Christopher Kain - Rugged Access for All

Christopher Kain has been defining pushiking for more than fifteen years. With his daughter Kellisa, theyve traveled to all fifty states at least twice and have pushiked at least two trails in every state. Chris and Kellisa are often found where wheels werent meant to go, and they have pushiked twenty miles across the desert in New Mexico and across frozen Rainy Lake in Minnesota. Theyve summited twenty-two state highpoints. Together, theyve been featured in newspapers, cable news websites, and local news programs across the country.

Chris shares his familys adventures on his blog (www.kellisaspath.com) and maintains an author website (www.christopherkain.com).

When not on a trail, Chris is the western area technical manager and social media representative for H. B. Fuller Construction Products.

Chris resides in Roseville, California, with his wife, Lisa, and daughters, Kellisa and Egypt.

Egypt has joined Chris and Kellisa in all fifty states and has pushiked at least one trail in each state.

The author and his daughter Kellisa

Kellisa and I traveled to all fifty United States to develop the content for our first book on pushiking. Weve included 54 trails covering 142.1 miles with 7,219 feet of elevation gained.

The individual trails featured in this book range in length from four-tenths of a mile to more than seven miles. Ive rated the trails from easy strolls along flat boardwalks to challenging climbs while navigating rocks and other obstacles.

Kellisa is fully disabled and dependent on a wheelchair, and shes outgrown jog strollers you can buy off the shelf. Her current mobility chair seen in the book was special ordered from France. Based on my fifteen years experience pushing Kellisa, I believe any high-quality, all-terrain jog stroller will perform adequately on all the trails in this book. I would advise starting with easier trails before building up to moderate and eventually challenging trails. Only you know your child and your abilities. Be prepared. Check the weather. Carry everything you think you might need and know how to use your supplies before you need them. If I could offer only one tip it would be, dont be afraid to turn around.

Always discuss physical activities with your doctors before venturing too far in the wilderness. Its best to pushike with more than one responsible adult. And its a good practice to leave your itinerary with someone who can initiate a search and rescue if you dont return by a designated time.

The majority of hikes and pushikes end without incident. However, be aware, every trail has dangers, and the fifty-four contained in this book all have their unique hazards. This book isnt intended to prepare you for these dangers. Its up to you to know what to expect on a specific trail and be as prepared as possible. Many trails go through bear and mountain lion habitats. Encounters with dangerous animals are infrequent, but you should still know what to do and how to respond if you encounter a bear, mountain lion, or other large predators. Snakes have the potential to be found on every trail in America. Most are nonvenomous, but if you are far away from help, a bite from a venomous snake can be deadly. Usually, snakes want nothing to do with humans and will avoid contact. Learn how to recognize where snakes like to hang out and what to do if you see one. My rule is to assume every snake is venomous and avoid them. Even tiny insects can be dangerous. Be aware of biting and stinging insects and take proper precautions when out in tick territory.

I mention dangerous wildlife not to scare you or prevent you from pushiking a trail, but to make you aware of what you might encounter. You might be surprised where you can find some of these dangerous animals. We live fifteen miles from downtown Sacramento, California, and Ive seen rattlesnakes in my suburban backyard. Our town has posted occasional warning signs in my neighborhood when credible mountain lion sightings are reported in the immediate area. We also have bees who love attaching their hives to our house.

There are entire books written about the above subjects. I suggest reading as many as possible, so you are well prepared when out on the trail.

I do not offer commentary on cell-phone coverage. There are too many variablesphones, service quality, and plansto report accurate cell coverage in any given area. I always carry my cell phone but assume it wont have service while Im on a trail. If you want guaranteed coverage, you can purchase or rent satellite phones.

Both Kellisa and her sister, Egypt, thrive in the outdoors. They can sit quietly and watch animals for hours. Kellisa has always been developmentally delayed, and some of her most exceptional achievements have come while on a pushiking adventure. Egypt does not need her phone, tablet, computer, TV, or video games when shes immersed in the wild. She can go days without electronics when pushiking and camping. Egypt is eager to learn about local animals and history. Shes been known to ask many questions while attending ranger-led activities. But when Egypt is home, she thinks she would wilt up and die without all her electronics.

This book is meant to be a resource to motivate and inspire. Its not a substitution for experience. Know your abilities and the abilities of those in your pushiking party. Start slow. Go for walks through your neighborhood or visit a local park with an easy walking trail. I recommend building your experience and confidence before venturing out on moderate and challenging trails.

Alabama: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/alabama/recarea/?recid=30113

Alaska: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/chugach/learning/?cid=stelprdb5058790

Arizona: https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

Arkansas: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/mount-nebo-state-park

California, Northern: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=425

California, Southern: https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

Colorado: https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm

Connecticut: https://www.wyndhamlandtrust.org/project/bull-hill/

Delaware: https://www.destateparks.com/BrandywineCreek

Florida: https://www.nps.gov/timu/index.htm

Georgia: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee/

Hawaii, Difficult: https://www.maui-hikes.com/ohai-trail

Hawaii, Easy: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kealia_pond/

Idaho: https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/oregon-trail-reserve/

Illinois: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/VoloBog.aspx

Indiana: https://eaglecreekpark.org/

Iowa: https://www.mycountyparks.com/county/dubuque/Park/Whitewater-Canyon-Wildlife-Area.aspx

Kansas: https://www.nps.gov/tapr/index.htm

Kentucky: https://www.nps.gov/cuga/index.htm

Louisiana: https://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/parks/fontainebleau-state-park/

Maine: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/rachel_carson/

Maryland: https://www.aacounty.org/departments/recreation-parks/parks/beverly-triton/index.html

Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/locations/walden-pond-state-reservation

Michigan, Lower Peninsula: http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?type=SPRK&id=453

Michigan, Upper Peninsula: https://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm

Minnesota: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00175#homepage

Mississippi: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Mississippi_Sandhill_Crane/