March 25th - March 30th, 2001
Ready for the Thrill of Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colorado!
As an associate member of the San Antonio Sub-Chapter of the Texas Paralyzed Veterans Association, I was invited to attend the Winter Sports Clinic and honored to provide photo journalism of the events.
I asked Bill Dillow, an experienced Personal Care Attendant, to make the journey with me.
The following article and photography is presented in behalf of the San Antonio Sub Chapter of the Texas Paralyzed Veterans and dedicated to all the heroes in our American Military, past, present, and future.
Julia Hollenbeck
Saturday, March 24, 2001
Bill Braun was already sitting outside and appeared to be playing welcoming committee.
I begged Bill Dillow to get me out of the van before I started to have an early phobic attack of flying while additional wheeler's started arriving for this early morning take-off.
There were nine of us from the San Antonio Sub-Chapter of Texas Paralyzed Veterans Association (TPVA):
Bill and his wife, Jerry Braun (the Sports Director of the San Antonio Sub-Chapter) was inside the airport not-so-patiently waiting, but rather excited to get the show on the road or at least, in the air.
Additionally, a few members from Austin were there and more started wheeling themselves into this now, not-so-quiet little airport, perched on the north central side of the city of San Antonio, Texas.
By the time Anne-Marie and Harry Robinson, and Barry and Dee Muth arrived, Bill Dillow had me and himself checked in for on the journey.
Glen Middleton rolled in a few minutes later.
Anne-Marie Robinson toggled and puffed her chair close to me and visited for a few minutes.
She told me, "I'm a little nervous. My last experience on snow and ice was not a real good experience, but I'm going back to conquer it!"
Anne, a quadriplegic, was slowly improving from a freak truck accident while on active duty in Alaska just barely a year ago, when
the truck rolled over three times, pinning her beneath the driver's side window with the top of it on her chest.
Her husband, Harry, was her constant companion and care attendant.
Barry Muth, (also a quadriplegic whose paralysis was caused by a very similar type accident as Anne) and his wife, Dee, are good friends of the Robinson's and often you will find the four of them together.
Glen Middleton is a determined individual, confined to a wheelchair from multiple sclerosis who enjoys his independence, and insists on traveling by himself.
As for myself, I am not a Disabled American Veteran like the rest of the participants, only a proud Associate Member of the San Antonio sub-chapter of TPVA, the mother of two sons presently on active duty with the military on career status, whose father (now deceased) served in the United States Navy, and discovered there were still a few things left that I could do to help others, and be associated with my own military pride.
All of us were heading for Snowmass Village in Aspen, Colorado for the Winter Ski Clinic that promised new challenges for everyone.
Glen would be a novice this year and attempt to conquer ski and maybe the snow mobile.
When I asked him what he hoped to accomplish he replied, "Soak in the atmosphere and have a good vacation."
This was Bill Braun's second Winter Ski Clinic and wanted to attempt skiing with one ski, "Mono Skiing."
His wife, Jerry, was ready to check it out with one leg.
Jerry was a recent amputee of only about three weeks ago, but a long-time wheelchair user as is her husband Bill.
Now Barry and Dee may very well be the saner of all of us.
Barry said he was, "just a little anxious and probably a little nervous too,' as he glanced down at his lap and then lifted his head and grinned to add, " but I'm ready to go."
His wife, Dee, told me she was really excited and looking forward to the slopes.
Many of us confined to wheelchairs must travel with a PCA, and I could not help but be captivated at the idea of these three married couples that were fortunate in having the love of a spouse to stand beside them.
As for myself, it was a matter of attempting to capture the five members participating from the San Antonio Sub-Chapter of TPVA, all Disabled American Veterans in action on the slopes of Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colorado.
Eventually, the time arrived for us to start boarding our flight.
We were not the only ones from TPVA or their sub-chapters on this flight and other members such as
people from the Austin Chapter, Corpus Christi, and from TPVA arrived in Aspen, Colorado.
Ginger Rhodes, Austin Sub-Chapter, TPVA was one of several on the same flight.
As we finally started to descend the ramp for boarding, Luis Elizalde took a spill from his wheelchair head first as he went down the ramp.
AND we weren't even in ASPEN yet! Not funny; but funny.
