:31:00.002-08:002021-03-13T15:31:59.427-08:00North Sauk River Trail<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLJ9S5CGaF93RsUjPaOWPwcIAwM7iZFaljbXYqSDj7ivCaC4qoFEEBL4P6gc7T1GVsT0DcK4Be9B5U5wt3iSTmiQBsSxJ4Ud4ZI4KASo55cxtDXd2ahZ6bxy7BH2DWuv_qr3BX6nqzG4/s1280/IMG_6237.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLJ9S5CGaF93RsUjPaOWPwcIAwM7iZFaljbXYqSDj7ivCaC4qoFEEBL4P6gc7T1GVsT0DcK4Be9B5U5wt3iSTmiQBsSxJ4Ud4ZI4KASo55cxtDXd2ahZ6bxy7BH2DWuv_qr3BX6nqzG4/w400-h300/IMG_6237.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Loop Highway</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/old-sauk-new-trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Old S</a><a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/old-sauk-new-trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">auk River Trail</a> is my current favorite trail. Off of the Mountain Loop Highway (SR 530), the 1 mile ADA loop through mossy forests includes an accessible river viewpoint.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXiWszpPHbRSUxCaNZlbSJ-CZCPnHubLhEpbOR14kxCMoyMp7dCq3MGovvrbFAKPqMm-Q1F3U_xP9phe1u2jdelOv-R1O68m2io7OzM9MOqRYkZZTIctqlZtlhMcl9sCcu6a_mCsBEIw/s1280/IMG_6266.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXiWszpPHbRSUxCaNZlbSJ-CZCPnHubLhEpbOR14kxCMoyMp7dCq3MGovvrbFAKPqMm-Q1F3U_xP9phe1u2jdelOv-R1O68m2io7OzM9MOqRYkZZTIctqlZtlhMcl9sCcu6a_mCsBEIw/w200-h150/IMG_6266.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of the Old Sauk River trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>The medium-packed gravel parking lot in the forest hosts disabled parking, an accessible (across the gravel) outhouse, and picnic tables (one of which is wheelchair accessible).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ECZ0fwb5yr9Lgv9QQ9YPkDAvcEzQX3VDxdexhbrmkt_L1luzyMmzYWpKXqbmct_LhPe1oir_AtuiPhzn5VCgiNJyiKORCXQS_Turcbx_e86YrP5X3kg-S5RHegOQyPcfh20__Qifgvo/s1280/IMG_6286.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ECZ0fwb5yr9Lgv9QQ9YPkDAvcEzQX3VDxdexhbrmkt_L1luzyMmzYWpKXqbmct_LhPe1oir_AtuiPhzn5VCgiNJyiKORCXQS_Turcbx_e86YrP5X3kg-S5RHegOQyPcfh20__Qifgvo/w200-h150/IMG_6286.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewpoint for the Sauk River</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The trail is a 1 mile loop through the forest, with a riverside view of the Sauk River. One spur presents steps down to the river, while one offers a stair-free, ramped path down. The latter is completely accessible. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh598XSGRa4q1Sph14Lv8RBRuL5wdRdwMTihkmnoZKeMohEnOMTfrlgO657Q_PHn3gAcpFpJellkPZsMNa-HnF4-gJKbjXKlUlqMNCw-Zb4UBdKkB3stUrAhXq_7tEADloEwsysZsy6N_U/s1280/IMG_6283.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh598XSGRa4q1Sph14Lv8RBRuL5wdRdwMTihkmnoZKeMohEnOMTfrlgO657Q_PHn3gAcpFpJellkPZsMNa-HnF4-gJKbjXKlUlqMNCw-Zb4UBdKkB3stUrAhXq_7tEADloEwsysZsy6N_U/s320/IMG_6283.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Sauk River Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The loop itself meanders through stands of Douglas fir, cedar, and various alders. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHjAwgb-si2_Tl0G3jelgIzbPL4QApOe1OAKpohqRPuf2QZNDFDoPDfV2tXTK9eCxFxq-XoT5NNnLwOz84jxdaLa0b0bAVn40HZ3EO6BpNzVmRL88SUycce1b2Cp1NQW3dmaDwH37I3o/s1280/IMG_6301.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHjAwgb-si2_Tl0G3jelgIzbPL4QApOe1OAKpohqRPuf2QZNDFDoPDfV2tXTK9eCxFxq-XoT5NNnLwOz84jxdaLa0b0bAVn40HZ3EO6BpNzVmRL88SUycce1b2Cp1NQW3dmaDwH37I3o/w200-h150/IMG_6301.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail bottleneck</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>In general, the trail is level enough for a manual chair and wide enough for any wheelchair. There is one point where the trail narrows significantly, but I was able to wheel through it. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXtoPoKyPMcj27suMuJ7eVHOWV5_vzAhxZZMNJtJFqSxrHlWUhcy2af5AQAUmJ14n26YeCAGZi6XGsPvB5ZfK45-RHeVHMpF8hyphenhyphenrljQ8Ya_S6YHpZcha5rBc_v8HUHT5yFkXjPCTm0j4/s1280/IMG_6295.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXtoPoKyPMcj27suMuJ7eVHOWV5_vzAhxZZMNJtJFqSxrHlWUhcy2af5AQAUmJ14n26YeCAGZi6XGsPvB5ZfK45-RHeVHMpF8hyphenhyphenrljQ8Ya_S6YHpZcha5rBc_v8HUHT5yFkXjPCTm0j4/w200-h150/IMG_6295.