Nov. 17, 2025
For Louis Arevalo, a professional photographer, the trail to Vermont Adaptive began long before he ever clicked into a mono-ski in the Green Mountains. Raised at the foot of Utah’s Wasatch Range, Louis grew up skiing, biking and climbing—immersed in the kind of rugged, open-air living that shaped his connection to the outdoors.
That connection never wavered, even after a ski accident in 2020 left him paralyzed from the chest down. “I knew I was going to get back outside,” he says. “Adaptive sports were critical. They kept me moving—physically and emotionally.”
At the same time, Louis and his wife had long felt drawn to Vermont, returning often to visit family in Burlington. “There’s something about the landscape here,” he explains. “There’s a lot of outdoor access in New England. The Green Mountains hold a special place in my heart. They’re just gorgeous.”
In 2021, during a summer visit, he booked his first Vermont Adaptive programs: kayaking on the Waterbury Reservoir and mountain biking at Blueberry Lake in the Mad River Valley. “It was a beautiful day,” he says. “A lot of my family was there, and Felicia [Vermont Adaptive program director] just kind of made sure I was good to go. She just watched, and she gave me space.”
Louis officially moved to Vermont in April 2024. By then, he had already participated in the High Fives Foundation winter ski camp at Sugarbush with Vermont Adaptive and had begun to think about how he could give back. “When I was learning to ski again, what helped the most was connecting with others who had similar injuries. You can learn a lot from someone who’s figured out how to move with the same challenges.”
Now, he is a volunteer instructor with Vermont Adaptive. He skis alongside new participants—offering tips, encouragement, or sometimes just a calm presence on the lift. “I’m instructing but I’m also there to say, ‘Hey, this is possible. Let’s take a run together,’” he says.
One of those participants is Shannon, a skier with a similar level of spinal cord injury. The two met at one of the ski camps and now ski together regularly. Their connection is part of a growing, supportive network of athletes who share knowledge, humor and plenty of trail time.
“It’s a small circle,” Louis says, “but it’s meaningful. We feed off each other’s energy. We show up.”
That idea—showing up—is all part of The Things We Share at Vermont Adaptive. It’s about more than just outdoor adventure. It’s shared community. Shared knowledge. Shared effort. Whether it’s paddling with family, building adaptive trail access, or mentoring someone new to sit-skiing, the things we share keep the momentum going.
Louis Arevalo’s Staff Photo Series for Vermont Adaptive – View Here.