One Step at a Time was founded in 1991. The group was conceived of and organized by Jim H.. Jim was a recovering alcoholic, with twelve years of sobriety at that time. He had found mountaineering to be a healthy and satisfying passion which he felt was important to his own recovery, and began to envision how he could weave his mountaineering interest into a way of fulfilling the twelfth step in the Alcoholics Anonymous regimen.
      In 1990 Jim began to formulate the idea of holding an AA meeting on the summit of Mount Rainier in conjunction with the national AA convention which was held in Seattle that year. The amount of planning and training required conspired to prevent this dream from being realized. The following year, however, Jim brought together a small group of experienced mountaineers with a larger group of people interested in learning about mountain climbing. What these people had in common was a self-acknowledged alcohol dependency and a desire to stop drinking. Some had been sober for years, others for just weeks, but they all sought the mutual support and individual learning provided by AA.
      The first organizational meeting for the what was called the "1991 AA Mt. Rainier Expedition" scheduled a conditioning hike up Tiger Mountain near Issaquah Washington on the first Thursday evening of daylight savings time, April 11. By the time the first newsletter was issued, it had been suggested that this Thursday night hike be turned into a regular weekly 12-step meeting. The first Thursday of daylight savings time has, ever since, been celebrated as OSAT's birthday, complete with sheet cakes, sparkling cider, balloons and smiles. The Thursday evening OSAT AA meeting is, thus, the "mother" meeting for OSAT, from which others trace their roots.

     Over the years OSAT has held as many as four weekly meetings concurrently. All of them are held in wilderness settings. Some of the meetings are suspended or move indoors during the winter, but there has been at least one outdoors OSAT AA meeting every week since that first meeting in April, 1991. Click here for a list of current meetings .
      The first AA meeting chose the the name One Step At A Time, and at an organizational meeting the following month it was decided that a club would be established with the same name, in respect of AA Tradition Six which states that "secondary aids to AA, such as clubs which require property or administration, ought to be incorporated and so set apart that, if necessary, they can be freely discarded by the groups." The OSAT club was organized because the activities of the group were not limited to 12-step meetings, and involve some inherently dangerous activity, such as mountain climbing, which therefore required a way to insure that only qualified people were allowed to participate in technical activities. This potentially goes far beyond the "desire to stop drinking" membership requirement for AA. The club also owns a small amount of equipment made available to members, particularly those who are new to mountaineering and who therefore do not have their own equipment.

     The first Mt. Rainier climb, in July of 1991, numbered 35 climbers, of whom over half began in the spring with no mountaineering experience. Twenty-four successfully summited, including all but one or two of the mountaineering neophytes. Ever since this beginning, the spring mountaineering course, culminating in Mt. Rainier climbs, has been the foundation around which OSAT's unique character is established.
      Because the National Park Service limits individual climbing parties to twelve climbers, OSAT has evolved the graduation climb into a series of climbs, including climbs on several different routes attempting to rendezvous on the summit. One unique aspect of OSAT Mt. Rainier climbs is the tradition of "sherpas". Since the climbs are limited to twelve on each route (typically 4 rope leaders and 8 students in each group), fellow OSAT climbers share in carrying group gear to the high camps for the mountaineering course graduation climbs, and then return to the base of the mountain after wishing those making their first attempt on the mountain good luck and safe climbing.
      Following the initial Rainier expedition, the club continued to grow and prosper. The club organizes mountain climbs, trail work parties, and outdoor retreats which involve teaching members the benefits of these activities as a part of their recovery. Twenty to thirty such events are organized each year. Most of these activities include 12-step meetings, or other, less formal, drug and alcohol abuse counseling, education, and recovery support. The organization relies on existing members, providing their expertise on a voluntary basis, to teach new members the skills and the linkage between sustaining physical well-being, drug- and alcohol-free living, and the enjoyment of these activities.
      Among traditions which have been established over the years are, a fall family car-camp and retreat Thanksgiving Day morning climbs up Mt. Si, Halloween and Christmas parties, a New Years Day climb up some local mountain, and a winter snow cave trip which sets the record for "largest AA meeting in a snow cave", the current record being fifteen! Another cherished memory of many OSAT climbers is their first conditioning climb to Camp Muir, which includes an AA meeting at the 10,000 foot elevation camp, frequently involving nearly fifty members.
      Many club activities include 12-step meetings, and a few professionals in the field of substance abuse counseling who are members also provide informal counseling within the context of the club activities. In addition to outdoor activities, OSAT works with treatment centers at their request to introduce their clients to our program within the context of their own treatment programs.

 

     In 1993 OSAT began organizing its first international expedition- -and in February 1994 sixteen members traveled to Africa for a successful climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Three of the members of that climb went on to attempt Mt. Kenya, but were turned around by poor climbing conditions high on the mountain. In May 1995 the OSAT Denali Expedition ended in tragedy, as three members including club founder Jim H died while attempting to establish an emergency bivouac in a horrific storm at Windy Corner. Currently plans are being set for a third major OSAT expedition, this time to the highest mountain outside central Asia, Aconcagua, the 22,384 foot summit of the Andes in Argentina.

     In 1993, Jim H, who carried virtually all of the organizational responsibility for OSAT up to then, as well as much of the administrative duties, asked the club to establish a more-or-less formal board. This group, referred to as the "Board of Trusted Servants" (BOTS) in reference to AA tradition that "...our leaders are but trusted servants...", worked toward establishing OSAT as an independent, self-perpetuating entity.
      The five-member board, now known as the Board of Trusted Servants (BOTS) is elected for overlapping two-year terms to oversee the operation of the club in accordance with its by-laws. Board members serve without compensation to oversee the well-being of the club. Standing committees were formalized to administer the climbing course, publications, telephone hotline, finances, and equipment loaning.
      Jim H presented a proposal to the February 1994 club meeting that included additional organizational responsibilities for the Board of Servants (BOTS). The BOTS' organizational proposal discussed included, as the first mentioned BOTS responsibility, the development and submittal to the full membership for approval a statement on the mission (purpose and objectives) of OSAT. At the April 1994 business meeting the Mission Statement was adopted as follows:

To provide a clean and sober environment for members and friends of 12-step recovery groups to participate in outdoor and social events in the spirit of conservation, preservation, and ecology.

     The original BOTS drafted by-laws which were subsequently adopted in 1994. OSAT was organized as a Washington nonprofit corporation in 1995, and was subsequently recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as exempt from federal income tax as an organization described in section 501(c)(3).
      Thanks for taking the time to learn about the history of One Step At A Time. If you are interested, you can read more history about our organization name, motto, and mission. You are also invited to read more about our founder, Jim H , or return to the OSAT Homepage to check out what else is going on with One Step At A Time.
      Several people have expressed interest in starting OSATs in other areas, including New England, British Columbia, and Alaska. If you are likewise inclined, e-mail Rik A. , requesting additional information to help you get going.