Good news travels fast.
AdvenChair Sells First Shipment of All-Terrain Wheelchairs; Rolls Out Free Demo Rides on Local Trails
A state that is known for extraordinary sightings in the wilderness, is about to have quite a few more. But rather than catching a fleeting glimpse of a large apelike creature, local hikers can expect to get a good look at an agile, bright orange, all-terrain wheelchair — known in these parts as AdvenChair.
AdvenChair off road hiking chair by the Deschutes River in Oregon
A state that is known for extraordinary sightings in the wilderness, is about to have quite a few more. But rather than catching a fleeting glimpse of a large apelike creature, local hikers can expect to get a good look at an agile, bright orange, all-terrain wheelchair — known in these parts as AdvenChair.
AdvenChair is the missing link that allows people with mobility challenges to go off the beaten path with family and friends. It combines mountain bike parts with a three-wheeled ergonomic design, an adjustable seat, disc brakes, and multiple straps and contact points for navigating rugged trails and unstable terrain.
“At the beginning of last month, there was only one AdvenChair roaming the Cascade trails,” said AdvenChairman CEO Geoff Babb, who devised the souped-up wheelchair as a way to keep exploring the wilderness after surviving two brain-stem strokes. “Now we’ve got a whole fleet of them out there.”
AdvenChair has just completed its first production run of ten chairs. Six of them are on their way to families and groups for team-oriented outdoor adventures in various parts of the world. Two will be used for free demonstration rides and rentals this summer, giving Central Oregonians and visitors unique opportunities to experience the wild in an incredibly rugged and nimble all-terrain wheelchair. And that leaves just two AdvenChairs remaining for sale.
For starters, AdvenChair is collaborating with Cog Wild and LOGE Camp Bend to host a series of free Demo Days. Located on Century Drive on the far west side of Bend, LOGE Camp has its own Mountain Bike Skills Course meandering around the perimeter of the property.
“The variety of rock gardens, tight turns, and ramps makes it the ideal proving ground for AdvenChair riders and family members,” said Jack Arnold, AdvenChair’s chief designer. “Better yet, from the LOGE Camp’s setting, we can take a short hike on the adjacent Rimrock trail system, which offers a rewarding real-world experience.”
AdvenChair’s Demo Days are scheduled on three different Saturdays — August 7, September 11, and October 9. Groups can sign up for one of four 90-minute sessions scheduled throughout each day, all of which meet at Cog Wild’s outdoor headquarters in the southeast corner of the LOGE Camp property.
For those wanting a longer excursion after the demo, AdvenChair will be available for rent on each of the following Sundays — August 8, September 12, and October 10 — at just $75 for a half-day (four hours).
Also this summer, AdvenChair is available for free hikes through Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS) Community Hiking Days. On alternating Tuesdays, members of the OAS team are guiding outings on some of Central Oregon’s favorite trails, including the Deschutes River Trail and Shevlin Park. Hikes are scheduled for July 27, August 10 and August 24, departing at 8am and returning at around 2pm. For more information and registration, visit oregonadaptivesports.org.
On top of all that, AdvenChair can also be seen at SOAR 2021, Destination Rehab’s special all-day event at the Bend Pavilion, Saturday, July 31 starting at 9 am. It’s designed to benefit individuals who have conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson’s disease.
Another reason for AdvenChair’s increased visibility this year is an upcoming feature on one of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s signature programs: Oregon Field Guide. A crew from OPB visited Bend for interviews with Geoff Babb and other AdvenChair team members in mid-June, while the fleet of chairs was being assembled. They will be returning on August 2 for an extended hike at Smith Rock State Park that will become the focus of a seven-minute segment that can be seen during Oregon Field Guide’s 2021 fall season.
“We couldn’t be more excited by the progress we’re making and the exposure we’re receiving,” said Babb. “We definitely had to make some adjustments to our business plan during the pandemic, as most businesses did. But people are craving health and rejuvenation in wild places more than ever. And we are ready to help them get there.”
