WH&C Hoodies are BACK!!!

In 2008, Mike Johnson, then a Program Director for Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, and a former Army Ranger, came to the realization that the folks going through recovery programs faced not just addiction issues, but also socialization issues. They were isolated from society and often had unhealthy relationships hanging on to them from their past. They had a definite “us versus them” mentality. They were them, and the rest of the society was “normal people”.

Mike wanted to take up that socialization issue, to come up with a way to break up their sense of reality as a way to further enhance their recovery experience beyond the recovery program itself. Hiking and climbing with the surrounding outdoor community became that next step. And so, the “Climbing Out of Homelessness” program was born!

This ten month program provides recovery participants with mentors, climbing expertise, training and equipment to climb mountains, ultimately culminating with a capstone climb of Mt. Rainier. Mountains, such as Rainier, become both a literal and figurative metaphor for the effort required to turn one’s life around with the right “team” of relationships.

This program’s purpose goes beyond traditional recovery approaches to include social integration as well as high personal achievement. Participants gain a team of mentors, goal setting and follow-through skills, as they practice teamwork and work with guides and mentors to grow in trust of other and themselves. All this builds their confidence, endurance, and ability to have a secure base as they reintegrate with society.

To date, 31 climbers have summited Rainier and over the last 8 years all of our participants have successfully reintegrated into society in a more meaningful way, many of which have remained clean and sober and become significant community leaders.