Let me tell you...about scootering in the wilderness.

Getting trundled through the forest in a wheelbarrow had its ups and downs ... but a scooter put her at the head of the trail.

Once a pair of strong, agile legs had propelled me along mountain slopes, forest valleys, and rocky beaches. My husband and I hiked and backpacked through the pristine Bugaboo Alpine Recreation Area, Kokanee Glacier and Naikoon Provincial Parks, and other parts of British Columbia.

When multiple sclerosis surfaced in my life in 1987, I had to find creative ways to access the outdoors. I am a very determined person! I knew that there had to be a way to experience the mountains, meadows, and marine environments again.

In 1989 my husband and I helicoptered into Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, where 2 of our good friends were the rangers. There, it took me an hour to walk a kilometer, due to poor leg strength and coordination. After that, the guys said they would take me in a park wheelbarrow.

With a big grin, I rode the alpine paths in a wheelbarrow, which was thoughtfully draped with a foam pad. I was only ejected once, when the tire hit a root on the path. I was delighted that I landed on my feet without performing a "face plant".

Now I have discovered the electric, four-wheeled scooter that gets me out in the bush and is far more comfortable than a wheelbarrow. My scooter has good balance and reasonable clearance. I always carry a cane for emergencies. Mind you, my husband could push my scooter if there were problems or dismantle it and reassemble it on the other side of a big log or other obstacle. I have a vinyl-covered seat and always carry a plastic bag to cover the controls in case it rains.

Scooter and I have bounced over the Caribou turf dodging cow pies and picked huckleberries at a subalpine lake below the Kootenay's Kokanee Glacier. I've cruised the coastal rain forest trails of Vancouver Island's Cathedral, Little Qualicum Falls, and Englishman River Falls Provincial Parks where I watched the seals, gulls, and eagles play on the Island's many beaches.

I don't specifically research outdoor destinations for their scooter accessibility when planning a holiday. I arrive at the destination, stop in at the local tourist bureau and ask my questions, or speak to the park ranger or warden. I find that people are often too limited in what they think a scooter can handle or what trail is suitable. So we often drive to the trailhead and check it out for ourselves. A park ranger, warden, or forester is generally better informed on the surface and incline of the trail than the tourist bureau staff.

Recent adventures have expanded my scooter escapades to the province of Alberta and the state of Oregon. I have scooted amongst the dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, gone "where the buffalo roamed" at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, and rolled up Rocky Mountain paths at Waterton Lakes National Park. Oregon's scenic coastline provided opportunities for me to ride my scooter on the trails adjacent to long sandy beaches, rugged shorelines, and graceful dunes. Good accessibility allowed me to scoot through the exhibits of sealife at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

I guess the bottom line is that a person must be ready for adventure in attitude and dress for all weather conditions. If I can only travel part way along a trail and must turn back, that's okay. One must have creativity, drive, and flexibility to go scootering in the "bush". I know it is not going to be the same as it was when I was hiking on 2 legs but at least I am outside enjoying nature. I can scooter jog our 5-year-old golden retriever and take romantic scooter strolls with my husband. Freedom is mine!

Nancy Chamberlayne is a freelance writer who has lived with MS for 10 years. Now that she's discovered a balloon-tire wheelchair, her next trip will be beachcombing the wild shores of the Pacific Rim National Park.