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: Conor Marshall
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Member Since: August 2021
Occupation: Advocacy & Engagement Manager at The Mountaineers
Favorite Activities: Hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife watching
10 ESSENTIALS QUESTIONS
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE MOUNTAINEERS?
I saw The Mountaineers as exactly the kind of place I wanted to be - both professionally and personally. A place where recreation and conservation coverage for good - for adventure with a purpose. Washington is home for me - and I feel especially at home when I’m outdoors on public lands. I jumped at the opportunity to join the staff and become a part of The Mountaineers so I could bring my passion for conservation and the outdoors to this special community and give back to a region that’s given me so much.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO GET OUTSIDE WITH US?
Since coming on staff, I’ve been blown away by the force of nature that is The Mountaineers community. Our volunteers and the opportunities they make possible are truly special. Sharing those outdoor experiences on Washington’s public lands - and building a shared stewardship ethic in the process - is what connects us, and what builds this amazing community. I’m just grateful to be a part of that journey, and in a position tap into that through personal involvement in courses, activities, and stewardship opportunities.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE OUTDOORS MEMORY?
One of my favorite outdoor memories is of walking along streams in Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest picking berries and watching salmon swim upriver to spawn. I was fortunate to have spent several summers during my youth there, so some of my earliest outdoor memories trace back to Alaska and its coastal temperate rainforest.
WHO/WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I get inspired by seeing people coming together for a common cause and achieve grassroots change - even small ones - that make our environment - and our communities healthier, safer, and more equitable. My twin sister, who’s stayed the course and overcome a lot in her life, is a big inspiration for me. She’s driven by a passion for making our environment a better place and fighting climate change. Her actions help inspire me and connect my personal and professional pursuits back to climate advocacy.
AS A DONOR AND VOLUNTEER-SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION, THE MOUNTAINEERS IS BASED ON COMMUNITY SUPPORT. HOW HAVE YOU PAID IT FORWARD, OR HOW HAVE YOU BENEFITED FROM SOMEONE ELSE PAYING IT FORWARD?
I've already benefited from The Mountaineers gear library - from someone else providing gear or resources so others can rent and try outdoor gear before investing. I'm really grateful for this aspect of The Mountaineers experience.
WHAT DOES ADVENTURE MEAN TO YOU?
Adventure, to me, means getting out and experiencing something new or losing yourself outside in a way that feeds your soul. It doesn’t have to be an extreme recreation experience, it can be seeing and identifying a new bird, or getting acquainted with a new type of tree. Gaining learning, understanding, and increasing connection to place can come from adventure. And it’s even sweeter when you share it with others.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Sunrise or sunset? Sunset, for sure. I sometimes struggle with early morning adventures. I especially love looking through an evergreen tree line out at a golden orange and red sunset over the Olympics.
Smile or game face? Smile
What's your 11th Essential? Jerky
What’s your happy place? Anywhere near the water, especially when there's coastal forests involved
Post-adventure meal of choice? A cookout with good burgers, lots of toppings, and sides
If you could be a rockstar at any outdoor activity overnight, what would it be? Fly Fishing. I’m still honing my fishing skills and haven’t dug into the world of fly fishing yet. It seems really hard to learn, so it would be pretty sweet to turn into a rockstar angler with a fly rod overnight.
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