We all wanted to do something big for the final day of shooting the new HYN series. We wanted to do something which showed what we’re all about and which also included some of our friends with disabilities who have supported us along the way. So we decided to climb a mountain. We chose Bromley Mountain in Peru, VT because they have a great adaptive ski program there in the winter, and Joe Hurley, the guy who runs it, was excited at the prospect of helping get a big group like ours all the way to the top.

We asked one of our longtime reporters, Paul Remy, to write up a report of this mountain climb and what follows are his words as he typed them on the computer. Paul has CP and types with the use of a head pointer, like this:

Here’s Paul climbing the mountain with Corby and Jake:

And here’s Paul’s report:

SATURDAY JUNE 7, 2008 – it was a beautiful spring day in Vermont. The temperature neared 90 degrees, but a cool breeze welcomed HYN. The HYN’s grew was joined by friends (including myself) from Camp Jabberwocky, a summer camp on Martha’s Vineyard for people with disabilities, and TulgeyWood, another summer gathering for the people with disabilties on Nantucket. We wanted to end the HYN coast to coast MTV series on a high note - climbing 3,284 feet up Bromley Mountain. We knew that this was our biggest challenge yet, but we also knew that if we made it to the top the climb would be a historic event.

The chair lift brought us to the point where we could start our ascent to the top of Bromley. Luckily, the lift stopped so that people with physical disabilities to get on it. I have Cerebral Palsy and am a wheelchair user. However, I am able to walk slowly when someone supports me. My friend Jake helped to walk to the lift and to on it.

The ride up was spectacular and I admired the breathtaking view of the beautiful mountains in the distance. Thoughts also entered my mind, however, wondering if my 53-year-old legs would be able to propel me all the way up the summit. Arthur told the group before the climb that we could take as many rest as we needed and instructed us to drink lots of water. Finally, the chairlift dropped us off, and we reached the starting point of our climb.

I began walking with Jake’s help. Several other wonderful and caring people also assisted me, but unfortunately I forgot their names. Remembering names of new acquaintances is not one of my assets. Anyway, we walked a few hundred feet. My goal was to walk another several hundred feet to a rock that I was eyeing, but I decided to take my first rest because my left foot started bothering me due to spasticity. – tightness of muscles cause by Cerebral Palsy. The spasticity takes more control of my left side of my body than my right.

My friends Larry, Shirley, and Nancy also have Cerebral Palsy, a neurological disorder that usually occurs at birth due to an insufficient amount of oxygen to the brain during birth. Stiff muscles prevent them from walking even with assistance. They had to be carried all the way up Bromley. To them, climbing was equally as challenging and exciting because it it also a partnership and requires arms strength and balance..

After resting for five minutes and taking a drink of refreshing water, I was ready to resume the next leg of the journey. Being energized I was convinced that I would be able to climb half way up the mountain before taking another rest. However, my left foot refused to accomplish this achievement. Someone offered to give me a short piggy-back ride and I accepted. One advantage about piggy-backing with a fast walker is that you past everyone. As I was passing by my friends, I noticed that all of them were enjoying Mother Nature while conquering the climb. Two friends and HYN reporters, Bobby and Susan, for example, were striding right along like seasoned mountaineers.

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At about the half way point I resumed walking. I wanted to complete the rest of the climb on my own two feet. I felt refreshed and was keeping a good pace up Bromley, but the heat got to me. Soaking wet with sweat my friend Corby saw me tiring and offered me another piggy-back ride. I desperately wanted to refuse his kind offer. However, I knew if I wanted a strong finish to the top by my own power a short piggy-back ride would be the answer.

Excitement engulfed me when the tower on top of the mountain appeared into view. After getting off of Corby’s back, I shouted “LET’S DO THIS!” and walked the rest of the way. With more breaks, I agree with Arthur that I could have gone all the way without resorting to piggy-backs. Perhaps next time!

Greeting everyone on the summit was such an awesome feeling. We all knew that despite one’s physical and mental limitations the Bromley challenge was achieved. I also share the same feeling as Nancy, “climbing Bromley was the most rememberable, amazing and the breathtaking things that I may have ever done.” It was a challenge, and would I do it again in a heart beat. With my friends, we will show people that the impossible is possible and can be done!

Everyone at HYN would like to thank Bromley Mountain and the great folks at the The Bart J. Ruggiere Adaptive Sports Center for teaming up with us for this event. We had 12 people with disabilities reach the summit, 8 of whom use wheelchairs. Let’s get even more next time!