Mountaineer of the Week: Adriana Singh

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to...

Name Adriana Singh (she/her)
Hometown Redmond, WA
When did you first get involved with The Mountaineers? 2023
What youth programs do you participate in with The Mountaineers? Mountaineers Adventure Club (MAC)

10 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

What are your favorite outdoor activities?

I love backpacking and hiking, as those are the activities I started out in the outdoors. The way one can go for a few hours to a few days and just be disconnected in nature I find really peaceful. Recently I’ve discovered drytooling and ice climbing which I have just fallen in love with. For me it feels a little easier than climbing but I still feel the same sense of accomplishment when I reach the top, plus (especially for ice climbing) the views at the top are just beautiful when everything is coated in snow. The weather is also a little more pleasant during ice climbing season than summer climbing temps.

What first brought you to The Mountaineers?

At first, my mom enrolled just my brother for a Mountaineers youth club. After hearing all that he was doing outdoors I felt interested in joining, so the next school year my mom enrolled me into MAC which I've been in ever since! Joining The Mountaineers is something I'll cherish forever as I've found a community of like-minded people who love the outdoors. I feel as if I've also learned a lot about myself, how to work with others, and many more skills that I can use in the outdoors. There's also a lot more possibilities and activities that I'm able to discover and enjoy while being part of The Mountaineers that I definitely wouldn't have been able to find going to the outdoors just by myself.

What is your favorite Mountaineers memory?

I have so many great memories from so many different trips over the years, but the most recent would be just chatting with so many different people on the way up to camp Muir, then with Kelsey Hoffman (my rope teams lead) for eight hours as we traveled from camp to the summit of Rainier (sorry Kelsey!). It was really cool to listen to all sorts of different stories, jump over crevasses and cross bridges, learn about mountaineering techniques and about crevasses, and make it to the top of the mountain and feel relieved and accomplished to be up there.

Who/What inspires you?

My mom inspires me the most as she is such a role model in my life and is always there for me. She teaches me how to be kind, willing to learn, passionate, and strong by how she acts. It always amazes me to no end how she makes the time to take care of everyone at home, work, and still make time to do the things she loves (being outdoors). Her character has shaped how I think and act, and that inspires me to do things even though I may not want to in the moment and to try new things even if I may not like it or things may not go my way.

Others who inspire me are the people who are always themselves no matter what, regardless if I know them or not. For example, people on the internet with amazing fits and different-than-you’d-normally-see make-up. Those styles look so cool to me, and if I ever don't feel confident, these people empower me by reminding me that: you don’t have to think about what others think about you to live your life. Especially if you’re in a group that gets prejudiced every day - whether you’re a woman, someone from the LGBTQ+ community, someone of a different religion, etc. To see others fight for rights and to make the world a better place is brave and is something that can be scary. And that in and of itself is really powerful and really cool to see. It’s another thing that I think makes me be a little more mindful to care about others, myself, and the world, which to me is pretty inspiring.

What does adventure mean to you?

To me, adventure means putting yourself out of your comfort zone to try new things. It means being flexible with plans and exploring to discover cool places or things (such as animals or plants), or doing something that’s a bit more challenging than you have in the past for a new feeling of excitement. Whatever adventure means to you, at the end of the day (in my opinion) it has to be fun and enjoyable for all.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise
Smile or game face? Game face
What's your happy place? My room whether I'm reading, playing music on my double bass, or doing homework, it's my safe space which in turn makes it my happy place
Post-adventure meal of choice? Cookies and cream milkshake with a side of crinkle-cut dill pickles with a mushroom burger after a long hike or outing really hits different
What’s your 11th essential? I'll normally bring a pack of gummies (Nerds Gummy Clusters are my absolute favorite!), along with that, I'll bring a small book that can fit in my brain (no pun intended)

NOMINATE YOURSELF FOR MOUNTAINEER OF THE WEEK

Mountaineers come in all shapes and sizes, varying widely in age, outdoor experience, and length of time involved in The Mountaineers. Part of what makes our community so unique is the broad diversity of our membership, and we hope these weekly features highlight who we are and why our community plays an important part in feeling belonging in the outdoors. We are always seeking self-nominations for our Mountaineer of the Week, and we invite you to share your story. Trust us, we want to hear from you!

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

Want to nominate a friend? Email Bayley Stejer to make a recommendation.