We all choose to hike and experience nature in different ways and for different reasons. Denice Carnahan, a hike leader and board member for the Issaquah Alps Trails Club, hikes to find inner peace. Along with meditation she finds that her time in nature grounds her to the earth and to the planet. Carnahan was born and raised in King Hill, a town south of the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. These childhood years in rural Idaho are where she developed her deep respect for nature. Carnahan went on to study at University of Idaho and eventually ended up in the Seattle area working for Boeing. She now lives in Fairwood as an active member of her community.

Carnahan has always had a deep respect for nature, but did not start hiking until the 90s. In 1991 she became a hike leader for the Mountaineers where she found herself exploring some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in western Washington. However, she always felt at home in the Issaquah Alps area which inspired her to start leading hikes for Issaquah Alps Trails Club (IATC) in 2017. Since then she has led hikes all over the Issaquah Alps. A fond memory as a hike leader for IATC happened in January while leading hikes near DeLeo Wall on south Cougar Mountain. DeLeo Wall offers views to South Puget Sound, and provides habitat for many important flora and fauna, such as 80 year-old native trees and Bald Eagles.

In 2018, the owners of the DeLeo Wall property applied for a logging permit which would destroy the native habitat and recreational areas. Carnahan got involved with the Save DeLeo Wall group whose mission is to preserve the DeLeo Wall natural area. The Issaquah Alps Trails Club was formed on the idea of people coming together to preserve, protect, and promote a natural space precious to the ecology and history of the land. Carnahan exemplifies those principles by using her position as a hike leader to bring awareness to the issue. She started leading hikes to show people the beauty of the DeLeo Wall area, and to educate them on the mission of the Save DeLeo Wall group. The first hike was with local residents, but Carnahan decided to reach further by asking local politicians to join the hikes so they too could discover the beauty of DeLeo Wall. Five local politicians attended a tour led by Carnahan, including Councilman Randy Corman of Renton, and Councilman Tony Ventrella of New Castle. After the successful hike with local politicians, she hosted one more hike with locals. With the help of so many dedicated community members, Save DeLeo wall raised over $35,000 to cover the full appraisal of the property.

Photo of DeLeo Wall hike participants provided by Denice Carnahan.

Carnahan has years of experience guiding people through some of Washington's most beautiful natural areas, her favorites being Mt. Rainier and the Issaquah Alps. As a twenty-something fond of the outdoors, I asked Carnahan if she has any advice for young enthusiasts and people interested in outdoor recreation or advocacy. She beautifully composed her advice into two parts: practical and inspiring. She advised that those getting started in outdoor recreation should come prepared. It is important to have the ten essentials. It is also important to have the knowledge to make smart and safe decisions on the trail. Carnahan stresses the importance of safety first. You can practice this by taking classes such as a backpacking workshop, wilderness first aid, or an avalanche course (resources and links provided below). She also encourages those who want to get involved with conservation work to connect with an advocacy group that resonates with you. Along with this advice she provided an important reminder, “If you take care of the earth, it will take care of you.” This enlightenment is often forgotten: that we are as much dependent on the health of the earth as it is on us. The actions that we choose will be echoed in how the earth provides for us.

Carahan lives by this credo in her personal life. Her hopes for the future is that we have “pure water, clean air, and organic land.” She strives towards this future by advocating for native landscaping in her local Fairwood community and educating people on the importance of a clean and healthy earth for all.

Save DeLeoWall

https://www.savedeleowall.org/

Classes and Courses

https://www.rei.com/events/p/us-wa-seattle

https://www.nols.edu/en/coursefinder/courses/wilderness-safety-training-RST/

https://www.mountaineers.org/courses

Resources

https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/what-are-the-ten-essentials

https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/