Look mom. No legs. 🤣 #parentsdontapprove #funnynotfunny #spinalcordinjury #climbing @adidasterrex Image description: time lapse of a short haired brunette woman wearing a tank top and paralyzed legs scooting on her butt towards a climbing wall and pulling up and around not far from the ground. #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
Have you seen my pants? Not my current mood but nonetheless—this is one I strive to be in most the time. #fucknervepain #allisnotlost No joke about the pants. I sometimes almost leave the house without pants 👖 or underwear 🩲 or shoes 👞 cause I am a space case Oh AND I CANT FEEL MY LOWER HALF!! #spinalcordinjury #lemonadeoutoflemons🍋 #rulenumber1 @adidasterrex @reactiveadaptations #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #adaptivemountainbike #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
#sundayservice When you don’t see the direct impact you have on others, it seems we are less likely to give a shit? Bummer but true. Since my injury I have been advocating for two things, spinal cord injury research #functionalrecovery and basic day-to-day accessibility awareness. While the latter is easier to understand WHY it matters in this video of me transferring out of a small sedan as a passenger into my manual wheelchair. I wheel backwards, closing the car door and bump into another vehicle immediately behind me illegally parked in the striped access aisle. The former advocacy role, #spinalcordinjuryresearch might be harder to mentally give two shits about. Funny. I would love to be able to shit without sticking a finger in my ass every day. 💩 THAT is the functional recovery research I am advocating for. For my friends who use a power chair, that absolutely need every inch of that access aisle to get in and out of their vans, to gain more use of one or two more arm/hand muscles, which opens the possibility for them to use a manual wheelchair—- to feel my bladder, to not have nerve pain—- ALL opening easier access to day-to-day life activity. A lot of little movements, sensations and access can make a big difference in the #qualityoflife To learn more on why the research matters or to join us to be a part of the process, check out @u2fp. ❤️ #spinalcordinjury #disabilityawareness #climbing #biking #skiing
That stoic look when you wonder if you just pooped yourself? 😏 Ah. #spinalcordinjury — Reminder this injury requires all sorts of fun, extra-curricular time, mind and life management. I was recently asked, while sorting a new job prospect that it “seems contradictory that I can travel but am requesting to work remotely.” (To rarely be at an office.) For me, working in an office is a 4hr drive with continuous sitting through the day with reduced body -life- maintenance. At home I can stand in my standing desk, lay on my belly, have time for a swim or bike ride and easily manage the unexpected flames SCI body throws at me. Sure equivalently we all deal. An SCI = slower time-wise, not efficient but also more consequential—- life threatening NO JOKE I reduce anxiety when traveling on a plane, by donning @pullups. 💃🏼. I also have a hard time managing my luggage. Usually a size-able duffel on my lap filled with clothing, bathroom supplies. #peesticks (8-10 per day) #toiletcushion #babywipes #whateverelse Hanging off the back of me is another reusable grocery bag with my purse, easy access pee sticks for the day, extra random snacks, computers etc. Checking luggage is 😳if the pee sticks don’t arrive, I don’t pee!!! And breaking and regulations of mobility devices, #wheelchairs or #handcycles is very real. Driving is just easier. I can bring my hand cycle without #airlinewoes I can pack all the bathroom supplies, be contained #peeonmyownaccord #manage AND I can then post up for longer in these beautiful places, visit friends and sites in the evening. Overall, taking care of the disabled mind and body #pressuresores #anxiety ——while taking care of the baseline Quinn mind and body, I work more productively. 📷 @alltoothbob #reasonableaccommodation #disabilityawareness #climbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #sports #wilderness
Never before in history have people with disabilities had access to the outdoors like we do today. It’s so new that we are often the first to ever explore our public lands with significant mobility disabilities. That in itself is worth a heavy dose of gratitude for all the people that came before us to create better technology, fought for our civil rights, and challenged society with the notion that we belong here as well.
