The James River is one of Richmond’s greatest natural assets and one of the things that makes the city such a unique place to explore the outdoors. Winding through the heart of the city, the river offers an incredible variety of experiences, from peaceful stretches of flatwater and scenic trails to some of the most exciting urban whitewater in the country. In fact, Richmond is the only urban city in the United States with Class IV whitewater rapids in the middle of downtown.

The surrounding James River Park System encompasses 600 acres and more than 20 miles of trails, with opportunities to paddle, hike, bike, fish, climb, and simply enjoy being outside. With so many ways to experience the James, everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy it. Unfortunately, outdoor adventures like these aren’t always accessible to people with disabilities. Thankfully, Beyond Boundaries is working to change that by creating more opportunities for people with disabilities to experience the outdoors.

In partnership with Beyond Boundaries, we had the opportunity to help make two very different experiences on the James more accessible to individuals with gait disabilities: a peaceful paddling trip at Deep Bottom Park and a whitewater rafting adventure through the lower section of the James.

Our first outing with Beyond Boundaries took us to the calmer waters of Deep Bottom Park. Most of our group chose kayaks, while Sue, a below knee amputee, decided to try something a little different and ventured out on a stand-up paddleboard.

For many of our folks, however, the biggest challenge wasn’t paddling. It was getting into and out of the kayak. Rather than stepping down into the kayaks from standing, we made use of the dock by having people sit along the edge and lower themselves directly into their kayaks. Once everyone was on the water, we had the chance to explore the creek at a relaxed pace and enjoy a peaceful morning outside.

For one paddler who needed some additional stability, outriggers were added to his kayak. Because he also has limited use of one arm, he used an adaptive mount that his paddle attached to, allowing him to paddle more effectively.

The setup worked well until the mount detached from the kayak.

Rather than calling it a day, he improvised. He held the mount in place with his legs for as long as he could and continued paddling all the way down the creek. When it was time to head back, another member of our group stepped in.

She had kayaked regularly before her amputation, but this outing marked her first time back in a kayak since losing her limb. Using a rope, we connected their two kayaks, and she helped paddle them both back.

It was a fitting example of what accessible recreation can look like in practice. Not every barrier can be anticipated, and not every adaptation works perfectly. Sometimes accessibility means having the right equipment. Sometimes it means changing how you approach a task. And sometimes it means working together to find another way forward.

Through it all, we still had plenty of time to enjoy the quiet water, explore Deep Bottom Park, and simply enjoy being outside together.

For our second outing with Beyond Boundaries, we traded the calm water around Deep Bottom for whitewater rafting on the lower section of the James. River levels were low, around 3.5 feet, which created its own set of challenges. We found plenty of rocks along the way and managed to get our rafts hung up on a handful of them.

Still, there was plenty of whitewater to give us an adrenaline rush.
Our rafting crew was made up entirely of individuals with lower limb loss, and everyone approached the trip a little differently. Some chose to keep their prostheses on, while others, particularly our above-knee amputees, removed theirs for the trip.

Throughout the trip, our guides called out instructions to keep everyone working together. Paddle forward. Paddle backward. Stop. And, when things were about to get a little rough: “Lean in!”. This was our cue to shift toward the center of the raft and toward one another as we moved through the rapids.

After hearing that phrase several times throughout the trip, I started thinking about how well it applied beyond rafting. On the river, leaning in helped us navigate the rougher water together. Off the river, maybe it isn’t so different. We all encounter turbulent stretches, and sometimes it helps to lean into the people around us as we make our way through them.

Lean into the people around you. Lean into your community. Allow other people to provide some stability when things become unpredictable, and be willing to provide that same support for the person sitting next to you. This premise captures so much of what we hope to accomplish through Mission Gait’s community outings.

The goal isn’t simply to get someone into a kayak or onto a paddleboard. It isn’t just to make it through a rapid without falling out of the raft. These experiences give people opportunities to try something new alongside others who understand that trying something new can require a little courage, a little problem-solving, and sometimes a little help.

Disability can create very real barriers to accessing outdoor recreation. Making an activity accessible doesn’t mean pretending those barriers don’t exist. It means finding ways around them, adapting when necessary, and surrounding people with the resources and support that allow them to participate.

We are incredibly grateful to Beyond Boundaries for partnering with us on both of these outings and for the work they do to make outdoor adventure more accessible in our community.

Whether the water ahead is calm or turbulent, there is something reassuring about knowing we don’t have to navigate it alone.