Podcast Summary: National Park After Dark

Episode 353: Access to Adventure: Accessibility in National Parks

Release Date: February 9, 2026
Hosts: Danielle & Cassie

Overview

This episode explores how people with disabilities have confronted and overcome physical and societal barriers in America’s national parks. Through two inspiring stories and contextual discussion, Danielle and Cassie highlight what it means to access wild places when the odds — and infrastructure — are often stacked against you. The episode covers both past achievements in physical and policy accessibility, as well as current threats and ongoing efforts toward greater inclusion.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Accessibility in National Parks

• Opening Reflection: Danielle opens by recalling President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1937 visit to Glacier National Park, noting that FDR used a wheelchair and often experienced parks from a car — a reality still mirrored by many Americans with disabilities today.
• Key Fact: 1 in 4 American adults has some form of disability (CDC data, 2024). Despite some progress, park accessibility remains limited, with many trails and facilities out of reach.
  • “For example, Glacier National Park… lists over 700 miles of hiking trails; only two of those miles are advertised as accessible, flat, and wide enough for an average wheelchair user to navigate.” (Danielle, 02:03–03:00)

2. Story 1: Climbing Guadalupe Peak in Wheelchairs (Texas, 1982)

The Expedition (10:38–34:30)

• The Team: ‘POINT’ (Paraplegics On Independent Nature Trips), a group of paraplegic outdoorsmen, decided to climb Guadalupe Peak (8,749 feet), the highest point in Texas, using specialized, non-motorized wheelchairs.
• Preparation & Obstacles:
  • Custom wheelchairs with special tires, but no electric assists.
  • Trail described as “steep, rocky, and narrow,” often requiring “scooting on foam pads” when wheelchairs couldn’t advance.
• Teamwork: The group worked together to navigate stairs, loose gravel, and dangerous cliffs—using rocks as wedges, fabric for traction, etc.
  • “You’d wedge fabric or rocks under the wheels to regain traction, just like you would use a floor mat if you got stuck in snow.” (Danielle, 17:00)

Memorable Moments

• Physical Toll: By day two, blisters, cramps, and infections had forced some to stop; three persisted to the top.
• Ranger Support: A young ranger, Jonathan Jarvis (later NPS Director), agreed to support them with water; his wife baked treats for the group.
• Summit: After five grueling days, three men made it to the top.
  • “I figure it took me five days to climb the tallest mountain in Texas, so the rest of my life I can do anything that I want.” — Don Rogers (33:20)
  • “If everybody would work together like this, the world would be a better place.” — Joe Moss (32:43)

Lasting Impact

• The climb brought national visibility, shifting perspectives within the NPS.
• Policy Change: Eight years later, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, requiring accessible facilities by default.
• Personal Impact:
  • David Kiley: Became a 13-time Paralympic medalist and Hall of Fame inductee.
  • Don Rogers: Became a recreation therapy professor and accessibility advocate.
  • Jonathan Jarvis: Cited the POINT climb as a linchpin moment for policy change.
• Quote: “They showed that it wasn't a disability, but a different ability.” (Danielle, 34:26)

3. Accessibility Progress (34:40–38:20)

• Early approaches focused on “access with assistance or by request,” placing the burden on the visitor, not the park.
• ADA (1990) shifted the onus, requiring real, built-in accommodations across public land spaces.
• Modern parks employ tools like trail assessment devices (hetaps), provide handcycles/all-terrain chairs, and post more granular trail data—but progress is slow and resources limited.

4. Story 2: Kayaking the Grand Canyon Blind (Colorado River, 2014)

Eric Weihenmayer’s Expedition (38:40–65:00)

• Eric Weihenmayer: The first person to summit Everest blind and later kayaked the entire Grand Canyon (~270 miles, 21 days, 80 rapids), guided only by voice.
  • “He climbed the highest points on all seven continents... and when he reached the summit of Everest... was the first person to ever do so completely blind.” (Danielle, 39:05)
• Lonnie Bedwell: Another accomplished blind kayaker and veteran, joined Eric for the journey.
• Training: Years of mastering whitewater techniques, especially the critical “kayak roll” needed to right oneself after capsizing.
• Guides: Each blind paddler relied on expert river guides (Harlan Taney, among them), communicating by helmet radio during dangerous rapids.