Luis is blind and later he remembered me by my scent and voice...amazing.
Dr. Able from the Veterans Hospital in San Antonio accompanied us on the flight.
In Denver we had a two-hour lay over that gave us enough time to find a restroom and a hospitality room compliments of "Many Veterans of Foreign wars and the Ladies Auxiliaries from (the) Denver, Colorado" area.
Additionally, the Boy Scouts of America were there in full force helping to distribute drinks and box lunches in both the hospitality room and at the boarding gate.
There was one woman (regretfully I forget her name), who was very kind and accompanied me to the ladies room.
Later, she sought me out to make sure I was okay and found me in one of the lounges.
This is what one should call real dedication!
The landing in Aspen was uneventful but getting off the plane was another story.
The front passenger door bolt came loose in the process of attaching the portable ramp for the passengers.
We waited for what seemed an eternity and eventually we were directed to the rear door, which was a different experience for most of us.
An aisle wheelchair suddenly appeared next to the row I was sitting in and Bill jumped up to toss me into it.
They strapped me in like a monkey and pulled me backwards down the aisle to a ramp that was located at the rear of the craft.
On retrieving my own trusty wheelchair, I discovered it had fallen over on its side during the flight and was damaged slightly, but still usable.
Later, I learned I was not alone as a few other chairs also bit the dust, nonetheless, I understand United Airlines came through with remedies for every one.
As we entered the baggage claim area, again I was surprised when I saw another group of people greeting the arrivals and offering drinks, sandwiches, and delicious cookies.
The receptions in Denver and Aspen, Colorado only proved to me that there are many, many Americans that do appreciate the extreme sacrifices that so many American Veterans made to protect our way of life in our country. My cameras were all in the trunk, except for the digital, but I was so in awe and shocked of what I was seeing and experiencing, that I never even thought to capture it on film.
Meeting one particular woman who befriended me, will be a memory logged for many years to come.
On arrival at the Silvertree Hotel in Snowmass Village, my biggest surprise was to find a lack of snow and I suppose I expected fifteen inches on the ground and a much colder temperature.
In the valley of this interesting land snuggled in the Rockies, the temperature was in the upper 30's...not bad for winter in the Rockies!
We visited in the lounge and met a number of participants from other areas and states that were attending the Winter Sports Clinic.
One of the neatest things was to see and hear John Sommers playing his banjo and singing "Country Boy", a song he had written that later turned into a mega hit.
Additionally, Twirp Anderson (Guitar) and Mack Bailey joined him.
The Silvertree Hotel, Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colorado
Registration
Sunday, March 25th, 2001
Sunday morning started off with a disaster as I readied myself to go over to the media center and registration area for a preview.
First I was unable to sign on to the Internet, answer any mail, or post the beginning of my story.
The disaster continued through the morning while attempting to photograph the Disabled American Veterans with my favorite Nikon camera as they lined up to register for the Winter Ski Clinic in the Conference Center of the complex, the camera locked up.
Horrors! Bill Dillow and I frantically tried various options that neither of us really agreed upon and the end result was the purchase of a new camera...minutes before a scheduled photo session.
Naturally, Bill sneaked off and purchased a couple of batteries and even to the bewilderment of a camera shop manager, the old Nikon came to life.
Oh well, like I said, never travel without a back up, but the camera saga did not stop there, as I later realized we forgot to pack the second digital.
In between all this, I searched for an instructor that would take me down the mountain in a special ski (called a "sit-ski") that would enable me to capture the descent on film.
This was slightly more than a three-ring circus.
While in general, the majority of experienced instructors were un-paid volunteers from all over the country, I evidently did not qualify for assistance because I was not a disabled veteran, regardless of being there to capture the moment on film for the sub-chapter I was an associate member with, nor was I able to register for any of the clinics in order to complete the photography I desperately wanted to accomplish.
I decided to hire a private instructor, but all the private instructors were already booked and scheduled for the Disabled American Veterans and they justifiably came first.
Even Challenge Aspen, which is a non-profit organization dedicated and specializing in assisting the disabled to learn how to get on the slopes could not accommodate me because of the vast number of qualified participants.
