continued at schlueterpost.blogspot.com

Time to walk the talk (so to speak) and Kinnavey, Ryan and I head to the Mt. Pilchuck trail head to see where we're at.  On a Monday afternoon there's 40 more cars than I was hoping for and I more than anything want to pout and go home.  I'm clearly the guy who's different from the everyone else and find myself oddly self-conscious.  Swallowing my pride, we start up the trail.

The flies are merciless, the trail sweaty as we get a groove on.  There is so much to learn and adapt to but we figure it out fast.  We stomp over boulders, cross bridges with the front tires just barely gripping the side rails, at one point I even tipped over bike and all.  Hikers reactions range from indifferent to positively encouraging and I'm just glad to be back in my element with two of my closest friends.  Maybe a mile into it and a quarter sized blister is tearing up my thumb.  The irony!  Turned around by a blister but feeling triumphant.  Sitting back at the car exhausted and sore with an energy that can only come from the trail.  What a milestone to have reached, 3 years after laying freshly paralyzed in bed wondering how I'll go on....

Back the next day at Bombadil's Dojo with a bandaged thumb cranking laps again.  I feel stronger and am getting my pace dialed in.  I play a mental game, imagining the voice of the Creator is in my head (Kinnavey calls it Jerry, my merciless Pushing Boundaries trainer).  When I feel like exploding it asks "Jon, can you give me 5 more cranks?" and I always reply "Yes I can" and crank out 5 more.  Without fail I go 50+ turns farther than I thought I had in me and take a short and humbled rest.  

Who else but Steve drops by, an honored guest at the hideout and I hop off the bike and jump into the lake.  You can barely make out the buoy that I swim out to, alternately swinging my arms and legs "walking" if you will, crawling and back stroking.  I recently overcame the fear of being face down (didn't go so well last time) and am re-getting used to opening my eyes and breathing under water.  We head back to the dock and Steve climbs up on the top deck, scoping his landing below.  If you didn't know, you might think he was nervous to jump but instead stomps a front flip with a half twist followed by a flawless backflip on the eve of his 50th birthday.  Show us the way Strider!

Taking a much needed rest today and managed a rare but restorative nap.  Woke up feeling like I should exercise but didn't have the ambition so grabbed the walker instead.  I walked 50', took a short break and headed back.  Where I usually have to sit down on the return route, "the Voice" asks "Can you give me 5 more steps?" "Yes I can" and I make it the entire 50' back, my personal best.

A sincere Thank You to everyone who both came out and supported the climb4theclimb event. Participants braved hot and sweaty conditions, logging in more flights than I'd thought possible in a given time. The morale and donation support is huge and I'm grateful for it.

We wasted no time and posted up at the cabin dojo the next day, bailing on the original plan to head straight to Mt. Pilchuck due to the heat. My body has a hard time with high temps and don't wish to push my luck getting a stroke. I've spent the week cranking the new bike uphill and figuring out the peculiarities of it.

The first lesson is simply getting used to the pace. I gain elevation one measured turn at a time, the ground underneath crawling by a few feet from my face.

It's hard work! My attitude is that I'm excited to set a benchmark of where I'm at. Given time and training, I can only get stronger. Already, the bike gets me stretching out in new positions and works every firing nerve in my body. I've been alternately riding the bike to exhaustion and swimming in the lake until I need to be physically lifted out of the water. Rest. Eat. Get back on the bike.

Tomorrow we'll be heading to the trail head and setting a benchmark as to how far we can make it. From there, we work to get a little farther each time until we reach the top.

To benefit NTAF Spinal Cord Injury Fund in honor of Jon Schlueter
All donations are 501c3 tax-deductible and can be made out to: NTAF (in memo line: Jon Schlueter)

Click to download Registration Form

Click to download Pledge Form

CLIMB FOR THE CLIMB JULY 25th

Registration and climb begins Vital Energy Center 2033 10th Ave 10 - 1p

Keg, raffle and after party at Pilates on 10th @ 2

CLIMB4THECLIMB@GMAIL.COM

growing list of prizes include:

All participants are invited to enjoy good food and drinks at the before and after events!