Happy holidays to you all!!! ❤️ I finally got myself a gift that was much needed! New wheels!!!!!!!!!! 🦽 So stoked to get a new set of @spinergywheels —- and the best part is the ability to customize colors! I shifted from black rims to gold, yellow spokes to white and black hubs to silver. #bling If you are in need of new set—- you can use discount code: QUINN10 for 10% off Spinergy Wheels. 😊 #spinergyNation #wheelchairlife #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
Handicapped condition or conditioned that we are handicapped? #assumptions Systems. Big wall climbing is about systems. Feeling successful or reflective joy of the endeavor or process comes from overcoming, learning—-self-government. Spinal cord injury is a personal loss of power and control of an entire life —- fighting to live in a body system that is inaccessible and unaccommodating. While managing the first system you also have to adapt, mitigate, and learn external systems on the fly through a new lens. I am confounded how our societal system continuously disempowers people with disabilities. We all want autonomy and to feel empowered—- freedom of movement, choice to navigate the system, to be included as a valuable part of the system in the first place. Can we take an extra second in our day to be curious about those “different” than us? #whatsyourdawnwall 😬 PS-“handicap” is an outdated term. Disabled and accessible. ✔️ eg. accessible parking spot. Not handicap parking spot. Image description: brown haired woman wearing a grey climbing helmet and surrounded by climbing ropes and gear. A red cliff spans the background. . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
The other side of my trip to Spain. #uti fun and #spinalcordinjurylife I was pissing myself most days, near the end needing to URGENTLY elbow my way to a bathroom, a kind-of-private street corner or wherever really and catheter—- trying to beat the uncontrollable fluid from soaking me and the chair I sit in all day— #funtimes #publicrelations I travel with antibiotics just in case but haven’t used them in years. I also did bring some @pullups but not enough of them, hence the rotation of my mildly absorbant @thinx underwear. Either way. The hand-cycling and stage talking were not gonna stop 🙌🏽 #urineeurope . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
Pair of ‘plegics coordinating halves. . . . Can we ever really “do it ourselves?” Community—life lessons and perspective—- in great part due to this injury continue to implore the value of community. . . Post traumatic growth. My buddy Jason @js_rolling and I have come a long way since our @craighospital days five years ago. Our friendship, our collaboration on spinal cord injury research with @u2fp, love for playing outdoors, playing music and listening to his wife and children’s beautiful voices as they contribute to the setting. . . . Clarifying goals, redefining capabilities, and discovering stronger-accountable bonds. #community . . . Just a gratitude note. To a friend and his family, a pillar I leaned on in the infancy of this “new life” of mine. And can still lean on when the times sink low. Also that we can bring each other up —beyond okay to fun, weird, hilarious. #pairofplegics . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
First time back to Europe in a long while. I was very anxious about a lot of things. #wheelchairlife One being—- my head and hearts need for exercise/outdoor time. My silly way of “earning the wine and cheese” #bellyfulloffood #bellyinflation I didn’t want to just see the sites from afar, I want to get in and around. #immersiveexperience Mostly I want to participate with my friends. #bellyfulloflove #sharecoffeeshareideas Bringing my hand-cycle was a point of anxiety. Should I? What a hassle I am. How would it fare the airlines, the airline staff? Soooooooo glad I brought it—- so much easier, enjoyable to get around in the outdoors. #accessibletravel #spinalcordinjury #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability #spain
I had a non-committal New Year’s idea in 2022 to do some water color painting. After dabbling with mom over Christmas ornaments last year, I arrived at painting little cards and writing a letter of appreciation to a friend. AND actually sending it #whyisthatpartsodifficult ? My goal was to do one a month close enough with 10. It’s been fun painting and sharing notes to my special people. I hope to continue because it’s been a fun little hobby —#improvementdesired and so many more love notes and people I appreciate 💕 #love #appreciation #heartofgratitude #happynewyear #watercolorpainting #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
