ROLL BOLDLY Summer/Fall 2022
BY GEOFF BABB
It's been almost four months and I'm still basking in the glow of the Grand Advenchair 2 – our incredibly challenging, yet transformative and magical journey with an AdvenChair on the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. Scroll down for Cam Davis' story about the trip.
On the two-and-a-half-day trip from Bend, OR to Grand Canyon National Park, we received two pieces of great news. First came confirmation that we had sold our last chair of Production Run #1 to Multnomah Education Service District (MESD). This is both symbolic – in that MESD hired me 40 years ago for my first job in environmental education and has been my inspiration to make Outdoor School accessible to all – and significant in that it is a model ODS program in Oregon. Read below for the story about MESD.
The second piece of good news came when we received word that our patent application for a "convertible" wheelchair had been approved by the U.S. Patent and Trade Office! Read about it below.
Once we were back home I was able to help the Jacobs family in Southern California achieve an important family celebration. Read the story below. While the trip on the Bright Angel Trail was epic, the lives brightened by AdvenChair are priceless. I hope that you will enjoy these stories and look forward to seeing you out on the trails.
With Production Run #1 completely sold out, we are now taking pre-orders for PR 2. Get yours in soon.
AdvenChair's grandest achievement yet: Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park.
AdvenChair hiking wheelchair on Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park
In 1869, when John Wesley Powell led the first crew of explorers down the Colorado River into what is now known as the Grand Canyon, he had no idea what kind of destructive forces lay ahead. In fact, shortly after beginning the journey, one of their wooden boats overturned in a rock-filled cataract and almost instantly split apart into kindling, destroying a full third of the group’s provisions. It only got worse from there.
Similarly, when Geoff Babb took a team of adventurers down the Bright Angel Trail in 2016, attempting to reach the Colorado River in a modified human-powered wheelchair, he was not prepared for the destructive forces that lay ahead either. In his case, it was the virtually endless assortment of water bars – large logs or rocks that stick up across the trail to divert rain and snow melt. After going up and over several hundred of them within the first two miles, the axle on his chair gave way and Babb’s journey was over.
However, just like Powell a century-and-a-half before, Babb and his team were not to be deterred. And, having learned from the first experience, they vowed to return with equipment much better suited for the challenge. Did they ever?
Less than six years after his breakdown, Babb went back to “the Big Ditch” in late April with a totally new chair – AdvenChair 3.0 – which he and his team helped create. And succeeded.
“Breaking down on our Grand AdvenChair in 2016 is the best thing that could’ve happened to the first chair,” said Babb, whose mobility remains severely limited following two brain stem strokes. “It made us take a step back and look at strengthening every aspect of the chair and the team.”
Babb brought in design engineer Jack Arnold, who became instrumental in developing an all-terrain wheelchair using mountain bike parts for durability, versatility and easy maintenance. He also added multiple contact points to allow the crew to steer, pull, brake and lift.
With shock-absorbing mountain bike tires, adjustable handlebars and hand brakes, an adjustable seat and harness, a team of one to six people can navigate AdvenChair 3.0 over all types of rugged terrain, mud, sand and snow, allowing people with mobility challenges to experience the serenity and grandeur of wild places with family and friends.
The prototype AdvenChair 2.0 debuted in December of 2019 with a dazzling orange powder-coat finish and went through extensive testing and a few modifications in 2020.
“What’s unique about AdvenChair is that it’s as versatile as it is durable,” said Arnold. “The seat can adjust to handle young children as well as large adults. And since it easily converts into a normal-size wheelchair, it can go indoors and be transported on planes, trains and buses, not to mention the trunk of a car.”
Despite the inevitable complications due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Babb began taking orders and received his first shipment of upgraded AdvenChair 3.0 chairs in June of 2021. Already, the chairs have found their way into some pretty incredible places, including the ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru, an outdoor school near Eugene, and the televisions of countless Oregonians on Oregon Field Guide.
In training for the Grand AdvenChair 2 over the past three months, the team made first ascents of Burma Road at Smith Rock State Park and Grey Butte, which requires a climb of more than 2,600 feet.
The Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail presented a vertical drop of more than 4,800 feet over 10 miles, complicated by more than 3,000 water bars with protruding rebar, as well as countless natural rock obstacles, plus stretches of mud and sand. The return trip brought the same challenges in reverse with temperatures hovering well over 90 degrees.