Just two AdvenChairs are still available for immediate purchase.
About AdvenChair:
AdvenChair is an all-terrain wheelchair designed for people with mobility challenges who want to venture off the beaten path and experience the grandeur of the wilderness. It is the brainchild of Geoff Babb, a fire ecologist and avid outdoorsman from Bend, Oregon, who loved to ski, mountain bike, and backpack with his wife and twin boys until a near-fatal brain stem stroke on November 10, 2005, forced him to use a wheelchair.
While the stroke forever changed his ability to move, Babb soon discovered that the biggest obstacle to experiencing a simple outing on local trails with his family again was not so much his body, but the frailties of common wheelchairs. Rather than lobbying for wheelchair-accessible wilderness trails, Babb chose to develop a wheelchair capable of adapting to the trails, and the AdvenChair was born.
On November 10, 2017, exactly 12 years to the day after his stroke, Babb survived a second brain stem stroke, which was a major setback. Yet it made him more determined than ever to share his all-terrain chair with other people with limited mobility.
While developing the first AdvenChair, Babb also launched The Onward Project, LLC, to inspire, encourage and enable outdoor adventures for people of all abilities, and invites them to share their experiences and stories online.
Blogpost: The Chair
I just had a phenomenal weekend. I was able to go hiking, be in nature, and hang out by a river for the first time in 10+ years. How you might ask? Your power chair doesn’t go off-road and your manual chair doesn’t either. Well, the answer starts with God’s provision.
BY TEAM KAPEN
Featured on the KapenWrites blog
Robert Kapen by the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon in the AdvenChair all-terrain wheelchair
I just had a phenomenal weekend. I was able to go hiking, be in nature, and hang out by a river for the first time in 10+ years. How you might ask? Your power chair doesn’t go off-road and your manual chair doesn’t either. Well, the answer starts with God’s provision.
One week earlier… we were at church, serving, and we had free time before church started. Nelly leaned over to show me a new type of chair. I said, “cool” and that was the end of that. Then Nelly took my advice of “ just ask, you never know, the worst they can say is “no”.” Then she sent an email to the makers of the chair and they replied before church ended. This was the start of a two-week menagerie. Looking back I saw God’s hands through all of the plans. Starting with Nelly having to go to the northwest the coming week for work.
When Nelly reached out to the AdvenChair people, she explained that we were going to Machu Picchu in Peru. Tickets were paid, we just needed a chair. Our proposition was to cut us a break in the purchase and we will gladly give them promotion for the chair which included photos, videos, blogs, and reviews. The deal seemed mutual beneficial because they are a newer company, they have never been international with the chair, and Machu Picchu was on their list of places to try the chair. And we were new to going to Machu Picchu in a wheelchair, we didn’t know all of the options, and the tour companies for people in wheelchairs cost a pretty penny. The expenses kept adding up until financially it didn’t make sense. Ultimately we were thrilled to find this chair but initially there was hesitancy from both sides. With a couple zoom meetings over the course of a week, we had the skeleton of an agreement and we got to know them on a personal level. One question? How was I going to try the chair and see if it was a fit? I am in cali and they are in Oregon. Insert God’s helping hand.
The next Tuesday we flew to Tacoma, WA for Nelly’s work. Side note we stayed down the street from the glass blowing museum, we didn’t have time to go to it on this trip but having previously gone I highly recommend it. The first day was nice finally being able to put faces to the name’s Nelly always talks about. That night we stayed at the hotel because it was the MLB all-star game. The halos that played in the game had a couple of good plays and it was fun to watch. The next night we met up with an old roommate of Nelly’s and had the best Indian food that I’ve ever had. With a night of reminiscing and laughter we shut the place down and we had to lock-up when we left. lol! That Thursday we had yet another hang out with different friends from church who had recently moved. We met at a park and had fun catching up, eating, and taking a stroll around the lake with them and there kid. How many times do we make plans to see friends and family on trips but only seeing 1 of 4 groups? I truly believe that time in WA was God ordained. It just flowed so easily. Thank you Jesus that time was good for my soul.