Raise $150 choose from an assortment of Outdoor Research sunhats/glove liners and balaclavas *or* a 24 card boxed set of Glenn Paul Williams Cascade Volcano Expedition print cards *or* $100 dibits from dibspace.com

$300 - choose from an assortment of Outdoor Research clothing, a private 1 hour Pilates on 10th session *or* a 1 hour massage

$500 - choose from an assortment of Outdoor Research winter ski mitts and gloves *or* from a variety of potted bamboo plants *or* a hand blown original piece from Chihuly studio (1 only) *0r) limited selection Exped sleeping pads.

$1000 - Choose from an Outdoor Research waterproof/breathable Mithril Stormshell *or* a 3 hour "Half Apple" New York tour with Lucas Miller/Real New York Tours, rated #3 tour in the nation

$1500 - Your choice of a weekend getaway in the Mt. Rainier valley, a night's stay at the 4 star Fairmont Hotel *or* an Inversion Table

Check back for prize list updates!

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about me:

July 16th will mark three years since I fractured my neck in a diving mishap that left me paralyzed from the shoulders down. The nature of a spinal cord injury is a cold reality: one second it's life as usual, the next it's forever changed.

I'd always believed life was a gift and made it a point to count my blessings. Like many of you, I took advantage of the natural playground we are surrounded by and pursued my passion that is mountain climbing.

Suddenly finding myself in a wheelchair with impaired hands put my life philosophy to the test. I dedicated the first two years solely to recovery, gradually gaining the ability to take a few steps with the aid of a walker and use of my left hand.

Sometime around late Spring 08, I had to face the facts. Despite my best efforts, I wasn't going to be hiking anytime soon let alone functionally walking. Burned out and a little depressed, I had to accept that life wasn't waiting around and was passing me by. One day I woke up and decided "I don't want to live in this mindset anymore". When that comforting door of depression would open, I'd stop, shake out my head and focus on something positive.

I learned the simple power of attitude and began setting new goals for myself. I'll never give up on walking again but am going to stake my claim on this life and live, love and enjoy however many years I'm granted.

On a dark and rainy night last Fall, a close friend and climbing partner entertained the possibility of climbing mountains again. I'm almost embarrassed to admit I had written it off, figuring it to be impossible and something to do when and if I ever walked again.

By the end of the night, reality had changed. Why "couldn't" it be done? I poured my renewed vigor into training at Pushing Boundaries (a spinal cord injury specific rehabilitation center) for the summits and began exploring how on earth it could be done.

A "chance" encounter after a late evening kayak at the Ballard locks led me to a man named Chris Waddell,a paralyzed athlete training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with a specialized hand powered mountain bike.

I should add that disabled equipment: wheelchairs/equipment/rehab/adaptive devices/etc tends to be prohibitively costly and out-of-pocket insurance pays for as little as possible. The $6000+ price tag put the bike out of practical reach. But, as I've learned, when you focus your mind and really want something, it almost "has" to materialize.

Late this Spring, Amie and Dr. Jared (Pilates on 10th and the Vital Energy Center, respectively) approached me with the opportunity to be a part of a fundraiser to make a return to the mountains a reality. An earlier planned event helped raise the down-payment for the handcycle and it is now being built.

Your participation will directly enable the "impossible" to become Possible. The event will begin at the Vital Energy Center on 10th Ave where participants will check in, enjoy good food and juice bar. Stretch out and warm up, because it's off to the infamous 260 step Capitol Hill staircase!

You'll have 45 minutes to run as many flights as you can. There are doorprizes for everyone and a growing list of better prizes for various categories. An afterparty at Pilates on 10th follows with food and beverages.

In the spirit of fundraising, you are kindly asked to raise pledge money for each flight completed (5 flights, for measure, is a considerable challenge). Pledged money is 100% 501-C3 tax deductible and goes to the NTAF fund in honor of Jon Schlueter, a non-profit fund that will be used exclusively for injury related expenses and the balance of the handcycle.

We'll be testing the limits of the new handcycle and set our sights on a summit the first week of Sept. Please be a part of it, it'll be an unforgettable experience for everyone!

Check back for updates, I sincerely appreciate your interest and support!

See you at the stairs,

Jon Schlueter
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The One-Off has arrived! It's better than I imagined it would be and inspires confidence in reaching the summits.

Mike Augspuger/Titanium Arts hand builds them in limited quantities once a year and I was fortunate to get an order in. Thank you to everyone that has been involved in making this a reality.