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potential weather challenges</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The trail surface is dirt, except for one wooden bridge over a creek. It might become impassable after storms (muddy path, downed trees, washed-out bridges). I don't know that for sure; it's just a precautionary warning.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-50853683443035733452021-03-06T15:23:00.002-08:002021-04-03T13:44:49.364-07:00Iron Goat <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKApSYNkyq231VPOMQW6iT0i9C8-1tcWGX4s9TSabIBhOsyV9ZcalKcZx8rdz7n5hH5ya7plw2mcS30Ym7f8pOGGEb2PXa7cey7eS1GVisp_usD_Ew3dIhviig8Q0zOPxgi9CQxDB9TvQ/s1280/IMG_2407.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKApSYNkyq231VPOMQW6iT0i9C8-1tcWGX4s9TSabIBhOsyV9ZcalKcZx8rdz7n5hH5ya7plw2mcS30Ym7f8pOGGEb2PXa7cey7eS1GVisp_usD_Ew3dIhviig8Q0zOPxgi9CQxDB9TvQ/w400-h300/IMG_2407.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iron Goat Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>The <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/iron-goat-trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Iron Goat Trail </a>was built on the site of the former Great Northern railway. The trail was abandoned as a railway passage when a snow slide in the early 20th century killed nearly 100 people, and a tunnel (still in use today) was built instead, turning the abandoned railway passage into a recreational trail. Because of the obvious snow danger in these steep slopes, it's not advisable to hike the trail when there is still snow and slide danger. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-V98Wig6TCDXUd5IHBSpHs9dRegBs-RVYGAwfAs67Q4YrZ3ybkinGIlfus3KMfMTmVSkHX-wcDTvfc15pUIoe29eDs1CODcbkCKsTsrYx9AvuWYq750BQKjwgZ5imr95nyFU2g96dH7U/s1280/IMG_6905.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-V98Wig6TCDXUd5IHBSpHs9dRegBs-RVYGAwfAs67Q4YrZ3ybkinGIlfus3KMfMTmVSkHX-wcDTvfc15pUIoe29eDs1CODcbkCKsTsrYx9AvuWYq750BQKjwgZ5imr95nyFU2g96dH7U/s320/IMG_6905.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A three-mile section of the trail is officially designated as an ADA trail, with a wide path that has a level side-slope and is surfaced with hard-packed gravel and dirt (strewn with pine needles and big-leaf maple leaves in the fall). Because the trail slope is railway grade, power chairs can traverse in either direction, but I would advise manual chairs to start at the Martin Creek trailhead and travel downhill, incorporating some kind of shuttle to bring the car from the upper parking lot to the lower lot.</p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc1UhA0qGqfBEd2ae3qo8EtGhtuybDkzO-nZPa0H1zEcnuA1W5dseUBpo0xxd8VR8Zh4GhRH2613pwQHxNGTWGv1wZ9YgfwwioAVt-hC9pRQ5c5dyNwV0xp5UTIyTfY7WqxO2GzAlxTM/s1280/IMG_6907.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc1UhA0qGqfBEd2ae3qo8EtGhtuybDkzO-nZPa0H1zEcnuA1W5dseUBpo0xxd8VR8Zh4GhRH2613pwQHxNGTWGv1wZ9YgfwwioAVt-hC9pRQ5c5dyNwV0xp5UTIyTfY7WqxO2GzAlxTM/s320/IMG_6907.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The trail runs through the forest off of Highway 2, with view of the old railway tunnels, big leaf maples, streams, fungi, and a few interpretive signs along the way.<br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUkKtlUbM2ZY26psR3TCZWNIgGugF6zpHPpOx1LOFp_ps_MPeq5Fk3OlGshd2Uo3p4ZZ9WsDY0f4CmbqTsJ64_91vIOZ1kytp8SShsq6LRKPwqa-vf1YQdZ11zqUf3Ysr7iD0SG8Bi4M/s1280/IMG_2408.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUkKtlUbM2ZY26psR3TCZWNIgGugF6zpHPpOx1LOFp_ps_MPeq5Fk3OlGshd2Uo3p4ZZ9WsDY0f4CmbqTsJ64_91vIOZ1kytp8SShsq6LRKPwqa-vf1YQdZ11zqUf3Ysr7iD0SG8Bi4M/w200-h150/IMG_2408.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5afqXxFubBd4ynIet1hCqrrZgh4NUeK_8Pj7cCoMJOQ9LbbUDI1wYR097UT6I1zlj1rZUQP18AipTyDPu4-vCvj7BwqALLWCDxS_ecGl_KghG9PcKJI84wJuX-AG__OnG36nnr8Gxb4/s1280/IMG_2393.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5afqXxFubBd4ynIet1hCqrrZgh4NUeK_8Pj7cCoMJOQ9LbbUDI1wYR097UT6I1zlj1rZUQP18AipTyDPu4-vCvj7BwqALLWCDxS_ecGl_KghG9PcKJI84wJuX-AG__OnG36nnr8Gxb4/w150-h200/IMG_2393.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The gravel parking lot has disabled parking, an ADA outhouse (currently closed), and a non-ADA picnic table. The trail begins with a boardwalk, and it has some sections that travel upon bridges or boardwalks. But most of the trail is hard-packed dirt and gravel. </p>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-37235407223661187562021-02-27T18:12:00.012-08:002021-02-27T18:17:29.942-08:00Erinswood<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfe-NH72lkp-lZgmiYGHvP9JCPwReEw8JrCCCSkB49GGO_qImgIfyullnlraac3P1K3kIEN5c_l1vxGe_OGNnslFhCd-3pMCY8trsPz9ZnMRtyNlaGB4aTjiigAHrp373XyrJX67L8Gg/s1280/IMG_2338.