“We knew the Bright Angel Trail would be difficult,” said Babb. “There’s simply no way to prepare for the relentless water bars, some of them more than a foot tall and at awkward angles. It really gives you no break for the entire 10 miles to Phantom Ranch.”
AdvenChair hiking wheelchair guided down a rocky section of Bright Angel Trail
Human "mules" guide the offroad hiking chair AdvenChair over water bars at the Grand Canyon
A group of 10 men and women, (affectionately known as “mules”) took shifts pushing, pulling, lifting and braking Babb down and back up the 10-mile Bright Angel Trail over the course of four days. Another 14 volunteers provided support at a campground on the canyon rim.
“I just can’t say enough about this chair and my incredible team of mules,” said Babb. They all performed well beyond my expectations. We couldn’t possibly replicate the difficulty of this trail in our training ventures. But through our selfless teamwork and collective problem-solving skills, we were able to handle everything the trail could dish out. ”
Not only that, the team managed to keep Babb stretched out, well fed, relatively sunburn free and even cooled his feet in a frog-filled creek.
“I’m also extremely grateful for the additional support of local companies like Food for the Sole, Picky Bars, Laird Superfood, Smith Rock Coffee Roasters and Hydaway who helped us all stay nourished and hydrated every step of the way,” added Babb.
As an avid hiker, mountain biker and backpacker in his younger days, Babb sees AdvenChair as the conduit for a lifelong passion to be active outdoors. He also envisions the chair fulfilling his firm belief that people with limited mobility can still experience the splendor and uplifting serenity of wild places beyond where the pavement ends.
“Exploring the Grand Canyon has been a dream of mine, especially since our initial failure,” said Babb. “I got to experience the grandeur of the canyon rocks, the prickly pear cactus hanging from its walls and the princess plume flower that reaches its yellow blooms to the sky. Completing this trip validates that we have created a chair that can take dreamers like me to amazing depths – and heights – with a little help from our friends.”
Our thanks to the River and Rim teams that got Geoff down to the Colorado River, and, most importantly, back to the Rim!
River Team
Yvonne Babb, Dennis Fiore*, Dave Green, Adam Peterson, Patty Caballero, Dave Zimmerman, David Taylor, Lucas Eschelbach*, Kirk Metzger, Cam Davis, Matt Nugent, Jinny Reed, Ethan Mentzer and Geoff Babb. *Dennis and Lucas were with us in spirit as last-minute medical issues kept them at home.
Rim Team
Jack Arnold, Amy Kazmier, John Hunsaker, Mark McGraw, Sandy Gebhard, Clover Earl, Tom Zell, Tracy Ayers, Uriel Fox, Julie Hunsaker, Phil Henderson, Mike Turner, Shelly Arnold, Glen Corbett (and Paxey), Jodi Gregston, Valerie Reed and Nancy McGraw.
And for the support of our Sponsors and Donors.
AdvenChair's Grand Adventure sponsors
FOR OUTDOOR SCHOOLS
AdvenChair proves to be a game-changer for kids at Outdoor Schools.
Albert Einstein once said, “Keep sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow – perhaps it all will.”
When Geoff Babb got his first job in environmental education with the Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) in 1982, he had no idea that it would bear fruit when he launched his AdvenChair hiking wheelchair business almost 40 years later. But that’s exactly what happened when MESD purchased the tenth and final chair of AdvenChair’s first-ever production run earlier this year.
MESD’s program serves all 6th-grade students throughout the Multnomah County area and has a number of wheelchairs to accommodate various student needs. Not surprisingly, most of these wheelchairs were either donated or purchased many years ago and have limited abilities for off-road use. So when Jennifer Basham, the district’s Senior Outdoor School Program Administrator, discovered AdvenChair through the Outdoor School network, seeds of change immediately took root.
Jennifer met AdvenChairman Geoff Babb at a conference where he shared the benefits of the chair for students attending Outdoor School. Through newsletters and videos on the web, she also learned that other Outdoor School programs, like CampFire Wilani in Springfield, Oregon, were using the chair with great success. As CampFire Wilani CEO, Elissa Kobrin describes it:
“When a school calls me and says, ‘We have a student with limited mobility who’s in a wheelchair,’ it’s really great to have the AdvenChair on hand and be able to say, ‘Yes, you can come!’
