After four years in the United States Marine Corps and a tour of duty in Iraq, Emmett Pryor felt pretty lucky. He came home unscathed, and his Warrior brothers all returned home safe as well. He had a good life. Then one night in 2011, Pryor dove into a pool, hit the bottom and ended up with burst fracturing cervical vertebrae. His body was instantly paralyzed from the chest down.

Pryor was a late addition to the High Fives Foundation Military to the Mountains Program, but when he got the call he was ecstatic. He worked out tirelessly during the 9-week training program at Adaptive Training Foundation ensuring that he was physically prepared for a week of skiing at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows.

“I grew up snowboarding with my family on trips to Colorado before my injury,” Pryor reminisced just before hitting the slopes on day one. “I’m really excited to get back out there, and eventually with my family again.”

When Pryor did eventually get out on the hill the crew at Achieve Tahoe started him at the bottom of the trail just to get a feel for sliding on snow. The instructors immediately knew he was ready for the lift, so the crew headed the Subway Lift to load up for run one.

By lunchtime, Pryor and his instructors had taken five runs the smile on his face let everyone know that he was having a great day!

“That was even more fun than I thought,” said Pryor. “I can’t wait to get back out there this afternoon!”

Military to the Mountains: Injured United States Military Veterans are provided the opportunity to train at a 9-week program at the Adaptive Training Foundation in Dallas, Texas and Paralympic Sport in Reno, Nevada preparing for a week of skiing at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, instructed by Achieve Tahoe Adaptive Ski Program – 100% fueled and inspired by the High Fives Foundation. Learn more at https://highfivesfoundation.org/military-to-the-mountains/