Basically, I was on my own which made me even more determined to get the shots and the story as best I could, but I kept wondering how in the world I was going to have the opportunity of filming a downhill run with the realism of the moment, much less take stills of the action of the Disabled American Veteran participants.
My efforts of trying to find someone that could help me seemed hopeless.
Regardless, the best was yet to come and the experience of Snowmass Village and the Winter Ski Clinic just kept getting better!
Taste of Snowmass ~ Mall Party
Sunday afternoon we went to the "Taste of Snowmass - Mall Party" that was located outside and
found several friends beginning our first photo session of several during our visit in the Rockies.
Opening Ceremonies
The 15th Annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sport Clinic Opening Ceremonies began in the evening at 6:30 PM.
Bill had earlier attached the video camera to the tripod on my wheelchair and I was ready to go as I located what I thought would be the best advantage point and set-up my equipment.
In my lap I held the heavy new Nikon and the digital for quick web site photography.
Bill decided to take a different perspective for shooting prints with the antique that came back to life with a new set of batteries, and between the two of us, it was hoped something great would materialize.
The opening ceremony began with the Presentation of the Colors performed by the Grand Junction Color Guard, Colorado Army National Guard and the 101st Color Colorado Army National Band.
Dave Gorman, Executive Director, Washington Headquarters DAV, served as the Master of Ceremonies.
Speakers during the ceremony included Kurt W. Schlegelmilch, MD, Director of Grand Junction VA Medical Center; Mike Kaplan, Vice-President, Mountain Operations Aspen Ski Company; the Honorable Cliff Stearns, U.S. House of Representatives, Florida; the Honorable Joseph Thompson, Under Secretary for Benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs; the Honorable Thomas Garthwaite, MD, Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs; and Armando C. Albarran, National Commander Disabled American Veterans.
Following their remarks, the ceremony concluded with an interesting slide presentation, which included expressions of thought from important individuals, and a short laser light show presented by Centco Productions.
Cross Country Skiing at the T Lazy 7 Ranch
Tuesday, March 27th, 2001
They were lined up and ready by the time I approached the coldness of the outdoors and started snapping photos.
One by one, they waited patiently for their turn to get transferred into a specialized ski, some dared to ride with a single ski instead of two.
Others settled for standard two ski seats. The brave seemed to keep getting braver and there was definitely an attitude of strength if only in the mind.
It mattered not the disability...not in this crowd, no one was disabled and no one had any fears.
The only thing that could be detected was just a slight bit of apprehension and a tremendous desire to overcome and meet the challenge.
As they headed out across the make-shift ramp that was covered with a thin layer of out-door carpet to keep the wheelchairs from sliding off into the snow, I tried to locate a vantage point.
There were so many skiers that it became an impossible task and I decided to wait for their return rather than get in the way of their loading and unloading.
In some ways, it seemed to me like mass confusion and yet these Disabled American Veterans had the patience of silent heroes, waiting their turn without complaining.
On their returns, I witnessed the smiles of success of dozens of individuals that had conquered the hills of Snowmass Mountain.
This in itself made my visit to Aspen an inspiring adventure and gave me even more encouragement to continue with my individual challenges.
After all, if they could do it...so could I.
Unfortunately, while Challenge Aspen offered assistance and volunteers to help private citizens, none were available because their schedules were beyond capacity.
This left me stuck in one location, unlike other photographers who could move about freely, and obtain exciting photography of the event.
~ Anne-Marie Robinson ~
Two sit-skis sat next to one another looking lonely and waiting for riders.
The skiers from the San Antonio Sub-Chapter of TPVA had nearly all returned and the rest of the skiers were slowly coming back.
I glanced behind me and saw Anne-Marie who had waited for hours to take her ride to no avail.
She sat silently and watched the people and I wondered what she was thinking as I approached her.
Anne told me they could not fit her with a proper sit-ski and had to wait for them to bring in a specialized chair.
It would be at least another day or two before she would have her turn on the slopes.
I could not help but see the self-determination written on her face. Steadfast and strong.
She was determined that eventually she was going to come down that mountain and I was certain there was no doubt, absolutely no doubt in her mind.
One way or another, she was going to meet and beat the challenge.
Looking at her and seeing the drive within the force of her eyes said it all for her.
