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Higher Ground USA, Inc.

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Higher Ground USA, Inc.

Back in 1999, we were really good at one thing: teaching locals with disabilities how to use adaptive skis. It took special equipment, understanding, and really, really remarkable coaches.

 

Today, we still take to the mountain with our locals, but now our special equipment and special coaches transforms lives across the country. From the hiking trails of western New York to the mountaintops of Idaho to the surf of Los Angeles, we are deploying the nation’s top recreational therapists and mental health professionals to give people of all abilities (especially our nation’s veterans) the emotional and social tools they need to feel like they belong.

Activities

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Alpine/Downhill Skiing

Alpine skiing, or downhill skiing, is the pastime of sliding down snow-covered slopes on skis.  There are tons of disabled skiers flying down the slopes across the country. Experienced skiers make it look easy as they swoosh and cut their way through powdery (and sometimes not so powdery) snow. While it takes some practice to refine…

Archery

Archery is a versatile activity. It is something that can be done for fun, for hunting, or for competition. “Target shooting wasn’t a thing for me,” said US Para Archery Head Coach Jonathan Clemins. “But I realized I enjoyed shooting my bow as much as I enjoyed hunting.” In addition, archery can be a year-round…

Camping

Cycling

Rain, sleet, snow, or hail … it seems that no matter the weather, you can always see a cyclist biking for pleasure, on an errand, or keeping fit. The love of bike riding is rapidly growing across nearly every demographic. Cycling has always been a great way to enjoy the outdoors, socialize with fellow bikers,…

Fishing

Flyfishing made a real big difference in my recovery and helped flip that switch from thinking about negative things to positive things. There is a lot of peace and a lot of connecting with nature involved with fishing. – David Folkerts, Chief Operations Officer of Project Healing Waters   Fishing 101 Photo Credits: Matt Romero,…

Golf

“That’s what makes golf so great. It’s a handicap system. If I’m playing against a guy who’s got all his limbs and he’s got a 14 handicap, I’ve got to give him seven strokes. Golf is such an equal game because of the handicap system. That’s what makes it fun for people everywhere to play.”…

Hiking

Take a Hike! Outdoor Adventure Awaits Everyone is concerned with fitness these days. Many people are also concerned with watching their personal budget, too. So what activity offers fun and fitness as well as being easy on the wallet? The answer is hiking, and almost everybody can do it, whether it’s simply utilizing community park…

Nordic Skiing

Rafting

About Adaptive Rafting Considered an extreme adventure sport, rafting, or white water rafting, is a popular recreational activity. With the help of a guide, you make your way down the river, maneuvering through rapids, and navigating around rocks. You can choose the experience you want, whether it be a relaxing ride down the river or…

Rock Climbing

One of the things I like about rock climbing is that it always gives you little triumphs. You can reach new levels, you are never out of challenges, and you can do it pretty much anywhere. – Jarem Frye, Climbing Enthusiast and K12 Prosthetics founder   Becoming Familiar with Adaptive Climbing For a full body…

Sled Hockey

All About Sled Hockey Sled Hockey A Sport for All Abilities Sled hockey had its beginning in the early 1960s when some enterprising athletes at a physical rehabilitation center in Sweden wanted to play the game. The men modified a metal frame sled with two regular-sized ice hockey skate blades that allowed the puck to pass…

Snowboarding

All About Snowboarding History Thank you to Lindsay Schultz for contributing information to this article. Pipelines, shredding, jibbers, and boardercross are all part of the colorful trappings of what’s attracting winter sports lovers to the country’s newest and most popular pursuit of things-that-go-bump-in-the-snow. Otherwise known as snowboarding….. Originally embraced by preteen and adolescent males who…

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing 101 Getting Started It’s time for the fresh, chilly air and peaceful scenery offered by winter sports. If you’re looking for a way to improve balance and spatial awareness, and to get exercise at a level that you can set for yourself, consider adaptive snowshoeing this season. Snowshoeing is the “quiet” snow sport, according…

Swimming

Since the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, swimming has been one of the Games’ main sports.   The thrill of competition aside, swimming offers many benefits including strengthening the cardiovascular systems and the major muscle groups of both the upper and lower body. It also develops flexibility in the muscles and joints as…

Yoga

It is difficult to find balance without the ability to look inward, whether it is physical balance or balance in our daily lives. Starting the day healthfully can be as simple as breathing and stretching. An important component of a total fitness program is stretching. Add focused deep breathing to a stretch and you’ve entered…

Ice Climbing

Backpacking

Equestrian/Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is naturally therapeutic. Whether they have physical, cognitive, sensory or emotional disabilities, participants benefit from riding or working with horses. Nicole Budden, Founder and Director of Happy Trails Riding Center   All About Equestrian Getting Started Equine-assisted therapy, hippotherapy, therapeutic riding…These are all terms that have specific definitions, but they share a common…

Hand Cycling

Becoming Familiar with Handcycling Handcycling was developed in the 1980s by people working to create alternate types of human-powered vehicles. So it was almost by accident that a new world of cycling was opened to people with disabilities. “It’s ideal for people who have no or limited use of their legs, people who have poor…

Kayaking

When you go skiing, you need to find a mountain and cold weather. You don’t need anything special to start kayaking. Kayaking is just down the road. -Joe Mornini, Executive Director of Team River Runner   Getting Started Looking to spend a quiet afternoon enjoying the outdoors and scenery?  Perhaps you’re more of a thrill…

Mountain Biking

Downhill is for those who want the rush. It’s high-speed and exhilarating. – Sandy Olney   Mountain Biking 101 Rollin’ Down the Mountain   If you like nurturing your independence, appreciate the outdoors and enjoy an adrenalin rush, then downhill mountain biking may be the sport for you. Downhill mountain biking is exactly what the…

Pickleball

Paddle Boarding

Sailing

I have always been a competitive athlete and I enjoy that aspect of sailing. It’s not about who is the strongest, but who can think the best. It’s a three dimensional game of chess that is going on and the chess board is always changing. Water is never the same because of currents and the…

Scuba

Scuba is an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Although humans have been venturing underwater for more than 2000 years, it wasn’t until 1942 they were able to breathe underwater free from a surface supply of air. It was Jacques Cousteau, collaborating with French engineer Emile Gagnan, who developed the SCUBA. Getting Started To…

Strength Training

Proper muscle balance is essential in order to prevent injuries and to enhance athletic performance. Common sport-related injuries such as rotator cuff tendonitis or bicepital tendonitis are due to overuse/improper muscular balance. These injuries are common in certain sports, but are also common to the everyday wheelchair user. A high percentage of athletes in throwing…

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CONTACTS

PO Box 6791 Ketchum ID 83340

LOCATION

PO Box 6791 Ketchum ID 83340

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