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfe-NH72lkp-lZgmiYGHvP9JCPwReEw8JrCCCSkB49GGO_qImgIfyullnlraac3P1K3kIEN5c_l1vxGe_OGNnslFhCd-3pMCY8trsPz9ZnMRtyNlaGB4aTjiigAHrp373XyrJX67L8Gg/w400-h300/IMG_2338.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Leaf Maple leaves at Erinswood</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHT0jJMK9FnJ_pfbqNqCK48zXdUEg1e73YuwhAGGLQc99G55szE7oJUZyMboy0S0b415RcMkCUXQa8m0TtIMHOfTNUAzgEBKFxAdOiZmP_QNlgWsNYdsST7B_WWml_4VU-_v_8URcm8ks/s1280/IMG_2323.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHT0jJMK9FnJ_pfbqNqCK48zXdUEg1e73YuwhAGGLQc99G55szE7oJUZyMboy0S0b415RcMkCUXQa8m0TtIMHOfTNUAzgEBKFxAdOiZmP_QNlgWsNYdsST7B_WWml_4VU-_v_8URcm8ks/w150-h200/IMG_2323.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>The closest I came to playing in the leaves this year was hiking over the leaf-covered trails at <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/erinswood" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Erinswood</a>, outside of Index, WA. The leaf coverage was just enough to make the trails and surrounding wooded area seem like autumn, without being too deep to impede passage. Autumn is the perfect season to view the colorful big-leaf maples before they drop and the leaf-covered woods thereafter. It is also the perfect time for the exhibits of fungi on display.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2xBXO13XehwdJC1sCPGHYiBHnArK_xdY8jHMZMShVTrlGhLecy_vqr4fTLHyfzetxsKVskKUIBPXocbSf-yHZ-ThBd1m3rmKpL9jRN2q1_e4WyvqMp-_mBqC3OeIDY0mROxSC0rhJDk/s1280/IMG_2313.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2xBXO13XehwdJC1sCPGHYiBHnArK_xdY8jHMZMShVTrlGhLecy_vqr4fTLHyfzetxsKVskKUIBPXocbSf-yHZ-ThBd1m3rmKpL9jRN2q1_e4WyvqMp-_mBqC3OeIDY0mROxSC0rhJDk/s320/IMG_2313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Even without the color of the maples, however, the hike would be beautiful, because of the many stands of western red cedar trees, as well as the ubiquitous moss and ferns of the western Cascades. If you time it right, you can also find salmon- and thimble- berries.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr90CpZ3q25m26Jo7x3ebqQGTZRQMYsfAyT5TlXRAmEWsA5tddwuqXYLQAupnDm1drNgwnPQONn2ULKfoyuoUTGQcL6J6cfKNoLXOu4Dw3GSoKl6qiRfikpSKlTFDxNn6sFo4g0xqAmI/s1280/IMG_2298.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr90CpZ3q25m26Jo7x3ebqQGTZRQMYsfAyT5TlXRAmEWsA5tddwuqXYLQAupnDm1drNgwnPQONn2ULKfoyuoUTGQcL6J6cfKNoLXOu4Dw3GSoKl6qiRfikpSKlTFDxNn6sFo4g0xqAmI/w200-h150/IMG_2298.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The .8 mile (round trip) trail is located outside of Index, WA, across from the rock-climbing mecca of the Town Wall. There is a medium-packed gravel parking lot. There is no outhouse, and I don't remember there even being Honey Buckets there. The first .1 mile of the trail is accessible, but not officially ADA, leading to a turn-off to Heybrook Ridge. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZNGxkP6PTs-U2QjUrGcEDQ6M8WWbFLK4rbVvh7nAGVwW8B7Of7iBAaOUsi_0ndgcXlQoGbz-K30boLKb9Vf-WBddtPCPNjZTf7BbU7aqfEhQKaWbSqOtU8XZXJZ4d_diJIG2wFiri2A/s1280/IMG_2303.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZNGxkP6PTs-U2QjUrGcEDQ6M8WWbFLK4rbVvh7nAGVwW8B7Of7iBAaOUsi_0ndgcXlQoGbz-K30boLKb9Vf-WBddtPCPNjZTf7BbU7aqfEhQKaWbSqOtU8XZXJZ4d_diJIG2wFiri2A/w150-h200/IMG_2303.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After that junction, the trail narrows and is encroached upon by brambles and bushes for about .1 mile. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uolGYRzMNFTSzQs3dYvvONHU9MB1_9ETD8-Rc_rudrped0ToA7X7qQWJE_99pEoKA2CWWqw0aSSA2wsn_32Ti-qwE6hLgZms05iYP3nAkSLEwZC6Dbvq6tAeka9K0pvW6v0iphHL7J0/s1280/IMG_2309.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uolGYRzMNFTSzQs3dYvvONHU9MB1_9ETD8-Rc_rudrped0ToA7X7qQWJE_99pEoKA2CWWqw0aSSA2wsn_32Ti-qwE6hLgZms05iYP3nAkSLEwZC6Dbvq6tAeka9K0pvW6v0iphHL7J0/s320/IMG_2309.