There are an endless number of blogs and guidebooks out there about the outdoors, giving hikers access to information about trail conditions, difficulty, and directions, but there is one problem. The majority of the information out there assumes that the person reading it is fully able-bodied. How many times have you found a trail description that listed the trail as “easy,” only to start the hike and realize it is not easy for you?
This website is different. Written by disabled hikers for disabled hikers, we will give you information that other guides overlook. Our descriptions will include:
Trail conditions: We’ll include detailed information on the material of the trail, exactly how much mud you might expect, width of the trail, and if the trail is actually accessible by a standard wheelchair.
Elevation: If it is a loop trail, we’ll list the direction of the elevation change. We’ll include information on stairs and the condition of the steps, incline, and if you can expect the slopes to be rocky or slippery.
Access: If there are multiple access points, we’ll give detailed information for each segment with the access point clearly defined.
Difficulty: We can’t qualify how difficult a trail will be for you, because ability ranges greatly between people, and can vary from day to day. But we will do our best to give a Spoon Rating – the number of spoons we think the trail might require, based upon a general assessment, on a 1-5 scale.
Our goal is to provide you with as much detailed information as we can so that you can make an informed decision. We will try to avoid descriptive but unhelpful words like “a short elevation gain” or “this trail winds through…”, without giving you details on what it means. We’ll provide as many photos as we can. We are mindful that trail and roadway conditions change rapidly, so all of our posts will note the date, and we will update them as frequently as we can.
This page is a place for community engagement. We welcome your trail reports, tools and information about hiking while disabled, disability resources, and conversation.
About the Founder
Hi! I’m Syren, and I am a writer and avid outdoors person. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which results in frequent joint dislocations and chronic joint and body pain, along with chronic fatigue, dizziness and tachycardia, and a number of other conditions including asthma. I am frequently a solo hiker, and I got so tired of scouring hiking guides for information that I decided to start my own, with information that I need to decide whether to attempt a trail.
I think it is important for the people who write these guides to give context on their ability, as our ability colors the way we share information. It is important for you to know that: I have the ability to walk without assistance the majority of the time, (depending upon injuries and fatigue), I can see, hear, and speak clearly, I am able to drive. On a really good day I am able to hike 4-6 miles with moderate exhaustion (I’m going to need to rest, but mostly able to maintain regular activities).
I am also based in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, so for now the majority of the hikes will be in western Washington and western Oregon. As our capacity grows I plan to publish descriptions from other hikers and other areas.
Disclosure: Trail and road conditions change rapidly. The information provided on this page and on the website is for informational purposes only. You are responsible for your decision to attempt a trail. This site, it’s founder or contributors do not accept any liability, nor is the information on this site guaranteed to be accurate.
