Female wounded warriors from past wars have been skiing in Snowmass all week as part of the Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities (C.A.M.O.) program.

The program, which ended Friday, brought together seven women soldiers with disabilities that include amputations, nerve damage, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), paralysis and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.

The C.A.M.O. retreat ran Dec. 14-19 and catered specifically to female soldiers, who represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the military population, constituting 14 percent of active duty enlisted personnel.

“There is a notable shortage of opportunities for injured servicewomen as they return from combat, in particular, female-specific rehabilitation and therapeutic recreation programs,” explained Sarah W. Volf, director of C.A.M.O. programs.

“The need for healing resources has long been considered a critical tool by many therapists who work with these remarkable women during their recovery and treatment at various hospitals and institutions throughout the country. The C.A.M.O. program is privileged to offer this critical gender-specific service.”

The week focused on recreation and wellness to encourage trust and relationship building by using female peer support and resilience.

The availability of bi-ski, slider and three-track adaptive ski equipment made snow sports more accessible to all.

According to Challenge Aspen, which is located on the Snowmass Village Mall:

“Operation C.A.M.O. is dedicated specifically to the rapidly growing number of injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, who face a multitude of physical, emotional and professional challenges, and who are committed to the hard work required to overcome these challenges extending far beyond their hospital stay. Currently, there is no government funding for these types of programs, and Challenge Aspen is one of only a few organizations offering this type of therapy.” For more information, visit www.challengeaspen.org.