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The trail then reaches a .4 mile loop which is wide and relatively flat, with a few short/steep hillocks. I could wheel the entire trail by myself (but I have levers, a large third wheel, big tires, and some muscles). The trail, named after a local resident-hiker with a disability, is intended to become a truly ADA trail, with the addition of a hard-packed gravel surface on top of the dirt. Until this layer is added, the trail has a few roots sticking up, but it is mostly smooth. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UeL6F0nTSG0nzGnOCrNwKyGbCpztCPs-jxkEwpr1LWcehCCp6aBWjjDPWSnqlK1sWOZYaehrZt_xB_OYPaDEe9VX94LxVEaUNblzESlfh0tMywP00FXnx3pw0x0DClNuEX3dwXnEGlI/s1280/IMG_5775.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UeL6F0nTSG0nzGnOCrNwKyGbCpztCPs-jxkEwpr1LWcehCCp6aBWjjDPWSnqlK1sWOZYaehrZt_xB_OYPaDEe9VX94LxVEaUNblzESlfh0tMywP00FXnx3pw0x0DClNuEX3dwXnEGlI/w150-h200/IMG_5775.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>There is a small creek, which comes close to the trail at one point, presenting a rocky section and a possible wash-out point. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My biggest question, however, is how one is supposed to get to the ADA trail, since it seems that the only access is down this .1 mile overgrown and narrow trail. If that is resolved and the ADA portion of the trail is completed, this will be a wonderful wheelchair-accessible trail -- short, but full of a variety of beauty.<br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-80838732025891506292021-02-05T17:03:00.000-08:002021-02-05T17:04:50.530-08:00Deception Pass State Park<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_XwlBXuBQUWalkD-hA2LVtjYUcXoQ8s6JejYCRKyBh3fJTxBoz6Ni3S9IaaYjgbmZUzP4LnUJf9sQHbY32hOr73dKod92xTI957FXXcuPX8g7ilwUClLx4pVa76-PYe3RWIO0orS1SE/s1280/IMG_7066.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="1280" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_XwlBXuBQUWalkD-hA2LVtjYUcXoQ8s6JejYCRKyBh3fJTxBoz6Ni3S9IaaYjgbmZUzP4LnUJf9sQHbY32hOr73dKod92xTI957FXXcuPX8g7ilwUClLx4pVa76-PYe3RWIO0orS1SE/w400-h198/IMG_7066.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driftwood at Deception Pass State Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I know I've said this before, but it bears and even demands repeating: I live in a beautiful place. Especially when viral pandemics and closed borders keep you close to home, it's all the more important that your home is a place offering opportunities and beauty. Hooray, Washington State!<div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNnHt54P1FLFRk7-Q7_ro8QQlQb_SsUhQMAqpS_YMqgXJL-S8_V4cMqQHQVuxVQNL0m2l8LyjW4bZp1dLrc-6onrI3RtJKqDqE9ifMTZt8YvgW24hmp7iAzFrmHtsIy_1fCOXvVvT9vU/s1280/IMG_0056.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNnHt54P1FLFRk7-Q7_ro8QQlQb_SsUhQMAqpS_YMqgXJL-S8_V4cMqQHQVuxVQNL0m2l8LyjW4bZp1dLrc-6onrI3RtJKqDqE9ifMTZt8YvgW24hmp7iAzFrmHtsIy_1fCOXvVvT9vU/s320/IMG_0056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lookout onto Strait of Juan De Fuca<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div>Taking advantage of a sunny -- but very cold -- day, we headed to Deception Pass State Park and the <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/west-beach-deception-pass-state-park" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sand Dunes Trail</a>. The trail is located at the main entrance to Deception Pass State Park on the Whidbey Island (south) side of the bridge. Follow the signs to the large, paved parking lot at West Beach. The trail begins at the south side of the parking lot. There were disabled parking spots, and I assume the restrooms were disabled, as well, but they were locked, so I couldn't confirm that. Parking requires a <a href="https://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/131/Exemptions" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Discover Pass</a>; however, vehicles with a disabled placard or license plate are exempt.</div></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The trail can be accessed from the parking lot either by a paved trail that goes past the beach on Cranberry Lake, with a beach house, outdoor showers, and a large picnic area. There is even one picnic table with space cut out for a wheelchair and a paved path leading to it. The trail can also be accessed by a wide unpaved road next to the water. Either way, the Sand Dunes Trail, officially designated an ADA trail, is a paved 1.2 mile loop.