Robert Kapen (middle) meets Geoff Babb (on right), originator of the AdvenChair
The next day we headed off to Bend, OR. The original blessings were the owners of the chair company were nice and genuine people. We had a hard time finding hotels and rentals cars, when they offered to give us a ride and graciously open up their house to us. The first night their was perfect weather so we ate dinner outside as we compared outlandish stories of our handicapped journey. They had to be true because you can’t make these stories up. We quickly realized the wives were similar and that the husband and I were oddly really similar. From our personalities, mannerisms due to the very similar type of stroke we had, to the meds we have taken. We ended the night early to get ready for the busy day we had the next and the real reason we were there, the hike with the wheelchair.
Debriefing on the LOGE Bend AdvenChair Demo Course
Waking up before the sun is not fun but it was necessary to get going so we wouldn’t be hiking during the hottest part of the day. Once we got to the trail head it was like I had a flashback of all the reasons I wanted to be a parks and rec major. I love nature! It was cool because the designer of the chair grew up in Torrance so we got to connect over that. My excitement only grew as he was breaking down the info of the chair. Next was the safety debriefing and a mapping out of the trail. Then we were off. Onward!
It was thrilling! But it didn’t meet mountain biking standards not because anything they did, but it was the unattainable expectations I had for myself and lack of mobility that made me not feel the mountain bike experience. This bike was awesome it was a close second to being on the trail again. With the right perspective I was able to really enjoy myself and really take everything in. I had a blast.
Robert Kapen on the AdvenChair Demo Course at the LOGE Bend
Robert Kapen tests out more terrain on the LOGE Bend AdvenChair Demo Course with Jack Arnold of the AdvenChair team
When we got home we had dinner with a member of the AdvenChair society. We again related over various similarities. It was just the perfect ending to the weekend.
Even though I had a grand time socializing and testing the chair. The reality is I still need help fundraising to purchase it. It’s a pretty nice piece of equipment and we need to put a sizable down payment before we go to Peru. Please prayerfully consider donating before AUG 5th to a great cause of allowing me to be in nature again and giving me all the old feels back. Go to https://gofund.me/201b3591 if you would like to help. And to get more info or get in contact with the chair company visit AdvenChair.com
My next step is Machu Picchu, so keep an ear out for updates.
Creating an AdvenChair for the Outdoors
After surviving two near-fatal strokes in the last 15 years, Geoff Babb is more determined than ever to enjoy the outdoors.
Babb and his team have developed the AdvenChair—a modified all-terrain wheelchair with bigger tires, high-grade aluminum components, and a design that enables a small team to guide a rider through steep terrain. Today, Babb is continuing to refine the design and hopes to attract investors so more people with disabilities can access and enjoy the outdoors beyond paved surfaces.
Published in Winter/Spring 2021 Issue
Your National Forests Magazine
AdvenChair off road hiking chair by the Deschutes River in Oregon
After surviving two near-fatal strokes in the last 15 years, Geoff Babb is more determined than ever to enjoy the outdoors.
Babb and his team have developed the AdvenChair—a modified wheelchair with bigger tires, high-grade aluminum components, and a design that enables a small team to guide a rider through steep terrain. Today, Babb is continuing to refine the design and hopes to attract investors so more people with disabilities can access and enjoy the outdoors beyond paved surfaces.
What inspired you to develop the AdvenChair?
After my first stroke in 2005, I realized that wheelchairs were not made for the outdoors and I wanted to be active. My family tried to take me outside in a standard wheelchair with little success. I wanted to help others have access to the outdoors like they otherwise would; that meant having a chair that could be easily pulled and pushed by others.
An excursion to Mathieu Lake with a crew of friends and supporters.
What modifications have you made to the AdvenChair during development?
Initially we envisioned a lightweight chair with a front wheel that could easily be stowed when indoors. However, we quickly realized, coming out of the parking lot actually, that the wheel was super light and bent almost immediately. We changed the wheel size and used a stronger frame.