Being that they are relatively rare an hard to come by, I am more than happy to let anyone who is considering getting one come and check it out for themselves. I dream, as we get the logistics figured out, of leading others with physical impairments up the trails to experience life from the mountain tops. Climb on!

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7/06/09

As important as it is to maintain your body and wellness, it

s crucial following any injury. Nearing three years post SCI, I continue to experience slow and steady gains. With fundraising support, I've been able to add personalized trainers and specialized equipment at Pushing Boundaries and keep as active and healthy mind and body as possible.

I started working with Amie at Pilates on 10th studio and Dr. Jared at the Vital Energy Center this Spring. Amie works with me one-on-one and had has a real trainers intuition. My "re-booting" nervous system presents a unique challenge and she customizes our workouts and takes me beyond my capabilities. Pilates emparts a deeper mind-body connection and I'm both stronger and acutely aware of how my body works because of it.

Chiropractic practice is something I (daresay) regret not doing immediately after my injury. With no prior experience, I was open minded on my first appointment. His philosophy and practice are sound and gentle. Subtle, painless adjustments offered immediate relief.

I was pretty amazed at the immediate improvements in my hand and finger dexterity and strength. The burning, numb sensation in my arm and hands went away and I began to sweat further below my injury [another "perk" of SCI is often the inability to sweat below the injured vertebrae. Not being able to cool off below neckline leaves quadriplegics prone to overheating and stroke. He believed highly enough of decompression therapy that he gave me his office inversion table. We've worked many hours together since.

A nod to Jared and Amie's character is the fact that they've donated their time and energy to working with me because they sincerely believe in their respective practices. I'm inspired as we speak because I am beginning to consistently contract my abdominal muscles for the first time in years. It's an amazing feeling! My highly impaired right tricep has tripled in strength, it makes me lol how effortless it's become to extend my arm over my head. There is no reason to give up, more is on the way!

More and more, my mind will briefly forget about the nerve damage and I'll try and move like we were designed to. I 100% attribute the the returns to keeping a positive attitude and belief, exercise, wellness and the dedication and minds of Amie, Jared and Chris/Jerry over at Pushing Boundaries.

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My brother and pride and joy of a nephew flew into town for a surprise visit last week. I had the perfect task for them!

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This is a video from the first Spring after my injury. 3 months in the hospital and adapting to life in a chair and it was time to get out. We made it down to Zion canyon and, as you'll see, with considerable help from friends and family made it to the top of Angel's Landing.




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5/26/09

Chris, Ryan and I spent Memorial Day scouting the Pilchuck River approach to the summit of Mt Pilchuck. There's a hikers trail on the North side but approaching from the South is proving to be an adventure.

We put in a long day and are constantly improvising, improving and pioneering our technique. Wheelchair living is about pavement, flat ground, curb cuts and the general confines of the urban environment. A blown out tire had us limping out of the woods as nighttime approached and it felt awesome to taste the exhilaration that comes with uncertainty.

So many long hours have gone into training to be out here again. Being able to shuffle around the gated entrance was a major milestone. The bike I'm cranking in the video is a road cycle we've adapted for off-road use. It works good on slightly rough road but we've about maxed out its capabilities. The One Off cycle is going to unlock a lot of technical terrain.

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5/25/09

I had the opportunity to catch a birds eye view of Mt Rainier and surrounding peaks from a glider plane on Saturday. It was my first time doing such a thing and proved to be an exhilarating ride. Needlessly apprehensive about how I'd get into the cockpit, it was an easy "up and over" with the help of friends.

Staring at those summits added fuel to the drive to be on them again. There is so much adventure and life to be experienced, don't let any disability or obstacle stand in your way.

Special thank you to the Puget Sound Soaring Association for their extra help and consideration.


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Three years ago, getting out of the city with some friends and into the mountains was crucial for clearing and rebuilding body, mind and soul.

Six months later, I woke up on a breathing machine in the ICU. As the heavy drugs wore off, it began to sink in that I had fractured my neck and nearly drown face down in a pool. I couldn't lift my arms over my head, lungs heavily damaged from the the chlorine, and not a flicker of movement below my shoulders.

I'll spare the long details and say that today I am grateful to have had the opportunity to pursue a path of recovery. Last Monday, I got out on the trail for the first time and hand- cranked 10 miles through the forest. I've been training and rehabilitating from day one to be here, it was an awesome payoff being back in the mountains. The summits look pretty far up there!