She seemed to know that eventually, it would be her turn and she showed no doubt because she had focused on conquering the odds.
It was now only a matter of time because one way or another, Anne-Marie Robinson was going to do it and it appeared to me that if she had to, she would have sat there for an eternity.
If ever I had captured mixed emotions in a single photograph, this was the ultimate for I saw within her face feelings that ranged from desire to contempt, calmness, anxiety, and patience.
Finally, the morning had come and the anticipation of Anne-Marie Robinson going on a downhill ski run was becoming a reality for her.
I was anxious to see her make this journey as by this time, I learned she was unable to make the snowmobile run and knew she had to be disappointed even though her spirits appeared to remain high.
Anne-Marie is a remarkable woman, the mother of two children, quiet, dedicated, and continues her life with an incredible desire to overcome her physical limitations.
I worried that she would not be able to make the downhill skiing as I watched the volunteers struggle in attempting to prepare a sit-ski for her two days later.
Patiently, she waited as her husband stood beside her and offered her sips of water from a bottle and the people from Challenge Aspen adjusted and then re-adjusted the sit-ski to assure her safety.
I found it an interesting performance and even more interesting that Anne had the patience to wait out this long ordeal.
Nonetheless, it had to seem an entirety to her.
Finally, after several tests and adjustments, the sit-ski was deemed ready and moved over to the opposite side of the platform for her transfer.
Anne-Marie, a quadriplegic, unable to move that was slowly improving and totally dependent on her husband, Harry, for the help she needed waited and waited.
Harry gave himself willingly in a motion only love would know without being asked.
The two of them worked as a team, yet, he pulled me aside and asked he not be mentioned in my writing. "This is about Anne," he told me.
He was right. The concern on his face I captured on film.
It took hours before Anne-Marie Robinson was finally out fitted with the proper chair that would safely accommodate her down the hill.
I filmed as much of the sequence as possible and used up a couple of discs and film rolls.
I am not sure why I was so captivated by Anne-Marie but I think it was because of a number of factors that included the timing of her accident and the fact that my son was presently in Alaska providing like patrols near Fairbanks.
I knew Anchorage because my son was serving his second hitch there and I also knew that one of his troops had also rolled a vehicle in a convoy injuring two.
More important, I had before me someone that not only survived a horrific accident, but also someone that had the hidden power to overcome without complaining and patiently waiting for her turn.
Now she was heading down the slope, gliding like an angel on a white cloud.
The instructor behind her held onto a tether, but you knew she was swaying her body with the rhythm of her soul.
The photos you see are in the sequence they were took.
The distance she traveled was difficult to capture even with the lens fully extended.
When she reached the bottom, she took the lift to the top of the mountain and glided down again.
Anne was an avid skier before her accident a year ago and this was her first time on the slopes since the accident.
Her time did finally come and I am pleased to include this amazing success story about a lady who served in the United States Army and is a member of the San Antonio Sub-Chapter of the Texas Paralyzed Veterans Association.
I find it reader worthy to include the story of her challenge on Snowmass Mountain on this single page even though it happened a couple of days later, because this one is for you, Anne!
Anne did not make just one run up the hill and back down.
She conquered the mountain making three runs!
Anne-Marie Robinson Receiving 2001 Winter Sports Clinic Participation Medal
Sledge Hockey in Snowmass Village
"Sliding on the Ice"
Wednesday, March 28th, 2001
In October, 2000 I was first introduced to the idea of Sledge Hockey but unfortunately, my timing did not permit me to see an actual game or practice.
The Sports Director from the San Antonio Sub-Chapter of TPVA informed me that Sledge Hockey was on the schedule for the third day of the Winter Sports Clinic and arrangements were made for me and my PCA to attend.
Again, we boarded a bus that took us to the Aspen Ice Rink with Bill and Jerry Braun, members of the Moonshine Team, for the hockey clinic at 9:30 in the morning.
The clinic started off with Pat Sapp, a well-known Goalie for the Dallas Stars (in Texas and personal friend of Dale Wise of the Boston Blades, who we both mutually knew), providing knowledge about the equipment and pre-instruction for the rink.
Fortunately, the people at this rink provided positioning for me and my equipment even though I was banned to the penalty box for my photography.