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-Hbxvt9Vo1B4ElI94P01Hjx412wo42FugbjixyujtPHgKqKKnyKRiqOpDP41vSUu_pX5mSoY43T1AiHDq-N-EF6bSsGzQvGM0BDuRvkI7hXxK8ck5GV-U8Ro77iQ81MhIhUxkrIInRw/s1280/IMG_0083.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-Hbxvt9Vo1B4ElI94P01Hjx412wo42FugbjixyujtPHgKqKKnyKRiqOpDP41vSUu_pX5mSoY43T1AiHDq-N-EF6bSsGzQvGM0BDuRvkI7hXxK8ck5GV-U8Ro77iQ81MhIhUxkrIInRw/s320/IMG_0083.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West side of Sand Dunes Trail</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One side of the loop goes along Puget Sound, with views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the San Juan Islands. The beach is covered with driftwood, and trail name (Sand Dunes Trail) is reflected by the small dunes along the trail. There are several informative interpretive signs. I've read that in the summer, porpoises, eagles, and osprey can be seen.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38t80k50R80N4Bvfl_AfZnt-AVw3DxrEx9EDNGjnMTNlNOlZlLKrncI6cXw4RuNJSHgRte9n8zVgk1sDwuwzqo-8u4mf-y5WkMXWLQBcyz-pnCGl0ZNr5Ca_1O_MENBUCqOhVwTxIaZ4/s1280/IMG_0048.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38t80k50R80N4Bvfl_AfZnt-AVw3DxrEx9EDNGjnMTNlNOlZlLKrncI6cXw4RuNJSHgRte9n8zVgk1sDwuwzqo-8u4mf-y5WkMXWLQBcyz-pnCGl0ZNr5Ca_1O_MENBUCqOhVwTxIaZ4/w150-h200/IMG_0048.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South-east side of<br />Sand Dunes Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br />The other side of the loop goes along Cranberry Lake and then through a stretch of mossy trees. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdSe30b-lqwnveGnnHi0J54bI_3Yh7glSuICwQQcyslL4t8T0Znu-uHt1kTqpN_SbohoqYImWh754lkEHhteCn4Ltt5R71OR8xgnpVNUAA1hJUEeZ_TSoAsenWOUH19If4lbAIJjdrEw/s1280/IMG_0072.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdSe30b-lqwnveGnnHi0J54bI_3Yh7glSuICwQQcyslL4t8T0Znu-uHt1kTqpN_SbohoqYImWh754lkEHhteCn4Ltt5R71OR8xgnpVNUAA1hJUEeZ_TSoAsenWOUH19If4lbAIJjdrEw/w200-h150/IMG_0072.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Among the trees, and perhaps best seen from the Puget Sound side, is a tremendous, twisted 850 year-old Douglas Fir.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPE4lp4fQGKZSjUNzghr73qxfqH49Ks7tzKdIC9VcJTqNqutPh3z9je7QuoE1X4IqIsVyERRPntOqeHz-ogMLJXZ-ucuHs6FgG8hPKIPNwxq86r6D4P-ENTgOXg1lzaL-EZEeophQ09Qw/s1280/IMG_0054.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPE4lp4fQGKZSjUNzghr73qxfqH49Ks7tzKdIC9VcJTqNqutPh3z9je7QuoE1X4IqIsVyERRPntOqeHz-ogMLJXZ-ucuHs6FgG8hPKIPNwxq86r6D4P-ENTgOXg1lzaL-EZEeophQ09Qw/w200-h150/IMG_0054.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This root is easy to bypass</td></tr></tbody></table>The thing about trees is that they have roots, and big trees have correspondingly big roots. Unfortunately, at the south end of the trail are two large roots crossing under the trail which have seriously broken through the pavement, causing an upheaval which makes the trail impassable. I was able to get around both of these obstacles by going on the side of the trail. Even if I hadn't been able to, I would have gone down and back on both sides of the loop, because the views were so stunning.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-8QNLfwoas5Qksso-_IZ7z56PqHfdYdqAw_Ly0lTzw1Lj4wKCZ8hcywUgD7jDHgy0W6l5KA5c4C_tOQzHCOQNHQy-0UnrmhOLay3wghSJv_LU93afja_9CqPwJrHtfktrUrtA7f9VtI/s1280/IMG_0050.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-8QNLfwoas5Qksso-_IZ7z56PqHfdYdqAw_Ly0lTzw1Lj4wKCZ8hcywUgD7jDHgy0W6l5KA5c4C_tOQzHCOQNHQy-0UnrmhOLay3wghSJv_LU93afja_9CqPwJrHtfktrUrtA7f9VtI/w200-h150/IMG_0050.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This root is harder to bypass,<br />but possible<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-80065741515425485612021-02-05T16:38:00.001-08:002021-02-05T17:04:12.638-08:00Padilla Bay Shore Trail<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUCJE04m6ccG8DZh93U5M0lgwrF0myuBC_5xAJ03ECyi4zZRekUqyF2EUUBrgSAxcKhZQCRQB7kkLHFHq8Cm9EkrDGTP4BXEln99L8OHh8wlhU_93WJ_ATBrEAReb2RkONW8Vrhra124/s1280/IMG_7052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUCJE04m6ccG8DZh93U5M0lgwrF0myuBC_5xAJ03ECyi4zZRekUqyF2EUUBrgSAxcKhZQCRQB7kkLHFHq8Cm9EkrDGTP4BXEln99L8OHh8wlhU_93WJ_ATBrEAReb2RkONW8Vrhra124/w400-h300/IMG_7052.