AdaptiveHikes

05/09/2025

CMT Unseen - All the words in the mirror are some of the things that I deal with that aren’t visible to others. People might see my leg braces and wonder about them, but they have no idea what my life is like or how I am affected by my disability. It might be obvious to some that I don’t walk well, even with my braces, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I have CMT1A. Everyday I struggle, and everyday I persevere. And no one will ever truly understand what it’s like for me, even people who have the same diagnosis as me — simply because it affects us all differently. We will never know exactly what it’s like to be someone else, so we must have compassion and be kind regardless of what we think someone IS or ISN’T going through. It wasn’t easy for me to make this, to be honest, because it is quite vulnerable. However, I wanted to share a small window into my life incase it helps someone feel less alone with what they are dealing with. September is CMT Awareness Month, do you have your own CMT story? Let us know! And follow to participate in the CMT Unseen September Awareness Campaign!

25/08/2025

Disability isn’t always static—it can be dynamic. For me - it changes day to day, trail to trail, and sometimes even moment to moment. Some days all I need are my AFOs. And on other days, I need my off-road wheelchair to take me to places I wouldn’t otherwise be able to go. ♿️ ⛰️

The outdoors is for everyone, no matter how you get there. The adaptive gear that I use makes it possible to keep moving, exploring, and enjoying nature.

I have CMT1A, which is a genetic peripheral neuropathy. CMT causes muscle weakness and atrophy in the feet, lower legs, lower arms and hands. People can experience a myriad of symptoms including pain, foot drop, fatigue, and sensory loss. Symptoms are progressive and variable, so mobility can change day to day—some people utilize mobility aids such as AFOs, orthotics, or wheelchairs for support. CMT1A can also affect balance, gait, and endurance, making adaptive strategies important for daily life.

I am a CMT ambassador with the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation. They have a plethora of information and resources for people living with CMT. Follow for more support!

➡️ Follow for more outdoor adventures and to learn about accessible hiking trails. The outdoors should be accessible for all.

18/03/2024

We went out of our comfort zone a bit and went on a ride in the snow! We prefer warm sunny weather but this was a fun adventure. My off-road wheelchair held up pretty well in the snow, but we didn’t realize both of my batteries were super low. Luckily, we made it back to the truck before the batteries died. Do you like to adventure in the snow or do you prefer warmer weather too?

➡️ Follow for more outdoor adventures and to learn about accessible hiking trails. The outdoors should be accessible for all.

16/01/2024

This is our mascot Daisy Mae. She loves going on rides with me so much that we named my off-road wheelchair the Daisy mobile! And a friend got us this custom license plate for it. We can’t wait for warmer weather so we can get back on the trails. Do you have a furry friend that likes to go hiking with you?

🏔️ Off-road wheelchair from

➡️ Follow for more outdoor adventures and to learn about accessible hiking trails. The outdoors should be accessible for all.

19/10/2023

to last Halloween! Thankfully, the Daisy Mobile is super fast and we were able to get away from that creepy bear 🐻 behind us 😂

Do you like to celebrate Halloween? 👻

➡️ Follow for more outdoor adventures and to learn about accessible hiking trails. The outdoors should be accessible for all.

13/10/2023

Happy Friday!! What adventures do you have planned for the weekend? We hope to hit some more trails and enjoy the great outdoors ☀️ ⛰️

🦽Off-road wheelchair by

➡️ Follow for more outdoor adventures and to learn about accessible hiking trails. The outdoors should be accessible for all.

11/10/2023

Yesterday, we celebrated Daisy Mae’s 🐶 Gotcha Day / Birthday. She’s a sweet little senior gal and she loves going on rides with me on my off-road wheelchair. We went to one of our favorite trails. It has beautiful views and while it’s not paved, my off-road wheelchair doesn’t have any issues with the loose gravel.

South Mesa Trailhead, Boulder Colorado.

It has two accessible parking spaces. This trail is jammed packed since it’s very popular for not only hiking and biking, but also for photography.

The trail is loose gravel and there is a wooden bridge with a credit running underneath it. There are some small “hills” and dips on the upper part of the trail. It should be fine for off-road wheelchairs and some other electric wheelchairs that can handle rougher conditions.

07/08/2023

We love hiking at Four Mile Canyon Creek especially when we’ve had rain and the creek is running. Hiking is one of my very favorite things to do and I’m thankful for my AFOs from that help me feel stable and give me the ability to hike to my favorite places!

Four Mile Canyon Creek is in Boulder, Colorado. The parking lot at the trailhead has 4 accessible parking spaces. There are no restrooms. The trail is hard packed dirt and gravel. Some areas of the trail are quite rough, especially near the creek. There is no bridge to cross the creek. I have taken my off-road wheelchair to this location but I am not able to go past the creek when it is running high. This trail is best for hiking by foot or via wheelchair if you’re just wanting to see the creek. When the creek isn’t running, it would be passable if you have an off-road wheelchair like mine.

➡️ Follow for more outdoor adventures and to learn about accessible hiking trails. The outdoors should be accessible for all.

28/07/2023

Happy Friday! Last weekend, we decided to try out my off-road wheelchair on a new trail. This trail is a loop around a lake and it was a great spot to see the sunset 🌅

Coot Lake trail in Boulder, CO has two accessible parking spaces. The trail is a 1.2 mile loop around the lake. The path is mostly hard packed dirt + gravel. There are two vault toilets. There is a wheelchair accessible bridge that overlooks the water.

The one downside to this trail is that there are a lot of off-leash dogs. Several dogs came up to my off-road wheelchair and the owners did not call them back. I love dogs but if you’re reading this and often let your dog off-leash, please be respectful of others and ask before you allow your dog to approach someone in a wheelchair.

Image description: Heather is hiking with her off-road wheelchair. In the background is a lot of green vegetation, the mountains and a beautiful blue sky with clouds.

21/07/2023

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/19/travel/disabled-hikers-park-guide.html

We highlight a selection of paths, overlooks and other sites in several U.S. parks that outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities can enjoy this summer.

20/07/2023

“When we are with nature, we are awake.” ~ John Muir

Do you feel that way? I love being in nature and going on adventures. Being in the great outdoors helps me feel calmer and boosts my mental health. What’s your Dave life thing to do outside?

⛰️ Off-road wheelchair by

Imagine description: Heather, a disabled female, is on a dirt path with her off-road wheelchair. The mountains are in the background with tall grass and wildflowers all around the path. It’s a beautiful day with nearly clear blue sky.

13/07/2023

I love to go hiking. My husband and I have been hiking together for over 20 years. But as my neuromuscular disease has progressed, my ability to hike has changed drastically. That’s why accessible hiking trails are so important for disabled hikers. The outdoors should be accessible for all. This means a lot of different things, including trailheads offering accessible parking spaces. What does accessible hiking mean to you?

🏔️ This trailhead is the South Mesa trailhead in Eldorado Springs, Co. It has two accessible parking spaces. Unfortunately, it’s a very popular hiking trail and there’s very little parking. More often than not, non-disabled people park in the accessible spots even though they don’t have a handicap placard. Don’t be one of those people!

🦵 I am wearing my leg Allard toe-offs which give me the ability to enjoy hiking and the great outdoors!

Image description: Heather, a disabled female wearing leg braces, is pictured at a hiking trail with a beautiful mountain backdrop. She’s holding one of her dogs and the other is standing next to her on a leash.