At the end of February, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a veterans winter camp in Whitefish, Montana. This trip was particularly memorable as it allowed me to reunite with some of my great friends from the blind veteran community: Brian Harris, Zack Tidwell, Lonnie Bedwell, Joe Cooler, Brian o’Connell, Joey Martinez, and Travis Fugate. These remarkable individuals have served honorably across various branches of the U.S. military, including the Army, the Marine Corps, the Navy, and the Air Force. Their collective experiences and knowledge form a treasure trove of wisdom, though their lively spirits can turn any gathering into an uproarious event. I suspect we left an indelible mark on the other hotel guests and skiers sharing our morning and afternoon bus rides up and down the mountain, with our unfiltered and raw humor—dark humor that seems to be a language of its own among us blind veterans.
Such trips are incredibly refreshing and memorable, largely due to the camaraderie and shared jokes. Despite our individual losses, each of us has gained something profound: a new vision and way of living. We are all committed to adapting, learning to be independent, and seeking out new adventures and experiences. The organization, Dreams, paired us with exceptional instructors and guides—mine were Lee and Patrik. They ensured my safety, offered guidance, and enabled me to experience the grandeur of the mountain in Whitefish, Montana.
For any veteran looking for adventure and camaraderie, I highly recommend visiting Dreams and connecting with the veterans in Whitefish, Montana. I eagerly look forward to the opportunity to ski in this beautiful location again. My heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who made this trip possible and to all my good friends who were able to join.
Official website of DREAM Adaptive Recreation
Special thanks to the whitefish Veterans support team. Check out this link below to read a third-party news article I found on the Internet about our visit to whitefish, Montana.