Olympia Adventure Speakers Committee
Join the Olympia Mountaineers for our evening socials, featuring speakers guaranteed to inspire your next adventure. The events occur on the first Wednesday of the month, October through May (excluding November) at the Friends Meeting House.
Doors open at 5:30pm, and our potluck dinner starts promptly at 6pm. Bring a dish to share, as well as a plate and flatware. You can also grab a hot drink, check out our Mountaineers library, enjoy our audiovisual presentation, or pick up branch information. Branch announcements are at 6:45pm, and our Adventure Speaker presentations start at 7pm, followed by a Q&A and book signing when applicable.
Location: Friends Meeting House at Priest Point, 3201 Boston Harbor Road. Olympia, Wa 98506
For more information, contact Carolyn Burreson.
2019-2020 OLYMPIA MOUNTAINEERS ADVENTURE SPEAKER SERIES
October 2019
October 2, 2019. Cassandra Overby. Explore Europe on Foot.
According to author and expert traveler Cassandra Overby, there’s no better way to discover Europe than by getting off the beaten path and exploring it on foot with a hike.
Cassandra will take you step-by-step through the travel process: how to choose the route that's right for you, what to pack, how to find accommodations and food, how to deal with challenges along the way and much more.
She'll also introduce you to her favorite trails in Europe, with itineraries ranging from one to fifteen days. From classics such as the Tour du Mont in France and Italy and the English Way in Spain to lesser-known routes such as Portugal's Rota Vicentina and Germany's Moselsteig Trail, each route will leave you more inspired to embark on your own cultural hiking adventure- and itching to buy a plane ticket to Europe.
November 2019
No speaker in November. Please attend the Oct. 26 banquet.
December 2019
December 4, 2019. Craig Romano. Urban Trails Tacoma.
Discover your wild backyard. Come take a slideshow trail tour around Tacoma, Northern Pierce County, South King County with award winning guidebook author focuses on the trails, parks, and preserves within and around the urban and suburban areas of Tacoma, Federal Way, Puyallup, Auburn and Maple Valley. You’ll also find detailed trail information for Anderson Island and the Green River Valley’s array of beautiful parks and preserves.
January 2020
January 8*, 2020 (*not January 1st). Anthony Joyce. "Big Muddy Adventure."
Join Olympia sea kayaker Anthony Joyce on his paddling journey down 1300+ miles of the mighty Mississippi River, worlds third largest river. Learn some of the history and hydrology of the area and how important it is to our transportation network. Learn about the logistics of planning this 10 week trip and of the wonderful people along the way. “It was a chance to reconnect with old friends and make new friends too.”
February 2020
February 5, 2020. Neal Kirby. Hiking in Tasmania.
The Overland Track in Tasmania is more than a walk. It's an extraordinary journey through the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park going back to millions of years of rugged geology and glacier scarred landscape. It provides a host of diverse animals and plants. Six Mountaineers from various chapters took six days, covering a total distance of 43 miles, with approximately another 10 miles for side trips climbing the Labyrinth and Mount Acropolis."
March 2020
March 4, 2020. Ras Vaughan and Kathy Vaughan. UP North Loop: 2,600 Miles, the Inland Northwest.
Ras and Kathy Vaughan found the Pacific Crest Trail a little too crowded. So they came up with a new long distance hike that would take them on smaller trails in a giant loop through Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho. The couple recently completed the loop and, for Kathy, it was the first time doing a long distance hike since she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Join Ras & Kathy for an evening of laughter, information and inspiration.
April 2020
April 1, 2020. Paul Souders. Arctic Solitaire.
A boat, A Bay, and the Quest for the perfect bear. Funny adventure tale from a gifted photographer and writer. Paul Souders is the winner of the prestigious National Geographic and BBC Photography awards.
May 2020
May 6, 2020. Lou MacMillan "Voyage to Antarctica"
Join Olympia photographer Lou MacMillan on a photographic journey from Ushuaia, Argentina to the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. In December 2018, Loo traveled with 70 other international photographers to photograph the unique wildlife, stunning landscapes, and massive icebergs of the : White South". He will share thoughts, a 25 minute slide show, travel information, photo tips, and copies of his book of Antarctic photos, "Wilderness of Ice"