It was so exciting this year to bring Scarlett down our steep steps all the way down to the canoe area. And to see her laughing and smiling and being in a canoe because of the AdvenChair was so amazing. To be able to see every child have access here, it just changes your life.”
For MESD, many of their chairs had outdated functionality, as well as components that aren’t easily fixed or replaced. The deciding factor for Jennifer in purchasing the AdvenChair was that most of the components are mountain bike parts, which gives us the ability to easily service and maintain the chair.
“Knowing that we are able to keep the chair in top working condition for the number of students who will use it is invaluable!” she exclaimed.
MESD also chose AdvenChair for its versatility both as a regular wheelchair and as an easy-to-use hiking vehicle for kids of all shapes and sizes.
“The team at AdvenChair is phenomenal!” exclaimed Jennifer. “I was in awe with the tutorial on how to utilize the chair and the incredible adaptability. From the locking mechanisms to the adjustable head and foot rests that can be positioned comfortably to support any body shape, they have truly thought of everything."
“In addition to the tutorial on how to adjust the AdvenChair, we were able to take it for a trial ride to test it out. This gave us the perfect opportunity to understand and see it in action before taking it out with a student.”
Ultimately, the real value of getting an AdvenChair became apparent after the purchase, when students participated in guiding companions with disabilities over rugged terrain and up steep hills.
“One of the most amazing aspects of this chair is the ability for all of our students to participate in all aspects of the Outdoor School program and become fully immersed in nature,” said Jennifer. “Having an AdvenChair on-site provides a sense of belonging during the experience that cannot be measured.
“Not only will this chair support students who come to our program in a wheelchair, but it will also help to build a stronger connection and relationships between students who are steering or pulling the chair up or down various terrain.”
Team building and bonding is an outcome Geoff Babb has come to expect whenever friends join him for an AdvenChair outing. He is thrilled to see it take place on a daily basis with MESD.
“Since we invented AdvenChair, it has been my inspiration to make Outdoor School accessible to all,” said Geoff. “With my roots at MESD, it’s even more gratifying to see it come to fruition.”
The Oregon State University Extension Outdoor School Office also supports and guides outdoor schools in Oregon. Its staff is dedicated to supporting the needs of schools and providers to ensure that all students have access to equipment to help students fully participate in outdoor school activities. If an AdvenChair or any other piece of equipment will help do that, please reach out to the OSU Extension Outdoor School Office https://outdoorschool.oregonstate.edu/.
“Every day at Outdoor School is spectacular when you can enjoy it with your classmates,” added Jennifer. “And that experience will last long after students return home.”
Albert Einstein probably couldn’t agree more.
Demo Day
Corvallis, September 24
Want to check out AdvenChair in the Willamette Valley?
Join us for Demo Day in Corvallis, September 24
We are excited to be working with the OSU Research Forests to organize an AdvenChair Demo Day at the Peavy Arboretum at NW Peavy Arboretum Rd, Corvallis, on Saturday, September 24 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Go here for more information and/or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
If you are interested, even just partly, interested in attending, please drop us a note at info@advenchair.com so that we can plan accordingly.
AdvenChair is available for rent
By the day or week.
(Including Outdoor School)
Click here to get started.
AdvenChair hits the Patent Jackpot.
A funny thing happened on the way to the Grand Canyon. Well, maybe not ha-ha funny. But on the eve of our recent Grand AdvenChair expedition, the AdvenChair team received some news that left us positively giddy.
About 2-1/2 years ago, AdvenChair filed a claim to patent a number of significant innovations – 17 to be exact. In a nutshell, these claims included:
The system that converts from wheelchair mode to all-terrain mode.
The frame design (including the wheel cage handholds).
The forward beam (front wheel).
The tensioning line attachment points (for the straps).
The trailing link suspension on the front wheel.
The rotatable caster wheels.
The adjustable footrest.
The adjustable seating system.
The adjustable steering column.
And the entire three-wheeled all-terrain wheelchair.
Just before arriving at the Grand Canyon, we were informed that we had received a patent covering all of those specific claims.