I had excellent unobstructed viewing of the ice rink but lighting on the ice made photography difficult.
This was not an actual full contact game and only intended as a class of instruction, therefore equipment such as head gear was not necessary.
While I believe the video produced some rather interesting footage (and sadly not available on this site), I have elected to provide a few digital shots for your enjoyment.
Digital photography is slow; movement on the ice rink is fast.
The consequence of the two do not exactly entwine, but here are some of the best shots of life on the ice:
Of the five participants that attended the DAV Winter Sports Clinic from the San Antonio Sub-Chapter of TPVA, I would have to say that their Sports Director, Jerry Braun, was probably the most enthusiastic individual.
She managed to be up-front and in the running as fast as possible for all events she was interested in attending, even considering her recent leg amputation.
Once on the ice, I think she discovered a whole new balance problem that created a series of slides for her in the wrong direction, due to the fact her body was no longer even in weight distribution.
True to her sporting self, she simply struggled to upright herself, slid across the ice falling over time after time, and eventually mastered a steady up-right position after about a half-hour of difficult practice.
For her husband, Bill Braun, it was not quite as difficult.
He was the calmer of the two, cautiously entered the rink, took a couple of spills, and was on his way faster than I could keep up with.
If one of his spills would have been just slightly more than the angle it was, I may well have finally got my perfect photo, but it was not.
Bill even managed to slide the hockey puck into the net a couple of times and eventually seemed to master the idea of the sport using both ends of his hockey stick.
One end of which is used to dig into the ice to propel the ski across it, the other end used to slide the puck into the net.
Unlike regular hockey, each person had a stick in each hand.
Pat Sapp seemed to be having more fun than anyone and as an instructor, he made his deliberate slides eventful.
Here, the proof was in the pudding!
What's there to get hurt about on the ice?
The golden rule seemed to be practice, practice, practice, and take all safety precautions as necessary.
As a goalie, Pat wears a large spiked mitt on one hand and carries the hockey stick in the other.
Watching any of these events, one has to keep in mind that they are clinics, schools of instruction, intended to teach and encourage disabled individuals to participate and accomplish goals in sporting activities.
There were no actual games or events that earned prizes or were scored.
The greatest achievement was the realism of knowing a disabled person could accomplish many sports regardless of many types of disabilities.
The secondary accomplishment was being able to laugh at one's mistakes while knowing that it took a great deal of skill to overcome and persevere.
Bill and Jerry Braun Receiving 2001 Winter Sports Clinic Participation Medal
Rock Climbing in Snowmass Village
Barry Muth
Wednesday, March 28th, 2001
The 26-foot tall rock climbing event was located immediately outside my room at the hotel.
In the afternoon on Wednesday, the 28th I learned that Barry Muth of the Wildcat Team, from the San Antonio Sub-Chapter of the Texas Paralyzed Veterans Association, was going to attempt to climb the make-shift rock that I had heard enormous roars from in previous days.
I had watched on various occasions, different individuals that had climbed this monster apparently made of fiber glass, but had not seen anyone that I personally knew attempt to scale the side of it or ring the bell that was dangled like a carrot from an individual at the top.
The expression, "Save the Best for Last" appeared to come to reality as I rushed outside to see Barry Muth getting ready for his climb.
Barry was another extraordinary individual.
Like Anne-Marie Robinson, he too had been in a single vehicle roll-over accident in Saudia Arabia while on active duty.
He too had become a quadriplegic. His accident was just six months before Anne-Marie's and he was fortunate like Anne in that his wife, Dee, stood beside him and served as his Personal Care Attendant around the clock.
Barry is a fairly quiet individual and rather reminded me of one of my brothers who had a tendency to observe, listen, and react on cue without hesitation.
Members from the Texas Paralyzed Veterans Association and their Sub-Chapters immediately began gathering to the left of me as I attempted to maneuver my wheelchair to a good location with my equipment, not facing the sun, and close enough for the action.
As Barry wheeled himself up to the front of "The Rock", hecklers began kibitzing him while he attempted to have his hands secured for a "tow" to the top of the mountain as a trial run.
This was performed by first having his hands placed into special gloves, and then having his gloved hands wrapped around a tee-bar to secure them.
