President

*This role is uncontested

Katie Brown

2nd Year Physics PhD

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

Am I allowed to say all of them? I’m a climber first (boulder bro at heart but finding my love for climbs longer than six moves), but also love trail running, backpacking, and eating snacks on top of mountains (which absolutely counts as an alpine activity). Since coming to Stanford I’ve also been so excited to be getting into backcountry skiing and mountaineering!

I just got back from taking Stanford’s trad climbing course that has me so stoked for all the new adventure possibilities that it opens up!

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

SAC has been a huge part of my life since I got to Stanford in 2024 (there’s an ongoing joke that SAC is my full-time job and my PhD is my side hobby). I ran for Social Chair last spring, but ended up stepping into the President role for the past year!

Why do you want to be president of SAC?

SAC has been the highlight of my time at Stanford, and I really believe in the impact it can have by bringing people into a supportive community and getting them outside. After this past year as president, I feel really invested in the club and where it’s going. I’ve learned a ton, and I’m excited to keep building on the progress we’ve made.

Tell us about your vision for the club. How do you think we should prioritize our resources? Do you have any ideas for changes you’d like to make or initiatives you’d want to start if elected?

I think SAC is at its best when we’re prioritizing three things: building a welcoming and engaged community where we can meet friends, mentors and adventure partners, creating opportunities for members at all levels to develop their alpine skills, and helping people actually get out into the mountains.

Over the past year, we’ve made some big changes that I’m really excited about, like introducing common adventure grants, starting the partnership with Lake Tahoe Community College, and putting more emphasis on community-building events. This year, I’d love to focus on dialing those in and making them run more smoothly and consistently.

I’d also love to increase the number of bigger group trips (both member- and exec-led), including bringing back Thanksgiving and Spring Break trips!

Vice President

*This role is uncontested

Anna Janni

Physics PhD - 2nd year

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

I enjoy trail running, climbing, backpacking, hiking, xc skiing, (newly) downhill skiing, and (aspirationally) mountaineering. I recently spent time in Bishop running, climbing, and camping. During the trip, Pine Creek sport climbs, beautiful flowers and views, and all my amazing friends got me so so stoked!

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I've been in SAC since fall 2024. I've participated in many SAC and SAC Womxns+ events by adding to pitch slide decks, showing up to socials and info sessions, and spreading stoke.

Why do you want to be vice president of SAC?

I want to be vice president of SAC to help continue the growth of the outdoor enthusiast community and to help Stanford folks realize their mountain dreams whether whimsical or wild!

Tell us about your vision for the club. How do you think we should prioritize our resources? Do you have any ideas for changes you’d like to make or initiatives you’d want to start if elected?

People don't shred or send alone, so... I think a number one priority for SAC should be building community--introducing people to mentors, friends, adventure partners. The ideas I have to build such community include: some sort of mentorship program and a yearly or quarterly service project like trail maintenance (call it "SAC Gives Back").

But, enough with my visions. I think SAC will be made the best it can be by considering member visions. I would love to see more member participation in all SAC actions and decisions and think this can be made possible by opening up SAC exec meetings to general members.

Financial Officer 

*This role is uncontested

Nicole Meister

4th year EE PhD

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

I like to climb, run, bike, and ski! 

I recently took Outdoor 15, an intro to trad climbing class, and it was so fun! I laughed a lot, over cammed a lot, and learned so much. I’m so stoked to climb in so many new places with new friends! 

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I've been an active member of SAC for 2 years and have actively participated in the social and climber coffee. I routinely go on trail runs and climbs with SAC members and have participated in the LTCC classes through SAC. I'm very grateful for all the friends I've met through SAC and hope that I can foster that for others!

Why do you want to be financial officer of SAC?

I want to be the financial officer of SAC to help members fund their ideas and provide resources to continue to grow our community through socials and beginner friendly trips and technical skills training.

Tell us about how you think the club’s financial resources should be allocated. What should we prioritize (or de-prioritize) with our funding?

SAC's financial resources should be allocated towards supporting our members at every skill level. Specifically, I want to continue funding beginner-friendly trips and socials to grow our community, while also creating support for experienced members accomplishing more technical alpine objectives.

