The time has finally come to say goodbye for the summer. I had an awesome time at the Graduation Party. It was great seeing all of you in your everyday clothes without trail grime on your faces. Congratulations to Steve Payne for being knighted “Prince of the Cascades.” It is a well-deserved honor. Steve has posted some images from last night on the CHS Facebook page. Go check it out.
Also, John Connelly, our photo guru, has posted his slide show presentation from last night on U-Tube. You can view it by entering the following into the youtube.com Search window: Seattle Mountaineers CHS Highlights 2010.
My favorite memories of the course are from hiking with you this year. Thank you for another fun season of CHS. I enjoyed meeting all of you and hiking with many of you. Congratulations on gaining a significant achievement. Even if you don't plan on doing longer distance day hiking ever again, you have gained the skills and knowledge you need to perform confidently on the trail, regardless of difficulty.
Several of you have shown interest in either taking the course next year or helping out with it. I'm glad that you enjoyed the course enough to want to be involved with it again. We could definitely use all of your support! Please email me with your interest and I’ll be in touch when it comes time to start planning CHS 2011. And remember that even if you decide not to take the course again, you are always welcome to come along on any of the hikes that do not fill up by the Thursday before the hike—one of the perks of graduating from the course.
I also wanted to reiterate again my comment from last night about finding some volunteer activity—even if it’s not CHS—that you are passionate about and making it a part of your life. One person committed to a calling can make a difference in this world. I encourage you to find your calling in life—be it outdoors-related or otherwise—and keep working to make it happen. And while you’re at it, visit your National Parks and see what dedication by others can do to make a difference in other people’s lives.
If you were unable to make it to the party, I have your graduation certificate and picture CD and I will have the clubhouse mail them to you sometime before the end of the month. Please make sure today that the address you have on file at the clubhouse is the correct one.
Keep in touch and I hope to see you on the trail again soon!
Kelly
