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Public Lands Are Under Attack — Here’s How You Can Help

For 131 years, the Mazamas has stood as steadfast defenders of our public lands, advocating for access, preservation, and protection of the wild places that define the Pacific Northwest. Since our founding on Mt. Hood in 1894, the organization has worked alongside dedicated land managers, biologists, and trail crews to ensure that these lands remain open, healthy, and protected for everyone.

Today, that legacy is at risk. Public lands across the country — and right here in Oregon — are facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens the trails we hike, the mountains we climb, and the forests and watersheds we depend upon.

An Unprecedented Threat to Public Lands and the People Who Protect Them

In recent weeks, sweeping staffing cuts have deeply impacted the agencies responsible for managing and protecting our public lands. According to the Outdoor Alliance, as well as reporting from the Statesman Journal, E&E News, and the Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management have seen between 10 and 30 percent of their workforce laid off, with some reports indicating that up to half of all recreation staff have been eliminated.

These cuts are already being felt, as noted by National Parks Traveler resulting in unmaintained trails, closed campgrounds, and reduced emergency response capacity. Communities that depend on the outdoor recreation economy—an industry that generates billions annually according to the Outdoor Industry Association—also face economic impacts as public lands become harder to access and enjoy.

Industrial Logging and Environmental Rollbacks Compound the Crisis

Making matters worse, a recent executive order promotes a major expansion of industrial logging on public lands, including old-growth forests, as outlined by Oregon Wild. This directive calls for weakening long-standing protections under laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Reporting by The Washington Post, Earthjustice, and the Statesman Journal confirms that these plans will fast-track logging projects while limiting public input and environmental review.

Rather than promoting thoughtful, science-based wildfire mitigation, this order prioritizes large-scale logging under claims of wildfire prevention and national security. Analysis from the Center for Biological Diversity and Earthjustice highlights how this move endangers ecosystems and wildlife while putting short-term industry profit ahead of conservation.

Why This Matters to the Mazama Community

As Mazamas, we know that public lands don’t maintain themselves. We’ve worked with rangers, scientists, and trail crews for generations to protect the places we love. Trails need maintenance. Forests need responsible management. And wildlife needs protected habitats to thrive. Without the trained professionals who safeguard these lands—and without the environmental protections now under attack—the future of our public lands and the outdoor experiences they offer are in serious jeopardy.

How You Can Take Action Today

  • Contact your members of Congress. Let them know you oppose public lands staffing cuts and the rollback of environmental protections. Ask them to reverse the staffing cuts, restore funding for public land agencies, halt large-scale logging in mature and old-growth forests, and prioritize science-based land management. Use Democracy.io to send a message quickly and directly.
  • Join the Mazama Conservation Committee. We need members to help us monitor and respond to these threats. Email us at conservation@mazamas.org to get involved.
  • Volunteer for trail maintenance and stewardship. The Mazamas regularly partner with organizations like Trailkeepers of Oregon and Washington Trails Association, which offer hands-on ways to care for our outdoor spaces. Look for trail tending opportunities on the Mazama calendar and via TKO and WTA directly.
  • Attend the Rally to Protect Public Lands hosted by People for Public Lands, happening Saturday, March 15 at noon in front of the Edith Green Federal Building in downtown Portland. Public lands belong to all of us, and showing up in person sends a strong message.
  • Finally, talk to others about what’s happening. Share this information, encourage friends, family, and fellow Mazamas to speak up, and remind them that these lands belong to all of us.

The Future of Public Lands Is in Our Hands

Whether you hike, climb, or simply find peace in nature, your voice matters. By speaking up, getting involved, and standing together, we can protect these places for generations to come. The wild places we love—mountains, forests, and trails—are still here because people stood up to protect them. Now it’s our turn.

If you’re ready to take action, email us at conservation@mazamas.org. Together, we can continue to protect and advocate for the mountains and forests that inspire and sustain us all.

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What does a healthy culture look like?

by Debbie Dwelle, Mazama President

As I contemplated the theme for this Bulletin, Health and Fitness, I felt drawn to something I hold dear, which is creating and sustaining a healthy culture within the Mazamas. As I wrote about last month, the Board and Rebekah have been diligently working through the strategic planning process. Throughout this work, I keep mentally returning to the saying “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” by Peter Drucker. The idea is that if we don’t have a healthy culture, we significantly decrease our chances of being successful in our strategic objectives.

