Each year the BCC awards outstanding members from our community at our annual Soirée. This year we presented awards to Alex Mandrila (The Steward), Michael Gapuz (The Steward), Kevin Capps (The Pioneer), Aubrey Runyon (The Partner), and Mike & AnneWorley Moelter (The Champion).
Read stories and interviews below for all of our Awardees!
The Steward - Alex Mandrila
The Steward Award is awarded to outstanding individuals who have an impact on our community by going above and beyond by enthusiastically dedicating time & energy to Front Range Stewardship.
Alex was nominated by BCC Bolting Coordinator, Peter. These words come from him:
“Alex has become an integral part of BCC's anchor replacement program. After completing the Rebolt training in August 2021, Alex has become a prolific rebolter. He has independently replaced 190 bolts across the front range, mentored many new rebolters, become a rebolting instructor with BCC, and attended almost every rebolt event BCC has hosted in the last year. Alex has provided over 250 hours of volunteer service in the last year, and gives freely of his time and experience in support of BCC and the larger climbing community.”
The Steward - Michael Gapuz
Photos by Gabe Linderman and Zach Joing
The Steward Award is awarded to outstanding individuals who have an impact on our community by going above and beyond by enthusiastically dedicating time & energy to Front Range Stewardship.
We interviewed Michael and this is what he had to say about his role as a steward in the Front Range.
Q: If your friends were visiting the Front Range what iconic things would you take them to do?
A: Trad climb in Eldo, sport climb in Upper Dream, and boulder in RMNP
Q: Favorite crag snack?
A: Peanut butter filled pretzels and donuts, or PB&J tortillas
Q: If your last meal was at Southern Sun what would you order?
A: Five of everything, invite friends, and drag the meal out
Q: What is your motivation for volunteering your time with the BCC?
A: Haha I think I just like being outside and playing in the dirt! But actually, what motivates me is the desire to preserve the awesome climbing throughout the Front Range. It's special to have such easy access to a huge variety of quality climbing, and I want people now and in the future to be able to enjoy it as much as I do.
Q: What draws you to stewardship work? How do you feel rewarded?
A: I love being able to have a tangible, positive impact on a place that I really care about. Seeing a problem, like an eroding trail or bad hardware, and fixing that problem yourself is one of the most rewarding feelings I can think of. It's also immensely satisfying to walk a trail or climb a route that I've worked on and know at least part of the story behind it.
Q: When did you start volunteering with the BCC?
A: I started volunteering with the BCC in 2020 a few months after moving to Boulder. Basically I stumbled upon a WAG bag box in Eldo and started stocking WAG bag stations for the BCC. Soon after that I started volunteering with the Front Range Climbing Stewards a fair bit, and this past summer I've also started rebolting with the BCC.
Q: What has been your most memorable experience with the BCC?
A: I don't know if I have a single most memorable experience, but seeing the development of the new Cynical Pinnacle reroute is probably my favorite collection of memories. It was the first trail I had ever worked on, so it's been really cool to see the whole thing get built and recognize sections I've worked on.
The Pioneer - Kevin Capps
The Pioneer Award recognizes Kevin as a community leader, a mentor, and someone who has greatly contributed to the history of climbing in the area.
We interviewed Kevin on his role as a pioneer in the Front Range Community - this is what he had to say:
Q: Avocation?
A: Climbing guide, business owner, guidebook author, dog lover
Q: What's your background of climbing here in the Front Range?
A; I began climbing on the Front Range around 15 years ago, and was specifically drawn to the variety of climbing so close to the city. With Golden as a home base, I was able to get pretty much anywhere within an hour or so, and started to grow a deeper passion for route development as time went on. Still to this day, I enjoy the development side of climbing almost more than climbing itself. The creative process is addicting for me, and the Front Range has a lot to offer since there's so much rock out there for us all to climb on and explore.
Q: What draws you to stewardship work? How do you feel rewarded?
