Cheryl Talbert
Our branch wants to give a big shout out to Ryan Dubberly and Chris Soverel! Meet these two awesome volunteers, whose hard work is a huge asset to the Foothills community.
Ryan Dubberly
Ryan is a volunteer extraordinaire and Issaquah resident. Since joining last spring, Ryan has completed The Mountaineers' scrambling, basic climbing, basic snowshoe, first aid, and navigation courses. On the volunteering side, he's a hike leader, a climb and snowshoe instructor, an at-large Foothills Branch Council member, and our Navigation Committee chair. Wow!
What brought you to the pacific northwest?
I grew up in the PNW, but I moved around a lot due to my family’s work. I lived in the Philippines for a short period back in 2009, and Vancouver, BC when I was younger for school.
When did you join the Mountaineers?
I joined in April 2017.
What do you Love Most about the Mountaineers?
Everything. I joined because The Mountaineers is an organization where you can learn, teach, and have fun outside. There are so many opportunities within the organization to jump around and keep things fresh and exciting. I love to teach, love to learn, and I love to go outside and climb even more. It's great.
List a favorite volunteering memory!
I'm helping with a Seattle Basic Climbing SIG this year, and it's awesome to see new students grow into their skills and abilities. I'm excited to be a part of their journey: from Day 1 in class to rope leading some of their first climbs!
Chris Soverel
Chris Soverel is one of our most valued Branch Council members, serving tirelessly as our Foothills treasurer and as an indispensable co-leader for our snowshoe course field trips!
What brought you to the Pacific Northwest?
Moved here when I was 5. My dad was in the Navy so we moved around growing up. I was lucky enough to spend most of my youth in the Northwest, where we went hiking and fishing. When my family moved to Brussels while I was in college, I got to go "home" to Europe to visit for the summers - that was a blast! The North Cascades really are just like the mountains of Austria and Switzerland.
When did you join the Mountaineers?
I should have joined years ago, but I thought The Mountaineers was all about ice and rock climbing. I actually joined in November of 2015 when my hiking and skiing buddies moved away, and I needed to find some new mountain adventure friends.
What do you love most About the Mountaineers?
I love anything in the mountains, any time of year! But what I really love most is all the wonderful, passionate people I have met and the new friends I have made.
List a favorite volunteering memory.
This year I volunteered to instruct for some of the snowshoe course field trips and help graduate our students. When Russ Immel (snowshoe committee chair and course leader) and I were planning some things, he said he promoted me to a co-leader and put me on the snowshoe committee given my back country qualifications and experience. Thanks for the awesome vote of confidence Russ!
