"I was looking for a way to bring the voices of people using Vermont's trails to life, and found Anna. It was a pleasure working with her to refine the scope of work. She is bright, engaging, thoughtful and creative. She puts the people she is interviewing at ease, allowing their stories to be authentic and from the heart. I loved seeing her in action at Green River Reservoir, interviewing a man, who is blind, and his family kayaking on the water and using the new accessible boat ramp. She also spent a morning with a paralyzed woman paddling on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Their voices, the sound of water and wheels — it brings to life what is happening for these people in ways that the printed word cannot do justice. Her work is a gift."
- Sharon Plumb, Trail Accessibility Hub and Vermont Trails and Greenways Council Program Manager
Accessible trails
Anna worked with the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council in 2025 to create first-person stories about accessible outdoor spaces.
Edie Perkins has been an avid cyclist for many years. When an accident left her paralyzed from the chest down in 2017, she began handcycling. Since moving to Vermont in 2021, she’s come to love taking her handcycle out on the scenic trails she can access from her home in South Burlington, and sometimes ventures further afield. In this story, Edie talks about her love of handcycling on a visit to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail in Hyde Park.
A Moment of Zen While Handcycling
Finding Freedom Through Adaptive Kayaking
Derek Flint of West Topsham is a father of three, a lover of the outdoors, and almost completely blind. This summer, he and his family have been getting out in the water in kayaks as much as they can. Navigating boat launches can be difficult, but some places, like Green River Reservoir, have made them more accessible. In this story, Derek describes the sense of freedom he feels when he’s out on the water with his family.
Access to the Outdoors at Every Age
John and Judy Blackmer love spending time outdoors. Both native Vermonters, they have walked, hiked, biked, run, paddled, and skied for decades. Now that they’re both in their 90s, it’s harder to do the activities they enjoy – but they don’t let that stop them from getting outside. In this story, Judy and John talk about aging and visit Shelburne Farms, one of their favorite places to walk.