Member Highlight

Name Emily Fletcher Hometown Seattle, WA Member Since April 2006 Occupation Consultant Favorite Activities Hiking, scrambling, kayaking, camping, swimming, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

How did you get involved with The Mountaineers? I originally joined The Mountaineers as a freshman at Garfield High School in Seattle when I became involved in an outdoor education program called POST 84. To become a student leader with that organization, I took Mountaineering Oriented First Aid (and had lots of fun volunteering as a patient afterward!). I rejoined The Mountaineers in 2022 to take the Basic Alpine Scrambling Course after moving back to Seattle with my wife. The Mountaineers had been on my radar even before high school, though, because my parents met playing volleyball in a singles league organized by The Mountaineers in the mid-1980s!

What motivates you to get outside with us? The Mountaineers provides an opportunity to build new skills and see new, wild places that wouldn't be accessible to me without the thorough training and generous mentorship of fellow Mountaineers! I have always enjoyed getting outside with friends and family, and I love that The Mountaineers challenges me to try new things alongside new friends and teachers. What's your favorite outdoors memory? My favorite memories are from moments when things "clicked" and I was able to celebrate my newfound confidence with supportive fellow Mountaineers. For example, recognizing the difference in my own comfort level leading my group up a steep, snowy gully from one scramble to the next was empowering. I'll also never forget how exhilarating it was to realize our chosen route would work on an exploratory scramble after a long day of route-finding. We had shuttled cars and were hoping we could traverse along a ridge line to get to the second car, but there was a risk we wouldn't figure out the route before dark and would need to retrace our steps (which would have been a long slog). Putting together my navigation and scrambling training with my group members and realizing we had finally found a way that would work was an amazing feeling!

Who/what inspires you? My parents are my biggest inspiration. They met through The Mountaineers, and they've both remained outdoorsy and active throughout their lives. They have racked up some impressive accomplishments, but have always done so quietly and simply for their own enjoyment of the outdoors. I hope to remain as active as them (and as pure in motivation in the era of social media!) for as long as I can.

As a donor and volunteer-supported organization, The Mountaineers is based on community support. How have you paid it forward, or how have you benefited from someone else paying it forward? I have been constantly amazed by the generosity of leaders within the scrambling community who put considerable time and energy into sharing their knowledge and passion with new scramblers. I am incredibly grateful to all the leaders who provide such a wide array of opportunities, as well as the emotional support they give anytime I'm feeling anxious before or during a trip!

What does adventure mean to you? Adventure involves challenge, excitement, and a little bit of uncertainty. For me, that usually means trying something new or difficult, often in a new place. Type 2 fun isn't a requirement, but I often find that there's at least an element of adversity or Type 2 fun on the best adventures.

Lightning round

Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise

Smile or game face? Smile What's your 11th Essential? Expectation management What’s your happy place? My family's cabin in Leavenworth Post-adventure meal of choice? Dairy Queen Blizzard If you could be a rockstar at any outdoor activity overnight, what would it be? Climbing