Meet IATC's New Program and Volunteer Coordinator
As the new Program and Volunteer Coordinator with the Issaquah Alps Trails Club (IATC), Kira Telgen is excited to connect people with the natural spaces right outside their door. At the heart of her role is building community and fostering a deeper relationship between people and the wild areas of the Issaquah Alps. With a focus on increasing accessibility to these outdoor spaces, Kira hopes to create opportunities that engage community members in conservation and stewardship. One of her key goals is to organize more educational hikes and events that offer participants hands-on learning experiences about the local environment.
Kira's professional background offers a unique perspective to her work at IATC. For the past eight years, she commercial fished in Bristol Bay, Alaska, for sockeye salmon. This career instilled in her a deep love for the wild and a desire to safeguard natural resources. Her firsthand experience has shown her how effective management can lead to sustainable, abundant natural environments. In the fall, Kira decided to transition to a more proactive role in environmental protection and joined Blue Daisi, a sustainability consulting firm focused on reducing waste in Seattle. Now, she is bringing her passion for the outdoors, her skills in communication, and her enthusiasm for community-building to IATC, where she aims to host more hikes and events that engage locals in conservation efforts.
Reading a book on my last night of the Huemul Circuit outside of El Chaltén, Argentina.
As Kira embarks on her first year with IATC, her main goals are to connect with the community and understand how they interact with the natural spaces around them. She is focused on increasing accessibility to the outdoors and getting more people on the trails. For Kira, success in this role would be defined by a calendar full of hikes, especially educational ones, and a strong, committed network of volunteers who feel valued and fulfilled.
Conservation and public land stewardship are deeply rooted in Kira’s life. Growing up in a small town on the Gulf of Mexico, she was surrounded by wildlife refuges and parks. Her father, a farmer and career fisherman, showed her the importance of safeguarding natural resources. She reflects on how, as a child, she didn't realize how special it was to see Bald Eagles or Fiddler Crabs regularly. Now, she sees conservation as a way to ensure that future generations—whether they live in urban high-rises or rural areas—can experience nature’s wonders, just as she did.
Enjoying mac and cheese on the summit of Cone Peak near Big Sur, California.
Kira’s connection to the Issaquah Alps and the local community is personal. After moving to the Pacific Northwest, she found her community through the Issaquah Community Center. A new resident at the height of COVID-19, Kira sought out friendly competition and found lifelong friends while playing volleyball at the center. As she explored the area, she discovered Cougar Mountain, a nearby gem she began visiting regularly for weekend hikes. Last spring, while training for a trail race (that never happened due to injury), Kira completed her long runs exclusively in the Issaquah Alps. Over the past four years, Issaquah’s parks and open spaces have played a vital role in helping Kira build community and stay connected to nature. She views her role at IATC as an opportunity to give back and strengthen the bond she has with the area.
At the Lord Hill Trail Run in 2021. My first trail race! :)
Among her favorite outdoor spaces is Wilderness Peak, which holds a special place in her heart. It's the first hike she did in the area, and she returns often, especially when hosting friends who are new to the region. Kira enjoys the trail logbook at the Wilderness Peak summit, where she finds joy in reading about the experiences of fellow hikers—each entry reminding her that the outdoors is a shared space where many people find connection and solace.
Looking to the future, Kira envisions her role growing in ways that will further her commitment to community and conservation. Building relationships with neighbors and encouraging them to explore the outdoors is her driving goal. To make this vision a reality, Kira recognizes the importance of advocating for public parks and recreation areas. She is excited to explore the advocacy side of conservation, working to secure funding and legislation that will conserve the Issaquah Alps for generations to come. For Kira, conservation is a marathon, not a sprint, and she is committed to laying the groundwork for long-term environmental conservation.
In May of last year, a large group of us headed to Utah to celebrate the marriage of two of our dear friends. We figured there was no better way to kick off the festivities than to float down the Green River!
Join us in the Issaquah Alps! Check out our events calendar for upcoming hikes and restoration events.