After that modification, we also angled the wheels to provide more stability. Once we changed the wheel angle, we modified the seat so it could be wider as well.
What’s next for AdvenChair?
We hope to make a lightweight and “lighter duty” chair to be used in more urban settings or in the front country. We also hope it can be less expensive. We may also explore building a chair that incorporates fat tires for traveling on snow and sand. However, one important design criteria is that the chair needs to be less than 32 inches to fit through a door. Fat tires would make it too wide. Part of the whole design process is give and take: make it lighter, it won’t be durable; make it wider, it won’t easily go through doors.
What are other improvements in the industry that you hope to see in the future to make public lands and outdoor recreation more accessible for all?
I would like to see more durable chairs with wider tires that allow a team to be able to help you. Currently there are several off-road hand cycles that rely on people being able to propel themselves. Whereas the AdvenChair can be pushed and pulled by a team or family. Equipment like the AdvenChair enables families to continue to have shared experiences outdoors.
Photo by Pat Addabbo
A visit to Grand Canyon National Park in the original AdvenChair prototype.
What might surprise readers about your own outdoor experiences?
I ride a horse about once a week at the Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center. I’ve also been a downhill skier for ten years with Oregon Adaptive Sports where I like to ski at Mt. Bachelor on the Deschutes National Forest. I continue to participate on the boards of local organizations that enable users of all abilities to experience the outdoors.
What are some of your favorite National Forests to visit and explore?
I am surrounded by the Deschutes National Forest and near the Newberry National Volcanic Monument which we frequently explore. We have plans to hopefully visit the Willamette and Mt. Hood National Forests.
Not a National Forest, but the Grand Canyon provided an experience that inspired the current chair. The chair broke less than two miles onto the trail. That was the best thing that could have happened; it made us rethink our design and pushed us to use mountain bike parts for today’s successful model.
Geoff Babb is the creator of the AdvenChair and lives with his family in Bend, Oregon.
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Our Adventure with a Hiking Wheelchair in the Grand Canyon
When my father told me he wanted to take a family hiking trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, I’ll admit I thought he was out of his mind. A wheelchair user since a brainstem stroke in 2005, I knew he was itching for adventure, but this was something different. This would be a trek, an overnight, multi-day descent into one of the most inaccessible places on the planet. I now realize that was his point, but cut me some slack, I was young and short-sighted.
Descent into Smith Rock State Park via the Homestead Trail. Photo by SmithRock.com
BY EMORY BABB
When my father told me he wanted to take a family hiking trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, I’ll admit I thought he was out of his mind. A wheelchair user since a brainstem stroke in 2005, I knew he was itching for adventure, but this was something different. This would be a trek, an overnight, multi-day descent into one of the most inaccessible places on the planet. I now realize that was his point, but cut me some slack, I was young and short-sighted.
The Grand AdvenChair team at sunrise at the Bright Angel trailhead, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, U.S.A.
Dad had been sit-skiing, kayaking, and horseback riding as various forms of therapy and fun for years, and we all enjoyed taking hikes on relatively tame trails. Even on those however, we sometimes struggled. Our favorite hike at the time, Shevlin Park in Bend, Oregon was steep enough to excite the old adventurer, but tame enough that we could push him safely along it. But one day I misjudged a rock and dumped him on his face!
Road rash. Fortunately, between youthful hubris and “you told me you like going fast!” the author has avoided too much guilt.
Mind you, this didn’t happen with a standard, indoor-use chair. The goal had always been to get back to the outdoors and “the healing tonic of wildness,” so we were using AdvenChair 1.0 – a rugged titanium chair upgraded with mountain bike tires, a handlebar for the driver, and disc brakes.
But if even the most challenging routes at a local park could still cause us this much trouble, how were we going to tackle one of the world’s natural wonders?
Obviously, we needed to keep upgrading the chair.
