My Nonprofit Reviews

My ski journey has been filled with excitement, friendship, challenges and a lifelong passion for carving turns; floating in fresh snow and hanging with family/friends in some of the most breathing-taking places one can only imagine.

The feeling of accomplishment after looking back up the slope and seeing freshly carved tracks in the snow that led to where I am standing was further amplified since a helicopter had dropped us off at the top of that peak. The smiles I shared with my family/friends who were part of this is a lifelong memory.

This passion was interrupted 25 years ago with the onset of neurological issues that prevented me from many activities including skiing. My winters became barren and void of that connection that was an integral part of my soul.

All this changed in January 2024 when my 32-year-old son John was in my office looking at ski pictures of trips to Vail, Tahoe, Sun Valley, Snowbird, Alta, Mt Bachelor, Mammoth and Heli Skiing. He mentioned those pictures were an inspiration and he too had begun his ski journey, however, it would not be complete without skiing with his parents. Tears instantly flowed down my cheeks. After a while, when I regained my composure, I decided we would ski together next winter. With this as a backdrop, I contacted Achieve Tahoe and explained my limitations. I was accepted with open hearts and volumes of encouragement. A month later I was skiing with two Achieve Tahoe ski instructors at NorthStar. The first run we took was quite a challenge. Coupled with their compassion, I was determined to reacquaint myself with a part of my soul that had been dormant for many years. Surrounded by two Angels, we adjusted our expectations and pushed ahead. At the end of the day, I could not contain my excitement and tears again flowed freely. This time they were tears of joy and a new found awareness for what lay ahead.

Today, August 28, 2024 I purchased an Adaptive Ski Pass. Thank you Achieve Tahoe for guiding me along this new journey.

With gratitude,

Stephen A. Stanley