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: Renee Stern
Hometown: Born in Berkeley, grew up in Shoreline
Member Since: June 2021
Occupation: Biotechnology Training Specialist
Favorite Activities: My bread and butter are hiking, scrambling, and backpacking, but you can sometimes find me SUPing, kayaking, or snowshoeing. I also love birding, tide pooling, and naturalist night walks.
10 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE MOUNTAINEERS?
After a few dodgy incidents (environmental and human) while out solo hiking, I decided to check out The Mountaineers. I needed to learn how to safely go off-trail and make new connections with similarly outdoor-obsessed people. On my first day hike, I learned about the Alpine Scrambling Course. A year later, after completing all the course requirements including Navigation, First Aid, and Stewardship, I earned my very own Alpine Scrambling Course badge.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO GET OUTSIDE WITH US?
I thrive on variety, challenge, and human connection. Getting outside and into adventures is key to my mental health and I sincerely support the mission to build healthy communities and a future for conservation. I love that so many Mountaineers are bold, astute, generous, and passionate people.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MOUNTAINEERS MEMORY?
For sheer Type 1 fun as a newbie scrambler, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the exhilaration of glissading down Mount Ruth on a bluebird day. Other great memories include: swimming in Mowich Lake after a hard day of backpacking, marveling at huge fields of red paintbrush near Tomanos mountain, sharing holiday cookies on an urban night hike, and… learning how to self-arrest while speeding down a snowy hill headfirst and upside down.
WHAT DOES ADVENTURE MEAN TO YOU?
Unpredictability, challenge, creativity, lots to laugh about with my fellow adventurer(s).
LIGHTNING ROUND!
Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise
Smile or game face? Smile
What's your 11th Essential? A Multi Towel Deluxe
What's your happy place? Snacking on a well-earned summit
Post-adventure meal of choice? Ice cream. Ice cream can be a meal, right?
If you could be a rockstar at any outdoor activity overnight, what would it be? Canyoning
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.
