February 26, 2019

2019 Shrine Hut Adventure

Posted by Pat S in Lifestyle, Uncategorized

In late January of 2019 Jaywalker Lodge clients embarked on the winter Hut trip.  I had high hopes that the clients would be able to strengthen their group ties, foster willingness to work collectively, be vulnerable with each other, and have fun sober.  We left the comfy confines of the Lodge and were greeted with strong winds, frigid temperatures, and gray skies at the Vail Summit. We quickly strapped snowshoes to our feet, threw 35-40lb bags on our backs, and a few generous clients strapped 50lb. supply sleds to their waste.   Simultaneously, 13 dudes experienced something new…backcountry winter at 11,000 feet.  It felt awkward, difficult, foreign, and exciting.  The illusion of control was instantaneously stripped from us.  We formed a single file line and ploughed a trail into the backcountry with goal of reaching the hut.  It took nearly two hours of team work to arrive at our destination.  The feelings of joy and relief were palpable.  We made…

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February 15, 2019

Trauma Integrated Care

Posted by Pat S in Insights

Historically speaking, addiction treatment, mental health services, and trauma care  have been provided in a sequential (one after the other) process.  The old philosophy dictated that providers needed to determine the “primary” diagnosis and treat that first before moving on to other, less acute, issues. Thankfully, the field is starting to recognize that trauma, mental health, and addiction need to be treated in an integrated process.   At Jaywalker Lodge we believe that unresolved trauma creates significant, unique challenges to long-term recovery and must be treated in a holistic, integrated way. We call this a “trauma integrated model” that serves to address all the underlying challenges that create road blocks to successful recovery.  Listed below are the philosophies, goals, and core components of the model.   Philosophy: Unresolved trauma creates road blocks (stuck places) to an authentic recovery journey and inhibits the effectiveness of addiction treatment. Trauma resolution and addiction treatment should take place in an integrated process….

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February 13, 2019

Sunday Shred Day

Posted by Pat S in Alumni

All of our alumni love to shred so why not set aside a day to do it together. The tradition of Sunday Shred Day is alive and well. Sunday Shred Day is a new routine that is quickly gaining traction in our alumni community. We start every Sunday out with an option to go to the local Sunday morning meditation meeting. It’s a great way to start the day and get centered before the copious amounts of shred that the day brings. After the meeting we caravan to the mountain and let the fun begin! If you haven’t been, join us.

November 7, 2018

Jaywalker receives Volunteer of the Year award from Independence Pass Foundation

Posted by Pat S in Lifestyle

Service to others is an important part of the treatment model Jaywalker provides. Through this we begin to learn that there are things far greater than ourselves. As a member of the Jaywalker community I am provided many service opportunities that include helping at Mission Wolf, planting trees for the City of Carbondale, and hurricane relief in Houston. Independence Pass Foundation provides yet another unique service opportunity for our guys. The IPF is a group that is dedicated to the restoration of the Independence Pass corridor and the surrounding wilderness. Please Click Here for the full article and for information on The Independence Pass Foundation.

October 10, 2018

Jaywalker Lodge Outpatient Program – Moab Expeditions

Posted by Pat S in Lifestyle

Jaywalker Lodge Outpatient Program – Moab Expeditions From the first time I rolled into Moab, Utah years ago as an Outpatient client, I remember feeling anundeniable sense of awe that I had never felt before in my life.  The colors of the orange sand and blue sky, the arid smell of desert air, and sounds of four-wheelers revving their engines had me feeling electric.  It was like I woke up in the middle of a John Wayne movie.  I sat in the car fantasizing about Indians, cowboys, bandits, uranium, and gun powder. Just 6 months prior to this trip I was back in Texas hopelessly addicted to crystal methamphetamine. I was homeless, buried in debt, and reaching new bottoms on a daily basis.  As I sat in the car in Moab, I felt grateful that I was no longer where I was, but I was still scared because I knew gratitude…

