Camp Patriot and Adventure Medical Kits have joined forces for a very good cause. Both organizations are dedicated to promoting outdoor adventure, and soon they'll be assisting three American soldiers, each of whom were injured in the line of duty, to achieve their goal of reaching the summit of Mt. Rainier.
From July 7th to the 10th of this year, SFC Mario Barragan, 1LT Reinaldo Gonzalez, and SFC Jesse Yandell will all be on the mountain, and attempting to climb Rainier. Barragan and Yandell were both injured while serving in Afghanistan, while Gonzalez fell during a training exercise and suffered an injury to his spine. But now, all three are recovering from their injuries and pressing ahead with their dream, thanks to Camp Patriot and Adventure Medical Kits.
Camp Patriot had a clearly defined mission from the start. Namely, to help injured, and sometimes disabled, veterans to experience outdoor adventure. The non-profit organization plans all kinds of activities including hiking/backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, skiing, snowshoeing and more. They've found that these activities have a highly positive impact on the Vets emotional and psychological well being that extends to every facet of their lives long after they have gone home.
On June 5th, two days before the team sets off for Mt. Rainier, there will be a dinner and fundraising event at the Fox Sports Network Lounge at the south end of the Qwest Field in Seattle. The evening will include a silent auction with all kinds of great gear and guest speaker Ed Viesturs will be on hand to discuss his long and illustrious career in the mountains.
What an amazing organization. This is their third year of taking these soldiers up Rainier, but they have done so many other things as well. It doesn't seem like they'll be slowing down in the future either, as there are plans afoot to build a mountain lodge in Montana that will house more than 20 visitors at a time, and give them access to the great outdoors as well.
And a quick word on Adventure Medical Kits too. Awhile back I received one of their kits to test out and examine, and while I haven't put the finishing touches on my review just yet, I can honestly say that if you spend a significant time outdoors, that you should have one of the kits in your backpack. They come equipped with just about everything you need to treat injuries in the backcountry, and they come in small packages that fit neatly in your pack. Great stuff and I whole heartedly recommend them.
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