by Jim Matheny
Ranger Katie Corrigan has answered countless questions from park visitors during her 20-year career with the National Park Service. But five years ago, a disabled veteran asked her something she struggled to answer.
“The veteran came to me and asked, ‘What do you have for me to do in the park?’” Corrigan recalled. “We did not have very much. We had a half-mile paved trail that was ADA-accessible. We had sidewalks and overlooks that were paved. But there was not a lot beyond that if you were a wheelchair user.”
That conversation started Corrigan down a path that would eventually take wheelchair users on a historic trip through the rugged backcountry of the Smokies.
“We’re moving beyond the pavement. We’ve assessed trails throughout the park, measured them, tested out equipment, and brought in Catalyst Sports of Knox County to help train volunteers,” Corrigan said. “It makes it so people can go on hikes using off-road wheelchairs.”
The adaptive programs require time and considerable money. Wheelchairs that can handle the rough terrain of the Smokies are not cheap.
“The chair is a big part of what makes this possible. It is called the Freedom Chair and it’s made by a company called GRIT,” said Carly Pearson, a wheelchair user who is the ADA coordinator for Knox County and an ambassador for Catalyst Sports. “Each one of these chairs is around $4,500.”
With support from generous gifts to Friends of the Smokies and grants, the park received funding to develop several creative adaptive programs and purchase four off-road wheelchairs that are available for visitors to reserve and check out for free.
“You can go over rocks and roots, and it’s a lot easier to maneuver than an everyday wheelchair,” said Pearson. “This means when a family visits the park, a disabled family member is not stuck in the car while the rest of the family goes on a hike. They get to have the same experience of enjoying nature. It is amazing to see how freeing it is for people to get out in the woods under the tree canopy, not just on the pavement.”
June 8, 2024, marked a historic moment for inclusiveness in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Rangers, volunteers, and wheelchair hikers took the first fully accessible backcountry hike and overnight camping trip in the national park. The 1.5-mile trek on Cooper Road Trail to Backcountry Campsite 1 involved multiple stream crossings and steep terrain.
YouTube video: See scenes from the first adaptive wheelchair hike and backcountry camping trip in the Smokies
“It is difficult, but in a good way,” said Kaitlyn Lengel of South Carolina, whose became paralyzed a couple of years ago due to complications from lupus. “The bumps in this chair are easier to tackle. It feels amazing. It feels like we accomplished something.”
“It had been a long time since I’d seen that happiness and joy on her face,” said April Lengel, Kaitlyn’s mother who accompanied her on the backcountry hike and overnight camping trip. “She had gotten down with the whole situation and thought she lost so much of what she loved. Now, with this program, her spirits are up, she’s developing friendships, and she’s seeing things that she didn’t think were possible anymore.”
After the overnight camping trip, April Lengel subsequently brought Kaitlyn back to other adaptive events in the Smokies. The family was able to participate in an adaptive kayaking session as well as a Fontana Lake boat tour and hike at Hazel Creek.
“The chair has been a game changer,” said April Lengel. “It’s not something we could afford. If you are donating to Friends of the Smokies, you’re allowing something you may take for granted to be accessible to everybody. You’ve made it accessible to people like my daughter to be able to get outside and enjoy the outdoors again.”
Ranger Corrigan says this is just the beginning of making the park a more welcoming place for everyone. While there is still a lot of work to do, she feels much better about the current answer if someone with mobility issues asks what they can do in the Smokies.
“I think this is the most fulfilling part of my career in the National Park Service,” said Corrigan. “It’s been an honor to be able to provide this opportunity for people to enjoy their national park. Our national parks belong to everyone.”
Friends of the Smokies provided $45,000 in 2024 for three guided hikes, two guided bike rides, one guided kayak trip, and one guided backpacking trip. Friends would like to offer special thanks to the KOA Foundation for its financial support of the adaptive programs in the Smokies. We also appreciate partner Catalyst Sports its expertise to make the programs a success. The Catalyst website has more info on the schedule of upcoming ranger-led hikes and how to reserve a GRIT wheelchair in the Smokies.