10 Essential Questions: Kirk Myers

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

Name: Kirk Myers
Hometown: Danville, CA
Member Since: November 2017
Occupation: Civil Engineer
Favorite Activities: Hiking, climbing, mountaineering

10 Essentials: Questions

How did you get involved with The Mountaineers?

My first exposure to climbing was a mountaineering course that I took in college, taught by SSgt Reyes. I enjoyed it, but didn’t pursue it further at the time. The idea of climbing resurfaced a number of years later, but we had babies and no time to pursue it. A few years later, I came across a climbing class at REI and figured I would give it a shot to see if I liked it. I did, so I started reading books on climbing and mountaineering, then I started seeking out classes on climbing. I took a few classes through the climbing gym before I came across The Mountaineers. I joined to take the Basic Climbing Course to continue my learning and meet people to climb with. I got way more than I had hoped for.

What motivates you to Get outside with us? 

There are a number of reasons to get outside, some rank higher than others on any given day. Sometimes it’s a need to get out of the daily routine and have a simple day of walking in the woods. The thing that attracted me to climbing is that it is an activity that engages both the mind and body. It requires physical and mental preparation and then requires mental and physical engagement to execute. The unique thing about getting out with The Mountaineers is that you are a part of a community. We all come from different backgrounds, but with a shared interest that bonds us. It is also a tremendous learning opportunity, and with all the time that members have spent teaching and sharing their knowledge with me, it makes me want to go back and teach that to the next group behind me.

What's your favorite Mountaineers memory?

In my mind, I am still pretty new to The Mountaineers, but the memory that stands out to me is when we got back to the white river parking lot after summiting Mt. Rainier. Before I really had any idea what mountaineering was, I had this idea that I really wanted to climb Mt. Rainier. This was a factor in drawing me into The Mountaineers in the first place, but when I joined I didn’t think it was in the cards for my first year. When I heard that it was going to be offered as a basic climb, I jumped on it. For the months leading up to the climb, it was my singular training focus. The climb came and fortunately went largely to plan. I climbed with a really great group of people and we successfully summited. We took an extra day for the climb so we didn’t have to pack out the same day we summited. We passed several groups headed up on the way out, and by the time we reached the parking lot, it felt like we were 10 feet tall. It was the last climb I needed to graduate from the Basic Climbing Course and it was also a goal that I had for years, and was a motivating factor to joining The Mountaineers in first place. The other thing I learned was, this climb was just the beginning.

Who/What inspires you?

This one is tricky. There are a lot people who I love and admire for different reasons, but I can’t say that I have any singular person who I look to for inspiration. The common thread of the people that I look to for inspiration are those that push the envelope of the human experience. I want to live an interesting life (in my own eyes) and I want to be a positive role model for my kids. Maybe that’s more motivation than inspiration.

What does adventure mean to you? 

In simple terms, adventure is getting outside your routine and comfort zone. The thing about adventure is, each time you take one, you push the limits of your comfort zone and thusly you push the limits of what adventure is. Adventure can be small in scale; a new day hike, a weekend vacation, or large in scale; a week-long backpacking trip, changing jobs, moving cities. For me, adventure is an absolute necessity in keeping life interesting. It’s not just the adventure itself that is important, it’s having something to look forward to. The anticipation of adventure is really helpful at keeping you motivated on a Tuesday afternoon at work.

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