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PBST looking out at Padilla Bay and the Salish Sea</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>"Where the Skagit River meets the Salish Sea." This trail description on The WTA website sounds so romantic and foreign. However, the <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/padilla-bay" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Padilla Bay Shoreline Trail</a> is really just about 72 miles north of Seattle.</p><p><br /></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmvoDr233HIjPqYW1dX6HK3VymReFYeBtm9axmV3rEudaO2VMGuOvhW7TVZO3vi-u6d09lU6pd3Twvn0zAK7ltnIK4IUSIOBpkgNpWRLFlRYKh0TtmVzmthvnhLyK-iFZ2dMcTWupAio/s1280/IMG_7031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmvoDr233HIjPqYW1dX6HK3VymReFYeBtm9axmV3rEudaO2VMGuOvhW7TVZO3vi-u6d09lU6pd3Twvn0zAK7ltnIK4IUSIOBpkgNpWRLFlRYKh0TtmVzmthvnhLyK-iFZ2dMcTWupAio/w200-h150/IMG_7031.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South entrance</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtrDgUbOU4EI2utxUTqXIJuDeqloq3hRVcP_HHGtUteiXnucV2Z5p2l1xUtTZQv7iBWhag6qTiw4d-s4ebkfdObr6j-4wYgZU4ub7woqlEJZGznTncSc39KmQwvRc9eO6_sTJVtAITz4/s1280/IMG_7060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtrDgUbOU4EI2utxUTqXIJuDeqloq3hRVcP_HHGtUteiXnucV2Z5p2l1xUtTZQv7iBWhag6qTiw4d-s4ebkfdObr6j-4wYgZU4ub7woqlEJZGznTncSc39KmQwvRc9eO6_sTJVtAITz4/w200-h150/IMG_7060.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North entrance<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The directions to the trail can be found on the <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/padilla-bay" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WTA trail description webpage</a>, along with a prosaic description of the trail. The trail can be accessed from either the north or south trailheads, but the south trailhead is a little easier, since it provides a parking lot with Honey Buckets. The trailheads are guarded at both ends by barriers to keep out motorized vehicles. Fortunately, they are both wide and long enough for wheelchairs to fit through. <br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N1rvdj0BjE1KDoNIY771eglxsxOHirqKrnTRuInsQbZ3-CnlRbcuTStWWxtBZ5n-pXf6Pcqg3RKRMeQlBFcsnNwMiK-YnLZ8FynF_93AcxrSr-viuozySpbwcX0EcHsbapIGowH64Hk/s1280/IMG_7035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N1rvdj0BjE1KDoNIY771eglxsxOHirqKrnTRuInsQbZ3-CnlRbcuTStWWxtBZ5n-pXf6Pcqg3RKRMeQlBFcsnNwMiK-YnLZ8FynF_93AcxrSr-viuozySpbwcX0EcHsbapIGowH64Hk/w200-h150/IMG_7035.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PBST along the estuary<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>The trail itself is 2.25 miles each way, built of hard-packed gravel on top of a dyke. It is fairly well trafficked by pedestrians and bikers, most of whom are wearing masks. The southern half runs along the Skagit River estuary, and the northern half runs along Padilla Bay. If you are a birder, you'll want to bring your binoculars. Others will be captivated by views of water, islands, mountains ... and, of course, the Shell Oil Refinery.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p>As an extra treat, the route from Seattle to the trail winds through the small towns of Bow and Edison, allowing a stop or two at The Farm to Market Bakery and/or The Breadfarm.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1778767190078856111.post-3222550741394291082021-01-18T17:43:00.000-08:002021-01-18T17:43:05.488-08:00Monte Cristo <p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignnsg7gTE_g2xhdeW9wIPEC-aroXoojJq1SKf3ulquN3vA9Le3Z-qM2M0dPgpCq8vIn16g-gfSQ902ottBikczn-oiUNtBN00iDceijJd4IAoWh1uvYKfAkbHFuqeP6P-4u2N_u7r9bM/s1280/IMG_1034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Monte Cristo Trail (and resident)" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignnsg7gTE_g2xhdeW9wIPEC-aroXoojJq1SKf3ulquN3vA9Le3Z-qM2M0dPgpCq8vIn16g-gfSQ902ottBikczn-oiUNtBN00iDceijJd4IAoWh1uvYKfAkbHFuqeP6P-4u2N_u7r9bM/w400-h300/IMG_1034.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monte Cristo Trail (and resident)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Cristo,_Washington" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Monte Cristo</a> (town) -- in 1889, a vein of gold- and silver- ore was discovered in the mountains at the head of the South Fork Sauk River, and over the next twenty years, mines produced millions of dollars in ore. A bustling town sprung up at the foot of these mines -- complete with a school, hotels, and a train to Everett. This town of Monte Cristo is now a ghost town, 4 miles from Barlow Pass, on the Mountain Loop Highway, near Granite Falls.