Tying In

Winter happened fast this year, shifting from 80 degrees and sunny to 42 degrees and raining in the matter of a week. In years past I used the fall months to shift my mindset from sunny days in the Cascades to scheming up winter activities. I rely on shoulder season to help me reset.

Like myself, The Mountaineers is going through a reset as well. Over the past six months, we have gone through a process involving significant input from The Mountaineers community to update our strategic plan. Doing so creates a roadmap to chart priorities, actions, and investments that will enable us to advance our mission in the coming years. The plan will act as a critical north star for our organization, and in developing the plan, our board, staff, and organization leaders are thinking through how resources can be best allocated to grow our vibrant outdoor community, of which our volunteers are the cornerstone.

As I write this, I am reminded of a unique trip that led to a strong friendship with a fellow volunteer. I was lucky to be invited on the first Alpine Ambassadors trip up to Canmore hosted by The Mountaineers. Alpine Ambassadors was a new pilot program at the time, designed as part of our Vision 2022 strategic plan to support ongoing education and development for top climb leaders looking to learn more and mentor others. On day one, I ran into Kyle Breakey as he was carrying a box of burrito fixings into the hut. I love burritos, and instantly knew we would be fast friends.

Since that trip, I have spent many days out with Kyle, on both winter and summer adventures. A dedicated climb leader for the Bellingham branch, Kyle also volunteers with ski patrol at Mt. Baker. I’m constantly inspired by his dedication to helping people gain skills and experiences to help them move confidently in the Cascades and beyond. I know his commitment to helping others brings him joy, and that it impacts his available time to climb and ski. Like all of our volunteers, he chooses to make this personal sacrifice for the betterment of the greater community.

With the new 10-year strategic plan, we hope to honor the commitment of our volunteers to provide life-changing programing and build a supportive community where everyone feels belonging – particularly for our community members who have been historically excluded from outdoor recreation. Providing opportunities for our volunteers to continue growing their outdoor skills and experience is a powerful motivator for continued community leadership. We want to make being a volunteer as easy as possible through tech solutions and more volunteer support, so that we may better serve the growing and diverse community of outdoor enthusiasts.

Over the next few months, our strategic plan will be finalized and we will share details with the community. We hope to find a balance between inspiration and tangible actions, and we look forward to working with volunteers and staff to lead innovation in the outdoors, engage a vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts, and advocate on behalf of the natural world.

Gabe Aeschliman Board President

The Mountaineers is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1906 and dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and protection of natural areas.

EDITOR Hailey Oppelt CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Kristina Ciari, Skye Michel DESIGNER Sarah Kulfan, Beans n' Rice

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Tom Vogl EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Tom Helleberg DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Bri Vanderlinden

PROOFREADER Kate Regan, Issy Steckel PUBLICIST Kate Jay

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS President Gabe Aeschliman Retiring President Vik Sahney Vice President Manisha Powar VP of Branches James Henderson VP of Outdoor Centers Matt Simerson Secretary Carry Porter Treasurer Paul Stevenson

DIRECTORS AT LARGE Serene Chen Rich Johnston Brynne Koscianski Takeo Kuraishi Maya Magarati Roger Mellem Amanda Piro Alex Pratt Sam Sanders Anita Wilkins Siana Wong

BRANCH DIRECTORS Tim Schafermeyer, Bellingham Matt Vadnal, Everett Vacant, Foothills Mark Goodro, Kitsap Mike Kretzler, Olympia Brad Near, Seattle Mark Kerr, Tacoma

YOUTH BOARD REPRESENTATIVES Serophina Ouyoumjian Katie Strauz-Clark

The Mountaineer (ISSN 0027-2620) is published quarterly by The Mountaineers, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. 206-521-6000.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Mountaineer, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, WA.

Opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The Mountaineers.