AdvenChair team readies for the Grand AdvenChair 2 with successful first ascent of Gray Butte.
The AdvenChair team on the first wheelchair ascent of Gray Butte
There may be no way to truly replicate the arduous 4,000-foot elevation change in tackling the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail to the Colorado River and back. But some of the training missions the AdvenChair team has taken on over the past few weeks come pretty close.
After managing the first successful wheelchair ascents of Horse Butte and Burma Road at Smith Rock State Park in Oregon (read here), Geoff Babb and his merry band of “mules” concluded their training for this spring’s venture to the bottom of the Grand Canyon by becoming the first wheelchair team to summit Gray Butte, just east of Smith Rock.
From April 25-28, a team of a dozen hearty men and women will accompany Geoff on the “Grand AdvenChair 2,” his second attempt to reach the Colorado River via the Bright Angel Trail. Another 15 folks from as far away as Wisconsin and Florida will be providing support on the Canyon Rim. This time Geoff will be riding in his amazing AdvenChair 3.0, an all-terrain wheelchair that is nimble and durable enough to handle the 3,000+ water bars that turn the demanding trail into a 10-mile obstacle course.
Climbing Gray Butte on April 9 was the perfect warmup for the Grand Canyon and further proof that AdvenChair is the ultimate vehicle for exploring wild places. From the Skull Hollow trailhead, the elevation gain over the four-mile route to the summit of Gray Butte is 3,108 ft. By comparison, the last push up the Bright Angel Trail climbs 3,080 ft in five miles.
“After our climb of Gray Butte, the AdvenChair team is confident that we are ready for the Bright Angel Trail,” said Geoff. “The mules are doing a great job of communicating, problem-solving, and making the most of the equipment.”
AdvenChair would like to thank everyone, including our sponsors, who have helped us get this far. We hope everyone will follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates on this historic and epic trek. Onward!