A: What draws me to stewardship work is the self-fulfillment I feel after working on an area, like updating bolts, adding anchor material that's sustainable, and helping with trail work. I take pride in the areas where I climb, and have a drive to give back to the community.
Q: Favorite crag snack?
A: Welch's fruit snacks are a classic and all-time favorite, but recently I have been eating @sendbars
Q: What do you value most about the community we have in the Front Range?
A: What I value most about the climbing community on the Front Range is the energy! There are so many psyched climbers out there of all ages and that do all types of climbing, it's really a contagious thing when you have that many strong and psyched climbers in one place.
Q: If your last meal was at Southern Sun what would you order?
A: the biggest plate of nachos on the menu
The Partner - Aubrey Runyon
Aubrey was awarded The Partner award for being a mentor & role model in the community and for her unending willingness to help those around her.
We interviewed Aubrey to share with our community her motivations for her involvement in the climbing community. Here are the answers from the Mayor of Eldo:
Q: What is one of the things you enjoy most about the climbing community in the Front Range?
A: Regardless of the fact the front range climbing community is one of the larger in the country, it still feels close knit. At the end of the day, we are all climbers, and we are all in this together. That & the acceptance of weirdos like me.
Q: As a mentor and role model in the climbing realm do you have anyone that you look up to yourself?
A: There are so many folks I look up to! Really anyone doing the hard work to leave this community better than they found it. Kate Beezley, Nikki Smith, Marcus Garcia, Eddie Taylor, Brent Bingham, and so very many others. Also, anyone doing search and rescue work. Having spent over a decade in volunteer S.A.R. I am fully aware the personal cost of leaving at any time day or night to help someone on their worst day.
Q: Favorite route anywhere?
A: Tough one! Levitation 29 in red rock has always been a favorite. Then again, rewritten in Eldo literally makes me smile ear to ear every time I do it
Q: How are you rewarded or feel the drive to keep giving yourself to your community in the LGBTQ community and climbing community?
A: When I entered the climbing community 23 years ago, I was the only queer climber that I knew. What makes me feel rewarded is helping build local communities of LGBTQ climbers so they will feel the community that at the time, I didn’t have. Within the climbing community at large, this community was my family when I didn’t have one. Giving back and being able to do work that actually means something within the community, has been the honor of my life.
Q: What was the seed that led to you climbing 10,000 pitches in Eldo?
A: Well mainly, I love that canyon! I love huge climbing days. Doing dozens of pitches as quick as possible in a day. I needed a goal to help pull me out of what, at the time, was collapsing mental health. Something so big it would take up a lot of my brainpower.
Q: If any one of us were to have a climbing accident we would hope that others would act as samaritans to help when we are in need - what are your thoughts as to your involvement in the response in Eldo?
A: As you said, any one of us hopes that on our worst day, help would be on site quickly. I am grateful that I had the experience and calmness to act when others in the area weren’t in a position to do so. Another reason to practice our rescue skills. You can never know when they will come in handy, and you’ll maybe even save a life. I will also say that responding to that accident was the most traumatic experience I’ve had happen in my adult life to this point. Without the climbing community, my friends and family I wouldn’t have made it through. If you are in mental anguish, reach out and get the help you need. Silence on the subject is crushing.
The Champion - AnneWorley & Mike Moelter
AnneWorley and Mike were awarded the Champion award for being tireless advocates for the BCC.
Our Executive Director, Kate, nominated the Moelters for the award - this is what she had to say:
“Their leadership, mentorship, and investment in the BCC set the us up for success as climbing continues to grow in popularity and impact. Anne- Worley and Mike have been working in the climbing industry for 20+ years. From running the US national governing body for climbing competitions USA Climbing, to bringing the first bouldering World Cup to US soil and hosting the 1st roped World Cup in 25 years at the gym they founded in 2009 Movement Climbing + Fitness. They are active climbers and members of the larger Boulder community, volunteering their time and resources while raising their children, Adelaide and Charlie.”