The Mountaineers
Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to...
Name: Betsy Robblee (she/her)
Hometown: Conway, WA
Member since: 2020
Occupation: Conservation & Advocacy Director with The Mountaineers
Favorite activities: Trail running, hiking, backpacking, gravel biking, downhill/backcountry/Nordic skiing
10 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
WHAT FIRST BROUGHT YOU TO THE MOUNTAINEERS?
I joined staff as the Conservation & Advocacy Director in 2020. I’ve long admired The Mountaineers and was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to lead our conservation work.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOUNTAINEERS MEMORY?
I typically travel to Washington D.C. each year to meet with our WA Senators and Representatives. The last two trips I’ve been joined by Mountaineers members who have been trained in advocacy through Outdoor Alliance’s Grasstops Collective. It’s been a joy to watch Danielle Graham and Amy Kolor confidently lead advocacy meetings, and eloquently share their love for the outdoors and why public lands should be protected.
What does adventure mean to you?
Adventure can be anything that gets you out of the usual day-to-day. For so many of us, that’s pushing our comfort zones or physical limits in the outdoors. But it can just as easily be visiting a new part of the city, meeting a new person, or doing a new activity.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO DONATE TO THE MOUntAINEERS?
I donate to The Mountaineers because I believe deeply in our work to turn outdoor enthusiasts into outdoor advocates. We empower our community to speak up for the places they love, and I’ve seen firsthand how our collective voice can make a real difference. With public lands under threat like never before, it’s more important than ever to support our conservation and advocacy mission.
What impact do you hope to have in our community through your donations?
I want to support not just our conservation efforts but all of our amazing mission-focused work - from Youth Programs and scholarships to our incredible publishing program. Ultimately, I want to help more people experience and protect the outdoors, and The Mountaineers does exactly that!
Lightning Round
Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise
What's your favorite close-to-home outdoor activity? My neighborhood running loop that includes the Arboretum and Interlaken Park. We’re lucky to have such beautiful green space in the heart of the city! The spring blooms and fall colors in the Arboretum are particularly spectacular.
What's your 11th Essential? On day trips, it would probably be coffee or some type of caffeine source. On overnight trips, definitely earplugs to ensure a good night of sleep!
What's next on your bucket list? I’d like to do another 50k trail race next year.
If you could be adept at any outdoor activity overnight, what would it be? Backcountry skiing - I learned how to ski as an adult, and I wish I had the finesse and muscle memory of someone who learned when they were a kid!
