The Mountain Ear - September 2026

I recently received a pebble in the mail. Not a literal pebble--it was actually a letter with a sticker enclosed. But it was also a pebble. I'll lean on Wikipedia to explain:

Pebbling is the act of offering small, meaningful objects or gestures to establish social bonds, observed in both animal behavior and human relationships. Pebbling promotes human bonding through homophily. The action gained popularity as a concept on social media in 2024, highlighting its role in emotional connection and communication.

The term pebbling originates from Adélie and Gentoo penguins, which present smooth pebbles used for nest-building to their partner as part of their courtship display.

Both species engage in the act of pebbling to prove their loyalty and interest in each other. For example, Adélie penguins, which spend a lot of time in the water, bring pebbles to their mate when they are about to enter the ocean to show that they will return. This gesture reinforces their connection and provides reassurance in their partnership.

The letter was from the trip leader of my recent Grand Canyon trip. He described what else he's been up to this summer and thanked me for what I contributed to making the trip a success. The sticker made me laugh and gained a permanent home on my ammo can, because I earned it. Perhaps that story will find its way into a future newsletter.

My familiarity with the term pebbling more or less coincides with its rise in popularity to describe the sharing of memes over social media. And while that remains a common instance of pebbling, the practice is much more expansive than memes. It can include a postcard or fridge magnet from someplace you've visited. You can write a note using unconventional media, such as in the sand or snow or by arranging clothing, cutlery, or whatever else is available into words or symbols. Using a silly nickname, sending a selfie making a funny face, or surprising someone with a favorite treat are other examples. It can even be an actual pebble, such as a special rock you found on a mountain summit. Any small gesture that contains personal meaning can be a pebble.

In difficult or uncertain times, we rely more and more on our community for a sense of safety and belonging. While the Rocky Mountaineers community is oriented around outdoor recreation, primarily in the pursuit of fun, the activities we engage in involve risks. Falls, avalanches, exposure, and drowning are all hazards we face while recreating outdoors. The trust we build with our partners in these circumstances very often leads to close personal connections. Pebbling can be a great way to reinforce and strengthen those bonds.

I acknowledge that there are likely people reading this who became involved with the Rocky Mountaineers seeking community, but who feel as though they are yet to find it. If you find yourself feeling this way, hit me up. I am always glad to meet and learn from outdoor adventure seekers and facilitate connections with others. Perhaps we too will one day find ourselves exchanging pebbles.

Go outside and be kind.

-Mark

Achievement Awards

We postponed our September meeting due to venue conflict, which means there is still time to complete and be recognized for an achievement award. Each year at the first of our fall-through-spring monthly meetings, we recognize club members who have completed any of the groupings of mountain summits noted on our website. If you have (or will have) completed one or more of these by October 13, please let us know so that you can be recognized.

We would also like to recognize Rocky Mountaineers whose service to the club or to our outdoor community at large has been noteworthy. If you would like to nominate someone for special recognition, please send a message or contact one of the officers directly.

Rocky Mountaineers Book Club

Starting this week, we're kicking off something new for the Rocky Mountaineers, a book club! Since we're an outdoor club, we'll be reading books with an outdoor theme of some sort, the first of which will be The Big Burn by Timothy Egan. Our first meeting will be Wednesday, 23 September (please note the date was incorrect in prior newsletter). We will meet at Mark's house unless interest exceeds available space, so please RSVP if you'd like to participate.

We ask that participants in the book club have read the book (though nobody will be excluded if you didn't quite finish). To clarify, "reading" in this instance is not narrowly defined as written words on a page or ebook screen. If you're an audiobook enthusiast, that is a perfectly acceptable reading method.

Cabin Work Day

Each fall, we set aside a day to prepare the cabin for the coming winter. Our 2026 instance is planned for Saturday, 10 October. We will meet at the summer trailhead on Little St Joe at 9:00 and then hike into the cabin together from there. Please wear work attire and bring gloves and other PPE. Chainsaws, axes, and splitting mauls are helpful for preparing firewood, so bring those if you have them.

TRM Gear Closet

Our exclusive for members Gear Closet continues to grow, most recently with the addition of more ice climbing gear. This gear is for you to use at no charge. If you’d like to check something out, send an email with subject Gear Closet.

A complete listing of all the gear we currently have available can be found on our website.

Upcoming Trips and Activities

Rattlesnake Summit Series - various dates, see calendar - Rattlesnake Range

Quarterly Business Meeting - 21 September - See Calendar for Details

Rocky Mountaineers Book Club - begins 23 September and will continue on the fourth Wednesday each month.

Cabin Work Day - 10 October, 9:00 a.m. (date and time to be confirmed at quarterly business meeting) - Little St Joe

Please visit our event calendar for details on these and other outings!

TRM Merchandise

We have merchandise available for purchase at our presentations, quarterly business meetings, and special events. Please contact Elizabeth at heyartemisoutside@gmail.com if you’d like to purchase something for local pickup.

Beanie $25	Pint Glass $10	Keychain $5
T-Shirt $20	Trucker Hat $20	Buff $5

Ongoing Call for Photos, Videos, and Presenters

If you have some photos or videos you'd like to share that we can use for social media, event promotion, sponsor videos and our newsletter please email Elizabeth or upload to this google photo/video link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/173AgLc4wrkYofvWA

If you are interested in presenting at a future Rocky Mountaineers monthly meeting or know of someone who would be, please contact Mark. We will begin filling our calendar for Fall 2026 soon.

Club Officers

President- Mark Albrecht
Vice President – Francis Horton
Secretary- Carson Ramsden
Treasurer- Tom Statz
Website- Kyle O'Connor
Archivist- Julie Kahl
Social Media and Video Production – Elizabeth Smith