Operation High Altitude
Wounded Warriors Come for Winter and Stay for Summer!
June 2-6, 2008

Joe Serino climbs in June Lake with help from Neil Satterfield
of Sierra Mountain Guides - Nick Souza Photo

Incredible attitudes rivaled the high altitude at the latest Disabled Sports Wounded Warrior Project event. At the urging of last winter’s Wounded Warriors, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra took their show on the road and outside for the first-ever campout with our heroes from the Balboa Naval Medical Hospital.

Chris Larkin works hard to master his first real rock face
Nick Souza Photo

Returning snowboarder, Josh Hooker, brought up six other warriors to show them the beautiful Sierra. All of the participants shared some striking similarities; they were all from the Army and all amazing athletes. They set up camp, tackled every challenge presented to them, and didn’t even moan when a wind storm came howling through on Tuesday night. This was a special group, and many of them are excited about skiing and snowboarding in Mammoth next February!

Volunteer, Amanda Linson, assists Carlos Hafenmartinez on Crowley Lake - Nick Souza Photo

As usual, individuals and businesses teamed with DSES to make this event possible. Special thanks to: DSES Volunteers, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Neubauer-Jennison and McGee Creek Campground, Tom at McGee Creek Inn, Caldera Kayaks, Sierra Mountain Guides, The Breakfast Club, Mammoth Lakes Fire Dept., Silver Lake Resort and Café, Red’s Hot Dogs, Pita Pit, VONS, Stellar Brew, Looney Bean, Starbucks, Eastern Sierra Transit Authority and Brian the bus driver, Suzanne Nottingham and LEKI, Bishop Nursery, Mammoth Disposal, Mammoth Brewing Co., The Knoches, The Currys, The Dallases, The Sages, Karilyn Myers, and Maggie Palchak.

Laurel welcomes Livier (fiancé of Wounded Warrior
Jesse De La Cruz) to camp

Extraordinary volunteers and camp hosts, Jennifer and Ken
Roberts, pose with their dogs Bruno and Lucy

Roger O’Donnell of Red’s Hot Dogs treats the Wounded Warriors and DSES volunteers to lunch at Shady Rest Park

DSES climbing volunteers mug for the camera after an awesome day at June Lake

Pete Watercott and friend, Neil, make music with the Wounded Warriors at the last night’s “Hootenanny” at McGee Creek

Joe and Maria Serino take in the beauty of the Eastern Sierra
with the help of LEKI trekking poles - Nick Souza Photo