With that in mind, the board has been discussing what a healthy board culture looks like and working to embody these elements as we move through our work together. First and foremost, our board culture is driven by our mission and values. From there, we are focused on the following areas:

  • Collaborative: respect, trust, hospitable
  • Diverse: backgrounds, opinions, ways of thinking
  • Accountable: to the organization, to each other
  • Inquisitive: engaged, curious, questioning
  • Disciplined: focused, prepared, consistent
  • Ambassador: reputation, good will, public relations
  • Data driven: assessing ourselves and the organization
  • Decisive: having focused agendas, measurable results, and being outcome-oriented

As I broaden that to consider a healthy volunteer culture, I believe it is one where volunteers feel valued, supported, and motivated to contribute their time and skills in meaningful ways. It promotes a positive environment that nurtures both the individual volunteer and the organization they support. Here are some key characteristics of a healthy volunteer culture:

  • Clear Purpose and Goals: Volunteers understand the mission of the organization and how their work contributes to its overall goals. They feel that their efforts make a real impact.
  • Inclusivity: A healthy volunteer culture is inclusive, welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds and ensuring that everyone feels they have a place to contribute.
  • Respect and Recognition: Volunteers are treated with respect and appreciation. Acknowledging their contributions through thank-yous, celebrations, or small gestures of appreciation helps foster a sense of belonging.
  • Effective Communication: Open and honest communication ensures that volunteers are well-informed and have the opportunity to ask questions or provide feedback. They also know who to turn to for support.
  • Training and Development: Volunteers are given the training and resources they need to succeed. Continuous learning opportunities allow them to grow in their roles and take on new challenges.
  • Supportive Leadership: Leaders provide guidance, mentorship, and encouragement. They are approachable, empathetic, and actively engage with volunteers, creating an environment where everyone feels supported.
  • Flexibility: Volunteers are able to engage with flexible schedules and roles that suit their availability and interests. This makes the volunteer experience more sustainable and enjoyable.
  • Collaboration: Volunteers work together as a team, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. Team-building activities or group/committee projects can strengthen relationships.
  • Feedback and Growth: Volunteers receive constructive feedback on their performance, as well as opportunities to share their own suggestions for improvement. This promotes a continuous cycle of growth and positive change.
  • Wellness and Balance: A healthy volunteer culture recognizes the importance of balance, ensuring volunteers do not experience burnout by setting clear boundaries and encouraging them to take care of themselves.

Overall, it’s about creating a positive, supportive environment where volunteers feel motivated, appreciated, and empowered to contribute in ways that align with both their personal values and the organization’s mission.

One of our strategic priority areas is focused on member and volunteer engagement. Working together to foster a healthy culture will absolutely support our success in this domain. Given you all are critical to creating and sustaining a healthy culture in the Mazamas, I invite you to contemplate what a healthy culture looks like to you. Here are a few questions for consideration:

  • What do you value in the community and culture of the Mazamas?
  • If you are a leader, what are you modeling for others? If you are not a leader, what do you see being modeled by leaders?
  • What areas are we doing well with regard to creating a positive community and culture?
  • What areas could our sense of community and culture could be improved?
  • What role can you see yourself playing in supporting a healthy culture?

As the board continues to move through the strategic planning process, we believe having a healthy culture is interwoven with all of our values: Inclusion, Safety, Education, Service, and Sustainability. We are incorporating all of these elements as we continue diligently working on defining and refining our goals, tactics, metrics, and key performance indicators for the next 3 years. I loved Rebekah’s vision of vitality—an active, connected, and strong Mazamas creating our future together. Let’s all work together to create and sustain a culture that realizes this vision! 

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Cultivating Vitality: Leaning into Spring

by Rebekah Phillips, Mazama Executive Director 

Welcome to spring! Or should I say, “Welcome, Spring,” as this season of awakening and renewal offers opportune insight. In the last issue, I wrote about the changing financial landscape, constraints the staff and board are working with, and the organizational response it will require to secure a more stable foundation. (The CliffsNotes version, for those that didn’t read it, goes like this: rising costs have outpaced revenues, and we’ve got serious work to do.) This conversation continues to develop in real-time, representing a dynamic scenario which calls for clear communication, strong coordination, and decisive action.

