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: Dan Miller (he/him)
Branch: Olympia
How long have you been volunteering with The Mountaineers? Since 2019
What activities do you volunteer with at The Mountaineers? Backpacking, stewardship, navigation, sea kayaking, and snowshoeing
10 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
WHAT FIRST BROUGHT YOU TO THE MOUNTAINEERS?
A co-worker mentioned The Mountaineers after taking the Alpine Scrambling course. I didn't even know what scrambling was.
How did you get started as a volunteer?
I wanted to learn by helping out others that were just starting their Mountaineers adventure.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOUNTAINEERS MEMORY?
Some of the absolutely amazing views hiking and skiing around Mount Rainier.
What is one thing you do as a leader to make your participants feel welcome?
Find out a little more about them and what they like to do, sometime outside of Mountaineers activities.
What advice do you have for aspiring volunteers?
You gain so much more by volunteering for a course or stewardship work than just using the land for recreation. I feel I have a much greater appreciation for nature when I can convey how lucky we are to have the outdoor opportunities we do in the Pacific Northwest.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise
Smile or Game Face? Smile
What's your 11th essential? Coffee
What's your favorite close-to-home adventure? Walking
What's next on your bucket list? Travel to the Julian Alps
NOMINATE YOURSELF FOR MOUNTAINEER OF THE WEEK
Mountaineers volunteers 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 leadership, and we hope these weekly features highlight how our trip leaders, course instructors, and committee and branch officers support our community. 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!
If you’re a leader (or want to nominate a leader to spotlight), send an email to Michelle Song to make a recommendation.
