June Supporter Spotlight
Our monthly Alpiner e-newsletter now features a supporter of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club in each edition. Our goal is to fulfill our strategic priority for engaging people in our work through storytelling by highlighting the positive impacts of human connections in our community. This month, we talked to Scott Sowle, an Issaquah resident and trail runner.
Scott running on the Adventure Trail.
What drew you to the Issaquah Alps?
“I love the mountains and being outdoors has always been a part of my life. I didn’t have a car when I came to Seattle, but I could ride a city bus and get to the trails. I was able to get out to the Issy Alps and clear my head.
I came to Seattle because I was in addiction, and was in a program called Climbing Out of Homelessness through the Seattle Gospel Mission. They brought us out to Tiger Mountain for some of our training. Then they couldn’t keep me away from here. In the Issy Alps I was able to stop, learn, and listen to what was going on in myself and in my soul -- just by being in the great outdoors.
Now we (Scott and his wife) live in Issaquah in the Tiger Mountain area. I proposed to my wife on Tiger Mountain -- we have our loop out there, and we love living right next to the Sunset trail head. We spend a lot of time out there, and on Squak and Cougar also. That’s been a big part of our life out here.”
How did you hear about the IATC?
“I had seen posts about activism to protect the trails and the areas out here and knew the Issaquah Alps Trails Club was a big part of that. We want to keep being involved in what keeps this area so pristine and beautiful.
Also, I saw David Dunphy (IATC Board President) on Ginger Runner -- that inspired me to make a donation and get involved. I think everyone in the trail running community thinks of the Issaquah Alps first -- a lot of great runners come from here -- Scott Jurek. James Kirby knows the Issy Alps trails like the back of his hand.”
What do you hope the IATC will achieve as an organization?
“I’d like to see the Issaquah Alps establish a volunteer system that helps us take care of the trails -- but it’s also not just about the trails -- there’s a lot of history out here -- for people to know about it is important. As a community, we can join together and make a bigger impact.”
How has access to the Issaquah Alps changed your life?
“For me it was an opportunity to be quiet -- in addiction it was hard to be quiet. In the wilderness, and in the outdoors I could be really, really quiet. I could hear what was going on with me. It made it possible for me to be able to listen and to see what was really good in my life. Being in the outdoors has helped me get closer to the Spirit. It's given me that great opportunity to put a smile back on my face, and to be able to share that with others has been a huge gift.”
How do you see yourself getting involved with the IATC
“I would really love to adopt a trail out here and love it and take care of it, and give back in that way.”
** Scott has also pledged to give part of the registration fee for his organization’s Run for Shoes Race this spring to the IATC. Learn more about Run For Shoes.