Message from the Mountain

August 2025/Issue #14

Calm in the Storm

It was pouring down rain, people were scrambling to hide from the massive downpour. Kids were running, dogs were whimpering, fires were being extinguished, and all hell was breaking loose. I was strolling along, not a care in the world and up ahead, I see this man in an Action Trak chair heading for the river. I did a double take, as this was not the norm.

This man was on a mission. Soon, he disappeared out of sight. I kept strolling while everyone was ducking for cover from the monsoon. It's funny, our bodies comprise about 60% of water, yet we hide from it when it falls from the sky. I enjoy a good rain shower, it is rejuvenating.

Anyway, I walked up to the river and looked at the cabins, he was nowhere to be found. I looked in between the campsites, nothing. Surely he did not roll down the steep embankment and across the massive gravel bank. Yep, there he was. Sitting in a little pool of water, fishing. I smiled the biggest smile. This is mobility. I wanted to go talk to the man piloting the chair, but I could see he was in his element. He was in nature and the Action Trak chair made it accessible.

That is what I want to offer people, the opportunity to do just this. No limits, no barriers, find your path and go. Our mission is Making Nature Accessible, and we won't stop working hard to accomplish that. I can still hear the water when I see this picture. Can you?

Way finding

By Jeffrey Pryor

Trails are always fun to explore. The peaceful sounds of nature, the smell of the forest, the song of the birds, and the hidden treasures of the past present and future. I have seen old homesteads in hilly regions, with more than one site. It was like a subdivision, probably with no HOA. I could imagine the community and how they worked together to make things happen.

I once hiked quite a distance to go see an old still, where I'm sure white lighting was the choice of drink for those in the area. In France, I hiked to a B-24 crash site and witnessed the debris and carnage that ensured liberty for a country most Americans have never visited. I have stumbled upon old railroad tracks, caves, and symbols, mostly cairns. It seems most people on trails find it fitting to leave a mark with a pile of stones. I know, cairns represent trail markers or navigational aids, but if you are already on a well distinguished trail, you might not need a cairn to guide the way. Some trails are marked tastefully so.

I hope that along this journey of building Mobility Mountain, I am doing the right thing when it comes to way finding, so others may see the path ahead clearly. Thanks for reading, and remember to mark your path, so others can follow.