Senior Louie McGee Traveled to the Grand Canyon with No-Barriers Youth

By Sam Clausen '19, Co-Editor-in-Chief - Reprinted with permission from the CDH Chronicle, Summer issue
October 8, 2018

Louie McGee ’19 visited the Grand Canyon during the summer. He was one of 19 people selected to go on the trip, which lasted for a total of 11 days.

Louie described the trip as “a life-changing experience.”

The trip was sponsored by No Barriers Youth and the National Park Service, and was meant for sighted and blind teenagers who possess unique leadership skills and a passion for nature. When Louie arrived at the Grand Canyon, he and 18 other teenagers set up camp in the Grand Canyon Village.

This village is located at the rim of the Grand Canyon, and had spectacular views of the magnificent landscape.

“Where I was standing, you could see ten miles across the canyon with almost no trouble,” marveled Louie.

Louie had the opportunity to meet other visually-impaired teenagers on the trip. He met one person who has his same disease (Louis has Stargardt, a rare disease of the retina that takes away the central vision), and they were able to make a connection.

On the third day of the trip, the group began their descent into the canyon. Once at the bottom, he and the others got on rafts and embarked on a journey down the Colorado River. By the end of the trip, the group had rafted a total of 226 miles.

“I learned new perspectives on how to handle blindness and shared how I handle blindness on a daily basis,” McGee said.

While rafting was the main means of travel, hiking was also a huge component of the trip. The group usually hiked three to four times per day. Ben, one of Louie’s friends on the trip, was very helpful to Louie while hiking as he was an experienced climber.

One of Louie’s favorite moments during the trip was near a huge waterfall. Ben and Louie climbed up the side of the waterfall, which was about the same size as the Minnehaha waterfall in Minneapolis. This was a powerful experience for Louie, as he could not see nor hear anything due to the sound of the waterfall, but he climbed to the top. This moment helped Louie realize that blind and sighted kids can work together to achieve greatness.

The group also visited Havasu Creek, with its electric blue water, and Redwall Cavern, a huge cavern that features red limestone walls. Those are only a few places Louie visited on his journey but he sure won’t forget them.

At the end of the trip, Louie reflected on just how powerful the trip was for him.  “It gave me a new outlook on life.” 

Louie wants to travel back to the Grand Canyon again in the near future, and has set a goal for himself once he returns: He wants to raft the entire Grand Canyon by the time he turns 30. He made this promise to everyone around him, and intends to keep it. For Louie, this Grand Canyon experience marks the beginning of his journey.

Note: Louie McGee is currently training for an Ironman Triathlon and will compete on October 14, 2018, in Louisville, KY. FOX9 visited with him earlier in October about his triathlon.

He and his family have a non-profit group, Louie’s Vision, which provides visually-impaired youth with opportunities to expand their life experiences and empower them to reach their fullest potential.