As many of you know, when I moved to Washington from New York City in 2018 I was, at best, a casual hiker.  I mostly explored the great outdoors only when I traveled abroad.  I struggled to find healthy fitness activities that I actually enjoyed and could do regularly, and also struggled with self esteem in this area.  But I had moved to Washington in part because of the enticement of more time in nature and a more active outdoor-oriented lifestyle.  By 2019, that came to fruition in big way--I joined a climbing club, learned some basic mountaineering skills, and was spending a lot of time hiking.  In the summer of 2019 that culminated with a successful summit of Mount Rainier--Washington's highest peak and one of the most prominent peaks in North America.

That experience unquestionably changed my life for the better.  Spending time in the outdoors brought me both challenge and serenity at the same time.  Accomplishing something I once thought impossible made me feel empowered and accomplished.  I remember reentering my normal routine after that thinking, wow, I really can do anything.

I am supporting the Washington National Parks Fund because I want as many people as possible to have access to experiences like mine.  I want the Parks to be able to offer programs that otherwise wouldn't be funded--to keep the parks vibrant and have more diversity of programs for the community.  Anyone who lives in Washington knows that the Parks are what *make* Washington.  It would be a completely different place without them.

Oh, and yes, I'm extremely excited for the chance to climb Mount Olympus with some friends and coworkers and the wonderful folks at IMG, and take in a very different part of Washington's natural beauty while gaining additional experience along my climbing journey.  Mount Olympus is not nearly as high as Mount Rainier, but it's much more remote--the round trip to get to this summit starts in the Hoh Rainforest and involves nearly 50 miles of total travel distance.

Thank you for considering donating for this worthy cause.  Please feel free to share with anyone else who may be interested, and if you would like to hear more about our Mount Olympus climb or why I am fundraising, don't hesitate to ask!