Ominous as that may sound, trees and shrubs are beginning to bud, song sparrows serenade us earlier each day, and the sun is gradually warming our hemisphere, apt reminders that regeneration is part of life. Aligning with both the season and the theme of this Bulletin, my own innate belief in the power of potential has me feeling deeply inspired by a vision of vitality—an active, connected, and strong Mazamas creating our future together.

But what does it look like to cultivate vitality? What does it take to persevere and grow?

Connecting with our purpose

The Mazamas is a nonprofit, and nonprofits are full of purpose. Whether they deliver social, economic, or environmental impact, nonprofits solve real problems and offer meaningful, fulfilling work for both those carrying it out and those benefiting from their services. 

At the Mazamas, we’re in the business of building community through activities rooted in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. We take our cues from nature: interdependent systems, mentorship between the established and the new, and resource-sharing, to name a few. Fitting as these concepts may be, let’s not discount how fundamental to the mission they are, nor how rare they are to find in a business setting. As strategies, they lead to resilience. As tactics, they develop personal and collective trust, camaraderie, engagement, and accountability. Is the Mazamas curing cancer? Maybe not, but we sure as hell are giving people tools to build a life worth fighting for.

Reflection and revision (rinse and repeat) 

Despite being anchored in a shared purpose, when we look under the organization’s hood we find a business model that’s unsustainable by many measures: budgeted deficits rather than calculated growth; income streams that don’t cover their operating costs; and under-supported resources spread thin across a tangled web of objectives. The 2025-2027 Strategic Plan addresses all of this by prioritizing responsible financial planning, recalibrating our revenue model, and identifying ways to better future-proof operations.

But this doesn’t live with the board and staff alone. This is a call to all members to come together in support of our mission and community. To ask, “How can I help?” To refer a friend, or make a donation. To be an engaged ambassador of the organization. Zooming out to examine the big picture, we’re experiencing the kind of watershed moment that inspires evolution. It’s not the first time in our 131-year history, and it won’t be the last.

Gratitude and celebration

In nature, spring has a way of making things look easy. That’s because once balance is in place, rebirth unfolds seemingly like clockwork. In truth, it took millions of years of trial and error for Earth’s ecosystems to harmonize. 

Volunteers, leaders, and staff are working tirelessly to support and uplift the Mazamas—every one of us experiences moments of exhaustion, disappointment, and fear of failure. To support vitality, it’s especially important that we hold space to acknowledge all that’s going right:

Our people: Nothing short of extraordinary are the staunch corps of volunteers upholding the Mazamas’ reputation for excellence, the board of directors rising to the occasion, and the capable staff that’s ready to make a difference. Combined, the nearly 3,000 members that make up the Mazamas move our mission forward each day, building community at a time when many among us need it more than ever.

Responsivity: Leadership has immersed itself in research and analysis, as we aim to articulate our core competencies and identify a tangible and optimal business model. We’ve confirmed that our services have been wildly undervalued, leading to a new program pricing policy; this brings needed consistency internally and ties pricing directly to the cost of production, encouraging awareness of the impact programs have on resources. We’ve also identified that (like any non-profit) fees for service can only cover a portion of our costs and must be subsidized by charitable contributions; among other strategies, we’ve widened our donor base, have normalized applying for foundation support after a multi-year hiatus, and are implementing a formal planned giving program. 

Transparency and accountability: Since I joined the staff in 2023, we’ve fully caught up on four years of independently reviewed financial statements, and we’re about to publish our first impact report since 2016. Importantly, we’re also working to address a significant omission in our financial statements by quantifying the astonishing in-kind value that volunteer leaders contribute each year—this alone is worth celebrating for many reasons, not the least of which is that it will help us more meaningfully recognize you, our members and volunteers, who carry out our mission.

Friends, on behalf of everyone at the Mazamas, thank you for your enduring partnership and support. The future is not a thing merely to be experienced; it’s a great and wonderful opportunity to be created together. Let’s lean into the lessons of spring.

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Meet the Mazamas

Andy is a native Oregonian who grew up spending time outdoors with his family. Since joining the Mazamas a decade ago, he has volunteered in many capacities, from climb leader to skill builder instructor. He’s even managed to focus a fair bit of his work-related life on the outdoors too, as a land-use planner and landscape architect. 