So we added a larger, detachable front wheel, a seatbelt, and a strap system for long descents (braking) and climbs (pulling). The AdvenChair 1.0 was impressive, and we managed to tackle some dirt and gravel trails with it, but I was still skeptical about a 10.2 mile, 5,000 foot descent into the Grand Canyon, not to mention the climb back out!
Field trials with AdvenChair 1.0. The driver is a helicopter mechanic who constantly asks “What can go wrong here?” and Mom in front. We tried real hard to break it in our summer of testing.
But who was I to say so out loud? The same youthful ignorance that said “this isn’t possible” also said “well, screw this! Let’s do it anyway!”
Descent into the Grand Canyon.
Fast forward months of iterating and planning, climbing local mountains and tackling any trail we could find, and there we were, partway down the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel trail, sitting in the rain waiting for a crew to bring down a rescue sled so we could pack Dad and his broken wheelchair back out.
Turns out youthful me had been right. AdvenChair 1.0 wasn’t nearly strong enough.
The original packmule (the author) and his father, trying to stay positive about shattered hopes and crushed dreams while sitting in the rain at the 2 Mile Rest House on the Bright Angel Trail.
If we were to achieve our goal, we needed something truly indestructible, while still being functional and comfortable enough that at the end of the day’s long hike, we could all gather around a campfire or picnic table to drink beer, eat fresh peach cobbler, and laugh about the day’s challenges.
With the help of helicopter mechanic Dale Neubauer, design engineer Jack Arnold, some mountain bikers, and a wheelchair specialist, Dad started from scratch. First came a rugged and durable welded aluminum frame, with 16 touch points for pushing, pulling, and lifting, followed by 27.5” mountain bike wheels, and a reinforced mount for the enlarged, detachable 20” front wheel. With that was added inner tire suspension, new heavy-duty disc brakes, an adjustable footplate, and a bucket seat. Not only was the end result trail-tested and tough, but most of these moving parts came straight from local mountain bike shops, where they could quickly and cheaply be replaced or repaired.
Looking at the evolution of the AdvenChair, it’s safe to say that that broken axle was the best thing that could have happened. Where before there sat a young housecat with a fancy collar, now stood a fully-grown tiger.
Advenchair 2.0 hasn’t been back to the Grand Canyon yet, but I can confidently say it’s ready. We plan to take ours along the Great Wall in China, ship one to Spain for the Camino de Santiago, and can’t wait to see who-knows-what other adaptive adventures people dream up. All over the world, people just like me are waiting to be told “let’s do the impossible!“ by the people we love, having no idea that what was thought to be impossible, is just the beginning.
Roll boldly, my friends! The healing tonic of nature awaits.
The AdvenChair 3.0 is available for preorder here from December 1, 2020 through February 15, 2021 to ship in the summer of 2021.
— Emory Babb
This blog is part of a series of Travel Stories, written and submitted by people in the WTW community. Read more stories from travelers, like Brad in Colorado here, or Chris Alp’s adventure in Torres del Paine here. If you’re interested in submitting a story, please let us know by emailing our content manager at bailey@gowheeltheworld.com
Depending on the terrain, the AdvenChair can be pushed and pulled by a team of up to six people in various positions. (Photo by SmithRock.com)
The AdvenChair is designed to be rugged enough to tackle any trail, while still being able to pull up to table, enter a building, or transfer in/out of a vehicle.
Isaac Shannon, 21, enjoying his adventure in the AdvenChair. Can you spot the healing tonic of nature taking effect? (Photo: Adam Morley)
Geoff Babb and the AdvenChair are Ready to Roll
Locally produced all-terrain wheelchair provides opportunity for those with limited mobility to explore the outdoors—and it's finally available to buy.
Locally produced all-terrain wheelchair provides opportunity for those with limited mobility to explore the outdoors—and it's finally available to buy
BY DAMIAN FAGAN
On Nov. 10, 2005, Geoff Babb, a retired Bureau of Land Management fire ecologist and avid outdoor recreationalist who loved to ski and mountain bike, was rushed to the hospital after having a brain stem stroke. The near-fatal stroke left Babb with limited mobility. His recovery, aided by his wife, Yvonne, and then twin 12-year-old sons, Cory and Emory, would lead them and others on a journey down an unfamiliar trail.
