About

I-MAC Mission

The INTER-MOUNTAIN ALPINE CLUB (I-MAC) was organized in October 1948 to bring together people who seek to enjoy shaking the dust of civilization from our boots and hitting the high country trails whenever the opportunity arises.  Our primary purpose is to encourage the enjoyment of the outdoors and to promote hiking, mountain climbing, and other activities in the Pacific Northwest.  We seek to provide the stimulus and opportunity to people to learn more about the skills, abilities, knowledge, equipment, and even the technology of modern outdoor recreation through direct personal experience in the great outdoors.  We offer opportunities for people of all skill levels, from the beginner to the seasoned expert, to enjoy the special personal satisfaction that comes from attaining the heights under their own power and gaining a deeper appreciation of Mother Nature as a result of knowing her first hand. 

First 50 Years

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1998-2008

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2008-2018

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Documents:

I-MAC BylawsI-MAC Bylaws
Hikes Around HomeHikes Around Home
50 Uses of an Ice Ax50 Uses of an Ice Ax

Leadership

Board Members

AIVETT BILBAO

President

Aivett has been an I-MAC member since moving to Washington in 2016. She began nature hiking in the French Pyrenees in 2011 and it soon became her favorite hobby along with international traveling. She has been discovering the wonders of the Pacific Northwest participating and helping with many I-MAC activities, including hiking, backpacking, and community outreach. Aivett has served two terms on the I-MAC Board as Director at Large. She is a computational scientist and loves introducing and encouraging people to enjoy and preserve Nature through outdoor activities.
 

DIANA PETTY

Vice President

Diana was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she fell in love with the mountains and backpacking during her college years. She continued to hike and backpack for the few years she spent in Japan, where she had the opportunity to hike to the top of Mt. Fuji. Work brought Diana to the Tri-cities in 2005. She liked the people and the small-town atmosphere (especially in Richland) and decided to stay. She changed her career from scientific research to teaching and has been working at Pacific Northwest Christian College since 2012. Diana joined I-MAC in the summer of 2021 after she saw their poster at the Badger Mountain trail head on Dallas Rd. She took over the position of secretary for the I-MAC board in 2003.

NANCY KRUPIN

Treasurer

Nancy has been a member of I-MAC since 2000. She has enjoyed doing more hiking and backpacking since the kids left home. She is a dietitian and diabetes educator in her day job and teaches food and nutrition for the backpacking class. She has been on the I-MAC Board for about 8 years, served as Secretary and President, and is the current Treasurer. She values highly the friendships she has made through I-MAC.

JOY LAI

Secretary

Joy has been a member of I-MAC since 2024. Growing up in a mountainous region near the Tibetan Plateau, she developed a passion for hiking at a young age, often accompanied by her parents. Joy has summited some of China’s highest peaks, including Mount Hua and Mount Emei. Since relocating from Texas in the summer of 2023, she has been actively exploring the Pacific Northwest. In addition to hiking, Joy enjoys backpacking, camping, kayaking, mountain biking, and fishing.

RASHMI TIWARI

Senior Director At Large

Rashmi has been a member of I-MAC since 2023. After moving to Tri-Cities in 2020, she started hiking with friends. She attended I-MAC’s Backpacking School and has participated in backpacking trips with the club and her friend group.

Besides spending time with her kids, Rashmi loves to be in the nature and enjoys backpacking, camping, and hiking.

MELINE BAGHDASARIAN

Junior Director At Large

Meline moved to Tri-Cities in 2015 from a city with a population of over 3.5 million people, tall buildings and endless highways… Los Angeles, CA that is… Her only “hiking trip” was up to the Hollywood sign and back until she moved to the Pacific Northwest…  Upon moving to WA to start her career as an engineer, she started to appreciate the outdoors, and joined IMAC to explore the mountains, go backpacking and see new places.

VICTORIA PURKEY

Third Director At Large

Victoria has been a member of I-MAC since 2019. She grew up in Southern California where most of her childhood was spent outdoors and family vacations consisted of road trips, hiking, and camping. Since moving to Washington in 2011, Victoria has spent her time exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest while completing two college degrees, beginning a career, and starting a family.

Committee Chairs

JIM LANGDON

Rentals, Local Hiking/Trail Access

Joined I-MAC in 1981 and served on the Board of Directors, including 5 times as President, and held several other positions for several years. He served as Trailmaster for Friends of Badger Mountain, leading the trail construction resulting in the creation of the trail systems on Badger and Candy Mountains. He continues to be very active leading and participating with hiking, backpacking and cross-country skiing trips but these days you are more likely to find him doing volunteer work on a trail somewhere. Jim was awarded lifetime honorary membership in 2001 for his service to the club.

MARILYN YOUNG

Historian

Joined I-MAC in the late 1960’s to hike, backpack and snowshoe.  She has held many offices over the years and has been historian since 1988.  Marilyn was awarded lifetime honorary membership in 2005 for her service to the club.
 

STEVE GHAN

Conservation, Backpacking School, Leader Training

Steve loves long backpacking trips. He completed the Pacific Crest Trail over two years, and leads week-long trips each year. He shares his knowledge at the annual IMAC Backpacking School, coordinates trips led by others, and helps train new trip leaders.
 

FORREST HELLER

Winter Activities Chair

Forrest Heller is a Tri-Cities native who grew up exposed to nature from a young age from family camping trips. He discovered many of current outdoor interests from his time in Boy Scouts including climbing, hiking, backpacking and snow camping. In 2012 he joined I-MAC and got involved with instructing at the renewed mountaineering school in 2016. For I-MAC trips he leads mountain climbing, XC skiing/snow shoeing, and snow camping.

501 (c) (3) Details

You can view more details about our 501 (c)(3) by selecting the button below.

I-MAC is a 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the IRS:
 
“To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
 
Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.
 
The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization’s net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.”