What brought you to NWAC?
After spending the last two years teaching English and gallivanting around the French Alps, I was ready to come back to my PNW roots and develop my start in the nonprofit and outdoor industry spaces. Excited to apply my communications and marketing background in a new position, NWAC has been the perfect place to combine my passion for mission-driven work with a great community excited about getting into the mountains.
What’s your role at NWAC, and what does a typical day look like for you?
As the newly appointed Volunteer and Communications Coordinator, I get to wear lots of different hats! I’m especially looking forward to supporting our fantastic network of volunteers, contributing to social media content and strategies, event planning, and helping out wherever possible to support and expand NWAC’s reach to backcountry enthusiasts of all levels and backgrounds.
What’s your favorite place in the NWAC Fx zones to spend time and what do you love about it?
Growing up skiing at Crystal means I’ll always have a soft spot for the West South zone, but I can’t wait to explore our office backyard in the Snoqualmie Pass zone!
What’s one thing you want every backcountry user to know?
The moment you step foot (or ski or board or sled!) into backcountry terrain, you are a backcountry skier/rider/snowshoer/user. Whether your first day on snowshoes or your 100th day skinning up for the season, avalanche safety still applies! Everyone deserves access to the outdoors, regardless of their experience level, but that also means learning about and respecting the mountain conditions, no matter what adventure takes you out there.
What excites you most about the future of NWAC and/or avalanche safety?
I’m so excited to be a part of NWAC’s commitment to making avalanche resources as accessible as possible for anyone stoked about getting into the backcountry. There are a lot of amazing projects in the works, including a new website to centralize avalanche center forecasts from across the country, continuing to build our community of volunteers and members, and developing more programs and opportunities for people of all backgrounds to get involved with NWAC.
Describe a particularly memorable day on snow from this past season.
Spending the last couple of winters in the French Alps meant I took full advantage of exploring some really cool terrain. Skiing at Chamonix on a bluebird day surrounded by a cathedral of alpine peaks like I’d never seen before made for one of the most epic ski memories I’ve ever had. I had multiple moments of slowing down just to take in the surroundings, reminding myself of how special it is to be able to connect to nature and the mountains this way!