What does that mean exactly? Quite simply, it guarantees that no other all-terrain wheelchair can copy our design without infringing on our granted patent claims. And that’s huge in terms of potential licensing agreements or the outright sale of the AdvenChair intellectual property.
Now that’s a chair that’s really going places!
AdvenChair extended family helps California clan fulfill an important dream.
Jacobs clan with the AdvenChair hiking wheelchair in Ojai, California
AdvenChair is making amazing things happen in new and unexpected places.
Allan Jacobs was a well-respected attorney in his hometown of Ojai, California, where he served his community in estate planning, trusts, wills and conservatorships. Allan’s love for the Ojai Valley and preserving open space for current and future generations led him to become an active board member of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC), a Southern California non-profit land protection organization that works to retain and restore open space, wildlife habitat, and watersheds. Through his work and dedication to land preservation in the Ojai Valley, Allan helped in the acquisition of countless acres of land, and raised significant amounts of money for the OVLC to secure and protect open land space and public access.
Until he passed away in October of 2017 at age 77, Allan could often be found hiking in the Ventura River Preserve and the nearby Los Padres National Forest. In fact, for his birthday every year, he encouraged family and friends to make the strenuous 12-mile climb with him to the top of Nordhoff Peak, an ascent of more than 3,000 feet.
To commemorate Allan’s contributions and dedication to the Ojai community, the OVLC established a 1.4-mile trail in his honor, fittingly named the Allan Jacobs Trail, or the “AJT” for short. Allan’s family, including his children and grandchildren helped build the AJT along with many volunteers and OVLC staff. At the halfway point of the trail, the OVLC put in a beautiful redwood bench where hikers can rest and enjoy spectacular views of the valley. The bench features a plaque dedicated to Allan and his surviving wife Janet.
When the trail was finished , Allan’s children, Anzac, Sarah, and Jesse set their mind to celebrate Allan’s birthday by taking a group hike on the trail with their extended families and friends. But there was one considerable problem: How to get 81-year-old Janet from the trailhead to the bench.
“The goal was for all of us to be together with Dad in spirit on the trail and at the bench,” said Anzac. “And since this year would’ve been their 50th wedding anniversary, it wouldn’t have been the same if Mom had to stay at home. She still gets around the house well, but she’s not fit for a hike on a rugged trail.”
The trail wasn’t wide enough for a quad ATV and riding a horse at Janet’s age was out of the question. So, Anzac began exploring off-road wheelchairs as a way to maneuver her along the trail and soon discovered AdvenChair on the Internet.
“AdvenChair was the first one I found made in the United States,” said Anzac. “It looked like it could do the job, so I contacted (AdvenChairman) Geoff Babb.”
Geoff responded right away and eventually connected Anzac with Robert and Nelly Kapan, the couple that took their AdvenChair to Machu Picchu last year.
“Since Anzac was only looking to do one outing, it made sense to have him borrow a chair,” said Geoff. “Luckily, Robert and Nelly live relatively close and were more than happy to offer a short-term rental of their AdvenChair and serve as ambassadors.”
Anzac received a thorough demonstration of the chair from the Kapans and after a few test runs on trails around the neighborhood, they were ready to go.
“I am not too mechanically inclined,” said Anzac. “But I had no trouble loading the AdvenChair into the car and getting the third wheel set up for the trail.
The trek was planned for Memorial Day and more than 40 family members, friends and kids of all ages met at the trailhead for the three-hour loop on a picture-perfect day.
Janet Jacob in the AdvenChair hiking wheelchair
“Mom felt very comfortable and safe in the AdvenChair and loved being the center of attention,” said Anzac. “The Land Conservancy set us up with a shortcut to my dad’s trail and there were about three or four of us pushing and pulling my mom. It was pretty intense, but the chair performed beautifully and we got her there!”
In addition to being a devoted wife and busy mom, Janet was a school teacher and potter. Hiking is not her passion, but she greatly appreciates the majestic beauty of Ojai’s open spaces, and the efforts of Allan and the OVLC to protect the land for all to enjoy.
“At Mom’s age, it’s easy to think that an outing like this would not be possible,” said Anzac. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without Geoff’s chair. It created such a priceless memory for myself and my family. I can’t thank you guys enough.”
Geoff Babb, AdvenChairman
Thank you for supporting our adventure!
AdvenChair.com