Trip Coordinator

Emma Kerr

PhD Energy Science and Engineering, current 2nd year

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

I enjoy mountain biking, gravel biking, backcountry skiing (+ alpine skiing), backpacking, trail running, and hiking. I recently did some touring in South Lake and I hope to get back out there this spring for a natural pond skim!

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I have been a member of SAC since my first quarter at Stanford (Sept 2024). I am Trip Coordinator for 2025-26.

Why do you want to be the SAC trip coordinator?

In my time as Trip Coordinator (aka Trip Guru) over this past year, I have learned so much. I have learned what the people want, where the people want to go, how much support the people need, and how to get the people to unleash their alpine dreams.

I desire to continue to serve the people—to serve you. As a potential incumbent, I will foster my learnings toward an even more epic second term. I will continue to provide the support for seamless Yosemite campsites (I am here for the selfies, as they are both cute and encourage accountability). I will continue to uplift the group trips through logistical planning for all members to achieve their greatness. I will continue to empower our people with Common Adventure Grant funding so that you can send your projects, and treat yourself to not one, but two bags of nerd’s gummy clusters. I will do all this, plus more, as I continue to improve my Guru-yness so that everyone finds enjoyment in SAC.

A Trip Coordinator must be organized, timely, creative, and full of stoke. I believe I am your gal. After a great year of supporting you, I hope I have your support in re-election. <3

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a trip that you’d want to organize if elected. 

Here’s the ideal line-up I have in mind for next year: Yosemite campsites starting in April ’26 and continuing through November ’26, with a pause in mid-summer due to peak crowds and hot temperatures. Backpacking trips to Point Reyes and Big Sur in the fall. A hut trip for backcountry skiing in Tahoe. Two bikepacking trips (one local where we can leave from campus, another further away and longer) in the spring/early summer [stay tuned!]. Thanksgiving and Spring Break trips, along with any other excursions, determined by club interests (i.e., Yosemite, Bishop, Joshua Tree, Shasta, trail running festival, climbing…).

Alongside all of this, I hope that many of you submit Trailhead group grants so we can continue to fund your own unique, club wide trips!

Ella Roelofs

Earth System Science PhD - 1st year 

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

Backcountry skiing, skiing, climbing, hiking, backpacking, camping, jumping in the ocean or alpine lakes, mountain biking, and trail running. I'm about to go to Ostrander Hut which I'm super stoked for! 

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I've been at Stanford since Jan 2025 and the first event I attended was Galentine's day that February. I've mostly engaged by attending womens+ events on campus, and I've gone on a few trips through SAC / with people I met through SAC (Shasta trailfest, a backcountry trip to Bensen Hut last year, for example). 

Why do you want to be the SAC trip coordinator?

I love planning trips! I tend to be the planner on a lot of trips with friends so think I could use these skills as trip coordinator. I'm excited about helping other people get out there via the grant program. It would be cool to help with the grant program to hear about all the awesome activities people are getting up to. 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a trip that you’d want to organize if elected.

I would love to do a Lost Coast trip and think this could be a good SAC event because we could have people going in both directions to make the point to point logistically easier. In general, I would try to plan a trip that doesn't require specific technical skills, so maybe backpacking or a group camping trip with hiking. It could also be a group camping trip in an area that has lots of possible activities so people could choose their own adventure during the day (hike, climb, swim in a lake) and come back together in the evening. 

Social Chair

Karna Morey

3rd year Physics PhD

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

I love trail running, skiing, and climbing! I recently did a backcountry traverse of Utah's 6 ski resorts which was really fun!

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I've been social chair for the past year, and an active member for the year before that!

Why do you want to be a SAC social chair?

I have been the social chair for the past year, and I've been busy balancing other social commitments, I really enjoyed doing this job and found it really fulfilling.

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a social event you’d want to organize if elected.

I'd love to organize a club-wide pitch-a-trip night, where people find other outdoor adventure buddies that they'd like to do things with!

Meghan Marangola

Physics PhD, 1st year

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

I enjoy skiing, hiking/backpacking, trail running, climbing, swimming, biking, and picnicking in pretty alpine areas! Recently I did some slushy spring skiing in the sunshine and it was warm enough to jump in Lake Tahoe afterwards, which was super beautiful.

