Foothills Volunteer Spotlight: Richard Bell

Our branch wants to give a big shout out to Richard Bell! Meet this awesome volunteer whose hard work is a huge asset to the Foothills community.

RICHARD BELL

In the short time Richard has been involved with our branch, he assembled a committee which delivered a powerful leadership course to develop new scramble leaders, with a particular focus on women and people of color,  launched a compressed scramble course for the eastside, to take place later this spring, and kicked off a committee to develop a Foothills outdoor leadership skills training – all this while leading hikes, backpacks, and snowshoe trips, and mentoring new leaders!

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST?

I moved here in 1993 after university to look for work after hearing about how awesome Seattle was from friends at school.

WHEN DID YOU JOIN THE MOUNTAINEERS, AND WHAT DREW YOU IN?

I joined The Mountaineers a couple of years ago after moving back to Seattle from Europe. I was looking for like-minded folks to get outdoors with and enjoy the Northwest. I knew about the organization from reading Freedom of the Hills as a teenager.

WHAT'S ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE VOLUNTEERING MEMORIES?

I think what I’ve enjoyed most is that "ah-ha" moment when you take someone out on a trip who is just learning and taking on a new experience, and then nails it! I’ve taken people on their first river crossings and their first backpacks. Mentoring a new leader is also very rewarding. There’s nothing quite like helping them get that sense of accomplishment.