Hello from Spencer!
Spencer at Chugmage Basecamp – Upper Rolwaling Valley, Nepal
Written by Spencer Nicholas
FOR’s new River Operations Coordinator
Hi everyone! I am excited to be joining FOR as the new River Operations Coordinator! Having grown up in the Puget Sound region of Western Washington, access to public lands and free-flowing rivers has been a critical part of my life since I was a kid. Now, having recently graduated, I am ecstatic to be working alongside such a dynamic, accomplished team in protecting and advocating for California’s rivers. Here are a few things I think you should know about me:
Day 7 of 10 – Uncompahgre Wilderness, Southwest Colorado
I love all things outside! As a kid, I grew up running haphazardly through the woods of Bainbridge Island. We built forts, hid in the ferns, and set off on multi-hour expeditions through parks, along beaches, and across our neighbors’ backyards. Now, much of my free time is spent doing essentially the same thing. I am an avid mountain biker, trail runner, and backpacker. I have guided outdoor adventures professionally including at the High Mountain Institute in Leadville, Colorado. My newest obsession is multi-day bikepacking: think self-sufficiency, long dirt roads, and remote camping. In fact…
I wrote my thesis on a bike! Well, sorta… While getting my B.A. in Environmental Policy from the Claremont Colleges, I wrote my undergraduate thesis on water infrastructure in the Central Valley. I was most interested in the ways infrastructure mediates how communities relate to water and landscape. As a way of grounding my writing more intimately in the Valley, and to better grapple with the scale of CVP infrastructure, I embarked on a three-week, self-supported bicycle tour from Shasta Dam to Bakersfield. My route followed the water: from river to dam to canal to sprinkler head. My thesis took the form of an essay collection told from the perspective of this trip.
I lived in Nepal! In the fall of 2022, I spent six months living and studying in Balkot, Kathmandu. While there, I had the opportunity to travel throughout Nepal, living with several host families in both the urbanized Kathmandu Valley and more rural parts of the Himalaya. During my final months in Nepal, I lived in the Rolwaling Valley studying rural-to-urban migration and conducting personal interviews with community members.
I write compulsively! Writing is a huge part of my life. I am constantly taking notes, jotting down ideas, and (occasionally) revisiting them for longer pieces. I dabble in poetry, prose, and write lots of letters to friends across the country. I find that writing consistently helps me to process, reflect, and stay curious. (I also read lots! Reach out and tell me your favorite books/writers – especially if they write on California water!)
On the East Fork Cimarron River - San Juan Mountains, Colorado