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I joined SAC in September when I arrived on campus. SAC people brought me to my first trail run last spring, and I explored many parks on SAC trail runs this past fall. I went on the Mojave Desert Backpacking trip in December with an amazing group. This quarter, I went winter backpacking in Yosemite mid-February. I went alpine skiing most weekends as well with many SAC friends. I have also really enjoyed SAC social events (the pitch a trips, the pitch your friends, galentines, and of course the come eat pizza) and have met so many wonderful people who also enjoy getting outdoors! I am excited for many more adventures during my time here.

Why do you want to be a SAC social chair?

I love planning events and bringing communities together. SAC is a community that I have really enjoyed being a part of this year, and I would love to give back and pass on the experiences I've had. 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a social event you’d want to organize if elected. 

In my mind, the SAC social chairs organize and attend events to bring the people of SAC together. I think the current SAC social events in the AEORC do a great job of this. I also envision more activity-driven events; we could host a SAC jeopardy / trivia night, with the winning team getting a small prize (and major bragging rights). Categories could be different outdoor sports, famous alpine athletes, etc. I also think a SAC skating social could be really fun.

Erinn Drage

First year PhD student, Environmental Social Sciences

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

Backcountry ski touring! Despite an "exciting" ending to my most recent hut trip that resulted in a broken bone and sprained ankle, my recent outing to Pear Lake Hut in Sequoia National Park definitely had me stoked. I love the mixed speeds of adventuring through the mountains on backcountry skis, where you can enjoy a slow walk (sometimes slog) up a mountain followed by a fast-paced, adrenaline inducing ski down. No matter the sport, I love being in the mountains to both connect with nature and to move my body and engage in fitness. Outside of backcountry skiing, other alpine activities I love include trail running, mountain biking, hiking, camping, and climbing. 

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I’m relatively new to SAC, having just joined in December, but I’ve been soaking up as much of the community as I can since then. I’ve especially enjoyed getting to know other members and finding friends at Stanford who share similar hobbies, passions, and interests. While I had hoped to participate more in SAC trips and organized activities this winter, a ski accident early in the year limited my ability to engage as much as I had hoped. That said, I’ve stayed connected where I could, and I’m really excited to hit the ground running this spring through events like Trailfest and general outings to continue deepening my involvement in the club.

Why do you want to be a SAC social chair?

I would love to be a SAC Social Chair because I’m deeply passionate about bringing people together and am bursting with fun ideas to keep SAC members connected to one another. I've seen firsthand the value of creating spaces where people can meet others with shared interests and build meaningful connections, and want to continue facilitating this in the years ahead. Especially at Stanford where academics can be all-consuming and it’s easy to feel isolated or caught up with work, I think SAC offers a really important and unique opportunity to connect over a shared love of the outdoors. As a real "people person", I want to help make social connections through SAC even stronger, organizing a variety of social events that appeal to different schedules, interests, and comfort levels.

My vision is to organize events that span from intense to creative, whether that’s casual meetups, skill-building mixers, multi-sport adventure days, or storytelling nights, so members can connect, try new things, and get outside together. So far, I have felt like SAC is more than a club— it's a community of likeminded, adventurous people who can support each other in alpine adventures and beyond. By creating opportunities for connection both on and off campus, I want to carry forward and strengthen the sense of community that makes SAC such a special part of Stanford.

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a social event you’d want to organize if elected. 

One event I would be excited to build out would be a "SAC Alpine Sampler" day. The goal would be to introduce SAC members to the foundations of alpinism in an accessible, hands-on way on or near campus through a fun, low-pressure event. I would picture this including different stations set up that reflect core alpine sports, skills, and activities, for example an intro to trail running station, a small mountain bike loop with test bikes to build comfort on varied terrain, a backcountry ski gear station to walk through the basics of equipment and safety for those who have not been exposed, a navigation basics station, packing and layering for alpine objectives, a simple knots and rope systems demo, etc. The idea would be to demystify alpine sports that can feel intimidating or inaccessible and show that alpine objectives don't have to be just about big expeditions, but are really about skills that can be learned and an alpine mindset. I think an Alpine Sampler day would allow for mentorship between more experienced and less experienced SAC members, and I would look forward to facilitating volunteers for the stations to share their breadth of knowledge and experience. The afternoon would include a casual social BBQ to relax and connect with other SAC members. 

