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 Brien Houston
Hometown Shoreline, WA
Member Since 2023
Occupation Customer Success
Favorite Activities Hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering. I also want to get into outdoor rock climbing.
10 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
WHAT FIRST BROUGHT YOU TO THE MOUNTAINEERS?
I started backpacking and hiking a lot in 2021 and I had a friend refer me to The Mountaineers.
WHY DO YOU LIKE GETTING OUTSIDE WITH US?
I like going on trips with The Mountaineers because they are well organized. I know everyone in the group has a baseline for safety and preparedness. It is also nice to go out with people I know have similar interests.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOUNTAINEERS MEMORY?
Granite Mountain was my first official summit with The Mountaineers. The day was gloomy and rainy but I managed to handle the wet rock scramble and test my gear in harsh weather. It was a lot of fun to push through the suck and we had a great group of positive people who made the trip very enjoyable.
WHO/WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
My family inspires me to continue to push myself and grow as a person. One of the main reasons I joined The Mountaineers was to develop my skills so I can go out on bigger adventures with my wife and children
WHAT DOES ADVENTURE MEAN TO YOU?
To me, adventure means testing your comfort zone and growing from difficult experience that I persevered through. I think it is good to take on challenges that can be a little scary because you learn more about your self from something difficult more than you learn from something that was easy.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise
Smile or game face? Smile
What's your 11th Essential? A sit pad so I can hang out at my destination and take a moment to relax in the wilderness and be grateful for the experience
What's your happy place? Walking through the woods when there is little to no human presence and sitting by an alpine lake enjoying a snack
Post-adventure meal of choice? Pizza, I love my cheesy carbs
NOMINATE YOURSELF FOR MOUNTAINEER OF THE WEEK
Mountaineers come in all shapes and sizes, varying widely in age, outdoor experience, and length of time involved in The Mountaineers. Part of what makes our community so unique is the broad diversity of our membership, and we hope these weekly features highlight who we are and why our community plays an important part in feeling belonging in the outdoors. We are always seeking self-nominations for our Mountaineer of the Week, and we invite you to share your story. Trust us, we want to hear from you!
Want to nominate a friend? Email Skye Michel to make a recommendation.
