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: Skye Stoury
Hometown: Bellevue
Member Since: December 2015
Occupation: Email Marketing Specialist at Outdoor Research
Favorite Activities: Alpine climbing/multipitch rock climbing
10 Essentials: Questions
How did you get involved with The Mountaineers?
One of my friends from grad school talked about joining while we were on a hike. I was interested in making new, outdoorsy friends and learning more skills, so I decided to join myself. I first got involved by going on hikes and shortly after, became a hike leader and took the Basic Snowshoe course. I started climbing in 2015 and soon realized I couldn’t live without mountains in my life. After graduating from the Basic Climbing Course in 2017, my heart was set on applying to Intermediate. The skills I learned in Intermediate took me to the summits of Prusik Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Ingalls Peak, Sahale, South Early Winter Spire, and Liberty Bell. Now I’m more involved with the club than ever, and I’ve been a Super Volunteer in both 2018 and 2019, instruct for both the Basic and Intermediate Climbing courses, am an assistant instructor for AIARE 1, and this year I’m a SIG leader for the Seattle Basic Alpine Climbing course.
What motivates you to Get outside with us?
The friends I have made through The Mountaineers are some of my main adventure partners. I love climbing with the community I have built through the club, and hope to soon get into backcountry skiing with my fellow AIARE assistant instructors. The members and climb leaders I climb with motivate me to keep improving my skills.
As a current instructor and future climb leader, I want to help others achieve their climbing dreams as well. The Mountaineers community means so much to me, and I hope to be a part of it for years to come.
What's your favorite Mountaineers memory?
Climbing the Beckey Route on Liberty Bell this past summer with a group of friends/Mountaineers members. It was my first Intermediate climb with the club, after doing many private climbs the previous year. It was a wonderful experience to get to climb with two climb leaders I view as mentors, and be able to lead on such a classic route. It was also nice to get to share the summit with them and my boyfriend.
Who/What inspires you?
Mainly, other women in the climbing community. Be that professional climbers and guides, or other Mountaineers members. Seeing other women rocking it on hard climbs inspires me to keep training and pushing myself. Some Mountaineers who inspire me, regardless of gender, are Sherrie Trecker, Jacob Wolniewicz, Gabe Aeschliman, and Kimber Cross (though we still haven't met in person).
What does adventure mean to you?
It means doing something that excites and challenges you, that is outside of your everyday life, that may at times be out of your comfort zone. Adventure to me is trying new things and going new places, mainly outside and in the backcountry.
Lightning Round
Smile or game face? Smile
What's your 11th essential? My camera or phone to take photos.
Post-adventure meal of choice? Pickles, but that isn't a meal... As far as meals go, I would say an Impossible burger and a beer.
If you could be a rockstar at any outdoor activity overnight, what would it be? Skiing. I just started learning last winter and wish I was good enough to go into the backcountry.
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