It was 2009 when I first wrote in Images about hiking with my son, Mike, who has a developmental disability. He was then 10 years old.<\/p>\n
Now he is 19, and rather than four and a half feet tall, he is six feet tall. And while faster on the trail than he used to be, Mike can still slow to a crawl while reciting lines of movies, idly touching plants, enjoying a patch of shade, or closely examining a needle from a pine tree.<\/p>\n
One summer day as we hiked on a beautiful trail, someone stopped and asked us, \u201cDoes this trail lead anywhere?\u201d Stumped, I said I didn\u2019t know. I was thinking that the trail leads right to where you are.<\/p>\n
And that is still the lesson with Mike: the walk is the destination. He can\u2019t be rushed along from his ruminating and pausing on the trail. Mike is largely non-verbal, and while I would give anything for him to talk, his quiet companionship can be a good match for some peaceful time in the woods.<\/p>\n
Mike doesn\u2019t have mobility issues, but he isn\u2019t the most coordinated guy either. When we come across a big boulder, he looks to me for help stepping around it. Well my &# *$ pounds are no match for his 220, so we stay to trails he can cruise through.<\/p>\n
One \u201cgo to\u201d hike is Meyers Homestead Trail. I am always a little surprised by the slow rise in elevation, but the trail itself is smooth. Last summer we finally made it to the end. Mike was in good spirits and we enjoyed that end-of-the-hike view for the first time of many hikes on this trail.<\/p>\n
Another \u201csmooth\u201d hike is the Eagle Wind Trail at Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain. This hike is walkable almost year-round and is just challenging enough for us.<\/p>\n
Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat is one of our frequent destinations. Mike\u2019s caregivers often take him there for leisurely strolls by the water. It\u2019s also a reliable year-round option.<\/p>\n
Like everyone, people with disabilities have different strengths, challenges, likes, and dislikes. So these tips certainly don\u2019t cover all people with disabilities, but may apply across a lot of situations.<\/p>\n
![\"Hiking](\"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/hike-with-mike.jpg\")
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