On the Path

By Randy Pierce

The quest Quinn and I have undertaken this winter is simple in concept. We are attempting to join a very elite group of hikers who summit all 48 of the more than 4,000 foot peaks in a single winter season. Only 46 people ever been recorded as accomplishing this feat–and none have been a blind person or a guide dog team tandem!

As people have begun to learn about our undertaking, they have often asked what inspires me to attempt it. There are many reasons for which I’ve chosen to make the significant sacrifices necessary to have a realistic chance of succeeding.

Inspiring view of the White Mountains in winter.

First and foremost, this opened an entirely new world of experiences as we explore the White Mountains while they are in their full winter majesty. Few hikes can compare to the Southern Presidential Traverse of January 23, for example. It began at a chilly 0 degrees F, but as we hiked through the crisp, open air of the undisturbed and pristine wilderness, I listened to the descriptions of beautiful scenery. Pictures of the full panorama of isolated mountain views painted themselves in my mind, with such beautiful details as the rime ice that made fist-sized diamonds jut out and explode in glittery splendor from the intense sunshine. We spent the afternoon above tree line on a hard pack snow field, which gave gave to Quinn and me the dizzying freedom to take almost any route we wanted along our way across Mts Monroe and Franklin. It was the most liberating experience of my hiking career. It is a day which I expect cannot be readily recreated but fortunately is with me forever onward.

Quinn guides Randy through the winter wilderness.

More than the experiences though, we are hoping to achieve other benefits as well. This will certainly be training for the additional challenges of our 2020 Vision Quest to hike these mountains in the non-winter months. It is also hopefully a much needed awareness boost to all the things supported by our 2020 Vision Quest. In particular, I want to promote the notion of “Ability Awareness,” our school presentations, and perhaps even a celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the NH Association for the Blind which very well began my belief that blindness was not an end to my journeys!

Quinn is presently within the prime of his hiking and guiding abilities. The reality is that a guide dog only works for an average of 6-8 years. We are now in our sixth year together; I sadly know that our guide team time will come to an end much sooner than I would ever hope. He is most responsible for starting me on this path in the mountains and I truly hope and believe he’ll get me through the mountains on our 2020 Vision Quest. Yet if anything should change that prematurely, I will at least have this winter mission, facilitated by a very supportive offer from other strong, experienced, and very kindhearted hikers to help us undertake it. In achieving this, I will ensure Quinn’s well deserved legend, and I will have shared with him the full splendor of our partnership on an epic quest which reaches very deeply into my spirit.

We are beyond the halfway point of mountains for the winter and have climbed more of the peaks than I had in my entire life before this winter, and yet, success is still not ensured. I believe in our team and our will to finish. I will give it all of my best efforts and will continue to sacrifice significantly in the pursuit of this particular dream.

So while “Super Sunday” resonates for many in different ways, I’ll have a fair amount of my thought and heart invested in the Super Goal set before Quinn and myself. I hope any of you who read this will consider sharing it with your friends, family and all other sources who might benefit from our story or who might help ensure the overall success of our missions.

A happy team, ready for anything!

Today on the blog, we at 2020 Vision Quest would like to bring you a story. It is one of those “found” stories of uncertain origin, and we hope it will provide a bit of inspiration to your day. Enjoy!

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Two men, both seriously ill, shared a hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours each day, about their wives and families, their jobs, where they had been on vacation. They shared their lives’ successes and disappointments, even their fears that they might never leave the room again.

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water, while children sailed their model boats.

Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine these picturesque scenes.

The man on his back began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

Weeks passed.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind’s eye as the man by the window painted it with words. And he looked forward to the day that he might leave the hospital, even if just to sit in the park on a sunny day, or once again taste cotton candy while a parade passed.

The next morning, the nurses arrived to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and carefully moved his bed and array of monitors next to the window.

He was eager to enjoy his new window on the world, and over his nurse’s objections, slowly, painfully propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. He strained, slowly turning to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a brick wall.