Is there anything else you want us to know?

If I am elected to Exec, I am really excited about continuing to build on the direction SAC has been moving toward, expanding beyond a narrow focus on mountaineering and climbing to embrace a more inclusive, place-based idea of what “alpine” can mean. Being in Palo Alto, we’re not surrounded by glaciers or big peaks, but that doesn’t mean we can’t cultivate an alpinism-inspired culture rooted in pushing physical and mental boundaries and connecting to each other and to the landscape. I’d love to help continue growing opportunities for mountain biking, trail running, and other ways of moving through our local mountains, while carrying forward the alpinism values of resilience and stewardship and connecting as much as possible to the Sierra. While on campus though, I'm confident that SAC can continue to embody an alpine culture that we collectively create in our context here at Stanford, ensuring that we are accessible to a wide range of people without losing the spirit that draws us to the mountains.

Victoria Dinov

1st yr Masters Energy Science and Engineering 

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

All of the them! I love to run, ski, climb, backpack, etc. I really loved the LTCC backcountry course I recently took and it got me super stoked on backcountry skiing and potentially ski mountaineering!! I also took a fun trip to Red Rocks over winter break that was actually phenomenal... and also GETTING INTO TRAD!

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I have been an active member since coming to Stanford this fall. I have been attending the Windy Wednesday runs and a lot of the club events. I have also been participating in the LTCC events, like the backcountry ski class and upcoming mountaineering class. I haven't yet had the opportunity to lead much other than small group trips with friends from SAC, but I am looking forward to organizing more and getting more people excited!

Why do you want to be a SAC social chair?

I think SAC social events are so amazing and I think that fostering community outside of activities is really important. People can meet their new best friends, climbing partners, hiking buddies, etc at these events and I know I have had a lot of fun times and made a lot of friends through them. Also, for new people, it is a great way to get the vibe of the group. 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a social event you’d want to organize if elected. 

My vision is honestly to be able to fill Karna and Rachel's shoes (haha). I would love to put on barbecues, picnics, etc. We could put out slack lines or do other fun activities during the events to get people to work together or force them to meet new people. I also think having more intimate events (i.e. events tailored to specific hobbies) could be another good way for people to connect to others they have not met before.

Sarah Rockwood

*See under VP for more of Sarah’s Background

Why do you want to be a SAC social chair?

The SAC community has become one of the most important communities in my time at Stanford and the increase in social bonding events over the last 1-2 years is a major part of that. I have been planning social events in leadership positions for most of my life and it is one of the most rewarding leadership roles I have partaken in. As President of the Stanford Medical School, I planned our 450+ person prom and our 300+ person arts gala, as well as multiple cohort bonding activities. I hosted 5+ large backcountry ski potlucks with my friend Jardon for SAC, which had 30+ attendees each. I helped host Galentines Day 2025 and Trailfest 2025. I absolutely love event planning and bringing people together for a good time (if I weren't a medical student I'd be an event planner), and I would love to bring that energy and skillset to SAC!

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a social event you’d want to organize if elected. 

I think coming together for food and drink is one of the most wholesome ways to build community, so I'd love to host a monthly potluck dinner series for SAC, with occasional themes (mountaineering, trail running, etc). I recently moved to San Francisco and have a beautiful home near Dolores Park, so I would love to host SAC over at my home and walk over to the park for a Dolores Park picnic one weekend. I'd also like to host more regular happy hours (perhaps monthly) with speakers - either student speakers highlighting their adventures or bringing in local legends. 

Ella Roelofs

*See under Trip Coordinator for more of Ella’s background

Why do you want to be a SAC social chair?