He was then hoisted slowly to the top of the rock mountain.
I was amazed that he was able to hang on, reach the bells, ring them, and then descend slowly back to the ground to his waiting wheelchair.
Even more amazing was the fact that following this performance, he decided that he wanted to do it again and in fact, wanted to pull himself up without assistance.
A hush fell among his close friends who were heckling him, as they quietly watched in eager anticipation of yet another challenge, while Barry began to pull himself up the side of the cliff a second time.
I pre-set the video camera and attempted to take digitals for the web site as I became engrossed with what was unfolding in front of the lens.
Following several minutes of preparing the equipment for Barry Muth, as he dangled from the end of a pulley, I suddenly saw him hoist himself inches away from his wheelchair as his buddies cheered him upward.
With only the strength of his arms and the driving force of the challenge, Barry Muth was on the way in a second attempt to ring the bell.
The small crowd grew and cheers rose from spectators, but the loudest heard were his close friends who stood next to me.
As Barry reached halfway up the climb an obvious slower pace took hold and his strength appeared to begin to give out.
The heckling, teasing, and laughter of his friends grew louder, but was ignored by the climber.
Barry focused on one thing, climbing "The Rock".
I lost track of time; time in this case had no meaning and before I knew it, there were only 15 seconds of film left on the video during his last heaves to reach the bells, which he did, but not until the video had quit running.
On the morning we gathered together in the hotel lobby to leave for the airport, Barry wheeled up to me with a big grin across his face and his eyes gleaming, "You know what?" he asked.
"I was able to help dress myself this morning and turned myself over on the bed without help!" he excitedly exclaimed.
Barry Muth Receiving 2001 Winter Sports Clinic Participation Medal
Author's comment: I marvel at sports and the therapy they can sometimes achieve.
I think it is pretty obvious that sporting activities can and do help certain muscle and nerve conditioning.
However, beware, over-use can be detrimental and in some cases, not the right remedy, depending on the person's medical condition and diagnosis.
Mental attitude plays an extremely important role in everything a disabled person does.
Closing Ceremonies
Disabled Veterans of American Winter Sports Clinic 2001
Friday, March 30th, 2001
During the last day of the Winter Sports Clinic, Bo Derek appeared to be photographed with her fans and sign autographs.
The vast number of people kept her busy for hours and she continued to hold her smile throughout the day and into the evening.
Later, Disabled American Veterans lined up to receive their individual participation medals for actively engaging in the Winter Sports Clinic from Bo Derek and the DAV National Commander Armando C. Albarran while a group of musicians played contemporary music to the delight of many spectators.
There were several Disabled American Veterans that I had met months beforehand, and many others that I had met at this clinic.
All of them had offerings that were too precious not to include.
It did not matter who they were or where they came from, all had served our country at one time or another, and even the volunteers and or other people who had not served our country on a military platform who were there as volunteers during the week should also be applauded.
Who knows why they were there?
Perhaps it was their way to support the United States Military.
The fact was, they were there and they were volunteering their time, their efforts, to do what they could.
To me it suddenly did not matter who or where they came from, whether or what era from whence they came, how they dressed, or how they spoke.
Indeed, it mattered that they were there and actively participating in an event that was contributing to the United States Military Disabled Veterans of America by helping and volunteering their selves and playing an active role in providing assistance for the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colorado.
The grand finale for me was on my return flight to Denver, Colorado where I transferred to another plane.
As I came off the ramp from the plane and entered the passenger waiting area amid throngs of people, someone yelled out my name.
While wheeling between the people that were standing around waiting to get on their flight, an attractive woman jumped out in front of me.
It was Shirley Gering, the lady who befriended me on my way to Snowmass Village!
We were both excited about seeing one another again and immediately left for a quiet spot to visit.
Shirley ended up seeing me off on my connecting flight before returning to her volunteer duties for the Disabled American Veterans.
Before boarding my flight, this time I remembered to take her photo. During my flight home, I could not help but think how fortunate Americans are to have the support of another person.
Having the support of others is what really makes life complete.
~ For More Information ~
Snowmass Village
National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
VAMC (WSC)
2121 North Avenue
Grand Junction, Colorado 81501
Telephone 970-248-5590