An excursion to Mathieu Lake with a crew of friends and supporters.
Babb's desire to enjoy outdoor activities eventually connected him to sit-skiing with Oregon Adaptive Sports and adaptive horseback riding with Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center. Babb discovered that it wasn't his body restricting him from getting outdoors, but more the limitations of his wheelchair. Unable to propel himself due to his stroke, Babb needed assistance getting his wheelchair down a trail.
Thus, the AdvenChair 1.0 was born.
"My friend Dale Neubauer, who was a helicopter mechanic, helped us modify my regular wheelchair with beefier tires, a detachable front wheel, handbrakes on the handlebar and a harness which would allow a small team of helpers to guide me up and down the trail," said Babb. With this new chair, Babb and his family and support team explored trails in and around Smith Rock, Mt. Bachelor, Crater Lake and Mt. Rainier. "We had some great adventures in my original AdvenChair," said Babb. "These adventures prepared us for a trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in 2016."
To support this undertaking, Babb created the Onward Project, LLC, in 2016 to inspire, encourage and enable people to have active outdoor adventures. "The AdvenChair fits nicely into this, where the chair is the enabling part, and by telling stories of adventures that will encourage and inspire people," said Babb.
The AdvenChair and company take on Smith Rock State Park.
"Dale [Neubauer] brought in his design engineer, Jack Arnold, into my project," said Babb. Utilizing technologies associated with bi-skis and mountain bikes, the group developed AdvenChair version 2.0 with an adjustable sit-ski seat, adjustable handlebars, larger 27.5-inch mountain bike wheels, and high-grade aluminum mountain bike components. Neubauer, who owns Blue Moon Designs and developed the HeliLadder, a maintenance platform designed specifically for helicopter mechanics, also brought in local vendors to manufacture parts for the AdvenChair here in Central Oregon.
"Adaptive sports equipment is one of the most critical components to remove barriers to the outdoors for individuals with disabilities," said Pat Addabbo, Oregon Adaptive Sports executive director. "Geoff's AdvenChair fits the niche of providing an all-terrain adventure wheelchair for someone who needs more assistance."
“The AdvenChair fits nicely into this where the chair is the enabling part and by telling stories of adventures that will encourage and inspire people.”
– Geoff Babb
Isaac Shannon, a student at Central Oregon Community College, has test-run the AdvenChair several times. "I have a mitochondrial disease, which is a genetic disorder that makes me tire easily," said Shannon. "Before the AdvenChair, I hadn't hiked in over 15 years, but now I feel free and independent in it. This chair really brightens up that opportunity for those of us who have physical limitations."
Helping individuals who have had a stroke get back outdoors is a critical aspect. "For someone who has had a stroke, there's so much overwhelming change at first that they often hunker down and isolate," said Carol-Ann Nelson, physical therapist and executive director and founder of Destination Rehab. "The AdvenChair opens up the possibilities for getting farther down the trail, and even getting out of the chair and doing therapy in nature."
Along the path to redesigning the AdvenChair, Babb had another stroke. "Twelve years to the day of my first stroke, I had another one," said Babb. "It was pretty obvious after having my second stroke I wasn't going back to work." Babb took his retirement from the BLM and now focuses his energy on the AdvenChair and the Onward Project.
Crater Lake National Park was the setting for the original prototype chair in 2015.
Though the group was ready to roll with production of the AdvenChair about a year ago, along came another bump in the trail: the pandemic. "We decided to pull the chair until things settled down," explained Babb.
But now, as of Dec. 1, the AdvenChair is on the market and Babb is taking orders through Feb. 15, or until they have 10 orders. The introductory price is $9,950 plus shipping. More than a dozen years in the making, Babb hopes his AdvenChair will fulfill a niche with its off-road capabilities and inspire people worldwide with limited mobility to access the healing power of nature and to "boldly go where no chair has gone before."