I think it would be fun to do some more co-ed events (even if I LOVE the women's events). I think we could improve overall club culture through some more creative full group social events and reviving the club instagram to keep people excited. Maybe we could have some activities at events to more intentionally help people meet new adventure partners. Even if I'm not the most outgoing person, I am very organized and love to plan things, sometimes with too many google docs. I plan a lot of outdoor trips with my friends! 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a social event you’d want to organize if elected. 

Beach bonfire, gear swaps, potluck, avalanche safety review or WFR/WFA review/practice

Women’s+ Chair

Erinn Drage

*See under social chair for more of Erinn’s background

Why do you want to be the SAC Women's+ Chair?

I would love the opportunity to serve as the SAC Women’s+ Chair because the Women’s+ community has been one of the most welcoming and grounding spaces for me since joining SAC. Having a dedicated space for Women+, I’ve felt supported and encouraged in entering what can be an intimidating space. I have certainly had experiences, especially in the outdoors and in similar alpine clubs, that felt unwelcoming, too intense, or too clicky. The warmth that the Women's+ stream of events in SAC has shown has made me want to give back to the club by continuing the same sense of belonging for others.

I’m passionate about building on the strong foundation that the former SAC Women's+ Chair has created. She's clearly put so much care into fostering a community that centers connection, mentorship, and shared growth, and I’d be excited to carry that legacy forward while also bringing in new ideas. I would love to organize events that bring Women+ together in meaningful ways, including continuing with mentorship and friendship opportunities like Galentines,  offering skill-building workshops, or having more frequent, casual community spaces to get to know one another. I’m also excited about using the  Women’s+ webpage to both welcome in new members and to reflect what’s happening in the community. Overall, the Women's+ Chair role feels like a meaningful way to contribute to a space that has already given me so much, even in my short involvement with SAC. 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for an event, trip or other initiative you’d like to organize if elected.

My vision for the Women's+ Chair role is to continue creating spaces that actively spark connection and confidence, especially in getting Women’s+ members out on trips together and into leadership roles in the outdoors. Of course an important part of this would be continuing on the popular Galentines event and "match-making" with our badass female members. Building on the energy of the Galentine’s matching, one event I’d love to organize would be a “Women’s+ Mountain Dreaming Mixer”, a kind of speed-dating-style event for trip planning. The idea would be to group people up in short rotations to share their experience levels, interests, and dream objectives for the year, with prompts that help guide conversation (e.g. “What’s a trip in California you’ve always wanted to do?” or “What skill do you want to build this year?”). The goal would be to make it easy and fun to meet potential partners for future adventures, especially for those who might not already have a built-in network at Stanford. Based on my first year involved with the Women’s+ group and knowing how lucky we are to have access to funding through SAC to plan trips together, I think it would be great to facilitate a space that encourages new friends to connect, share their adventure ideas, and start turning those ideas into real plans.

To make it engaging and hands-on, we could include creative stations where participants sketch out dream trips, map possible routes, swap tips on gear and skills, and learn about SAC grants to support their ideas. Visionboarding is always fun too! The goal would be for members to leave ready with concrete next steps to make their “someday” trips a reality, ideally with new friends. 

Meghan Marangola

*See under social chair for more of Meghan’s background

Why do you want to be the SAC Women's+ Chair?

We live in a really cool time and place where women+ are absolutely crushing alpine sports. I want to continue to create space for women+ who love the outdoors (the Mojave trip spawned out of a womens+ pitch-a-trip event!). Maintaining a welcoming environment for women and gender minorities who are new to alpine activities is also very important to me. 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for an event, trip or other initiative you’d like to organize if elected. 

I think Megan has done an incredible job with this role and I would plan to continue the very popular events that have happened this year, including the pitch-a-trip, wax n snacks, and of course galentines. I feel like there have been many texts in womens+ group chats about gear recommendations this year, and I would be interested in pulling together information on that to have a women's gear review and borrowing forum. People could list their gear, experiences with it, and whether they are happy to lend it to other women in the club. I would also love to plan a womens+ hike or backpacking trip to a peak named after a woman! (Melissa Coray Peak, Mount Eddy, Maggie's Peaks, or even the Old Woman Mountains)

Skill Development Coordinator

Karna Morey

*See under Social Chair for more of Karna’s Background

Why do you want to be the SAC skill development coordinator?

