Wounded Warriors to Climb Mt Rainier

Camp Patriot is an organization whose stated mission is “to take combat injured veterans into the outdoors for life changing adventures”.

Something they’ve done for the last coupla years is a climb up Mount Rainier with a number of wounded warriors and others.  I first heard about it from one of the “others” who made the climb last year – Lt Col Robb Erickson, DO at the 114th Fighter Squadron of the Oregon Air National Guard in Klamath Falls.  Robb is an F-15 instructor pilot, was the fall semester 1991 Cadet Wing Commander at the Air Force Academy, and, most importantly, is someone I’m proud to call one of my closest friends.

I know Robb is completely in awe of the veterans with disabilities that he made the climb with – Ryan Job, former Navy SEAL; Chad Jukes, Army reservist; and Jose Martinez, former Marine – he’ll tell you those “disabled veterans” were leading the way and he was fighting to keep up with them.  Here’s a picture of “the boys” on the way up last year:

There’s a ton more information, including ways to support the organization, on their website – please go there and check it out:

Camp Patriot

This year’s climb is the third time they’ll be doing it, and is scheduled for July 5 – 10.  I haven’t asked Robb if he’s up for making the climb again, or is just gonna wimp out and do the flyover this year.