Rolling With It: ATVer Doesn't Let Spinal Injury Slow Him Down
by Tanya Laing Moore.jpg)
A positive attitude and a modified quad allow Robert McKeeman to continue to enjoy the outdoor activities he loves.Photo by Ed Jaatteenmaki
With the aid of a modified quad, McKeeman is able to ramble along many of the same trails he enjoyed before his accident—alone or in the company of friends or his children.
"I've always enjoyed the outdoors," said McKeeman, "hiking, hunting and trapping—I still have my own trapline and I still look after that.
"It's not the same, but the quad allows me that access into areas to go touring around and hunting. It gives me a lot more opportunity to get out and about."
McKeeman's BRP Traxter has taken him all around the ATV-accessible areas near Golden and beyond. He had his machine modified to allow him to transfer in and out without assistance. Motor Tech Enterprises in Golden welded an aluminum roll bar onto the quad. An adjustable seatback and seatbelt were installed for comfort and security, since McKeeman's trunk stability was compromised as a result of his injury. Rails to keep his feet securely in place were added to the modifications after an accident a few years ago.
"I broke my leg," McKeeman said with a chuckle. "It wasn't serious—a spiral fracture in a small bone by my ankle. It just happened so quickly; I was touring down a little skid trail, bouncing along, and my foot fell out and I didn't notice. It connected with a stump—it didn't like that too much. I heard this thing crack and crunch and thought, 'boy, that can't be good.'"
The incident served as a reminder to him that he needed to be aware of the risks of being in the backcountry alone, but he hasn't let it stop him. He ensures that he takes proper precautions: he lets others know where he is going and always takes a cellphone and VHF radio.
"I've been lucky so far," said McKeeman. "I haven't gotten stuck out there, but I bring supplies with me just in case."
McKeeman's ATVing adventures include a memorable outing two years ago when he bagged a bull elk.
"Since my accident, I've really enjoyed the challenge of elk hunting," he said. "I've been out and I've seen elk, but it's a lot more difficult (when you haven't got the use of your legs). It's hard even when you're able-bodied. I got a permit to hunt up behind Canal Flats. I got set up on a slide and called out my bull elk."
McKeeman is grateful that ATVing allows him to continue living the outdoor lifestyle and get into the remote areas that he enjoys.
"It's nice to have the opportunity to get out and jump on my quad and still be able to do what I love," he said.
—Republished with permission from RidersWest magazine, early spring of 2007. For questions or comments on this article, or to obtain a subscription from RidersWest, visit them online at (http://www.RidersWestMag.com).