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 Sushil Kumar (he/him)
Hometown Ghaziabad, India
Member Since 2022
Occupation Software Engineer
Favorite Activities Hiking, mountaineering,
walking, nature photography
10 Essential Questions:
What first brought you to The Mountaineers?
The appetite to learn and seek safety. I feel that to help myself and others outdoors, I should be equipped with skills, and that is what I seek from The Mountaineers: knowledge and experience.
Why do you like getting outside with us?
It always helps to be a part of the community and learn from the experiences of people with similar interests. I started hiking to improve my health after I got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in May 2021. Hiking helped me a lot. I got rid of all medications by September 2021, and have been happily hiking and mountaineering.
Hiking not only improved my health but also gave me mental solace. I love the wildflowers, colorful lakes, mountain summits, using tools, and seeing smiles. I always feel this is the best thing that happened to me.
What's your favorite Mountaineers memory?
My favorite memory is when I succeeded in my first hike at Rattlesnake Ledge after an unsuccessful attempt at Poo Poo Point, which promoted a sense of belief in myself that I can do difficult things.
Beyond this, there are countless memories I made during my journey so far. The list can go on: watching alpenglow on the horizon, starting the new year from the top of Mailbox Peak, watching the shadow of Mount Shasta dividing the sky, summitting Mount Rainier, seeing mountain goats for the first time on my ascent to Aasgard Pass, and being surrounded by golden, beautiful larches on my first trip to the Enchantments.
Who/What inspires you?
I have always read that inspiration comes from within. I started hiking because of the diabetes diagnosis and when I saw that hiking was helping me to improve on this health anomaly, I could never take a back seat.
Everyone I see on the trail inspires me. Seeing the smiles all around makes me feel awesome.
Another thing that inspires me a lot is when I hear from someone that they were inspired by my actions or suggestions and went ahead to achieve a goal themselves.
What does adventure mean to you?
To me, adventure means being outside, enjoying the mountains, and coming back safely.
Lightning round
Sunrise or sunset? Sunset
What's your 11th Essential? The smiles of hikers I see along the trail
What's your happy place? Mailbox Peak
Post-adventure meal of choice? Any warm Indian vegetarian food
If you could be a rockstar at any outdoor activity overnight, what would it be? Stargazing
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 Bayley Stejer to make a recommendation.
This article originally appeared in our fall 2024 issue of Mountaineer magazine. To view the original article in magazine form and read more stories from our publication, visit our magazine archive.
