On March 26-28, 2014 nine Jaywalker MIOP clients, 1-Alumni and 1-staff traveled to Moab, UT for 3-days of fellowship, golf, hiking, bowling, and skydiving. This was an opportunity to get away from the routine of work and treatment in the Roaring Fork Valley and to play together in one of the most beautiful places in the western United States. Wednesday afternoon was shopping, fellowship and a wonderful steak dinner prepared mostly by Richard S. Who knew he could cook and grill with such aplomb. After dinner it was off to the local bowling alley for some serious competition. Thursday dawned windy and cool and everyone was up and planning the day. Tee times were made for six of us and five of us headed off to the Canyonlands National Park for some hiking. We all came back together at the Condos in late afternoon and headed into town for a pizza dinner at Zaks. After dinner more bowling was on the agenda. Friday morning dawned bluebird clear and cool. We arrived at the Moab airport at 8:00 am and began the process of signing 9- pages of waivers prior to some instruction on how to jump out of a perfectly good airplane attached to an instructor. And then, two at a time, we started to jump. The ride up to jump altitude takes about 20 minutes and we are flying over an incredible landscape including the town of Moab. At approximately 15,000 feet, the door opens and the rush of cold air brings one to complete attention. If you haven’t jumped before, there is no frame of reference for what you are about to do. Quickly we move into place with feet hanging out the door. Then, a back flip, and you’re watching the plane fly away. Within seconds, you are traveling at 120 mph and for a half-minute or so the rush is loud and incredible. At 5000 feet the parachute is deployed and suddenly with a slight jolt, you are now floating in near silence with just the sound of your own voice saying over and over “holy s..t”. Nine men made their first jump that Friday morning and it provided them with a significant metaphor for trust and the importance relying on others for physical safety and moral support when needed. All returned to the Valley a bit closer for having shared this experience.
With gratitude,
Lenny Beaulieu, M.Ed., CAC III
Director, Outpatient Services
Jaywalker Lodge
