Paralyzed Veterans of America 2026
For the second year in a row, Teton Adaptive was excited to host a group from the Paralyzed Veterans of America, for one of their new outdoor recreation programs. These trips, subsidized almost completely by PVA, allow for Veterans with paralysis, Multiple Sclerosis, or other disabilities, to recreate in the outdoors, utilizing Teton Adaptive incredible instructors and adaptive equipment. This year, the group converged on Jackson Hole from all corners of the country for three days of adventures in the Tetons.
Kayaks can be equipped with outriggers to increase stabilization.
Day 1
The first day was a day to explore Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The group split in two, with some veterans starting the day with a trip up the Aerial Tram to check out the top of Rendezvous Mountain, the historic Corbet’s Cabin, and the new Grand Teton SkyWalk. The other half of the group arrived at the Teton Adaptive office to get fitted to the appropriate bike. After a quick parking lot lesson, we were off to the Bike Park to get some lift laps in. If you happened to be in the village that day, you definitely heard us hooting and hollering down the trails. Though most of the veterans were first time mountain bikers, they certainly had a need for speed, and progressed quickly! We enjoyed a delicious lunch from our neighbors at Teton Thai, and then the groups swapped! Special thanks to our volunteers who joined in on these bike lessons!
PVA participants bombed down the bike trails at JHMR
Day 2
We slowed the pace down a little bit on the second day. In partnership with the Snake River Fund and with support from Rendezvous River Sports, we headed up to Grand Teton National Park and String Lake for a day paddling. With our fleet of kayaks equipped with outriggers and trunk stabilizers, as well as Snake River Fund’s two wheelchair accessible rafts, the veterans and their families had ample opportunities to explore String Lake. Some paddled to the far side to look for wildlife and bird watch, while others paddled the full length of Sting Lake and adventured to Leigh Lake portage. Many members of the group also joined Leanne, a local art therapist, and did some Pleine Air painting, while others still decided to explore the String Lake trails.
The Snake River Fund’s wheel chair accessible raft offered up close viewing of the Tetons!
Day 3
On our final day together, the weather shifted and moody clouds shrouded the Tetons, with thunder rumbling in the not so far off distance. But that didn’t stop TA and PVA from making it out to GTNP again. While we waited out the thunder, the veterans and their families explored the visitor’s center. Finally the rain and thunder dissipated, and we all got on our bikes again, this time to explore the pathways through the park. We all biked from Jenny Lake to the Bradley-Taggart trail head. We ended the day with dinner all together at the historic Jackson Hole Legion 43 building, hearing stories from local veterans and reflecting on a wonderful week of activities together.
Our PVA crew and the sun poking out from behind the clouds!
We are so excited about this partnership with PVA and the opportunity it provides us to share this incredible corner of the world with our country’s veterans!
