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 Reece Quesnel (he/him)
Branch Seattle
Volunteer Since 2022
What activities do you volunteer with at The Mountaineers? Scrambling, climbing, navigation, Nordic skiing, and Branch Council
10 Essential Questions:
What first brought you to The Mountaineers?
I moved here from the Chicago, seeking a lifestyle where I could have both urban living and great nature access. I'd been doing hiking trips in Colorado and Utah for a few years… but living in the midwest, most of my life hadn't prepared me for the types of wilderness we have in Washington. During my first hike in the North Cascades, I remember sitting in the lookout above Hidden Lake, surrounded by snow capped peaks in every direction, and feeling enamored. I knew there wasn't a hiking trail to the top of each one, but the freedom of the hills pulled on me, and I figured I would need to learn some new skills. A friend told me that The Mountaineers taught a scrambling course, and it's been all…. uphill… from there!
How did you get started as a volunteer?
I was asked! The first couple of courses I took with The Mountaineers all pitched coming back the next years. And with how much fun I had learning, it was an obvious choice to come back and instruct. Especially since that meant staying another weekend in Stevens Lodge (shoutout to the Compressed Scrambling courses).
What's your favorite Mountaineers memory?
It was 1:30 in the morning, my alarm woke me up in Baker Lodge, after sleeping only a handful of hours. I was there for the annual photography weekend in late July, and already got a bunch of great shots of Baker earlier that night. My buddy Nathan and I had another idea though. Thirty minutes later, I'm getting out of the car at the Artist Point parking lot with my tripod. I see my pal sitting on top of a giant pile of snow by the Northwest edge of the parking lot. I hike out to it, crack open a cold Rainier, and sit down next to him as the show is about to begin. For the next two hours, we capture everything from star trails circling Mount Baker to the Milky Way erupting directly out of the top of her. And the next morning, we had the delicious satisfaction of a home-cooked breakfast to cap off our lodge weekend.
What advice do you have for aspiring volunteers?
You have something to contribute, regardless of how experienced you are! Whether you took a course one or 20 years ago, sharing your experience with new members will not only help them, it will help you grow your own skills and abilities.
Lightning round
Smile or game face? Smile
Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise
What’s your 11th essential? My Kindle!
What's your favorite close-to-home adventure? A walk or trail run around Discovery Park!
Post-adventure meal of choice? If I'm leaving the south side of Rainier, I have to stop at Copper Creek for a bowl of chowder and a slice of pie!
What's next on your bucket list? I say this every summer and maybe this will be the year… the Ptarmigan Traverse.
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.