Lava Falls – The Climax (50:40–61:00)

• The Challenge: Lava Falls, the canyon's deadliest rapid, was approached with dread yet determination.
  • “Some mornings he would be so nervous about what was coming... he would be physically sick.” (Danielle, 47:30)
• First Attempt: Eric capsized and had to “swim” out, demoralized but undeterred.
  • “I didn’t successfully run lava. I swam lava. What’s the possibility of me trying it again?” — Eric (61:20)
• Second Attempt: Eric tried again and succeeded, demonstrating not just physical skill but remarkable perseverance and trust in his guide.
  • “With tears in his eyes, [Taney] said, ‘Thanks for letting us be here with you.’” (62:34)

Reflections & Impact

• Quote: “I’m probably not supposed to say this, but I honestly hate it when people tell me that anything is possible. Barriers...are real things with substance, and they actually hurt a lot.” — Eric (57:10)
• Eric and Lonnie both went on to inspire others: Lonnie has since guided blind veterans; Eric hosts the “No Barriers” podcast.
• Teamwork and trust were essential—miscommunication could be life or death.
  • “His communication skills have to be so good... when someone else couldn’t see what you were talking about.” (Cassie, 52:14)

5. Modern Barriers, Modern Threats (65:20–68:10)

• National Parks have lost 25% of their workforce. Proposed budgets threaten further cuts.
• In 2025, the DOJ withdrew multiple ADA guidance documents, potentially weakening protections for disabled visitors.
  • “Webpages featuring wholesome interviews with wheelchair using visitors now have alerts...that any guidance on inclusion should be considered rescinded.” (Danielle, 67:15)
• Despite these setbacks, the hosts emphasize that progress comes through persistent advocacy—“not handed over, but earned.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On human resilience:
  • “I love when doctors tell a person, you’ll never be able to do this. You can’t do this. And that person is like, ‘Watch me.’” — Cassie (04:11)
• On changing perspectives:
  • “If you want to go to the bathroom, ask for help. It’s like, just make it so I can get into the bathroom by myself. Like, what? What is wrong with you?” — Cassie (36:21)
• On diminishing accessibility:
  • “While the ADA law itself remains in effect... this action removed or rescinded various interpretations and technical assistance documents...” — Danielle (65:30)
• On real barriers:
  • “Barriers...are not imagined. They’re not perceived. They’re real. They’re real things with substance. And they actually hurt a lot.” — Eric (57:10)
• On why the stories matter:
  • “I could care less whether people climb mountains or kayak, but we’re hoping that people look within themselves and say, ‘What am I capable of doing?’” — Eric (67:55)

Additional Recommendations & Resources (70:23–73:23)

• Documentaries:
  • ‘Assault on a Mountain’ (Guadalupe Peak climb) — YouTube (short, 1980s style)
  • ‘The Weight of Water’ (Eric’s Grand Canyon expedition)
  • ‘Wampler’s Ascent’ (first person with cerebral palsy to climb El Capitan) — YouTube
  • ‘Blink’ (family travels before children lose vision) — National Geographic
  • ‘The Long River Home’ (Lonnie Bedwell’s Grand Canyon journey)
• Books:
  • Touch the Top of the World (Eric Weihenmayer)
  • No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon (Eric Weihenmayer)
• Podcast:
  • No Barriers – Hosted by Eric Weihenmayer

Reflections & Takeaways

• Human Spirit & Advocacy: Both stories are extraordinary examples of “refusing a narrow worldview of what people with disabilities are capable of.”
• Teamwork & Trust: Success often hinges on mutual trust, communication, and support.
• Policy Matters: Behind individual achievements often comes broader advocacy and systemic change.
• Ongoing Challenge: Even as progress is made, accessibility is often the first to suffer from budget or policy cuts—keeping advocacy always necessary.
• Universal Message: Ultimately, these stories invite all listeners to reconsider their own perceived limits and the limits society places on others.

Useful Timestamps

• 00:02–03:18 — Danielle: FDR’s legacy and intro to disability in parks
• 10:38–34:30 — Story 1: The GPT Peak climb (POINT expedition)
• 34:40–38:20 — Progress: Accessibility policy evolution
• 38:40–65:00 — Story 2: Blind kayakers on the Colorado
• 65:20–68:10 — Modern barriers and threats to progress
• 70:23–73:23 — Documentary/book/podcast recommendations and concluding thoughts

Tone & Style

The hosts mix admiration, humor, and pointed advocacy—celebrating human grit while candidly condemning institutional failures. The episode is motivational yet grounded, eschewing both ableist “inspiration porn” and hopelessness, opting instead for nuanced hope and a call to action.

Final Words

Cassie: “National parks are for everybody, and to make it less accessible ... is just not fair.” (69:55)
Danielle: “Nobody can tell you what you’re capable of in whatever aspect.” (74:05)

Listen, reflect, and remember: Everyone deserves access to adventure.