I was the one who spear-headed the SAC/LTCC collaboration, along with Katie, and who's been organizing it. I have a lot of ideas for how to improve things in the next year.

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a skill-building initiative (e.g. course, workshop, etc.) that you'd want to organize if elected.

I'd like to streamline some of the courses that we have scheduled with LTCC, to make sure that things go better with respect to the partnership going forward.

Victoria Dinov 

*See under Social Chair for more of Victoria’s Background

Why do you want to be the SAC skill development coordinator?

Skills are important! I have developed so many new skills since coming to Stanford (trad climbing, backcountry skiing, etc) and I think SAC is the best place to level up ones abilities. A lot of people come in with basic experiences in a lot of outdoor hobbies, but SAC courses and trainings and LTCC partnerships have been instrumental in teaching people more about how they can take adventuring to the next level. Also, doing this alongside peers at Stanford is a huge plus. 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a skill-building initiative that you'd want to organize if elected.

I would love for this course to not only involve LTCC partnerships but also skill building trainings with peers. Honestly, Lexi's training on avalanche rescue was AWESOME! I envision trainings where people can pitch a skill they have and want to share or we find requested skills and have someone over a day or (might I say, short trip) learn that skill. It would obviously have to be something stripped down (i.e. not how to fully lead climb) but I think teaching people the basics of a lot of skills is really instrumental in getting them to seek those out elsewhere. 

Henry Purcell

Physics PhD 1st year

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

Mountaineering, ski touring, climbing, backpacking primarily. Just went to shasta with LTCC, snow camped, learned a bunch of snow anchors, self arrest techniques etc. really awesome experience (thanks to yall)

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

Since I got to Stanford! This is my main (or really only) club at Stanford and it has given me some really stupendous adventures. Lexi’s Badwater to Whitney run, the LTCC course, several tours with many new friends… and certainly more to come.

Why do you want to be the SAC skill development coordinator?

My trip with LTCC really impacted me and inspired me to accelerate my journey into serious mountaineering. I love the guides and the community at LTCC and I think the courses they offer are absolutely invaluable to anyone who wants to get into serious outdoor activities, and the price is absolutely outrageous. I have been looking for a way to make an impact to the community at Stanford and i think that working with LTCC and expanding their presence here would be a great way to contribute to student life. 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a skill-building initiative (e.g. course, workshop, etc.) that you'd want to organize if elected.

I got to know Nate Smith and some of the other guides at LTCC and would love to offer more courses in the vein of the intermediate mountaineering and backcountry skiing courses you have already organized this quarter. I discussed with Nate the possibility of doing a more serious advanced mountaineering course with real glacier travel on the north side of Shasta.

Additionally, this may be a reach goal, but i know a great community of ski mountaineers in Chile (where i grew up) and in undergrad i would take people from our ski club down every year to ski there. I would be interested in organizing something similar for Alpine club, though obviously this would be a much more expensive trip… maybe there wouldnt be a market for it but just putting it out there.

Nicole Meister

4th year EE PhD

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

I like to climb, run, bike, and ski! 

I recently took Outdoor 15, an intro to trad climbing class, and it was so fun! I laughed a lot, over cammed a lot, and learned so much. I’m so stoked to climb in so many new places with new friends! 

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I've been an active member of SAC for 2 years and have actively participated in the social and climber coffee. I routinely go on trail runs and climbs with SAC members and have participated in the LTCC classes through SAC. I'm very grateful for all the friends I've met through SAC and hope that I can foster that for others!

Why do you want to be the SAC skill development coordinator?

I want to be the SAC Skill Development Coordinator because making the outdoors more accessible to all is super important to me. Classes and outdoor skills clinics like those with the LTCC have helped me access more of the outdoors (and do so safely!). They have opened up so many opportunities for me and I'd love to make it happen for other SAC members! 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a skill-building initiative (e.g. course, workshop, etc.) that you'd want to organize if elected.

In this role, I want to maintain our partnership with the LTCC, establish a new partnership to allow international students and non-California residents to participate in outdoor courses, and host more specialist workshops. 

