Warriors experience a Montana winter

When soldiers from the Wounded Warrior Project made it to the top of Big Mountain last week via a ride in a groomer they were treated to vast views of snow-capped mountains and the valley below.

One of those warriors, Caleb Perkins, recalled the moment with a smile on his face.

“We went all the way to the top,” he said. “You could see the entire bowl and lake — it was breathtaking.”

The moment was one of many memories the warriors and families will take away after spending several days in the Flathead Valley last week. In its fifth year in Whitefish, the Wounded Warrior Project brought eight warriors along with their caregivers here to experience a Montana winter. Over the course of several days, the warriors skied and snowboarded at Whitefish Mountain Resort, went on a snowshoe tour, snowmobiling, ate at a number of restaurants and made an appearance in the Whitefish Winter Carnival parade.

Last Friday morning, the warriors and family members headed out on the slopes. Many had never skied before the trip, but were quickly learning to enjoy it.

Perkins serves with the U.S. Army and has completed several combat rotations, last serving in Afghanistan. This may have been his first time skiing, but by the second day he joked about being an old pro and said he was enthusiastic about getting out on the mountain again.

“I like to learn new skills,” he said. “I’ll learn everything I can.”

The previous night the warriors attended a dinner at Iron Horse Clubhouse where the Winter Carnival Royalty made an appearance and knighted the warriors honoring them for their service.

Perkins said the night was a lot of fun.

“I said now everyone has to call me ‘sir,’” he said with a laugh. “That was really cool. This community is so welcoming.”

Jay Redman, a member of the U.S. Navy SEALs, came with his wife and children. For him, having his family along made the trip.

“Getting to do this as a family is the big thing because I’ve been gone so much,” he said. “The kids are having a blast. This is a great family activity.”

Laura Schroader came with her husband Scott, who has been deployed multiple times to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He lost both of his legs above the knee and suffered damage to his right arm during an explosion in 2010.

“We’re having a blast,” Laura said. “This has been really good.”

Laura said volunteers took two hours the first day helping her husband figure out a way to snowboard with his prosthetic legs. By the second day he was off to the slopes within a matter of minutes.

From their arrival being greeted at the airport by the Patriot Guard from Polson to spending the day skiing, Laura said the community has welcomed them.

The bonds between the fellow warriors, caregivers and volunteers was apparent after just a few days together.

Laura said while they might not know each other it was easy to overcome the awkwardness of being with new people.

“We’re all here for the common good of the soldiers,” she said.

Volunteer ski instructor Kelly Bort likes working with spouses and teaching them to ski. Her father served in the military, and as a child who attended 17 different schools in 12 years, she can relate.

“Their life — that’s my life too,” she said. “It’s an honor to serve these men and women.”

Kim and Jan Richards serve as ski buddies, skiing along side participants so they aren’t by themselves. They’ve been volunteering since the program began and have witnessed first-hand the impact the trip can make for the warriors.

“One of the warriors said it was the best time he’d ever had in his whole life,” Jan said.

Kim recalled another warrior’s comments after having spent the day skiing.

“He dreamed about skiing and not about the war or being injured,” he said.