Operation Mountain Sports
June 4th ~ 8th, 2007
Summer sports with our Wounded Warriors
Bob Pratt on a handcycle
donated by Athletes Helping Athletes
Under beautiful Sierra skies one minute and three inches of snow the next, the latest group of Wounded Warriors was treated to Operation Mountain Sports with Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra. In partnership with the Wounded Warriors Project and Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, and the wonderful Mammoth Lakes community, returning service members Brice Brokaw and Bob Pratt traded in skis for climbing shoes, kayaks, hand cycles and fishing rods. Newcomer, Josh Cope, who is a double amputee above the knees, charmed everyone with his quiet tenacity and huge smile. Josh brought his wife Erica and 18 month-old daughter Laney with him also for their first vacation since his injury.
"The Wounded Warrior Project is designed to empower these military personnel to adapt to life with their war injuries," said Kathy Copeland, Executive Director of Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra. "We are rolling out the red carpet again to these military personnel who have sustained serious injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan to show them there definitely is still lots of fun to be had," Copeland said.
Brice Brokaw lands a fish
as his guide, Mark Spieler, looks on.
The first night in Mammoth the soldiers were treated to a firehouse barbeque and welcome by the Mammoth Lakes Fire Department and ended the evening with rides in the fire trucks, lights and sirens blazing.
The sports started early the next day with kayaking on Crowley Lake, which had big white caps right before and after these guys hit the water. After lunch there were fly fishing guides to show the Wounded Warriors how to land Sierra trout.
The following day started with hand cycling on adaptive bikes and finished with more successful trout fishing. Bob Pratt won the trout derby with a four-pound rainbow!
The real excitement was saved for the last day, with Sierra Mountain Guides taking the students rock climbing in the June Lake area. Each of the Wounded Warriors climbed their personal Everest and inspired guides and volunteers alike. Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra looks forward to many more Wounded Warrior Projects in the future. If you would like to donate to DSES or become a volunteer, contact them at 760.934.0791.
The Wounded Warriors and Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra staff and volunteers with Caldera Kayaks’ Stu and Sue on Crowley Lake
Brice Brokaw and Bob Pratt meet Ricky,
a member of the Mammoth Dog Teams.
Josh Cope does a Tyrolean traverse
with Sierra Mountain Guides of June Lake.
Local veteran, Terry Smutney, takes a corner on his handcycle.
E.L. Smoogen modified this wheelchair
so that users like Josh Cope can take it off-road.
Thank you to all who made our week with the Wounded Warriors a success!