Member Spotlight: An Inspiration to Us All

Kelly Weiss on Parker Mesa Overlook with Santa Monica Bay in the background. Photo Credit: Diane Donatelli

For about 11 months, the West Los Angeles Group and Sierra Singles Section's combined weekly Friday night hike to Parker Mesa Overlook in Topanga State Park, a moderate to fast-paced five miles round-trip on fire road with 1100 feet of gain, has had as a regular participant, Kelly Weiss, who is physically fit, but cannot see. This has had little effect on her ability to hike with sighted participants who have been going on the hike regularly for years.

Trekking poles have made it possible. Some of the participants use trekking poles, and on her first hike Kelly was lent a pair to test. She found them to be so helpful that she immediately bought her own.

With poles she is able to keenly sense and stay on the winding dirt road, maneuvering around obstacles with relative ease.

Although Club policy requires a blind person to be accompanied on a Club hike, Kelly now needs almost no assistance; and while unlikely to ever attempt it, she should be capable of hiking the route alone reasonably soon. Kelly would like to introduce some of her friends to the activity. She says ...if I continue hiking like I do, which I know I will, I see myself taking a friend along with me and leading him or her.

Kelly who is forty-one, works as a receptionist at a VA Hospital. Born prematurely and sightless from having received too much oxygen in the incubator, she says that being blind seems natural.

At this point, hiking seems to come quite naturally to Kelly as well. She is now climbing mountains on the Hundred Peaks Section list, with friends that she made on the Friday Night Hike. In addition to hiking, Kelly enjoys both cross-country and down-hill skiing. With the aid of a personal trainer, she has even done an L.A. Marathon; and in only eight-and-one-half hours! For a less strenuous activity she crews on a sailboat.

Kelly's introduction to the hike started with a telephone call to Angeles Chapter Headquarters. She asked Gloria Cedrone, an office volunteer, if she could go on Club hikes, explaining her condition. Gloria had her contact Grant Rigby (WLA Group Outings Chair), who then referred her to me. I am one of the three Friday night hike leaders along with Phil Dorner and Marshall Ratinoff. I welcomed her to join us on our hike and for the optional dinner afterwards; explaining to her that a sign-in sheet/liability release form must be signed by all participants going on a Sierra Club Outing,

Kelly loves hiking. She says that, when I hike I feel such a great peace within myself. Because of her outgoing personality and wonderful attitude towards life, Phil, Marshall and I feel it is a real joy to have her with us. She has also been an inspiration for many of the Friday night hikers.

End Note: Who Inspires You? Do you have a great story to tell about a fellow Angeles Chapter member? E-mail it to ssierran@ix.netcom.com with the subject line Member Spotlight.