</p><p><a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/monte-cristo-143" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Monte Cristo</a> (trail) -- I've tried twice without success to get there (once on each side of the river). I've come to terms with the probability that I will never see Monte Cristo. The trail on one side of the river starts out promising, but it becomes narrow after a steep dip, and it eventually requires crossing the river without a bridge. The other, longer side has a wide and rocky road, but it's very hilly, and the road surface is not always very firm. Thus, on both sides I had to turn back way before reaching the town of Monte Cristo. However, my attempts added a new picnic destination and trail to my repertoire -- short, but accessible, with mountain and river views, all kinds of berries, and wildlife.</p><p><br /></p><p>Attempt #1: June 2020</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2L0y4-QFV-0s2enZe0eAduCnTfsmTl3wwlrn45zlPuPNn8DuVN-c_woLMV9w4rtuTBE-BVMy5q3NbNw19tRcZxVoF1uqCCrGXtNnOW6k91Q6lPC4E_d1XGvaqc1R1-U82aqnw1H6A4M/s1280/IMG_6785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2L0y4-QFV-0s2enZe0eAduCnTfsmTl3wwlrn45zlPuPNn8DuVN-c_woLMV9w4rtuTBE-BVMy5q3NbNw19tRcZxVoF1uqCCrGXtNnOW6k91Q6lPC4E_d1XGvaqc1R1-U82aqnw1H6A4M/s320/IMG_6785.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gate guarding entrance to Monte Cristo Trail</td></tr></tbody></table>Since the road to Monte Cristo was damaged by flooding in 1980, a gate has been installed and locked at the trailhead on the west side of the Sauk River. According to the trail guide provided by the Monte Cristo Preservation Association, keys are available to rent through the Snohomish County Department of Public Works, with MCPA members receiving a discount. Hopefully this procedure works, since the hiker access space on either side of the gate is not wide enough for wheelchairs (I was able to manipulate the opening, with the help of a strong hiking companion, a second chair, and some creativity, so I haven't actually tried the key).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHR_-kJkiRhyECaITVaM-zkgfQR3w-_4PoO7Y9C8rYnjv42-gpniPTmyYV7apKlK6UjKghE-f_6T572aVsNkLO3CEANzsOy4qy1WmiqEg7C0BSb275vjtKetC2zWVgRk6rHRqohd88Wo/s1280/IMG_0947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHR_-kJkiRhyECaITVaM-zkgfQR3w-_4PoO7Y9C8rYnjv42-gpniPTmyYV7apKlK6UjKghE-f_6T572aVsNkLO3CEANzsOy4qy1WmiqEg7C0BSb275vjtKetC2zWVgRk6rHRqohd88Wo/s320/IMG_0947.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning of Monte Cristo Trail</td></tr></tbody></table>The first section of the trail is fantastic for wheelchairs. The wide path, surfaced with hard-packed gravel, travels along the Sauk River through the trees, with mountains in the distance. The vegetation is both inviting and threatening, as we saw blossoming berries and devil's club alongside the path. At about .8 mile the trail comes to a short and steep downhill run, after which it narrows and becomes inaccessible for wheelchairs. Eventually, an able-bodied hiker would cross the Sauk River over a log and join up with the Monte Cristo bypass road to town. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHSqmgDOPezJpbRu4KT8nBOyWUhztwFG1nJA8TF4CYX0KxScU4h1KvhfUFHJ-Fxdyj1O8MlaA3jJp3lOPl9STI373RohHCaR0PZ-rIDk7aDnWFCA2NMmZYJciXQCHlkgONWCHYoPTL_M/s1280/IMG_1014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHSqmgDOPezJpbRu4KT8nBOyWUhztwFG1nJA8TF4CYX0KxScU4h1KvhfUFHJ-Fxdyj1O8MlaA3jJp3lOPl9STI373RohHCaR0PZ-rIDk7aDnWFCA2NMmZYJciXQCHlkgONWCHYoPTL_M/s320/IMG_1014.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sauk River on MC Trail</td></tr></tbody></table>We went a little farther, finally stopping for a picnic by the river before turning around at about 1.2 miles, This is a great short hike, with beautiful scenery, wild berries in season, and the possibility of seeing bears. As we were hiking along, we noticed a large pile of scat, that could have been bear scat. A little farther on, we saw a second large pile that was definitely bear scat. A little farther on, we noticed that the grasses were trampled down into an inviting bear-shaped nap spot. When we stopped by the river for a picnic, we were treated to a perfectly Goldilocks-distanced (not too close, not too far) black bear!