The man was shocked to think that this man who he had grown to consider a friend — with whom he had shared his most personal feelings! — had lied to him.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

And then she said, “Perhaps he was a better friend than you ever realized.”

By Randy Pierce

I do not tend to run short of dreams, goals, and “vision,” though using that last term latter does seem ironic. I am certainly honored by how many people have contributed to my attempts to achieve these objectives.

What is surprising for some is when they realize that often the greatest exuberance comes from helping others find their own hopes and dreams and begin to turn them into reality. I’m sometimes surprised and always delighted to receive a note or comment about the ways our project has inspired someone to undertake a difficult path. This indirect inspiration is highly motivational, perhaps most of all in encouraging me to be aware of my deliberate choices and expressions of support for the goals of others. If my actions can be so impactful indirectly, how much moreso when I act intentionally?

Yet, I find that too often the people closest to us are the least likely to attentively give this support and, with equal significance, avoid giving discouragement. Is someone dear to you thinking about going back to school, learning a trade, learning a language, or perhaps even something as simple as planning and taking a vacation? Are they hoping to alter their life choices in a more positive direction? If so, what will you say or do to encourage them?

The answer to that question is as powerful a statement about you as you may ever make. While speaking at a Melrose school last fall, I heard their slogan for TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More. I instantly loved the notion and I now apply it to the idea of supporting those around us to find and achieve their goals.

I know that but for a few simple words and deeds by some incredible people, I might never have undertaken some of the finest moments in my life. So this week I wanted to focus on this idea for myself and hopefully for all of you. You all have that powerful potential in your future. I entreat you to remember that the next time you have the choice whether or not to encourage someone to pursue their dreams. You may find that lending your support will have the added bonus of inspiring yourself as well as the person you encourage.

By Randy Pierce

Quinn is a master climber as he leads Randy up a treacherous path.

Our winter hikes on the “NH 48” have begun in earnest and have been very successful so far. We have already traversed a number of peaks, with our most impressive achievement this winter to date being our climb of seven summits of over 4000 feet in four days. More than 40 miles and over 10,000 feet of elevation gain is simply a respectable challenge for most people; we have accomplished this and significantly more as winter has barely begun to overtake the White Mountains. Our challenges have been significant–the trail-heads are generally bare ground or icy coated rocks, which makes the hikes more difficult. They transition above 2500 feet to several feet of snow with a narrow snow shoe trail broken through where other hikers may have passed. While the snow often makes the going easier, that transition has some steep and slippery points with hidden foot traps throughout. These are not the ideal conditions to make climbing easier for me or my guide dog Quinn.

Quinn’s fame is growing both along the network of trails and in the cyberspace network which carries the tale of the tail-wagging wonder who is guiding a totally blind man to the top of peak after peak during the White Mountains winter 2012 season. To be certain, the accolades are well deserved as our speed and efficiency continue to increase and the number of peaks begin to fall beneath our feet.

"Has Dad found someone else?"

In that four-day span, Garfield, Tom, Field, Willie, Liberty, Flume and Moosilauke were added to Tecumseh, Jackson, Hale, and Cabot on our winter season’s summit success stories. An assortment of different hikers have joined us on the various hikes and we’ve met an significant number of fantastic people upon the trails. Many of those who witness the marvel of Quinn’s work are astounded by the dedication and ability he possesses. What many may not realize is that in our group, there is a battle for top dog.

It is not with Dusty, the recent rescue pup of Bob and Geri Hayes, though he is admittedly a little marvel in his own right. His boundless energy in surging ahead on every trail to the extent of his 20-foot leash or his near-constant darting into the side woods to plunge his rodent-sniffing nose after every squirrel scent with rarely a moment delay in our progress.

It is in fact Bob Hayes who is battling it out with Quinn for “top dog.” Not only does Bob bring a fair bit of hiking experience and motivation into our undertaking, he also brings a supportive human guide element to particularly tricky areas and many of the descents when we need or want to increase our speed.

