{"id":794485,"date":"2019-04-03T16:40:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-03T22:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/disabled-u-s-veterans-reach-new-heights-find-hope-at-sports-clinic-in-snowmass\/"},"modified":"2019-04-03T16:40:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-03T22:40:00","slug":"disabled-u-s-veterans-reach-new-heights-find-hope-at-sports-clinic-in-snowmass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/disabled-u-s-veterans-reach-new-heights-find-hope-at-sports-clinic-in-snowmass\/","title":{"rendered":"Disabled U.S. veterans reach new heights, find hope at sports clinic in Snowmass"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.9467991815259\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-363958-403\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Robert Morrs skis down on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April 1.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-1.jpg\" alt=\"Robert Morrs skis down on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April 1.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Robert Morrs skis down on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April 1.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic. His son, James, 11, cheers him on below.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-2.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic. His son, James, 11, cheers him on below.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic. His son, James, 11, cheers him on below.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-3.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Robert Morrs on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April 1.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-4.jpg\" alt=\"Robert Morrs on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April 1.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Robert Morrs on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April 1.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Linda Strong rock climbs at the National Disabled Veterans Clinic in Snowmass on April 1.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-5.jpg\" alt=\"Linda Strong rock climbs at the National Disabled Veterans Clinic in Snowmass on April 1.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Linda Strong rock climbs at the National Disabled Veterans Clinic in Snowmass on April 1.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Linda Strong after rock climbing at the National Disabled Veterans Clinic in Snowmass on April 1.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-6.jpg\" alt=\"Linda Strong after rock climbing at the National Disabled Veterans Clinic in Snowmass on April 1.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Linda Strong after rock climbing at the National Disabled Veterans Clinic in Snowmass on April 1.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-7.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Robert Morrs on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April 1.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-7.jpg\" alt=\"Robert Morrs on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April 1.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Robert Morrs on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April 1.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-8.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Linda Strong after rock climbing at the National Disabled Veterans Clinic in Snowmass on April 1.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-8.jpg\" alt=\"Linda Strong after rock climbing at the National Disabled Veterans Clinic in Snowmass on April 1.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Linda Strong after rock climbing at the National Disabled Veterans Clinic in Snowmass on April 1.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-9.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-10-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-10.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-10.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-11-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-11.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-11.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-12-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-12.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Craig DeMartino adjusts the auto-belay device on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"7\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-12.jpg\" alt=\"Craig DeMartino adjusts the auto-belay device on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Craig DeMartino adjusts the auto-belay device on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-13-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-13.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-13.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-14-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-14.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-14.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-15-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-15.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen adjusts his son, James', 11, harness at the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-15.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen adjusts his son, James', 11, harness at the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen adjusts his son, James&#8217;, 11, harness at the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-16-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-16.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic. His son, James, 11, cheers him on below.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-16.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic. His son, James, 11, cheers him on below.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic. His son, James, 11, cheers him on below.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-17-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-17.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun | Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic. His son, James, 11, cheers him on below.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"8.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/vets-svs-040319-9-17.jpg\" alt=\"Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic. His son, James, 11, cheers him on below.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Medic veteran Feet Jensen on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic. His son, James, 11, cheers him on below.