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 Renfrow
Hometown Seattle. I spent most of my childhood roaming the second-growth forests of Mukilteo which no longer exist
Member Since 2001
Favorite Activities Trail running and trail work
10 Essential Questions:
What first brought you to The Mountaineers?
I was looking to meet people who actually wanted to go outside – by choice! I was first drawn to hiking and backpacking, but I became much more involved after discovering the Foothills Trail Running Committee, then naturally combined the two to create the Intro to Fastpacking course.
Since joining, I’ve also become involved as a stewardship leader. My partner Erin Shannon-Starup and I have spent the last few years rebuilding the Everett Branch's Lookout and Trail Maintenance Committee. I also recently helped The Mountaineers create an online course on how to become a stewardship leader to make it easier for our members to give back to the lands that make our programs possible.
Why do you like getting outside with us?
I gravitate toward activities and groups with a strong sense of purpose and community. I like that one week I can be reinforcing or learning a new skill from another member, and then next week, I’m showing them something they didn’t know.
What's your favorite Mountaineers memory?
In 2024, we had just finished trail running a very beautiful, two-day point-to-point in the North Cascades as the finale of the Fastpacking course. Everyone was stoked by the scenery and experience and despite being tired, everyone was excited to start planning the next trip together. It was wonderful to share a new approach for going deeper into the backcountry of a national park The Mountaineers helped put on the map.
Who/What inspires you?
The volunteer instructors and leaders who repeatedly donate their own time to plan, coordinate, and execute trips with The Mountaineers. Always thank your trip leaders! Coordinating is more work than you think.
What does adventure mean to you?
I don’t think you can have true adventure without some sort of struggle or unknown obstacles that you have to deal with. Ever notice that no bestsellers have been written about a trip that goes completely according to plan? Being put in a situation where you need to use your learned skills or problem solve can be the most rewarding trip.
Lightning round
Sunset or sunrise? Sunrise
What's your 11th Essential? A friend to share your experience
What's your happy place? The North Cascades
Post-adventure meal of choice? Coffee
If you could be a rockstar at any outdoor activity overnight, what would it be? Climbing
Erin Shannon-Starup and Dan "climbing" Mt. Baker during last year's Trail Running Weekend. Photo by Deline Zent.
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!
Want to nominate a friend? Email Bayley Stejer to make a recommendation.
This article originally appeared in our summer 2025 issue of Mountaineer magazine. To view the original article in magazine form and read more stories from our publication, visit our magazine archive.