Randy, Bob, and the Mighty Quinn make the best team!

Bob’s and my teamwork has continued to improve our communication and efficiency. Using techniques such as putting my hand upon his pack so I can follow along behind him have helped us traverse vast sections of trail in times better than the AMC book suggests for those regions. We have developed an endurance of work which has far surpassed any prior guiding efforts, and in the case of Mt. Hale actually involved virtually jogging the entire descent of the trail for a summit-to-car travel time of an incredible 2 hours and 15 minutes!

Each person accompanying or encountering us for any length of time upon these wilderness excursions will undoubtedly catch a different part of our experience. Many have provided me with encouragement and inspiration in various ways, for which I am incredibly appreciative. As for who will be “top dog”: the simple fact is that both Bob and the mighty Quinn share honors as my guides, both outstanding in their own ways. They have my full gratitude for their willingness to team up with me and make this incredible journey possible.

How many thousands of feet of elevation we climb, miles of trail we cover, or simple number of peaks we achieve this winter will be determined as the winter unfolds. I already know full well how much I love the experience and celebrating our joys and accomplishments together!

Team portrait!

We’re taking a little break from blogging for the holidays, but we’ll be back soon. We’re looking forward to another exciting year of hiking and outreach in 2012!

Happy Holidays from all of us at 2020 Vision Quest!

By Randy Pierce

The holiday season is upon us–with all the joy, excitement, and yes, potential pressures of the times. I very much wanted to wish all of my family, friends, and the many fantastic supporters of 2020 Vision Quest a “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holiday.” It is often the season of both giving and reflecting upon our many gifts, and I hope that all of us are able to appreciate the merit of both. Even with the challenges of present times, I very much believe we can choose to concentrate on achieving that which is most vital and real to us. We can choose to plan and take steps along a path to bring even more happiness, joy, and success to us all in the future.

In the coming week, Quinn and I will embark upon the first steps on our next journey. We are going to make a concerted effort to hike some of New Hampshire’s beautiful mountain trails over the winter. There is a peace and serenity about a winter wonderland which revitalizes my mind and spirit. There is a quiet calm in the winter wilderness which adds a majestic inspiration to many mountain moments. So as winter arrives officially on December 22, we will undertake our first winter hike of the 4,000 foot peaks with Mt. Tecumseh.

Winter hiking provides a different experience than hiking during the rest of the year. Snow-covered trails actually ease some aspects of my hiking. Snow fills in the crevices and covers the twisty rocks and roots that make my footing so difficult, leaving a smooth surface upon which I can tread more freely. Though the snow is low presently, the eventual pack of snow will help me very much on these trails. I’m very glad that my frequent hiking companion Bob Hayes will join us for these opportunities.

While these are not “official” 2020 Vision Quest hikes, we’ll still run the Spot Technology to allow folks to watch our progress online. We’ll still blog about the experiences on a reasonably regular basis and our social media will follow the excursions. In part, these hikes are training for the efforts which will resume next May. We are also doing this for the adventure and new experiences which this winter can offer while Quinn is in the prime of his hiking prowess, and I am poised to fully appreciate the gifts this world can offer my adventurous spirit.

My wish for all of you this holiday season and well beyond is to fully appreciate the real treasures in your world and to actively seek out the means to share and appreciate many more ahead of you. We’ll look forward to sharing our adventure with you as we go along. Thank you all for being a part of my life and our community here at 2020 Vision Quest!

Happy Holidays!

Randy & the Mighty Quinn

By Randy Pierce

This winter, Quinn and I plan to undertake some hikes of the 48 4,000-footers in New Hampshire. Hiking them in the winter is vastly different than other times of the year, but promises to be equally rewarding. Experiencing them in a different season will help our appreciation for hiking these incredible mountains grow in new ways. It will also give us conditioning and experience to help with the upcoming 2020 Vision Quest hikes during the spring and summer.