Name: Andy Nuttbrock

Pronouns: He/Him/His 

Year Joined Mazamas: 2014

Present-day outdoor activities: Climbing, Hiking, Skiing (Backcountry, Downhill, Nordic) 

What’s your earliest outdoor memory? My earliest memories involve camping and fishing with my family. We had a place at Cape Kiwanda, before it was what it is today, and a Dory boat. I remember many weekends deep sea fishing. I learned to drive a boat, as well as drive a car to park the truck and trailer, at the age of 10 (It was the 70’s).

How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? Our friends (Tom and Laura Baughman) took the Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP) and told me that I would love it. It took a couple years, but I finally took BCEP and was automatically hooked.

As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? There is so much information to allow folks to get out there and recreate, but they should be mindful where that information comes from. I would recommend folks go through reliable channels to get the skills they desire. Organizations such as the Mazamas are a great start. Also, try and find mentors and buddies to use those skills with and have them provide some supervision and feedback. Above all, go out and do things. Get some time under your belt. 

What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I am inspired by all the folks that test and push themselves in new and unknown situations. I love spending my time in the education stream of the Mazamas and watching so many people trying new things. There is nothing like seeing folks get that “aha” moment or push through some fear. I really enjoy seeing their faces light up at the joy of completing a difficult task.

What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? Pick one. I’ve always been a fan of non-fiction, historical accounts. Lately I have been into local stories. My current favorite has been “Astoria” by Peter Stark. The interesting portion of the book is the self-imposed trouble and disasters they ran into due to their over-abundant confidence. Also, interesting to hear of folks that influenced local geographical feature names and question their relevance enough to warrant their name.


What’s on your adventure bucket list? My current fascination has been centered on long treks. I would love to do the Camino de Santiago. In the short term, as I haven’t done much hiking, outside of climb objectives, but I am looking at doing the Timberline Trail and Loowit/Mt. St. Helens Trail this season.

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Meet the Mazamas

Eric is a first-generation Peruvian American who is an American Mountain Guides Association single pitch instructor, aiming to become a rock guide in a few years. He loves spending every moment he can outdoors, but he recently opened up a machine shop, and that does take up a fair bit of his time lately. But not so much time that he hasn’t added a new hobby to his ever-expanding list – circus activities, like the flying trapeze, as a way to help him strength train for climbing. 

Eric Meza

Pronouns:  He, Him, His

Year Joined Mazamas: 2022

Present-day outdoor activities: Climbing, scuba diving, ski mountaineering,

mountain biking, surfing, trail running and learning the intricacies of nonprofit peanut farming 

What’s your earliest outdoor memory? Ooof. I was maybe 2 or 3; I remember my parents used to bring a little kid portable toilet that held a wag bag for long road trips. I clearly remember visiting Yosemite one snowy winter day and having my portable setup right in front of El Cap in the icy meadow. I think that’s when my obsession first started with the big stone. There’s a picture of me pooping while in awe of El Capitan somewhere in an album buried in storage.

How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? I first heard of the Mazamas from some friends in PDX Climbers of Color. Joining was a catalyst for becoming a safer, more knowledgeable climber. My goal is to keep learning so that I can someday pass on the knowledge I’ve accumulated from classes and adventures to the next generation of BIPOC climbers.

As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Sometimes conditions or situations get dangerous, and retreating seems like giving up on your goal or a failure; it’s not. Getting home alive should be the end goal and everything in-between is the good stuff you can tell stories about. You can always try again another day. 

What activities/situations/people most inspire you? U.S. competitive eater Joey Chestnut’s world record from a few months ago inspires me everyday. 

What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? Pick one. Hmmm @creamycanoli on Instagram is my latest inspiration. They really capture the plethora of facial expressions during difficult climbing moments. 

What’s on your adventure bucket list? A few big walls this year and then a trip to Chile/Patagonia next winter. 

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Meet the Mazamas

Name: Colleen Rawson

Pronouns: she/her

Year Joined Mazamas: 2023

Present-day outdoor activities: Climbing, walking/hiking, biking, backpacking, learning to ski  

What’s your earliest outdoor memory? Jumping into a river when I was around 4 years old, learning the doggie paddle. I grew up in Florida, so most of the outdoor rec was water-related. 

