Colleen started with the Mount Shasta Climbing program in the Spring of 2023. She grew up in Buffalo, New York with a deep admiration for snow and the outdoors. Despite the snowfall of Western New York, Colleen did not find her way into mountain activities until she moved to California at the age of 23. It was soon after arriving that Colleen decided to learn to snowboard. She was instantly hooked and with plenty of practice, took to the board with ease. This eventually led her to splitboarding which gave her the opportunity to explore many beautiful places in the west. These experiences influenced her desire to learn the barriers that prevent people from recreating and find ways to make recreating outdoors more available to everyone. In 2013 she received her master’s degree in Recreation from San Francisco State University with a concentration on women’s empowerment through outdoor adventure. With her free time, Colleen enjoys spending time outdoors be it hiking, biking, or on a board. She loves to read and volunteer with organizations and causes she holds dear. Her favorite foods are Buffalo, NY classics and she loves Vietnamese soups!
