June 27, 2019 612 PM
BIG BEND – No Barriers is inviting disabled veterans for a nine-day trip through the Big Bend from October 5 through 13. On the trip, vets will trek for three days through the Chisos Mountains and travel to the border for four days of paddling the Rio Grande.
Meals and camping supplies are all included during the camping trip, and there are no expenses for the veterans. According to the trip itinerary, “Evenings will include thoughtful group discussions and individual reflections on the journey behind them and the one still ahead.”
Outdoor organization No Barriers was co-founded by blind-adventurer Erik Weihenmayer, and its Warriors program strives to improve the lives of disabled veterans.
The trek is sponsored by Raytheon, a private military contractor notorious for its weapon manufacturing and international arms sales.
Veterans must provide proof of their service, proof of a service-related disability, and currently reside in Alabama, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas to qualify for this free expedition experience.
No Barriers exists to empower its participants, and “Expedition activities will encourage participants to reflect on their past, recognize where they are in the present and look to the future with positivity.”
When the trip is over, veterans will finish the program online. “It’s designed to help team members pursue a meaningful pledge they set during the journey, and to internalize the No Barriers Life,” the organization’s website said.
There are ten slots available, and veterans can apply online at nobarriersusa.org. The deadline to apply is July 7.