How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? I overheard two fellow students in my indoor lead climbing class in 2022 talking about the Mazamas. I had just summited Mount St. Helen’s that summer and was curious to learn more, so they recommended the Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP). The rest was history — I applied to BCEP in 2023, went on to do Intermediate Climbing School (ICS) in 2023-2024, became a hike leader and committee member. The Mazamas programs have given me the skills I need to make informed decisions outside, teach others more effectively, challenge myself, and be in community with people who love being outside. 

As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Be prepared and do some research beforehand. Go with friends, family, or community groups (like Mazama hikes!). Know your limits. Remember it’s supposed to be fun.   

What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I am inspired most by people who have experienced great pain, grief, and uncertainty in their lives but who remain open, gentle, and lighthearted. 

What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? Pick one. My favorite nonfiction book that I read last year was “4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman. The title references the fact that humans only have, on average, about 4,000 total weeks in their lives. (Hint: It is not a time management or productivity book!) 

What’s on your adventure bucket list? I don’t know if I believe in bucket lists. There is a nearly infinite amount of adventures to be had. In mountaineering, it’s easy to be fixated on “what is next.” I have some goals year to year — I’d love to do Mt. Shuksan’s Fisher Chimneys, Glacier Peak, Acker Rock, and Prusik Peak — but my real goal is to savor the process. 

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Snowshoeing: A Winter Window into Oregon’s Wilderness

Adventurous Young Mazamas snowshoeing near Mt. Hood, 2024

by Jacob Lippincott, Adventurous Young Mazamas

Oregon is typically not a state for fair weather hikers. In the summer expect to contend with heat, long dry spells, and skies filled with wild-fire smoke. In the winter, you’ll find cold temperatures, copious amounts of rain at lower elevations or many feet of snow at higher elevations. When the few nice weeks of fall give way to winter, people who want to continue enjoying one of our local trails often turn to snowshoes.

It is thought that snowshoes were first used around 4000 BC in Central Asia. People in snowy environments used them not for recreation at first, but for travelling and hunting. Snowshoes at this time did not look much like the ones we see today but were made from teardrop shaped planks of wood with a binding to attach to the foot. It wasn’t until they were brought to North America, by people crossing over the Bering Sea Land Bridge that they started to take on a more recognizable form. 

The Indigenous peoples of the Huron and Cree tribes are credited with modernizing snowshoes, replacing planks with webbing and a frame around the outside. As they were used more extensively, their form changed to meet the demands of conditions specific to that region. For example, snowshoes found in Alaska tended to be longer and skinnier, more suited for long trips in open country with deep snow. In contrast, the “bear paw” snowshoe, oval in shape with no tail, was great for navigating through dense woods and hilly areas. Today’s snowshoes resemble these older versions in shape and serve similar function, but are made with newer materials like aluminum and plastic, allowing them to be lighter and more durable.

For winter travel on trails and snowy plains, it is hard to beat snowshoes for their effectiveness and ease of use. While they may not provide the downhill speed of touring skis or the efficiency of cross-country skis, they require less training and less financial investment. If you can hike, you can snowshoe. That being said you will find that snowshoeing through deep snow is tiring, and usually slower than hiking.

Often, you find fewer people braving the elements so snowshoeing, even on a trail that is popular in the summer, can feel like you are deep in the backcountry. Just remember that snowshoeing or other forms of winter recreation come with their own set of challenges. Navigation can be harder, as even familiar trails can look vastly different under a few feet of snow and storms easily remove evidence of yesterday’s bootpack. Be prepared for cold temperatures in the morning and potential warming throughout the day, dress in layers. Finally, the sun goes down early in winter, start early and be back before dark. Now is not the season to stay overnight in the woods. 

I often say that I don’t like to snowshoe, that I would rather ski if I am spending time outside this time of year. But, writing this has made me reconsider that position. Yes, snowshoeing is often more tiring and slower than hiking and I want to get to the summit or back to the car to get warm. But when I remember to stop and marvel at the forest around me and soak in the quiet splendor, I am once again reminded how lucky I am to live in the Pacific Northwest. The dark green stands of evergreens, when covered with snow, are what comes to my mind when I think about the mountains here and trails become more beautiful during the winter. Moving through the woods in the cold, with tepid winter sun filtering through the trees and heavy snow-laden boughs gently swaying in the wind above provide for a wonderful, unique experience. Winter also provides a stillness to the outdoors that can be hard to find today. Honestly, I think about how lucky I am to live here almost every time I am outside in Oregon but it hits differently this time of year. And when on one of these magical winter hikes, thanks to snowshoes, I didn’t posthole every ten feet for the last five miles. 