In addition to foundational LTCC courses, I propose offering workshops on more niche technical skills (e.g., Alyson Chun hosts an off-width climbing technique workshop, or more generally teaching crack climbing fundamentals). This would give SAC members opportunities to explore new techniques and get feedback. Additionally, it would help members be more prepared to pursue more ambitious alpine objectives that currently are a bit out of their current comfort zone.

Finally, it would be nice to have class opportunities for SAC members that don't qualify to participate in the LTCC courses due to residency status issues. We could establish new partnerships with local organizations like Movement or Pacific Pipe for lead belay clinics, or more specialized organizations for mountaineering and skimo. 

Wilderness Medicine Chair

Sarah Rockwood

*See under VP for more of Sarah’s background

Why do you want to be the SAC Wilderness Medicine Chair?

As a medical student hoping to go into Emergency Medicine and do a fellowship in Wilderness Medicine, I am passionate about bringing elements of wilderness medicine to SAC now during my medical training. I have already founded the SMS Wilderness Medicine Interest Group (WMIG), which has hosted multiple speaker series, such as most recently with Dr. Jospeh Forrester, a wilderness medicine trauma surgeon, that was open to all of SAC. I am planning a panel with the directors of multiple wilderness medicine fellowship programs. I have started a WMIG book club to read Dr. Paul Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine for the Outdoors. WMIG already has strong interest from SAC members and medical students, and I would love to continue to strengthen SAC's connection to wilderness medicine in this role. 

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a wilderness medicine event or initiative you’d like to organize if elected.

I would like to organize a summer camping trip in Tahoe this summer where we work on outdoor wilderness medical skills and recruit Stanford Emergency Medicine and Wilderness Medicine fellows, residents, and faculty to attend and teach us. I would also like to host a mixer event with Wilderness Medicine faculty and experts here at Stanford, which has the first Wilderness Medicine Fellowship in the country. 

Holly Ellingson

MSPA Class of 2028

What kind of alpine activities do you enjoy? Share a recent outing that got you stoked!

I did a climbing/trail running excursion in Bishop over a long weekend and was reminded how nice it is to be surrounded by an outdoor-centered community. I climbed some really easy sport climbs and boulders, felt embarrassed about my lack of climbing fitness and no one else cared! We were all just happy to be out there! I did a 16-miler through the mountains and finished well after dark, scared out of my mind but after a remarkable sunset. This trip reiterated in me the importance of safety (dark run is scary) and community because all outdoor adventures are just an excuse to hang out with and make new friends!!

How long have you been an active member of SAC? Briefly describe your participation in the club, including how you've engaged with the community and, if applicable, any leadership opportunities you've taken.

I have been a member of SAC since August 2025 when I arrived at Stanford. While I haven't been able to participate in as many events as I would have liked to (due to an ankle sprain last semester and class schedule conflicts this semester), I have attended some social events and information sessions including the Women+ firepit hangout and an LTCC session. Unfortunately, I am not a CA resident under their consideration until I have been here for 2 years so the cost has prohibited me from pursuing engagement with these as much as I would like.

Why do you want to be the SAC Wilderness Medicine Chair?

I have a history of leading backpacking trips for my peers in undergrad, taking friends on their first outdoor adventure (skiing, climbing, backpacking, trail running, fly fishing, hiking, camping, etc.) to share the love of the game. As a future PA I also plan to spend some summers doing SAR volunteering or working as I spend most of my time in the backcountry and feel inclined to help others stay safe or step in when disaster hits. I think all people interested in backcountry activities should have their safety at the front of their mind and the skills to ensure themselves and their group are as safe and comfortable as possible.

Tell us about your vision for this role. Describe an idea for a wilderness medicine event or initiative you’d like to organize if elected.

I think prioritizing funding and activity to get everyone at least wilderness first aid trained would be a worthwhile goal. If possible Wilderness First Responder training for anyone leading a group and getting momentum to have folks participate in the LTCC classes (even if I am not Californian enough to get the discount). Additionally, linking people up with the club from the medical school would be beneficial collaboration as our burgeoning climbing club plans to take people on outdoor adventures. 

Additionally, it could be interesting to have a panel of wilderness medicine professionals talk about the different volunteer and work opportunities.