Mountaineer of the Week: Kelsey Hoffman

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

Name: Kelsey Hoffman (she/her)
Branch: Seattle
How long have you been volunteering with The Mountaineers?  Since 2022
What activities do you volunteer with at The Mountaineers? Seattle Branch Chair, Winter Mountaineering & Crevasse Rescue, Multi-Pitch Trad, Seattle Basic Alpine Climbing course

10 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

What first brought you to The Mountaineers?

I moved to Seattle from New Orleans with an ex-boyfriend, and after we broke up, I felt adrift trying to make a new life in an unfamiliar city. Three close friends really stepped up to support me, and they all happened to be Mountaineers (one of them is now on the Branch Council for Kitsap). When COVID hit, I felt even more isolated, but once things reopened I applied for the Basic Alpine Climbing course because that's where my friends had met each other. At the time, I honestly thought glaciers were extinct - like dinosaurs - so I was thrilled that the course promised to teach glacier travel skills (I had no idea that was even possible!). I wasn't sure I'd get in, and I didn’t know how I would afford it on my teacher's salary. But The Mountaineers came through again—I received a scholarship, and my friends and family helped me gather the gear I needed. Getting into The Mountaineers was a true team effort, and I'm deeply grateful for that team.

How did you get started as a volunteer?

I joined the climbing course with the help of a Mountaineers scholarship, which made me want to give back however I could. I thought volunteering with the climbing program would be a great place to start, but I didn't know which courses were offered or who to contact. So I began attending Seattle Climbing Committee meetings after work and quickly discovered how fun they were! Hanging out with 20 or so climbing nerds (and enjoying free pizza) was my ideal evening activity. Those meetings helped me feel at home in both the organization and the PNW. I still remember googling every climb people mentioned in those first meetings. Now, I've had the chance to climb and assistant lead with those same folks, which makes me feel so grateful.

What's your favorite Mountaineers memory?

I have a photo of my SIG standing under the Feathers at Vantage after our very first rock climbing field trip. It was pure joy - our first outdoor climbing adventure as a team - and the people in that photo are still some of my closest mountaineering friends. It's wild to look back and realize how new everything was then, and how much I've learned since. My very fluffy, very silly crag dog (Bodoque) also features prominently in the picture, which makes it even better.

What is one thing you do as a leader to make your participants feel welcome?

I try to show up as my goofy self. I'm a teacher by profession, and sometimes I come across more like a teacher than a peer (especially a goofy peer). But the magic of The Mountaineers is that we are all peers teaching and learning together. I try to balance being both a learner and an instructor, so participants know we're all on the same team. I hope that approach helps others feel comfortable and included.

What advice do you have for aspiring volunteers?

Jump in! The hardest part for me has been reminding myself that I'm actually qualified to volunteer. I felt this way after completing the Basic course—even though I had passed the tests, I wasn't sure I was "ready" to help others. I still sometimes feel that way as Branch Chair. But I've learned that The Mountaineers is a supportive community where volunteers can grow into leadership. After one of my first Branch Chair meetings, another leader I deeply respect called me to say I was doing a good job. I saved his voicemail and replay it when I'm feeling uncertain. None of us are perfect, and it's okay to feel unsure—you'll still be a great addition to the volunteer team, and you will learn along the way.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise
Smile or Game Face? Smile
What's your 11th essential? A sleep mask. If it's an overnight trip in the PNW, chances are the sun is still blazing long after I want to be asleep. I am definitely a better human after a good night's rest.
What's your favorite close-to-home adventure? I love taking my dog on walks around Fremont and seeing the world through his eyes. I try to imagine what he's thinking... For example, if I were only 10 inches tall, every set of stairs would feel like Mt. Si. Or if I were a dog, what would I think of birds? They just… float around in the air, and that has to be weird, right? Imagining the world from Bodoque's perspective definitely makes the hills of Fremont more exciting.
Post-trip meal or go-to place of choice? A burrito roughly the size of a small donkey. Salty chips, spicy salsa, and a giant vegetarian burrito (hold the sour cream, add guac) is my dream dinner any night of the week—post-climb or not.

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!

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

If you’re a leader (or want to nominate a leader to spotlight), send an email to Michelle Song to make a recommendation.