Before the accident, he loved to hunt, fish, hike, watch wildlife, target shoot and camp.
But in the last six months, he has questioned whether it would even be possible to do any of those outdoor activities ever again without being able to use his legs to walk.
You see, my son-in-law, Tyler Nichols, of Omaha, NE, while serving with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, was involved in a horrific motor vehicle accident on Father’s Day, June 19, 2016. The accident nearly costed him his life and left with him with a traumatic spinal cord injury.
But now, thanks to an all-terrain wheelchair provided generously by the Friends in Service of Heroes (F.I.S.H.) organization, Tyler is one of a growing number of physically-challenged veterans and people with disabilities who are going to get back to doing what they have passionately enjoyed outdoors.
From Left to Right, a member of F.I.S.H., Tyler and Staff Sgt. Michael Horn pose for a photo with the all-terrain, off-road, electric wheelchair. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Credit for obtaining the wheelchair is due to many.
It began with U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Horn of Fort Riley, KS. He was contacted by F.I.S.H. President, Paul Chapa, and told him about Tyler. F.I.S.H. fundraising efforts for Tyler’s chair were initiated and successfully completed, thanks to longtime broadcaster/podcaster and Kansas City, MO radio personality, Rob Carson. Arrangements were then finalized with Paul and his organization for my son-in-law to receive the chair. The Vietnam Veterans of America graciously offered their meeting hall in Kansas City, MO to host a ceremony on Monday, December 19 where F.I.S.H. presented two of these specialized electric wheelchairs to disabled veterans — one to Tyler and another to a Vietnam Veteran.
F.I.S.H. organization president, Paul Chapa, speaks to the crowd during the presentation of the specialized wheelchairs to Tyler and the other disabled veteran. Podcaster/radio personality, Rob Carson, is shooting video to the right. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.The reveal of the chairs is completed with the proper folding of the American flag by a Vietnam Veterans of America representative and U. S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Horn. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Elated, Tyler closely inspects his all terrain Action Trackchair after the reveal. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
The chair. The chair is really something. It’s quite impressive.
A side view of the Action Trackchair. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Resembling a miniature army tank, this electric wheelchair can travel nearly anywhere off road — through mud, snow, sand, gravel, tilled corn fields, woody debris, leaf matter, taller grass and in shallow water. With its high-torque motor, this mean machine can even go up and down hills, no problem!
The innovative Action Trackchair, designed and manufactured by Action Manufacturing of Marshall, MN, combines features of snowmobiles and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) with electric wheelchair components. The tracks (or treads) used are similar in design and quality to snowmobile tracks.
The wheelchair is controlled by a joystick. It has the capability to move at speeds of up to 3-4 mph. Two batteries on the chair allow for a variable range of up 10 miles. The chair can be tilted to maintain proper balance on uneven terrain.
One of the biggest fears people with disabilities have in their standard wheelchairs have is falling out of them. This chair though comes equipped with a tilt so when motoring up and down hills, the person can maintain their balance because the chair remains level.
The electric off-road wheelchair can be adjusted comfortably to fit any individual. Accessories such as a fishing rod holder and gun mount have been added to the chair. Headlights are affixed to it. A spacious tote bag is attached to it. And, a vehicle carrier is supplied for it.
The chair loaded on its carrier on the back of a pick up truck works with any hitch package. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Blending in to virtually any landscape or habitat type during a hunt with this quiet, mechanized unit is not a problem either. The chair comes with a black and camouflaged paint job!
The ability to head off-road in one of these high-tech, adaptive chair is a tremendous holiday gift for Tyler. He is eternally grateful for the unique, custom-made chair that has been given to him! “I am so thankful to F.I.S.H., Paul Chapa, Rob Carson, Sgt. Horn, the Vietnam Vets and everyone else who helped make it possible for me to get this chair so I can eventually get outside to hunt and fish,” he said.
Tyler is continuing his therapy, and in the near future the Action Trackchair will allow him to return to doing what he loves most — hunting and fishing, according to his wife, my daughter, Emma Wagner-Nichols.
“For Tyler, this special wheelchair will turn his disability into an ability, and it will mean the difference from just attending an outdoor activity or function to being fully involved in one.” she said.
“It’s going to make a huge difference and enable him to get more independence back in his life.”
If you have spent anytime in the great out-of-doors, you should have a skunk story or three. If you do not, well, you need to spend more time outdoors. I can think of several. How to arrange...
Wagon Train, Willow Creek lakes remain on health alert
LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, remains in effect for Wagon Train Lake in Lancaster County and Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce...
Game and Parks to host virtual pre-K program entitled Nature Tails
LINCOLN, Neb. – Nature Tails, a virtual six-week series for pre-K children and their parents and caregivers, will be hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission every Tuesday starting Sept....
LINCOLN, Neb. – Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can discover the outdoors by participating in the second annual Nebraska Fish Art Contest. The 2021 contest, which is sponsored by the...
Keep tree stand safety in mind during your deer hunt
LINCOLN, Neb. – As you enjoy fall hunting season, it’s important to keep tree stand safety in mind. Accidents in the field can be prevented with careful planning. The Nebraska Game and Parks...
In case you missed the memo. This coming Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing Day. I know you are probably as tired as I am of politicians and bureaucrats telling you what to do, but the...
The days are getting shorter. The morning air is becoming crisper. Nature’s color show is just starting. The forest floor is beginning to be saturated with early autumn leaf matter as well as...
LINCOLN, Neb. — Branched Oak State Recreation Area will host its annual Spooktacular event with a few modifications this year due to the novel coronavirus and local health recommendations. Middle...
By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission LINCOLN, Neb. — A rainbow trout is as beautiful as its namesake, no matter where it appears. But come mid-October, this fish will be swimming in...
One of the frustrations of fish identification is that different fish are called a variety of common names. Sometimes it depends on who you ask. That may not be a problem unless you are a...
Health alert issued for Bluestem; three other Game and Parks lakes remain on alert
LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, has been issued for Bluestem Lake in Lancaster County. The alert remains in effect for Pawnee and...
Gotchya! Not what you thought it was going to be, was it? Ha. Believe me, even when the temperatures were a hundred degrees a week or two ago, my phone was ringing with questions about fall trout...
LINCOLN, Neb. – Schramm Education Center in Gretna will be closed Sept. 22 during construction on the parking lot. Visitors can still access Schramm Park State Recreation Area, located directly...
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. – The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, in conjunction with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, is hosting a series of live virtual bird banding programs on Tuesdays through...
Nebraska Game and Parks to offer interactive online hunting workshops
LINCOLN, Neb. – Unravel the mystery and excitement of hunting by joining Nebraska Game and Parks educators for online Hunting Happy Hour workshops. Starting Sept. 22, these interactive Zoom-based...
ALLIANCE, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission credits the outstanding work of volunteer fire departments and other responders in limiting damage from two Panhandle wildfires in late...
Wildlife officials observing effects from wildfires
McGREW, Neb. – Wildlife managers in the Nebraska Panhandle say the full effects of the region’s wildfires during the final days of August largely will be determined by what Mother Nature does in...
It was a lesson learned. Unfortunately, like many things in life, it was learned the hard way. It was a beautiful fall evening. From what I could see, it looked like there should be a fish or...
Double, double toil and trouble … It’s the Halloween season and a witch’s brew is not complete without a moist, edible fall mushroom or two, right? Just kidding. But, guess what? We have an array...
Explore creativity with Schramm Education Center Outdoor Studio series
LINCOLN, Neb. — Schramm Education Center is hosting an Outdoor Studio series at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays that explores creative ways to record nature observations on paper. The one-hour sessions,...