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/disabled-u-s-veterans-reach-new-heights-find-hope-at-sports-clinic-in-snowmass\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/disabled-u-s-veterans-reach-new-heights-find-hope-at-sports-clinic-in-snowmass\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Feet Jensen believes he is a better version of himself today than he was more than 10 years ago before an explosion in Iraq nearly killed him and destroyed his legs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Despite losing his limbs and suffering countless health complications since that life-changing moment in November 2008, the former Army combat medic chalks up the experience to being a blessing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019ve learned so much, (and) I like this guy a whole lot better than that other guy,\u201d Jensen, who legally changed his first name to Feet after the accident, said Monday at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Along with amputating his legs from near the knee down, Jensen, 33, lost much of his upper-body strength, suffers severe nerve damage and has undergone 108 surgeries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">These are only the physical ramifications of Jensen\u2019s time serving in Iraq. Psychologically, he experiences many of the same mental health issues that can haunt wartime veterans, including survivor guilt and post-traumatic stress disorder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Jensen doesn\u2019t explicitly say so at first, but as he talks openly about life after the Army and survivor guilt, it becomes clear how this condition continues to push him to persevere, despite all odds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Trying to understand, or at least somewhat come to terms with, the idea that he made it out of Iraq alive while \u201cthat incredibly loving, beautiful person just next to me did not,\u201d Jensen said, forced him to look closer at his own existence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In other words, he poses: \u201cWhy me? Why did I survive, and not him?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Channeling these emotions to examine his life\u2019s purpose, Jensen acknowledges how this experience challenges him to work toward his best self.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For Jensen, this means also being able to help others, as he believes strongly, \u201cYou cannot help another soul before you help yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Jensen knows he is in a unique position to inspire or motivate others; if nothing else, he said, because people may look to him \u201cas someone who probably has it off a lot worse,\u201d yet still lives to the fullest extent, and on most days, is genuinely happy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As with many of the disabled veterans at the winter sports clinic, Jensen is being humble.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Watching him rely on the sheer strength of his shoulders and forearms \u2014 again, much of which he lost after the accident and complications in the operating room \u2014 to successfully power his body to the top of a climbing wall within a matter of seconds was something that onlookers will likely not soon, if ever, forget.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Perhaps equally as powerful at the bottom of the wall was the army of support encouraging Jensen, including clinic volunteers and instructors, fellow disabled veterans and his 11-year-old son, James.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Jensen, his wife of 14 years, Bethany and James are a climbing family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">They live in a home in the northern area of Utah, and climb together every day after school.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As James inches his way up the top half of the wall outside the Westin Snowmass \u2014 refusing to succumb as the terrain becomes increasingly difficult with each hold \u2014 it is little wonder where the 11-year-old learned such tenacity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI don\u2019t let him quit,\u201d Jensen said, with a smirk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For Jensen, climbing \u201cshows me that I am the only thing in my way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIf I can get out of my own way, I think that\u2019s what\u2019s going on,\u201d Jensen said. \u201cWe\u2019re the only ones holding ourselves back. Nobody here is telling us we can\u2019t \u2014 in fact, (the instructors are) the ones encouraging us to try everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The winter sports clinic, hosted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans, is the largest rehabilitative program of its type in the world. Snowmass Village has been home to the seven-day clinic for 18 years in a row.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">More than 400 disabled veterans are participating in the 2019 event, choosing from adaptive sports and activities such as kayaking, curling, fly-fishing, bowling, scuba diving, hockey, rock climbing, snowshoeing, sledding and, of course, skiing and snowboarding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The clinic sees hundreds of returning veterans, who say the weeklong event is the highlight of their year, as well as its share of new-timers \u2014 including Samuel Johnson, who said he \u201cis already hooked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI am beyond, beyond words. I am totally blown away by all of this,\u201d Johnson, also an ex-Army combat medic, said. \u201cI love it. I\u2019m hooked on skiing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Johnson struggled with drugs, alcohol, legal and credit problems from the time he left the Army in the late 1980s until recently \u2014 upon learning about the various programs in place to support veterans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThe sports saved my life,\u201d said Johnson, who suffered a major spinal cord injury. \u201cI have another reason for living, besides (my wife).\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Johnson met his now-wife after turning his life around, with the help of veteran support organizations and adaptive supports, last July.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cShe jumped in with both feet. She is more than my wife. She is my lifeline,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cShe\u2019s seen me at my worst and she was still there after. I\u2019m the luckiest man in the world to have found her and made her my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Along with adaptive skiing, trying new sports and being a good husband, Johnson said he vows to seek and reach out to other disabled veterans to let them know about the \u201clife-changing\u201d opportunities that are available to them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Basking in the sun posted up in his wheelchair at the bottom of the climbing wall, Johnson also doubled as cheerleader to his new friends, Jensen and James.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Recording Jensen\u2019s first ascent up the wall while live commentating, Johnson quipped: \u201cYou can\u2019t quit, Feet! I\u2019m filming this on my Facebook.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/disabled-u-s-veterans-reach-new-heights-find-hope-at-sports-clinic-in-snowmass\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Medic veteran Feet Jensen belays his son, James, 11, on the rock climbing wall outside of the Westin in Snowmass on April 1 for the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic.Anna Stonehouse \/ Snowmass Sun Robert Morrs skis down on the electric tetraski at the National Disabled Veterans winter sports clinic at Snowmass on April [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-794485","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-14 07:18:47","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSMT The Mountain","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/794485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=794485"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/794485\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=794485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=794485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=794485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}