[Sportsandrec] Looking for ways to navagate Trails in nature.

[justin williams]

It's everyone's responsibility to watch out for your fellow hikers, but it
is not one person responsibility to watch out for everyone.  Your boyfriend
should not have to watch out for everyone, but developing a system where he
can use his sight to help the group as a whole, while still leaving him free
to enjoy himself may be a solution as you suggested.  However, ultimately,
the hikers, blind or not, really need to be self-sufficient enough to remain
free of injury, and not have anyone worried about them.  
That will kill some of the enjoyment for him if he has to do that.

Justin.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sportsandrec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Jessica Beecham via Sportsandrec
Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2015 7:33 PM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jessica Beecham <Jessica at wefitwellness.com>
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Looking for ways to navagate Trails in nature.

Sounds like a fun trip. A lot of people take long trekking poles on hikes so
that they can check out stuff with something a little more sturdy than a
cane. You can use a trekking pole as long as your cane if you want. 

If folks on the trip feel more comfortable with a sighted guide they should
arrange to have someone come along. It is not your boyfriends responsibility
to help everyone. That will ultimately make a fun excursion daunting.

Whether the blind friends you are hiking with figure out their own
alternative techniques for navigating or whether more sighted people come
along should be up to the group but it definitely should not be one persons
job to make sure everyone has what they need.

Have you asked the other hikers what they might prefer (more guides or
coming up with alternative techniques)?

Not sure this was at all helpful but good luck and happy hiking!

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 23, 2015, at 4:59 PM, "Kendra Schafer via Sportsandrec"
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all! 
> Yesterday, I walked to a local but out of the way historical hot spring. I
had my sited boyfriend, and two blind ladies with me. To get to this hot
spring, you have to walk a half a mile on a trail with a few rugged spots
and a lot of tree roots. This was my boyfriend's first time getting a group
of blind people down this kind of trail. The trip actually went very well.
We all felt good to do the trip because the other ladies haven't traveled in
nature in three years. My boyfriend on the other hand didn't get to enjoy
the journey as much as the rest of us so I feel bad for him. My boyfriend
believes that blind people can do anything we set our minds to,  however, he
still feels responsable for  any blind person's safety,  well being and
transportation.   How can I make the trip more enjoyable for my sited
boyfriend who felt the burden of responsibility? I suggested finding another
volunteer to assist in navigating the trails. I know that there is a Better
way since I did this
>  sort of thing with other groups in the past. Would something like this
require another sited volunteer? Him taking  the responsability and doing
this sort of thing once or twice a year? Are there techniques out there for
this sort of thing?  Is there a way for me to help one of them navagate the
tree roots and follow behind while doing so and letting my boyfriend helping
all of us through the roughest parts of the trail? Any ideas would be most
appriciated Please!!!  Thank you!!! 
> Kendra
> 
> 
> "When the student is ready,
> the  teacher will appear" 
> Author unknown
> Life always proves to me that I know the best roads are out there and so
is my job of discovering where they are.  
>  Blindness has often tested me. 
> 
> Love has set  me free before it  showed me how to see the stars.    
> Baltimore, Maryland  showed me how to soar to the stars. 
> Seattle, Washington let me soar on the wings of my imagination. 
> Paganism showed me the way home where  I feel magic all around me. 
> As I move through life, I notice the many ways where my beliefs not only
ring true, but also proven to be true by others.  
> 
> I am soaring like a bald eagle as I set out to live the life I want. 
> 
> 
> I believe that everything is all interconnected and full of magic. 
> Blessed Be!!! 
> Kendra Schaber, 
> A blind Pagan federationist,    
> The National Federation Of The Blind Of Oregon, Capitol Chapter,
> 
> Live the Life We Want
> 
> 
> Diehard Fan Of Harry Potter, Middle Earth,  Narnia, and Land of Oz
universes. I love anything to do with bald eagles. 
> Go Pittsburgh Penguins! 
> Go Detroit Red Wings! 
> Go Baltimore Ravens! 
> Go Seattle Sea Hawks! 
> Go Oregon State Beavers! 
> Go Portland Winter Hawks! 
> 
>  I am Happily Living With My Wonderful Boyfriend  In Salem, Oregon. 
> This  E Mail Was Sent  right  to your E Mail inbox  from Kendra's
Constantly Active Mobile Google E Mail Box which is located on Kendra's
iPhone 5 that happens to be blind user friendly.      
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