Starting out on the right foot!
Welcome to LIMB-itless Outdoors, my blog and life of an amputee outdoor enthusiast. My name is Aaron Ritter. I have pursued an active lifestyle from an early age, with a focus on hunting, fishing and endurance running. I have over 40 years of experience challenging my mental and physical boundaries and exploring the wonders of Mother Nature. Please join me as I share my knowledge, adventures and gear reviews through blogging.
A few speeches away from walking the retirement plank.
First, let’s discuss the elephant in the room. Yes, I am a retired Navy combat veteran. No, I did not lose my leg in combat. Yes, I have combat related injuries (not visible to the human eye). Thanks to the support of the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community, military medicine and technology, I was afforded the fighting chance to pursue an operational career post limb loss. The 9 years I served on a prosthetic helped pave the path of creating LIMB-itless Outdoors.
Where did it all begin? I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). My father and grandfather had hunting and fishing equipment in my hands at a very early age. Safety and ethics were always at the foundation of every moment spent learning and using the knowledge they passed down to me. My time spent with them forged my love of the outdoors while enduring the unforgiving environments of the Washington coast and Cascade Mountains.
From top left: limit of brook trout, ruffed grouse, Columbia blacktail, smallmouth bass.
Unrestrained by the confines of technology, my family chose a life without TV which led to the majority of my freetime outside of the house. My favored activities throughout my early life revolved around hunting (blacktail deer, roosevelt elk and upland birds), fishing (salmon, steelhead and trout) and sports (running and football). As my school-age years came to a close I turned to the US Navy for a new chapter.
"Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, 'I served in the United States Navy.’”
-President John F. Kennedy
“You and the Navy, full speed ahead” touted the world’s finest Navy in the early 90’s. My military career fell nothing short of that and spanned a total of 28 years (both active and reserve duty combined), multiple conflicts and a list of countries visited or traveled through well exceeding 50. I had the honor of working for six different Presidents, Admiral Jeremy Boorda and numerous gifted leaders of our armed forces. The pinnacle of my Naval career was serving as the Platoon Leading Chief Petty Officer for a Navy EOD Special Forces team supporting the US Army’s 10th Special Forces Group.
A one-legged dude training with a bunch of two-legged dudes at an undisclosed location in Germany.
Life has provided me with opportunities of diversity and excitement filled challenges, and I have been fortunate to fulfill the majority of my visions or goals. From a sailor to a rodeo cowboy, to a professional fireman and back to a sailor; I have pursued my dreams with vigor. For three quarters of my life I pursued every opportunity on two legs with zeal. That all changed on Saturday, February 12th, 2012. At 39 years old, after returning from my second combat tour in Iraq, I was involved in a life-altering motorcycle accident. My lower right leg was ripped from my body without the possibility of reattachment. Not losing consciousness, my mind considered defeat for the first time in my life. That fleeting moment immediately transitioned to a burning desire to live a better life on one leg than I ever had on two.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
Life after limb loss has been an experience I would not reverse if given the opportunity. The “discovery” process has been immensely enlightening and rewarding. When I was in Navy dive school, I performed every evolution with a quote by Abraham Lincoln in the back of my mind, “To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better…”. At that time of my life I had no idea how impactful Honest Abe's quote would become to me. For several years following my amputation every change of routine or environment proved to be a new challenge and I approached every obstacle as if I had two natural legs. Things we take for granted on a daily basis like driving, showering, navigating stairs or elevation change is no longer second nature. It takes months to years training your body, mind and prosthesis to work as one. Taking that same mentality and process to the level required to perform in high-risk environments in preparation for combat operations requires even greater focus and determination. I willingly accepted the pain, discomfort and fatigue associated with the life of a highly-functional amputee. I found running and functional fitness to be a contributing factor to my wellbeing and growth as I pursued the life I wished to lead. I have discovered mental-health healing in long distance running, completing multiple marathons and ultra-marathons; including 3 Boston Marathon finishes and several 50K’s. What I have discovered since losing my leg is my mind has shifted from “Can I do it” to “How will I do it, because I’m going to do it”.
Posing for a picture 10K from finishing the inaugural MCM 50K.
If your imagination craves it; feed it. Entering into retirement, I have been able to vigorously reengage with my outdoor beginnings, along with a passion or three I picked up along the way. These additional activities include turkey hunting, bass fishing and writing. My style of hunting has transitioned from “spot and stalk” hunting the PNW to saddle hunting whitetail, with the introduction of muzzleloading into my repertoire. Fishing has placed me in a kayak pursuing largemouth bass, drum, speckled trout and other saltwater species. Exploring the avenues of a self-taught butcher and hobby chef, I process all of my own game and fish and find immense pleasure in sharing my table fare or recipes with others.
PB largemouth bass, at 5.25lbs/22”, out of my Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL.
Why engage in a blog? Regardless of life’s obstacles or challenges, we all have the ability to overcome and achieve the unthinkable. The desire of LIMB-itless Outdoors is to share that desire and ability to live a life without boundaries or limitations. Along with many physical accomplishments, I have discovered a love in writing. Published for the first time in 2019, I have decided I want to share and inspire others through blogging. My blog will host topics relating to my passions and associated interests. We will discuss events, activities, opinions and reviews in all aspects of LIMB-itless Outdoors. I hope you enjoy the ramblings of a modern-day pirate as much as I enjoy creating them for your reading pleasure.
Be Limbitless. Get Outdoors.
