Dee Ann Kline Parkinson
Outstanding leaders, volunteers, graduating students, and recipients of hiking pins and badges were recognized and celebrated at this year's Olympia Branch Annual Awards Celebration.
Hiking Pins and Badges
Olympic Lakes Hiking Pin
- Angela French
Olympic Trails 100-mile Patch
- Angela French
- David Hyde
- Sarah Magnuson
- Elyse Verstelle
Course Graduates included:
- 34 Navigation graduates
- 18 Wilderness Skills graduates
- 20 Conditioning Hiking Series graduates (five also became new hike leaders).
- 4 Backpacking graduates
- 8 Alpine Scrambling graduates
- 15 Basic Climbing graduates
- 1 Intermediate Climbing
- 17 Sea Kayaking graduates
- 5 Cross Country Ski graduates
- 37 Wilderness First Aid/MOFA Graduates
Volunteers recognized
- 7 members were recognized as Youth Club Volunteers
- 6 Members were recognized as Summer Camp Volunteers
Leadership Awards
Olympia Branch Service Award: Dee Ann Kline Parkinson
Dee Ann kline parkinson and nick parkinson. Photo by Donna Krueger.
Bruce towhey memorial silver crampon award: Ron holcomb
Julie Dasso, Basic Climbing Chair, presents the Bruce Towhey Memorial Silver Crampon Award to Ron Holcomb. Photo by Dee Ann Kline Parkinson.
Ron Holcomb received the award for his many years of dedicated instructing and leading for Basic Alpine Climbing. He has always been there when asked to step in to fill a role, is always up-to-date on current skills and practices, and leads with kindness and humility. He is a Basic Alpine Climbing instructor and participated in all Basic Alpine Climbing instruction modules and field trips this year. Ron is also a scrambler and an assistant leader on Olympia scrambles.
sCRAMBLE LEADER OF THE YEAR: Sherrie Trecker
Paul Kallman, Scrambling Chair, presents the Scramble Leader of the Year Award to Sherrie Trekker. Photo by Dee Ann Kline Parkinson.
Sherrie has been leading scrambles for Olympia since 2021. She consistently leads about five scrambles a year for the club in addition to leading hikes, backpacks, CHS hikes, conditioning hikes, climbs, and instructing for Basic Alpine Climbing. Sherrie frequently leads scrambles for scrambling students and spends extra time teaching and supporting students to ensure they are successful. She is well regarded for being welcoming, supportive, and patient. Sherrie is a good decision maker and ensures that everyone gets home safely.
HIKE LEADER OF THE YEAR: NANCY LLOYD
Photo courtesy of Nancy Lloyd.
Nancy Lloyd was awarded the 2024 Hike Leader of the Year. She led an amazing 15 hikes for the branch this past year. Nancy is also a Scramble leader and has also earned leadership badges for backpacking, basic snowshoeing, and intermediate snowshoeing. She stays current on leadership practices by attending leadership and risk management best practices seminars and workshops. Nancy has earned a Super Volunteer and Key Leader badge every year since 2014. Her personal goals align with The Mountaineers mission to help people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
STEWARDSHIP ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: jOHN ELIASSON, BOB KERANEN, DEBORAH YATES
Bob Keranen. Photographer unknown.
Bob Keranen is almost always the first branch member to take his turn at leading a new venture or supporting a new initiative, giving the Olympia Branch support to grow and do more. When Bob signs up for one of your trips, you know you are offering a worthwhile experience. Despite being involved in so many other committees and branch leadership positions, he has been a faithful supporter of the Conservation and Stewardship Committee and a regular participant in stewardship work we.
John Eliasson. Photo Courtesy of John Eliasson.
John Eliasson enthusiastically joined our trail work parties several years ago and has creatively tackled some challenging problems on a number of the trails the Olympia Branch works on. He has pursued the training necessary to become a trail crew leader and brings a historical appreciation for the trails and forests the Olympia Branch works in.
Deborah Yates (photo not available) is an unexpected treasure on most of our recent trips. She often works hard up to the last minute of the project and we sometimes have to pry her off the trail when it is time to go. She has stories to tell which we treasure because they are both humorous and insightful.
FRANK MARANVILLE MEMORIAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD: MEG HUNT AND MIKE FORSYTH
Meg Hunt and Mike Forsyth (joined by Mike's granddaughter). PHOTO BY DEE ANN KLINE PARKINSON.
The branch's most prestigious Conservation and Stewardship award is named in honor of Frank Maranville for his decades of perseverance and leadership in trail maintenance and conservation.
Meg Hunt has been a faithful part of our SCAT team since it began and has taken part in so many of our work parties. Two years ago, she enthusiastically jumped in to take charge of the campground cleanup work that the Olympia National Forest staff asked us to do, and this year she oversaw that five campgrounds were in great shape for the start of the camping season.
Mike Forsyth has stepped up to become one of our most active volunteers and leaders in just the few short years since he moved to the Pacific Northwest from New York. He brings with him trail work skills and knowledge that he gained from working in the Adirondack Mountains, and has applied his trail work skills to our adopted Church Creek Trail in the Olympics.
