[Sportsandrec] {Spam?} Re: Looking for ways to navigate Trails in nature.

Kelly Thornbury kthornbury at bresnan.net
Mon Apr 18 15:30:27 UTC 2016 

You really should look into the techniques used by Trek For Light, a division of SFL. Much better than holding arms or shoulders which creates other unnecessary hazards, and I have adapted the TFL technique for one sighted/multiple blind hikers successfully.  

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 18, 2016, at 09:15, Carly Mihalakis via Sportsandrec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Just grasp one another's shoulders. Works much better!sighted guide technique with
>> more than one blind person. I think that using canes or walking sticks will
>> help amincely even if the blind participants aren't used to using a Cain
>> when going sighted guide, I.E holding onto each other by the elbow. This way
>> each person can relay trail information to the person behind them as needed.
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Sportsandrec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Arielle Silverman via Sportsandrec
>> Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2015 8:47 PM
>> To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
>> Cc: Arielle Silverman
>> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Looking for ways to navagate Trails in nature.
>> 
>> Hi Kendra. I have been with my sighted husband for six years, and we
>> often hang out with my blind friends together, though we have not gone
>> hiking yet with them. I think that even the best sighted guys will
>> take a while to get used to being around a lot of blind people.
>> Unfortunately, sighted people grow up immersed in the larger society's
>> cultural beliefs about blindness and even when they intellectually
>> understand what we can do, they might not emotionally feel comfortable
>> with blind people traveling safely at first. I do think it gets better
>> with time. If he feels stressed about the hiking, perhaps you could
>> spend some timejust hanging out together with your blind friends in a
>> quiet setting where he can just talk to them and get to know them as
>> an equal. I also think that even when sighted guys understand that
>> they aren't responsible for us, they usually have access to some
>> privileged information. The lone sighted person in a group may feel
>> obligated to pass this privileged information along (such as
>> information about directions, alerts about upcoming obstacles, or
>> information about scenery)and this can become a kind of
>> responsibility. One thing you might consider is having the blind
>> people pair up and walk holding arms or linking elbows so the sighted
>> person only needs to give verbal directions to one person in each
>> pair. Sighted people often like to watch those who are following to
>> make sure they are keeping up, so it's easier if he only needs to look
>> back at the person right behind him. If you are comfortable using
>> sighted guide with your boyfriend you could hold his arm and then
>> relay information about turns, etc. to the others who are walking
>> behind you. Best of luck!
>> Arielle
>> 
>> On 8/23/15, Kendra Schafer via Sportsandrec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> > Hi all!
>> > That makes sense. In this case, it's as I alluted to earlier, responsable
>> in
>> > nature because of the hazards. I was looking for alternitive techniques
>> > and/or where you can get good ski poles. By the way, that's a good idea!
>> > I'll have to check out that one website. I like to see what it says.
>> > 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.
>> >
>> >> On Aug 23, 2015, at 4:30 PM, Kelly Thornbury via Sportsandrec
>> >> <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> You know what's funny... If I organize a group outing on the trails I
>> feel
>> >> ultimately responsible for everyone's safety, even the sighted folks.
>> >>
>> >> I don't see in itself an issue in the ownership of responsibility, I
>> guess
>> >> to me it depends on how it's presented. If it's babying or patronizing I
>> >> have a problem, but if it's pointing out true hazards, interesting
>> >> scenery, or something like inclement weather I'm pretty okay with it. I
>> >> would like to think my skills off the beaten path are adequate, but I
>> also
>> >> wouldn't want to miss a one foot wide bridge over a twenty foot
>> dropoff...
>> >> Trust me that sucks the fun out of a hike.
>> >>
>> >> Kel
>> >>
>> >>> On Nov 16, 2002, at 9:40 PM, Joe Shaw via Sportsandrec wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> Am I allowed to question his belief in the abilities of blind people
>> >>> while carrying the weight of being responsible for us? I know... that's
>> >>> not popular.
>> >>> Joe Shaw
>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kendra Schafer via Sportsandrec"
>> >>> <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
>> >>> To: <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
>> >>> Cc: "Kendra Schafer" <redwing731 at gmail.com>
>> >>> Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2015 4:59 PM
>> >>> Subject: [Sportsandrec] Looking for ways to navagate Trails in nature.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>> 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.
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>>> Sportsandrec mailing list
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>> >>>
>> >>>
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