The Rubicon Report

Meet George, my wonderful driver and guide for the Cisco Grove/Rubicon Trail Trip co-sponsored by Sierra Treasure Hunters Club and Disabled Sports USA-Far West.

First off, I'm happy to say that none of my fears previously noted (see post 7/4) came true. I had no hypoxia and I was very comfortable in the seat - note regular seat belt, not 5-point restraint. Later, I would really wish for more secure attachment to the seat, but George was confident that all was good. Still, I had some visions about granite meeting skin and bone....

I had the time of my life on Saturday. The Sierra Treasure Hunters Club flung open the door to the summer playground and we all got to go out and play. How I have longed to be in the mountains in summer. My eyes were filled with vistas of creeks,waterfalls and lakes, trees and wildflowers, birds and butterflies, deep canyons and steep terrain, and of course, granite.

All the drivers had such skill in negotiating places your mind says a vehicle just cannot go. How exhilarating to overcome barriers like granite boulders and just keep going to see what else was out there. Lesser obstacles than those bring the life of a disabled person to a halt, and I felt completely set free the whole day.

The only thing that rivals all that freedom and natural beauty is that it was all made possible by the generosity of strangers. The Sierra Treasure Hunters Club went way out of their way to make this possible for us. It is because of their immeasurable kindness that I am no longer in the dark about the back country. I weep when I think my life could have passed me by without knowing their compassion and seeing the beauty of an alpine summer. Such a reward for simply saying "yes" to the offer!