Disabled Military Vet Climb of Yosemite Peaks

To commemorate September 11, a group of disabled vets worked together to climb several peaks at Yosemite National Park.

The group of 15 military veterans, most of whom served in Iraq and Afghanistan, climbed to the summits of El Capitan and Half Dome, in a climb sponsored by nonprofit Paradox Sports, an adaptive sports organization. The climb was planned to honor veterans and the many achievements of people with disabilities.

 

"These successful climbs are just one more example that disabled vets can do anything they set their minds to," stated disabled-veteran attorney James Fausone.

Hiking to the top of El Capitan is possible by hiking out of Yosemite Valley and then up a sheer granite face. There are a number of well-used climbing routes; all of them are considered arduous. Hiking Half Dome is helped in part by the established cable route, but the climb is considered difficult and dangerous even at the best of times.

Several Yosemite rangers accompanied the veterans on the climbs as part of a three-day hike, as did professional climbers Timmy O’Neill and Heidi Wirtz. O'Neill is also the Executive Director of Paradox Sports. The group was joined by several Yosemite National Park employees and veterans. An event to commemorate the climbs was held in Yosemite Valley several days later.  

There is an active Special Emphasis Program for armed services veterans utilized by Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park services employs 105 military veterans through the program, designed to educate, recruit and employ vets.

The Special Emphasis Program was designed as a federal program to support affirmative employment opportunities by pinpointing the barriers employers and employees face when it comes to a diverse workplace that reflects the diversity of the general population. Once identified, Special Emphasis Program managers work on recommendations to remove those employment barriers and incorporate strategies to help all types of people find gainful employment.

 

The Special Emphasis Program works on development, outreach and various recruitment strategies to improve the employment opportunities for minorities, women, and people with disabilities.

Source

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/09/10/5725473/disabled-military-veterans-to.html