The Mountaineers
We are incredibly excited to be launching this year's Our Parks |Your Adventure (OPYA) summer challenge with 25 adventurers. The OPYA Team members are committed to raising money for The Mountaineers youth programs and we can't wait to watch them complete their personal outdoor challenges this summer. Their challenges range from testing out a pair of new knees on the trails at Rainier or biking 370 mile counter-clockwise around the Olympic Peninsula. Learn how you can support them and join the challenge.
Our Parks | Your Adventure Team Roster!
- Amanda Konenkamp
- Anita Elder
- Amy Clark
- Becca Polgase
- Ben Leininger
- Brynn & Ryan Koscianski
- Elaine Erwin & Shaun Danielson
- Elliot Krivenko
- Gavin Woody
- Kristina Ciari
- Leone Kraus & team
- Lucia Cantu
- Michael Toyama
- Miles McDonough & Imran Rahman
- Richard Kresser
- Ras Vaughn
- Steve LeBrun
- Tess Wendel, Mark Scheffer, Hadi, & Michael Telstad
- Team Fjallraven
You've already met a few of our other OPYA Team Members: Richard Kresser, Miles & Imran, and Emily Guyer, and now we'd like to introduce you to two of our intermediate climbing students who are planning adventure to the remote and rugged Picket range to climb West McMillian Spire.
Meet Shaun & Elaine
Shaun & I are both very passionate about the outdoors. Joining The Mountaineers a few years ago has provided us with a fantastic community of like-minded adventurers who are just as excited about working to preserve the wild.
We wholeheartedly believe that getting kids outside is imperative for the future of our planet. The Mountaineers’ youth programs introduce the benefits of outdoor recreation skills, healthy lifestyle, perseverance, self-confidence, self-reliance, and cultivate an interest in preserving our wild places.
That’s why we want to help fundraise for the youth programs at The Mountaineers. This summer we are taking part in Our Parks Your Adventure (OPYA), exploring a corner of our great state of Washington where we’ve never been before--the Picket Range of the North Cascades. Our goal is to climb West McMillan Spire.
More about our Adventure:
West McMillan Spire is an 8,000 foot peak located in the Southern Pickets, an area we have yet to explore. The Picket Range is a small, extremely rugged subrange of the North Cascades. There are at least 21 peaks in the range over 7,500 ft.
An Aerial View of the Southern Pickets; www.stephabegg.com
Our plan is to camp in Terror Basin and then summit via the West Ridge the following morning. While the route is tecnically modest it is long, strenuous and presents unique route finding challenges.
Route up West McMillan Spire; www.stephabegg.com
The route to Terror Basin has a reputation for its long, steep approach. Over 6 miles and 6,000 feet of elevation, just to base camp. From camp, you cross a small glacier and then ascend 'class 3' rock up the west ridge to the summit at 8,000 ft. Should be fun!
Route From Highway 20 to the Summit of West McMillan Spire
Thank you for considering a contribution to Mountaineers youth programs through our OPYA trip this summer!
Cheers,
Shaun & Elaine
join the opya team
It's not too late to accept the challenge and join Team OPYA. We're accepting new challenger through the end of the challenge on June, and you have until the end of July to pick a challenge, pick a fundraising goal, and get 'er done.
To Join, select the blue Join Roster button on The Mountaineers fundraising page.
