2025 STP Trail Stewards

The 2025 Seek the Peak Stewards program is a collaborative outreach effort with an aim to share information and excitement about our largest fundraising event, as well as share resources and experiences on and off the trail. Learn more about this year’s Seek the Peak Stewards below, and be sure to tag @mwobs and #SeekthePeak on social to share your adventures.

The steward program is generously supported by:

arcteryxOboz

Cadence Camille

Cadence Camille

Cadence is originally from Isehara, Japan, a town nestled in the mountains with stunning views of Mount Fuji. Growing up there surrounded by nature sparked her love for the great outdoors. After moving to North Conway at the age of 14, she was delighted to find similar majestic mountains and peaceful landscapes that reminded her of home.

“During some personal changes in my life, I sought comfort in hiking. The trails became my sanctuary, offering a sense of peace and connection with nature. 

I’m passionate about sharing my experiences. I truly believe that ‘if I can do it, so can you!’ I’m thrilled to join the 2025 Seek the Peak Stewards program to continue inspiring others and share the excitement of our largest fundraising event. Let's explore the beauty of the trails together!” Follow Cadence’s Seek the Peak journey on Instagram here and her fundraising page.

Ryan Shepard Trail Steward 2025

Ryan Shepard

Originally from Western New York, Ryan moved to Conway, NH in 2021 to work for REI. He has a background in English Literature and Creative Writing, and also currently works for the town of Conway as a member of the Select Board.  A self-described “huge weather geek,” Ryan finds the wild weather of the Mount Washington Valley fascinating.  His first Seek the Peak was in 2023, and he’s excited for the challenge to surpass his fundraising total! “I’m working with some of my teammates to hike other 4000-footers leading up to StP, and I enjoy helping non-profits.” Ryan is the captain of team Fire on the Mountain; if you’d like to join his team, click here!

Mel Elam

Mel Elam

Mel is an avid hiker from the White Mountains of NH and works as a Surgical Technologist at a local hospital following seventeen years as an AEMT. She has completed the NH48 twice and has enjoyed summiting many of them and others with her cat, Floki. Currently, her and Floki are working their way through the NH 52 With a View and New England 115. They have also completed half of The Devils Path in New York and the Mahoosuc Traverse in Maine.

This is Mel’s seventh time participating in Seek the Peak. We love this NHPBS feature of Mel, Floki, and their fundraising on Windows to the Wild! You can follow along on their adventures on Instagram at @adventureswithflokicat. She is also currently an ambassador for Oboz Footwear.

Fawn

Fawn Langerman

Fawn is from Cleveland, Ohio but realized a lifelong dream to live in New Hampshire when she moved to North Conway in late 2019. Her first White Mountain National Forest hike was on the 19 Mile Brook Trail in 1987; she stayed at the Carter Hut with family and friends, and they hiked Carter Dome and Mt Hight. She was hooked! She then spent her summer and fall vacations, for more than 30 years, visiting NH to hike and camp in the White Mountains.
Since moving to NH, Fawn has completed the Hiking the White Mountain Guide project (hike every mile of every trail in the AMC Guide) solo, the regular, Winter and Seasons 48, the 52 With A View and the Terrifying 25. She is currently 74% completed with the Grid (426/576). She hikes year-round and particularly likes sunrise hikes! In addition to hiking, she volunteers with the US Forest Service in two ways. She works as a Trailhead Steward, providing hiking information and advice at trailheads, and is the trail adopter for the UNH Trail, which is the loop trail to Hedgehog, one of the 52 With A View.  Last summer Fawn spent a week as an MWOBs summit volunteer and had a chance to see the Northern Lights, the Milky Way, and multiple sunrises and sunsets.  It was a tiring but terrific week helping the Observatory and learning about the behind-the-scenes processes!

Last fall, Fawn adopted a cattle dog / shepherd mix named Echo. Echo has a lot of energy and has really taken to hiking in the White Mountains.  She and Fawn were active all winter, and are looking forward to summer hiking, including camping and backpacking trips.  Stay tuned!

This will be Fawn’s third time participating in Seek the Peak, and second time as a Steward.  She is planning a sunrise hike, if the weather forecast permits. To learn more about Fawn, visit her Instagram and fundraising pages.

Kally Abrams

Kally Abrams 

Kally is an adventure and storytelling enthusiast whose base camp is in Errol, NH. More often than not, she is overlanding with her husband, both enjoying retirement and exploring new places. Kally enjoys storytelling and writes on her personal blog, AdventurewithKal, where she reflects on her outdoor and overlanding adventures. She has hiked all 4,000 footers, completed two Presidential Traverses, and participated in the Mount Washington Auto Road Race back in 2015. She loves advocating for her favorite places on earth and organizations. 

Last year, Kally was not only a Steward for Seek the Peak but also a volunteer for the Observatory with her husband, living at 6,288 feet for a full week. You can read her descriptive blog about Giving Back to MWOBS here

This year, Kally’s rejoining us for our 25th anniversary in her Minus33 gear and Oboz footwear. Be sure to visit her fundraising page to read her own Ode to Mr. 6,288 and donate!

Chris Nichols

Chris Nichols

Chris is a husband, father, and grandfather from Massachusetts who climbed Mount Washington for the first time in 1978 with his Boy Scout Troop. Many years later, on a summer vacation in North Conway in 2005, he had the familiar feeling of longing to “get back into the woods.” The following year, he began tackling the 4,000 footers. It was on a Mount Washington hike in 2008 with his younger brother when Chris learned about Seek the Peak and wanted to get involved. “2009 was my first year participating in Seek the Peak, and I have participated every year since,” Chris explains. 

“I've decided that, since this is my 17th year doing Seek the Peak, and I've already climbed Mount Washington 17 times, I would climb Mount Washington 17 times this year for Seek the Peak!”

Follow along on Chris’ Instagram, check out his fundraising page and learn more about Chris and his adventures here!

Eric Hansen

Eric Hansen

Eric is a lifelong hiker in the White Mountain National Forest, originally from the Boston area and a recent transplant to Littleton, NH. He first hiked Mt Washington with his dad in the 1970's, and really just kind of kept on hiking. A peakbagger out of convenience (gonna hike anyways, might as well keep a logbook..), eventually Eric completed a NH Grid, which is the NH48 in all twelve months, i.e. 576 x 4k summits. Again out of convenience and maybe a touch of pathology, he's now tracking his second grid, which will absolutely involve hiking Mt Washington many more times! Eric also works as a professional mountain guide in the Whites, and as part of that he studies weather forecasts way too much. "I'm grateful every day for the MWOBS and the work they do, their forecast discussion is essential for planning activities when I'm hiking in the Presidential Range." In his free time (while not hiking) Eric does trailwork with various organizations and is the USFS trail adopter for Blueberry Mountain Trail in Benton, NH. This will be Eric's second year supporting Seek the Peak!

Find Eric on Instagram at ehansen42 and his fundraising page.

Elyse Robertie

Elyse Robertie

Elyse is a Graphic Designer and adventurer from NH. She is the owner of 603stix, a custom and novelty sticker company. She is also the Creative Manager at LGA Media Group. She grew up exploring the White Mountains, which have remained her home and become her inspiration. When Elyse is not working, you will find her hiking with her adventure pup, Kylo, or relaxing at home with her 2 dogs and fiancé. Visit Elyse’s Instagram page here.