Let’s all extend a warm thank you and a high-five to Sierra Nevada Section member Karen Zazzi for stepping up as the new Section Chair.  Karen is excited and ambitious to not only continue with the traditional annual events of the Section, but to develop and expand the Section’s reach—continuing to make the Sierra Nevada the best Section in the AAC!  She is taking over from former Chair Lewis Richards who had to step down after acquiring a new job requiring lots of travel.  Thank you Lewis for all your hard work and dedicated service to the American Alpine Club and the Sierra Nevada Section! 

About Karen:

As a Northern California native and living in Sacramento, Karen spent most of her time water skiing, mountain biking and downhill skiing before checking off a Bucket List Item to see Everest and explore Nepal.  The Khumbu, Ama Dablam, and Nepalese people and culture, changed her life.  She fell in love with the majesty of the mountains and found her place.

On her return to California, Karen joined guided trips to learn how to climb.  It was at the Ouray Ice Festival that she was introduced to the American Alpine Club.  A week later, after climbing with “Chicks with Picks,” she became a member and her world opened up.