Achieve Tahoe, Showing What is Possible
Disabled travel, accessible travel – nowhere on Earth is doing this so well as the North Americans and Achieve Tahoe is an excellent example.
What is Achieve Tahoe?
As the longest running organisation, Achieve Tahoe has served 800 members of the public per year across summer and winter as well as providing 2500 adaptive snowsports lessons. Achieve Tahoe is an incredible organisation , their mission is
“To provide affordable, inclusive physical and recreational activities that build health, confidence and independence”.
started back in 1967 and provides affordable lodging and activities for people with physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities. This sector of travel is growing, as rightfully so, more of this demographic are getting out in the world enjoying all there is on offer and the services to meet these needs are growing.
Where is it?
Just 1 hour from Reno, 4 hours from San Francisco and a direct flight from Sydney and Brisbane is Lake Tahoe, world famous for skiing, snowboarding and summer sports. Lake Tahoe is actually a geographic area that encompasses many different snow resorts across two states (Nevada and California ) owned by different entities and skiable on different passes. Different resorts offer different benefits to disabled skiers, Northstar Resort for example offers free rental equipment and new hotels in the area are required by law to have wheelchair access.
Who is it for?
Accessibility might be a buzzword but Achieve Tahoe is walking the walk not just talking the talk. Five to ten percent of participants are veterans and the organisation is able to set fees to be just 45% to the end-user. Scholarships are available for those who can’t afford this much. Costs are covered by fundraising, look at the support button for how you donate, leave a bequest or support. Ninety five percent of people who come to Achieve are within driving distance but the program is open to anyone, including Aussie and Kiwi skiers.
“As long as they can breath on their own they can learn to ski” (Achieve Tahoe)
Logistics
Lake Tahoe might be better known to Aussies and Kiwis for some pretty cool ski movies based out of Palisades Tahoe and is a bucket list in its own right. It wasn’t originally built to be accessible, nothing really was ‘back in the day’. The more accessible accommodation areas are Truckee or North Lake Tahoe and hotels are better than condos for stairs/ elevators/ ramps. Palisades Tahoe has a special accessible pass at prices that certainly are ‘accessible’. An Adaptive Palisades Tahoe Season Pass is $225 or day tickets are $55 and kids just $35. For Epic Pass users Northstar is on the Epic Pass and Epic pass holders have an adaptive pass option for Australians or for the regular USA pass.
For Ikon pass users Palisades is on the pass. On the Achieve Tahoe web page, check resources and VRBO and AirBNB for accommodation options. Alpine Meadows is where the program has its Centre.
For more information reach out to Achieve Tahoe and check out the programs they will absolutely show you what is possible so you can get out there in nature living your best life.
