Lori Heath
Meet Rich, a Foothills hike and naturalist leader, Key Leader, Super Volunteer, and Mountaineers Leader of the Year who loves showing people the wonders of the natural world.
Fifteen years ago, Rich moved from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest for hiking and to experience the outdoor culture. He researched the area, joined The Mountaineers (before moving), and went on three Mountaineers hikes in the first weekend he lived here (Cascade Pass, Skyscraper Pass, and Chain Lakes Loop - what a weekend!). The first time he saw The Mountaineers website, he was amazed at all the organized hikes and hikers.
Rich lives at the foot of Tiger Mountain, and loves it. Issaquah's nickname is "Trailhead City," and Rich lives within a half mile of three trailheads. He’s living my dream and it's wonderful.
Rich’s favorite hikes are wildflower hikes. He appreciates Washington’s incredible wealth of wildflowers, including the amazing diversity in the Teanaway (he counted 130 species of blooms on a hike last summer), the incredibly thick May displays in the Wenatchee area, and the beautiful early spring flower fields amongst the sagebrush above Cowiche Canyon and on Whiskey Dick Ridge.
Rich’s favorite trails are at his favorite place in the world (Mount Rainier): Berkeley Park, the Moraine trail, and the Paradise Glacier trail. Rich feels that everybody's equal on a wildflower hike; they all smile and gawk at the same spot. He says it makes him happy to see people taking photos with huge smiles on their faces, and thinks if people continue to see the wonders of the natural world, they will be more likely to help to protect it.