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mCi5z82pIa-WhxibnveVkWU-TkvJzCiYk-xiIYLflWoba5CmYRPKyPEtp_BmIQDIiNabrJmeTmQiqyvg9yYlP5qb6lKkFKW_-jxEnVMBUbrKv784XvXhbZ_wOHZyK71BV9gcIG4zztk/s1280/IMG_1038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mCi5z82pIa-WhxibnveVkWU-TkvJzCiYk-xiIYLflWoba5CmYRPKyPEtp_BmIQDIiNabrJmeTmQiqyvg9yYlP5qb6lKkFKW_-jxEnVMBUbrKv784XvXhbZ_wOHZyK71BV9gcIG4zztk/s320/IMG_1038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monte Cristo Trail Resident</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p>Attempt #2: September 2020</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSQVPvPqUL-gT4nMXiXvTn3olKHTsTxlfVnxH-1s8H9bLR0MpX03KpB243imwcYc757v83cJAo3KT4yfjAl_AQXdD7PjH7HqJx8vtRYMnrUYo-1RUEYPTe81qiv3L25k7Fu061LQ83rg/s1280/IMG_6770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSQVPvPqUL-gT4nMXiXvTn3olKHTsTxlfVnxH-1s8H9bLR0MpX03KpB243imwcYc757v83cJAo3KT4yfjAl_AQXdD7PjH7HqJx8vtRYMnrUYo-1RUEYPTe81qiv3L25k7Fu061LQ83rg/s320/IMG_6770.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gate to Monte Cristo Road</td></tr></tbody></table>We had been advised that the trail to Monte Cristo on the other side of the Sauk River was built upon an old access road and did not require any river crossing. With this in mind, we set out for Monte Cristo on the east side of the river. Again, the trail is guarded by a gate. On sides were hiker's passage ways sided by rocks and too narrow for a wheelchair. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnYartioNJiVxsnlZ83w72HBN3IqpmrJcTNDZ_B5Et5bBcVmI2MXMxwgPnapBad8a_jSH4d23mv33F8mnMWF6WsdhY3EZLWEL4MzZWUwXp0pcjHLMdRTVlB5LDoKL17_DzXaNWj3QKrk/s1280/IMG_6774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnYartioNJiVxsnlZ83w72HBN3IqpmrJcTNDZ_B5Et5bBcVmI2MXMxwgPnapBad8a_jSH4d23mv33F8mnMWF6WsdhY3EZLWEL4MzZWUwXp0pcjHLMdRTVlB5LDoKL17_DzXaNWj3QKrk/s320/IMG_6774.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monte Cristo Road</td></tr></tbody></table>The trail is built on top of an old road and doesn't cross the river, but it is very hilly, and the surface is uneven, loose gravel. It begins miles before the trail on the west side even starts, because of a turn in the Mt Loop Highway), making it even longer. Maybe a power chair with off-road wheels would be able to drive this way, but it was too much for me!<p><br /></p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HZZU8GxeijM67Fkm2rAS2_6apzDMehH1BIhoaTkChjVCOdXVs-au8tdiJ2Yn6yThlog7QIBn8l0o40zYKnRazxT3I8nauetq_gf03u_AIiPBcVcAOPW311Br_gc3kQcmF37njO57KTQ/s1280/IMG_6773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HZZU8GxeijM67Fkm2rAS2_6apzDMehH1BIhoaTkChjVCOdXVs-au8tdiJ2Yn6yThlog7QIBn8l0o40zYKnRazxT3I8nauetq_gf03u_AIiPBcVcAOPW311Br_gc3kQcmF37njO57KTQ/s320/IMG_6773.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road surface</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7KOygnSwR4c3Zk5V45eRUK2wUG5l7UJS7kbZUXZClvljpBU30ZXWS8pq793sNRok6gvBzSYEonSBZPydR0AfXKXiOV2CuV4AWOFzJEPavSp61UrMDAg_RJ3MSA0Cx8BExz4dZ0KEWyo/s1280/IMG_6778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7KOygnSwR4c3Zk5V45eRUK2wUG5l7UJS7kbZUXZClvljpBU30ZXWS8pq793sNRok6gvBzSYEonSBZPydR0AfXKXiOV2CuV4AWOFzJEPavSp61UrMDAg_RJ3MSA0Cx8BExz4dZ0KEWyo/s320/IMG_6778.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monte Cristo Road</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p>Hike #3: September 2020</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe951QBCyMo2l9ej4nRfIgshnnLbrm39AgvQsbNhFjirsYMHtfkB7cS7vhm_mDbgGowDo0UBoNY6mBoHZOVFBpVpoVwRA_i7MvXVWX4TE9nmkFn27i7rM-_q_jBx5015UZI8KlcaOykiI/s1280/IMG_1058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe951QBCyMo2l9ej4nRfIgshnnLbrm39AgvQsbNhFjirsYMHtfkB7cS7vhm_mDbgGowDo0UBoNY6mBoHZOVFBpVpoVwRA_i7MvXVWX4TE9nmkFn27i7rM-_q_jBx5015UZI8KlcaOykiI/s320/IMG_1058.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Monte Cristo Trail</td></tr></tbody></table>We returned to the trailhead on the west side of the Sauk River and did the short, accessible section down to the river. The berries were gone. There were no bears. The mountains in the distance were out. It was a short but beautiful hike.</p><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jenny Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03675078647001387605noreply@blogger.com0