9 results for author: Paul Ronto

Does it hurt? Yes. Am I in Pain? Yes.

No Barriers exists to help people grow. We use mountains and outdoor adventure travel as a metaphor for life. When the going gets tough, what you do next dictates who you are and how you'll be a part of your own future. Through transformative experiences, tools and inspiration, our goal is to help people embark on a quest to contribute their absolute best to the world. Warriors to Summits is taking 11 brave men and women into the heart of the Wyoming Rockies this September, to not only explore a remote part of the world, but to show them that what's within them is stronger than what's in their way. Team Gannett Peak participant, Jim Stanek Jr. ...

The Path to Gannett Peak

The men and women of Team Gannett Peak have come a long way from where they all were four months ago, when the 2015 Warriors to Summits expedition started. But instead of us telling you about their transformation, we'd like you to hear it from them. “I know now that the the path I'm on is the right one. Giving back service to my fellow Veterans is clear to me now. Being with such positive people has gotten me past my first barrier. Because of such negativity here at home I almost lost who I am. Now I'm back full on! I have goals and a plan.” -- Paul Smith “The first two trainings have taught me discipline in exercise, eating and what I say ...

Teamwork

Being part of the 2015 Warriors to Summits expedition is hard. This is by no means just another leisurely stroll through the rolling hills of the west. It’s taken the team up mountains, over rivers, through valleys and opened their eyes and hearts to the possibilities of the future. Now four months into this journey, the men and women of Team Gannett Peak have sweated, cursed and powered their way through three official trainings, shed countless calories and pounds, taped up endless blisters and have created friends and memories that will last a lifetime. There’s less than a month to go until the team attempts to face off with the 13,804 foot ...

The True Meaning of a Gladiator

We had the pleasure of having Team Gannett Peak at the 2015 No Barriers Summit, held in Park City, Utah this past weekend. We were able to catch up with 2015 Warriors to Summits participant, Mark Yearsley, to understand a bit more about the meaning behind the tattoo that he proudly bears on the back of his neck. "A gladiator will not give up or quit at the last resort - they'll never quit. I took that concept and applied that to my life, and to this Summit as well."

Top 10 Last Minute Packing Tips from an Outdoor Expedition Leader

Does the idea of packing for your next trip make you feel like a lactose intolerant kid perusing the options at Baskin Robbins? Are you the type to pack and unpack, over and over, mulling over every little detail or weighty ounce? Too many choices, and they are all going to make your stomach hurt. Fear not fellow adventurers, by now you probably have a pretty good idea of what to bring, but No Barriers’ Expedition Leader, Program Manager and local pre-trip planning expert, Nick Colgin wants to share his tried and true Top 10 list of what to leave at home:   1. A Watermelon. In Gallagher-esque fashion, we have had past partici...

It’ll cost me some cash and a pizza… I call that a win!

In early May we had a chance to catch up with Stevi Gelinas, a 2014 Warriors to Summits Mission Mt. Whitney participant, about buying her first home. We wanted to know about her experience since purchasing a home is a goal for many of us out there. Although the process was long, and at times stressful, she finally closed on her new house and couldn’t be more excited about how her future is shaping up. Stevi has proved that it’s possible to be in control of your future if you’re willing to take a little risk, and a little time, to go through the process. Here’s what she had to say about becoming a new homeowner: How did you come ...

I Took A Chance Because The Drugs Weren’t Working

A terrible accident happened while Major Diggs Brown was deployed in Afghanistan. It was late 2002, and a group of four local children, who the Army was helping to teach, were killed. The event has had long-lasting effects for Diggs. “There was nothing that could be done; it just happened. That’s been my albatross around my neck ever since,” he said. He’s referring, of course, to the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” The albatross is a metaphor for a burden to be carried as penance for things that have happened in our past. For things we aren’t wholly responsible for but ultimately feel ...

The Chute Didn’t Open

You’re perched at the door of a perfectly good aircraft, preparing to jump. Your feet sweat, your heart pumps like a diesel engine, everything slows down. You jump. That feeling of weightlessness creeps up. You can’t help but smile. You finally understand why others try this. The thought pops into your head, “What is the worst that can happen?” Then it does. Your parachute doesn't open. You pull your reserve, but it gets tangled in the main chute. You spiral towards the Earth. Everything goes black. A nightmare for most of us. But a reality for Steven Troop. Steve joined the service to become an elite Airborne Ranger. ...

You Just Want to Crawl into a Hole

The explosion ripped into his right leg and the concussion severely impacted his brain. Keith’s deployment to Iraq was over. He found himself headed home to start the next phase of his life. One very different than he was used to. For years, Keith struggled through painful rehab to find himself again. By the spring of 2014, he had built up the courage to do something meaningful. What that might be was still a mystery to him. Then Warriors to Summits popped up on his Facebook feed. He applied. “I really struggle with getting out of my comfort zone and trying to interact with people, applying really put me out there,” Keith ...