Enock Glidden is an American disabled athlete and professional adventurer.[1][2] A Maine-based accessibility activist, he advocates for others with disabilities.[3][4]

Education

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Glidden received a degree from the University of Maine at Augusta, where he was the university's 2023 commencement speaker.[5]

Career

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Glidden was born with spina bifida, a neural tube defect that damages the spinal cord and nerves.[6][7] He received his first wheelchair at the age of four.[8] Glidden was introduced to sports at the age of 13 at Katahdin Junior High School in Stacyville, Maine.[9] He has participated in sports like wheelchair racing, skiing, and competitive shooting.[10][11]

In October 2015, Glidden climbed Yosemite National Park's Washington Column by using a metal bar attached to a mechanical ascender.[12] The following October, he scaled Yosemite's El Capitan after doing more than 800 pull-ups a day to train for the climb.[13][14] Glidden was carried in a rescue basket and the descent took 12 hours.[15] It was featured in the short documentary Enock.[16]

Glidden rock climbs and ice climbs with Paradox Sports, which offers adaptive climbing across the United States.[17][18] He also works with Maine Trail Finder to assess the accessibility of trails around the state.[19][20] Glidden's blog, "Go Beyond the Fence", recounts his adventures and encourages people of all abilities to experience the outdoors.[21]

Personal life

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Glidden grew up in the town of Patten, Maine.[22] He lives in Bethel, Maine.[23][24]

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  • "Go Beyond the Fence".

References

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  1. "Meet the Adventurer Making Maine's Trails More Accessible". The Maine Mag. 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  2. "How one Mainer is blazing the way to make trails more accessible for all". newscentermaine.com. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  3. Warszawski, Marek. "Paraplegic climber scales a dream on Yosemite's El Capitan". The Fresno Bee.
  4. "Athlete, Advocate, and Trail Blogger Enock Glidden". Maine Public. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  5. "UMaine MET students designed an adaptive wheelchair for shooting competitions - UMaine News - University of Maine". University of Maine. 2023-07-07. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  6. "Plans in the works to expand Augusta's Howard Hill to universal access". Kennebec Land Trust. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  7. Durrant, Colin (2024-07-03). "Enock Glidden: Expert and Advocate for Trails Access for All". Natural Resources Council of Maine. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  8. "Plans in the works to expand Augusta's Howard Hill to universal access". Kennebec Land Trust. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  9. "Meet the Adventurer Making Maine's Trails More Accessible". The Maine Mag. 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  10. "Adaptive shooting competition equalizes playing field". newscentermaine.com. 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  11. "Meet the Adventurer Making Maine's Trails More Accessible". The Maine Mag. 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  12. Warszawski, Marek. "Paraplegic climber scales a dream on Yosemite's El Capitan". The Fresno Bee.
  13. "How one Mainer is blazing the way to make trails more accessible for all". newscentermaine.com. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  14. Warszawski, Marek. "Paraplegic climber scales a dream on Yosemite's El Capitan". The Fresno Bee.
  15. Warszawski, Marek. "Paraplegic climber scales a dream on Yosemite's El Capitan". The Fresno Bee.
  16. "Meet the Adventurer Making Maine's Trails More Accessible". The Maine Mag. 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  17. Potter, Steven (2022-09-14). "How Paradox Sports Is Making Climbing a More Inclusive Space". Climbing. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  18. "How one Mainer is blazing the way to make trails more accessible for all". newscentermaine.com. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  19. "How one Mainer is blazing the way to make trails more accessible for all". newscentermaine.com. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  20. "Meet the Adventurer Making Maine's Trails More Accessible". The Maine Mag. 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  21. "Plans in the works to expand Augusta's Howard Hill to universal access". Kennebec Land Trust. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  22. "How one Mainer is blazing the way to make trails more accessible for all". newscentermaine.com. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  23. "Plans in the works to expand Augusta's Howard Hill to universal access". Kennebec Land Trust. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  24. "Plans in the works to expand Augusta's Howard Hill to universal access". Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2024-12-20.