June 18 - Blind Sports

This past week I have been thinking about sports activities for people who are blind or visually impaired. I think that I got on this track after a discussion with my friend, Sue.  Sue is quite visually impaired but at the same time, she is actively involved in outdoor sports. She is an enthusiastic member of a dragon boat team. In past winters, she has enjoyed snowshoeing and basically, she just likes the outdoors. In her last email to me sue talked about the possibility of taking up lawn bowling so that she could enjoy this activity with her husband.

I thought about Sue this past weekend as I followed the trail from the top of the Jasper Sky Tram along the trail to the summit behind it. As I gasped for breath with the high elevation, I wondered if lawn bowling wouldn’t be a better alternative – but this was only a passing thought.  In truth I felt energized by the exhilaration of the climb. It was likely the closest I will get to a feeling of being on top of the world.

It isn’t always easy for people who are blind or visually impaired to be involved in physical activity. Moving about carries with it an element of fear. When you can’t see what is ahead of you, it is easy to stumble. Games such as tennis, Frisbee or softball which involve returning flying objects are nearly impossible for most of us with limited sight.

Having said all that, I would maintain that there are lots of activities that a person with little or no sight can enjoy.  Personally I know a man who is completely blind and who is an experienced mountain climber. I know of another young man, also blind, who enjoys the physical contact of wrestling.  I have met people, both blind and visually impaired, who have been involved in a variety of sports – tandem bike riding, goalball, competitive swimming, rock climbing, five pin bowling, downhill skiing, and the list goes on. Certainly there are challenges associated with any of these sports but determination and a will to participate can take a person a long way.

The following pictures were all taken from the trail above the Jasper Sky Tram. Lyle took the first one looking down on the Jasper Town site. I can’t see this one myself but from where we stood, I knew that it was a long way down.

View of Jasper from Sky Tram

In the second picture I am sitting beside a rocky outcrop where we had our lunch. It was quite cold at the top of the mountain. Later on in the same day, the wind came up and the sky tram was temporarily closed down. Fortunately we had already made our descent to the parking lot but other tourists were stranded at the top for several hours.

Sue sitting on a rocky outcrop

The final picture is a view taken from our summit and looking down on the surrounding mountain peaks. Yes, I did feel on top of the world, but as a final note I must add that it was a little scary coming back down the trail again.

View from the summit

I suppose that the first consideration about any kind of physical activity is to choose one which sparks your interest.