Supporter Spotlight: Selena Eon
This month, we’re excited to feature Dr. Selena Eon, a naturopathic doctor and passionate advocate for public land conservation. As a board member of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club (IATC), Selena plays a key role in ensuring the Issaquah Alps remain accessible to all and inspiring others to embrace nature for improved health and well-being. You may also recognize her as a regular contributor to our publications, with featured pieces including post-storm trail reports, plant identification, and evening hiking, to name just a few.
Photo courtesy of Selena Eon
By Selena Eon
Hi, I’m Selena, a naturopathic doctor (ND) for the Puyallup Tribe at Qwibil, a Lushotseed word meaning to fix oneself mentally, physically, and spiritually. NDs have similar training to medical doctors (MDs), but with a more holistic focus. I’ve always loved the outdoors, growing up in the PNW, playing, hiking, backpacking, and waterskiing. I hike hundreds of miles in the Issaquah Alps each year, logging over 1,500 miles and 500,000 vertical feet annually for the past 8 years. These forests provide me physical and mental health benefits, but they also serve as my training ground for bigger peaks. I’ve climbed all the WA volcanoes in one-day efforts, completed Smoot’s Climbing Washington’s Peaks, and summited nearly 900 peaks worldwide. I’ve visited over 200 lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. I enjoy peak bagging, snowshoeing, rock climbing, scrambling, bushwhacking, hiking, mountain biking, pack rafting, and backpacking.
Photo courtesy of Selena Eon
Photo courtesy of Selena Eon
In medicine, I’ve learned that many people lack connection to nature, which I believe contributes to the health issues I see in my patients. Spending time outdoors is vital for wellbeing, and I encourage my patients to incorporate nature into their daily lives—whether by watching the sunrise or sunset, having their morning beverage outside for sunlight exposure, taking meetings outdoors, or simply spending time outside year-round. We don’t melt when we get wet! Access to nature is a privilege for those of us lucky enough to live near places like the Issaquah Alps, but it shouldn’t be! I envision a future where nature is accessible to everyone, including those in high-density housing, affordable neighborhoods, and those without vehicles.
Big Tree Ridge on Cougar Mountain is special to me. I hiked it 30 times in 2024, often running or biking to the trailhead, which is also accessible by bus. The trail climbs through the oldest surviving forests on Cougar, where I’ve shared the path with bears, deer, and other wildlife. The sound of water soothes, and at night, I see city lights. In 2015, I noticed a sign at the trailhead saying “SAVE COUGAR MOUNTAIN.” I learned this area was slated for development, so I joined the resistance. Thanks to persistence and many partner organizations, the area was saved. This endeavor is when I first learned of IATC.
Photo courtesy of Selena Eon
I’m currently a board member of IATC, focusing on land conservation, improving trail access, and creating better trail connections. As part of our communications committee, I encourage others to spend time outdoors. I share trail conditions after weather events, teach about plant species along the trails, and empower people to explore new trails. I’d be thrilled to meet you at Poo Poo on a moonlit night, knowing you were there because I encouraged you to give your headlamp a try.
This month, I’ll return to Mexico to climb several peaks, including the tallest in the country: Pico de Orizaba (18,491 feet). When not on bigger adventures, you’ll find me in the Issaquah Alps, clearing my mind, admiring the forests, identifying birds, and touching my favorite plant friends. I hope to meet you on the trail someday!
Photo courtesy of Selena Eon
Explore our events calendar to join Selena on our next Hikes with a Purpose, or dive into more of her inspiring articles in our archives.