I had a non-committal New Year’s idea in 2022 to do some water color painting. After dabbling with mom over Christmas ornaments last year, I arrived at painting little cards and writing a letter of appreciation to a friend. AND actually sending it #whyisthatpartsodifficult ? My goal was to do one a month close enough with 10. It’s been fun painting and sharing notes to my special people. I hope to continue because it’s been a fun little hobby —#improvementdesired and so many more love notes and people I appreciate 💕 #love #appreciation #heartofgratitude #happynewyear #watercolorpainting #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
I had a non-committal New Year’s idea in 2022 to do some water color painting. After dabbling with mom over Christmas ornaments last year, I arrived at painting little cards and writing a letter of appreciation to a friend. AND actually sending it #whyisthatpartsodifficult ? My goal was to do one a month close enough with 10. It’s been fun painting and sharing notes to my special people. I hope to continue because it’s been a fun little hobby —#improvementdesired and so many more love notes and people I appreciate 💕 #love #appreciation #heartofgratitude #happynewyear #watercolorpainting #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
I had a non-committal New Year’s idea in 2022 to do some water color painting. After dabbling with mom over Christmas ornaments last year, I arrived at painting little cards and writing a letter of appreciation to a friend. AND actually sending it #whyisthatpartsodifficult ? My goal was to do one a month close enough with 10. It’s been fun painting and sharing notes to my special people. I hope to continue because it’s been a fun little hobby —#improvementdesired and so many more love notes and people I appreciate 💕 #love #appreciation #heartofgratitude #happynewyear #watercolorpainting #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
I had a non-committal New Year’s idea in 2022 to do some water color painting. After dabbling with mom over Christmas ornaments last year, I arrived at painting little cards and writing a letter of appreciation to a friend. AND actually sending it #whyisthatpartsodifficult ? My goal was to do one a month close enough with 10. It’s been fun painting and sharing notes to my special people. I hope to continue because it’s been a fun little hobby —#improvementdesired and so many more love notes and people I appreciate 💕 #love #appreciation #heartofgratitude #happynewyear #watercolorpainting #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
I had a non-committal New Year’s idea in 2022 to do some water color painting. After dabbling with mom over Christmas ornaments last year, I arrived at painting little cards and writing a letter of appreciation to a friend. AND actually sending it #whyisthatpartsodifficult ? My goal was to do one a month close enough with 10. It’s been fun painting and sharing notes to my special people. I hope to continue because it’s been a fun little hobby —#improvementdesired and so many more love notes and people I appreciate 💕 #love #appreciation #heartofgratitude #happynewyear #watercolorpainting #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
I had a non-committal New Year’s idea in 2022 to do some water color painting. After dabbling with mom over Christmas ornaments last year, I arrived at painting little cards and writing a letter of appreciation to a friend. AND actually sending it #whyisthatpartsodifficult ? My goal was to do one a month close enough with 10. It’s been fun painting and sharing notes to my special people. I hope to continue because it’s been a fun little hobby —#improvementdesired and so many more love notes and people I appreciate 💕 #love #appreciation #heartofgratitude #happynewyear #watercolorpainting #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
I had a non-committal New Year’s idea in 2022 to do some water color painting. After dabbling with mom over Christmas ornaments last year, I arrived at painting little cards and writing a letter of appreciation to a friend. AND actually sending it #whyisthatpartsodifficult ? My goal was to do one a month close enough with 10. It’s been fun painting and sharing notes to my special people. I hope to continue because it’s been a fun little hobby —#improvementdesired and so many more love notes and people I appreciate 💕 #love #appreciation #heartofgratitude #happynewyear #watercolorpainting #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
I had a non-committal New Year’s idea in 2022 to do some water color painting. After dabbling with mom over Christmas ornaments last year, I arrived at painting little cards and writing a letter of appreciation to a friend. AND actually sending it #whyisthatpartsodifficult ? My goal was to do one a month close enough with 10. It’s been fun painting and sharing notes to my special people. I hope to continue because it’s been a fun little hobby —#improvementdesired and so many more love notes and people I appreciate 💕 #love #appreciation #heartofgratitude #happynewyear #watercolorpainting #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
