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A Summit to Remember: Grand Teton w/ Veterans Expeditions

Gazing around I had full 360° view of some of the most beautiful vistas I have ever taken in. I stood atop the Grand Teton, it was September 11, 2011 exactly 10 years after the planes flew into the World Trade Center and for many of us our world was forever changed. This time I was fortunate enough to share the summit with some amazing veterans and the emotion and pride was overwhelming.
Summitting the Grand had long been a dream of mine, not so much for the glory of the top but for the amazing rugged beauty it possesses. What made this day even more remarkable is the fact that I was standing atop the Grand with a bunch of HEROS. On this particular summit I had been fortunate enough to join up with Veteran’s Expeditions, a non-profit dedicated to getting veterans outside and allowing the simple beauty of nature to validate their service and perhaps heal their wounds.

Veterans Expeditions is a fantastic organizations run by two vets that know the struggles of dealing with both physical and mental disabilities, however they also know that having a disability should not hinder one’s ability to enjoy the adventure of the outdoors. Stacy Bare and Nick Watson, the founders and heart and soul of VetEx are my heros. They have taken their own struggles and found a real way to help other vets see the beauty in living a healthy life. This particular trip was dubbed a “Summit to Remember” and was the result of lots of hard work and cooperative effort between a number of organizations. The logistics of taking a group of veterans in various states of disrepair to the rugged summit of the Grand Teton was a daunting task to which VetEx and Jackson Hole Mtn Guides handled flawlessly, from getting the vets to Jackson, WY, to organizing individualized training, planning meals and filling gear needs as well as fostering an environment in which all people feel welcome and in the end to come together as family. This trip was an Individual trip as much as a group one for all participants with ample time to reflect and breathe in the resounding effects of not only the actions of the past but to taste the sweet nectar of a life well lived and perhaps embrace a new bright start to each and every following day.

During this trip I learned a number of things about folk’s ways of dealing with strife and conflict and after my experiences with the group I feel that it is by far the best group of Americans I could have spent my 9/11 with. One thing I want to clarify is that VetEx is a group that does not baby nor counsel they seem to have their finger on the pulse of rehab by simply allowing folks to live their lives, if a hug or high five is needed it is there, just as an ear is available to listen and perhaps a bit of insight is allowed. All in all a Summit to Remember is everything I thought it would be and more. I eagerly look forward to opportunities in the future with VetEx and I encourage ANY and ALL vets to reach out to this non-profit and see what opportunities are available.

A special thanks to the Sierra Club and Jackson Hole Mtn Guides for this opportunity. More on the climb itself coming soon…

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