If you would like to join the Mazamas for a snowshoe, keep an eye on the calendar this winter season. The Adventurous Young Mazamas is hosting our Winter Weekend the weekend of February 14–16. There will be snowshoeing events for everyone regardless of age or experience level, join us!

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The Mazamas Opposes PGE’s Power Line Construction in Forest Park

Letter sent by Rebekah Phillips, Mazama Executive Director on behalf of the Mazamas to Morgan Steele, City of Portland Environmental City Planner

Dear Ms. Steele,

Established in 1894 on the summit of Mt. Hood, the Mazamas is an Oregon-based 501(c)3 with a proud tradition of providing excellence in climbing education, leadership, and conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Our mission – to build a community that inspires everyone to love and protect the mountains – is carried out in partnership with more than 300 highly dedicated volunteers through education programs, climbs and hikes, stewardship activities, and scientific research. Current membership includes about 3,000 individuals.

Many Mazama members have been involved with Portland’s Forest Park from the beginnings of the park in 1946; in fact, many of the original committee of 50 that urged the city to make this area a city park were Mazama members, including the founder and chair of this committee, Ding Cannon. Our roots run deep with Forest Park, and we continue today to host many of our local outdoor activities in the park.

We are deeply concerned with PGE’s revised land-use application in the north end of the park, which proposes to clear cut 4.7 acres of 150+ year old Douglas fir and bigleaf maple trees and proposes to remove five white oak trees estimated to be 170-500 years old. In total, the proposal includes the removal of 376 living trees and 21 dead trees. It will permanently fill at least two wetlands and disrupt two streams that support multiple species of aquatic wildlife.

According to PGE, Phase 5 of this project may impact another 15 acres of Forest Park to the northwest and west potentially disrupting the Miller Creek watershed which contains salmon habitat. Should Phase 3 be approved, it will pave the way to Phase 5 as the “least expensive” alternative.

This area of land lies within the City’s Environmental Conservation and Environmental Protection overlay zones, and also within the City’s Forest Park Natural Resources Management Plan (FPNRMP). Legally, PGE must comply with this plan unless they can prove that there is no alternative to meet their obligation to provide reliable power. We are not convinced that PGE has investigated alternatives, nor have they been forthcoming with convincing information that they have tried to do so. Such information was requested as far back as 2022, and although a report on this was delivered to PGE by a private consultant at that time, it was not made available until a few weeks ago. Now PGE has released the report after withholding this information from the public for two years, and is requesting urgency on this matter to be decided.

As documented in the City of Portland’s 2012 Forest Park Wildlife Report, the northern area of Forest Park is home to over 200 species of interest, either listed, candidate, sensitive, or of concern at the State and Federal level. It is rich in wildlife structural diversity including larger trees, standing snags, and native understory. One of the streams that would be denuded is habitat for the northern red-legged frog, an at-risk species as noted in the Special Status and At-Risk Species List prepared by the City of Portland in 2022.

Ecological impact on the protected area of Forest Park would not be restricted to the area targeted for clear-cut. The edges of this pristine coniferous forest would be susceptible to plant invasions (ivy, blackberry, garlic mustard and others) that degrade forest health and limit diversity of species supported by the Park, tree blow-down from storms, land-slides, temperature increases which can weaken the forest making trees susceptible to insect and disease invasions. The slopes in this area of the Park are extremely steep, as documented in the Toth report, making this landscape prone to landslides when vegetation is removed.

Mitigation is not a solution for the environmental impact caused by power lines. Once a corridor is widened or opened, it is continually maintained in a manner that does not resemble the original natural state of the land. Proposing that this can somehow be compensated by improving other areas is ludicrous.

There are two more phases that PGE wants to follow up with. If this proposal is approved, against the overlay zones and long-ago approved FPNRMP, it will become a slippery slope – there would be an expectation that the following two phases could also be approved, incrementally increasing total impact to the north end of the park.

On behalf of the Mazama Board of Directors, Conservation Committee, and membership, I urge the City of Portland to reject this proposal.

Sincerely,
Rebekah Phillips
Executive Director

Learn more

Correction: The title of this post has been changed for clarity.