If nature could talk, what would it say? “Spend more time on the water, in the water and you should be more concerned about water!” Crossing fingers for river 🤞🏼 for river permits. #river #friends #watersports #climatechange Image description: a male and a female sitting in camp chairs. A 3-wheeled hand-cycle is between them. A campfire in the foreground and yellow-brown cliffs are behind them. . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability #unitedbysummits
I have been meaning to share about the tour divide. —— I’ll write more later. It was such a journey it deserves many many words. Better, it deserves a gin 🍸, @stillwalkingandwaking singing, @js_rolling playing the guitar and shared time together. Internet isn’t that. For now. This summer we completed the route—3000 miles of circling our arms (or legs). We added the extension north and started in Jasper. Jason, fellow trike rider badass, and his family joined the journey. Different temps (🥶). Even more stunning scenery 🏔, shenanigans, love, joy, frustrations and laughter. #lucky for the friendships and the experience and seeing my good friends across the border that I have missed for years! #fkt-funnestknowntime Also #gratitude that #handcycling is a thing ——. 😍🥰🤟🏼 . . . . #tourdivide #paraathlete #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
Lovely early season ride of independence pass with @perpetualweekend A little snow, sleet and pouring rain at the end to boot!!!!! #wecantfeelourfingers #cantfeelmylegs and that’s not just our #spinalcordinjury talking. 🥶 #handcycle #handcycling #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #roadbikelife #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
Remember those Tropicana commercials? It was 1989. Look it up you youngsters!! I have to use catheters to pee. Insurance doles out 200/mo. That’s an average of 6 pees a day. #peerestricted #medicaljail. I like to hand-cycle, swim and go out for drinks with friends. In planning the first hand-cycle of the #tourdivide Mountain Bike Route, I had to advocate for months between doctors and insurance to increase my allowed number of pee sticks to 300/month. The adventure averaged 100 miles a day, to keep hydrated I certainly needed to drink more water, in turn peeing more! I joke about recycling’ catheters because I am frustrated with creating more waste. I am also frustrated at the state of scientific research and how society perceives a “cure” to be an impossible-pie-in-the-sky. Click bait headlines do not help the cause, “paralyzed man walking after stem cells.” He did not go from my unresponsive legs to walking, he went from crappy walking to better walking— more important better balance, increasing standing opportunities which in turn reduce sitting, pressure sores, and overall improve secondary issues of SCI that affect our quality of life and longevity. It is important to advocate objectively about research, the science because those of us with a spinal cord injury would like to voluntarily use our bladders, strengthen our hand grasp, feel a sandy beach with our toes, and maybe even just stand up! Sure, I would love to sprint up a mountain again, like the good old days. I would also really enjoy a small shift in my day-to-day existence. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle?♻️. #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability #catheter #climatechange #recycle ID- oranges rolling around in various settings, hands attempting to stab a straw into the orange. Finally a woman succeeds and sips out of the straw, which is not a straw it is a catheter. 👌
A lovely birthday/turkey week in @bigbendnps canoeing and kayaking with a dear group of friends on the Rio Grande. It was rad river, family, adventure, canyoneering shenanigans with delicious food and deserts! . . We plopped my @reactiveadaptations hand cycle on a canoe (thanks river rangers for the oversized canoe) and off we went for 4 days. The weather held —was glorious—until our last day, exited in a downpour. Rest day from the water had us exploring El Guero, a slot canyon with a few obstacles that the trike fit under, a few it needed heaving over and Quinn mantle with a leg navigating buddy or a full technical piggybacks (thanks Audrey and Jordan). . . . The trike for the campsites was the mobile device of choice due to its rock crawling, sand maneuvering skills. Also gets me out of the fully sitting position that I am in on the water. #canoe #kayaking #adaptivewildernesssports #gratitude . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #diving #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #science #sports #wilderness #disability