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October 10, 2018

Men’s Spiritual Retreat

Posted by Pat S in Insights

On a frigidly cold morning in Vail, we finished breakfast and trudged up to Jay’s Cabin for the final leg of the first ever Mens Spiritual Retreat weekend at Jaywalker Solutions. The weekend had consisted of two days of intensive therapeutic work, one solo day coined as the “Day of Silence,” and one day of presentations. In the free time, we ate together, used the old-fashioned sauna, hiked, and spent time together as fellow men in recovery. If you have never spent any time at the Shrine Huts in Vail, I would highly recommend it. The locations solitude and rustic quality made it a perfect location for a men’s spiritual retreat. As we sat in a circle in the cabin with logs in the wood fireplace crackling. I felt a sense of anticipation as we prepared for the final session of the experience. We started the group with an introduction,…

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August 22, 2018

Recovery Goals and Recreation

Posted by Pat S in Lifestyle

Over the last 2 weeks we have had a plethora of Jaywalker staff and alumni complete personal goals set in their recovery to push the mental and physical abilities within their passion for the outdoors.  These feats are milestones of personal accomplishment that we would never set or complete without personal recovery. Brendon K:  Leadville Run 100 Breton M: Leadville MTB Stage Race David K: Pro MTB Status and multiple podium race finishes this month: Honey Stinger MTB 50, Telluride 100, Pierre’s Hole 100 Patrick S: Honey Stinger MTB 50 Ryan B: Aspen Half Marathon Max G: Aspen Half Marathon These efforts are monumental in self discovery, training, and perseverance.  The mental challenges that present during the course of these distances and events are best processed revering the journey not the destination.  All of these endeavors require support teams of family and friends.  We complete personal goals as a team….

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August 22, 2018

HeartMath at Jaywalker Lodge

Posted by Pat S in Insights

HeartMath at Jaywalker Lodge Jaywalker Lodge is now using HeartMath technology and stress management tools in conjunction with EMDR, TRE, CBT and 12-step facilitation in treating chemical dependence and co-occurring disorders.  HeartMath technology is a great compliment to the 12-steps and offers clients the opportunity to see in real time, via portable HeartMath biofeedback monitors, the benefits of meditation.  While using HeartMath tools clients learn how to build resilience, decrease anxiety, regulate their mood, and tolerate powerful cravings and triggers.  Decades of rigorous research on HeartMath tools have shown significant benefits for sleep, focus, serenity, anxiety, fatigue, and depression.  While 12-step facilitation remains the core of Jaywalker’s clinical model, incorporating tools like HeartMath technology has helped Jaywalker better treat clinically complex clients that suffer from addiction and co-occurring disorders. BENEFITS OF HEARTMATH Studies conducted with over 11,500* people have shown improvements in mental & emotional well-being in just 6-9 weeks using HeartMath…

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August 21, 2018

St. George Alumni Trip: October 3-7, 2018

Posted by Pat S in Alumni

The Jaywalker alumni program offers amazing opportunities for growth and fellowship. Our various alumni trips throughout the year are unique and exciting adventures that bring our alumni community closer together. Every trip has a magical way of uniting our men to truly experience fun and fellowship with their Jaywalker brothers. Our next alumni trip will be to St. George, Utah. This is always a fun-filled, action-packed trip. There will be dirt biking, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and golfing. The house has a theater, foosball table, air hockey, ping pong, pool, hot tub, bbq, and so much room for activities. After a long day we can come back, relax, and enjoy a beautiful house. The trip cost is only $200 which includes food and housing. Transportation to St. George is on the individual so plan accordingly; you can always call the Alumni Coordinator for help arranging a ride: Jon Lencioni 650-380-1388. Don’t miss out on…

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July 13, 2018

Jaywalker Lodge Havasu Falls Alumni Trip 2018

Posted by Pat S in Alumni

What makes a paradise? Is it the natural beauty surrounding you? Is it your state of mind? Is it the company you share? For myself and 11 other men, we found the answers to such questions after a 13- hour car ride followed by a 10-mile hike into the desert and canyons of Arizona.  As alumnus of Jaywalker Lodge, we were afforded the great opportunity to travel to the most remote town in the contiguous United States, Supai Village.  Supai boasts a population of around 300 native people and is about 60 miles from the next nearest town. People from around the world flock to Supai because it is only a mile and a half from the famous Havasu Falls. The trek in led us down steep canyon trails and after a grueling four-hour hike with 40lb packs on our shoulders we had arrived at our campsite.  Our collective breaths were…

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