In our undertaking of these winter hikes, we are following in the footsteps of those who have gone down this path before, both human and canine. In this realization, there is also some sadness for those who have also done so and are no longer with us.

Brutus, the accomplished and beloved mountain-climbing dog. Image by Steve Smith.

Through the online forum “Views from the Top,” a gathering point for the hiking community where we’ve shared a great deal and gained much support for our efforts, we have become familiar with the tales of Brutus and Kevin Rooney. Brutus, a Newfoundland Dog, was the first dog recorded to have finished the Winter 48. With considerable planning by his handler Kevin Rooney, he did it a second time in a single winter. This is a tremendous accomplishment and earned Brutus considerable and well deserved distinction. He and Kevin found a route up Owl’s Head which is now commonly called the “Brutus Bushwhack” since it is the best route to avoid the challenges of the Owl’s Head Slide. Over the last decade, Brutus became a well-known and beloved fixture of the White Mountain climbing community.

A dog’s life span is unfortunately considerably shorter than our own, and Brutus’s storied life came to an end this past week. A memorial on the “Views from the Top” forum is a pages-long tribute to the many who appreciated this beloved animal. The stories and photographs represent the bonds of community which can enhance all of our lives when developed well.

I know when the hikes are right for Quinn by how eagerly his tail is wagging when he approaches them. Brutus’s example shows clearly that these are reasonable climbs for a dog. Quinn has more mental challenges in the process since he is leading me (Brutus was not a guide dog), but Quinn is eager to follow in Brutus’s impressive pawprints. I never knew Brutus personally, but I know the thrill of companionship and teamwork involved in accomplishing goals together. I also know a fair bit of the wonder of the White Mountains, and without question I know the incredible love, devotion, and fun of sharing our lives with an incredible dog.

My heart goes out to Kevin Rooney and all who loved Brutus, but I firmly believe that the experiences and memories we keep are always our immediate “rainbow bridge” of connection to those we have lost. Thank you to Brutus and Kevin for your vision and for sharing it with us all along the way!

For another tribute to Brutus, check out the blog of Steve Smith, owner of Mountain Wanderer Map and Bookstore and friend of Kevin Rooney and Brutus.

Kevin and Brutus, the best of friends. Image by Steve Smith.

By Randy Pierce

Foster a puppy and help change lives--including your own.

How does a puppy get to become as incredible as the Mighty Quinn? It all begins with a puppy raiser opening his or her heart and home to a little bundle of energy. This means committing to educate, socialize and guide the puppy into a promising future.

The relationship and bond between raiser and pup will become the foundation of all the life lessons the puppy will need for his incredible career. This is no small task, so to offer assistance, Guiding Eyes for the Blind organizes puppy raising regions from Maine to North Carolina. They establish a strong support system which allows them to help anyone, regardless of prior experience, successfully raise a puppy!

Puppy raisers come from all walks of life, with many different motivations. Couples, families, students and individuals are all part of the success stories of guide dog teams. These amazing animals will spend from the time they are about 8 weeks old to 18 months old in the keeping of these special people. In this time, they will blossom into confident, curious, intelligent, and (best of all) loving dogs ready to embark on a priceless journey.

After their fostering is over, they go to guide training at the school for six months more. When their training is complete, the school invites puppy raisers to attend the puppy “graduation.” Raisers proudly observe the results of all their generous efforts to change someone’s world.

I can readily attest to the success of this program: the freedom, safety, independence, and companionship Quinn give me as my guide are a fundamental part of my life.

Raise a puppy, change a life!

Guiding Eyes has a slogan: “Raise a Puppy, Change a Life!” Here are some experiences of present raisers; it is clear that the life they change is often their own!

Sue and Fred Hurwitz

“It’s so enriching to watch the puppies grow into responsible guide dogs.”

Gauthier Family

“Our main goal in doing this is to offer something back to the community, something tangible. We want to help improve the quality of someones life. We hope to also encourage our children to develop empathy and strong moral character.

