Much of the year you’ll find Enock Glidden out on the trails. As a consultant for Maine Trails Network, he assesses trails that outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities can access.
“Basically, I check out the trails to see if they are truly accessible,” he said. “I identify obvious barriers to make them more accessible to more people. Everyone should be able to enjoy the natural beauty Maine has to offer.”
When he’s not on the trails, you’ll find him rock climbing, ice climbing and inspiring others to do the same.
“I grew up in Patten, Maine and we lived in a log cabin in the woods,” he said. “I spent all my time outdoors exploring.”
Born with Spina Bifida, he always loved the outdoors. That love grew into a true passion during his first summer at Pine Tree Camp.
“I was seven years old at the time and Pine Tree Camp really opened my eyes to what was possible,” he said. “It broadened my horizons to new experiences and set me on the path to be who I am.”
It also opened his world to lifelong friendships. For the first time, he wasn’t the only kid in a wheelchair. Today, at age 45, he has stayed connected to the friends he made at Pine Tree Camp.
“One of the biggest takeaways I have from Pine Tree Camp are the lifelong friendships I made there when I was seven,” he said.
In addition to being an outdoor accessibility consultant and adaptive climber, Enock is an ambassador for Paradox Sports. Based in Colorado, they bring adaptive climbing nationwide and have trained most rock climbing gyms in Maine on the equipment and know-how needed to help people with disabilities start climbing.
Enock’s motto is: “If you try, things happen.” As an athlete with a disability, adventurer, motivational speaker and advocate, he’s a role model and inspiration for others.
“My experience at Pine Tree Camp inspired what I’m doing now because camp was my first experience being able to truly access the outdoors with no barriers,” he said. “It’s the only place in Maine where a person with a disability can access everything in the outdoors. It’s what it was designed for. And it gave me the spark to want to be outdoors doing all the things that had been a struggle up to that point.”
For more about Enock: https://www.gobeyondthefence.com/
For more about accessible trails in Maine: https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/accessibility