“In the short time that Jefferson has lived with us our lives have changed a lot: the kids have had to become more responsible.”

Peggy Farrar

“GEB has been so rewarding and my pups have brought so much laughter, love, and happiness. They have truly changed my life.”

So if you have ever given thought to having a puppy, consider how much more powerful and significant an experience you may have if you give a home to a “Quinn in training”!

The next generation!

For more information about being a part of this team, you can visit the Guiding Eyes for the Blind website at www.guidingeyes.org or call them at 1-866-GEB-LABS. If you are near the New Hampshire region where Quinn makes his home with me, you can also call Regional Coordinator Bill leBlanc at: 603 801-2117.

All potential raisers are required to complete a series of pre-placement classes and a week-long sit of a pup already in the program before receiving their first puppy. The next orientation for this region is December 18. Consider being a part of this wonderful program and having a dog as marvelous as Quinn guiding you along your own journey!

The puppies are waiting for you!

By Randy Pierce

Sami Stoner represents an amazing example of just how much a blind runner can accomplish with determination and the right assistance. This legally blind 16-year-old high school junior began running cross country in 8th grade, just before she began to lose her eyesight due to Stargardt’s disease, macular degeneration that causes blind spots. She wasn’t ready to let anything stop her, and with the help of a human guide she continued to run, despite her increasing vision loss. When that human guide graduated and many thought she might have reached too big of an obstacle, she found the wonder of the guide dog solution.

Sami’s guide dog Chloe helps her manage the obstacles on the course and enjoy the exhilaration such freedom brings. She has also found a great deal of support from the school athletic director who continued to push for the Ohio High School Athletic Association to adjust rules and allow her to run with her guide dog. The OHSAA finally relented, and the pair have demonstrated teamwork on a whole new level to their state and well beyond.

While her times are not yet allowed to be scored and some finish chutes are forbidden to the team, these are just future obstacles from a teen who isn’t interested in the finish line nearly as much as the journey there. That’s a lesson of thankfulness which should reach all of us!

If you want the chance to experience how incredible a guide dog is doing this work, come join us in the Nashua area. Drop us an email and we’ll have you join us at Mine Falls for a run. Quinn will likely amaze you and give credit to the incredible story of Chloe and her human, too!

Tonight I’ll be attending the NFL Monday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. As usual, I have no doubt I will receive interesting reactions as Quinn guides me through the crowds on our way to the front row where we “watch” virtually every home game. A radio headphone in one ear, verbal details from the environment, and a lot of concentration keep me mostly in tune with the action and allow me to more fully “experience” the game, despite my lack of visual cues.

However, all the way across the country in Acton, California, a 15-year-old junior varsity football player named Taylor Howell is taking his demonstration of “Ability Awareness” to incredible levels which have earned my deep respect. Taylor is the starting center for his team–and he is totally blind.

When I first listened to the story on NPR, I was in awe of Taylor’s undertaking. In football, the center position is (appropriately enough) in the middle of a surging mass of organized chaos as bodies collide to match speed, strength, and teamwork into each play. It is no small challenge to learn to make enough sense out of the chaos to deliver a precise snap under the best of conditions, even when the quarterback lines up five yards back for the longer distance “shotgun” snap. Tyler manages this with the help of his team to give him enough description, knowing the opponent is lining up and moving around in front of him, ready to hurl themselves toward him and past him if he is not fully prepared.

As Taylor says, he takes some pretty big hits, and for him, every hit is a “blind side.” And Taylor knows about being blind-sided–he took a pretty big hit early in life when cancer took away his eyes. But he wastes no time in putting the hits he receives both in football and life behind him, keeping his focus on each goal at hand.

Taylor’s story is amazing, and there are many who might have thought it impossible. I’m glad Taylor, his parents, his teammates, and his coaches were not on that list. I think legendary football coach Vince Lombardi perhaps said it perfectly: “We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.”