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Meet the Mazamas

A native Minnesotan, Chris moved to Portland in the mid-1990s and quickly fell in love with the region’s mountains, forests, deserts and coastlines. Despite a fear of heights, discovering the Mazamas 20 years later sparked a passion for climbing that took him from student and participant to instructor, climb leader and member of the Mazama board of directors. When not recreating outdoors, he leads marketing and business development efforts for technology companies of all sizes.

Name:  Chris Kruell

Pronouns:  He/him

Year Joined Mazamas: 2007

Present-day outdoor activities:  Climbing (alpine and rock), hiking, gravel biking and skate skiing. I used to be a competitive distance runner, and I just recently took up running again.

What’s your earliest outdoor memory? I remember being a little boy in Minneapolis. I was playing on the beach at the Minneapolis lake now named Bde Maka Ska, and I didn’t know how to swim yet. The family was heading back to the car, and my dad told me to go in the lake and rinse off. I remember thinking that made no sense because I was going to have to walk back through the sand again. I also have fond memories of when I first got cross country skis, and I would head out my back door and ski through the fields with my dog, Thor. 

How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? Somebody I knew was telling me about Mazamas, and she had taken BCEP (Basic Climbing Education Program) awhile ago and was going to take it again. She described climbing Mt. Adams and camping out on the Lunch Counter, and I just thought that was the craziest thing. But then I decided to sign up for BCEP, and once class started, I was all in. I just absolutely loved it. You’re engaging physical and mental strength and endurance, decision making under duress, sense of accomplishment, learning about “next time”—all facets. I took BCEP, then ICS (Intermediate Climbing School) and AR (Advanced Rock) and headed down the leadership path. In addition to climbs, I led a BCEP team for several years. I also ran the BCEP program and assisted for ICS and AR. 

As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? I think there are three fundamental areas people should think about. Number one, they should seek out sound advice or education from reputable people and organizations so you know what you’re getting into. And second, is proper gear selection. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to outfit yourself with the latest gear. But you shouldn’t just be out climbing peaks in jeans and running shoes (ask me how I know). And lastly, find experienced people. Find your people. The fun factor goes way up. The safety risks go way down. 

What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Since I took up skate skiing, I just marvel at Jessie Diggins, the Olympian from Minnesota. She has a gear that most of us don’t and lays it out on the line every single time. The other people would be my high school and college cross country and track coaches who had a huge influence on my life. More recently in the outdoor recreation world, I’ve been thinking about the Mazamas. I went to the Steps Together fundraising dinner, and I looked around, and thought, “these are my people.” The Mazama community is incredibly inspiring, and I just love to be a part of it.

What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? Pick one. My favorite book of all time is “A River Runs Through It.” I loved the movie too, but the book was just phenomenal.  

What’s on your adventure bucket list? I am so looking forward to taking my almost 11-month-old granddaughter camping this summer! I’d also like to go live in Europe or the UK for a couple months and just experience day-to-day life there. I’ve done a lot of business travel in my lifetime, but it’s much different staying in a five-star hotel for work compared to experiencing life as a local. 

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Meet the Mazamas

Damon joined the Mazamas in 2018 when he signed up for the Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP) and then Intermediate Climbing School (ICS) to learn how to navigate the technical and glaciated terrain of the Cascade volcanoes. He now volunteers with the Advanced Rock (AR) program. AR is now accepting applications for 2025. His favorite outdoor days are on long multi-pitch rock climbs. When not outside, he’s either reading, watching TV or wasting time playing Sudoku.

Name:  Damon Greenshields

Pronouns:  He/Him

Year Joined Mazamas: 2018

Present-day outdoor activities: I spend most of my outdoor time rock climbing, mountaineering, or skiing with my partner Angie.

What’s your earliest outdoor memory? I grew up in Eastern Oregon just outside of the Wallowa mountains. When I was 5, my dad and I hiked to the top of Ruby Peak. My dad had this huge, blue backpack that he would tote the kids around with, so there’s a good chance I didn’t hike much at all and was just training weight for him. I’m told there were plenty of candy breaks.

How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? When I moved to Portland in 2018, I wanted to climb some of the local Cascade volcanoes but had never used crampons or an ice axe before. I discovered the Mazamas while searching online for mountaineering classes. I’m so thankful I decided to join because through taking BCEP and ICS and now volunteering with AR, I have made many amazing friends. One of my favorite things about the Mazamas is the friendly and uplifting community it has fostered.

As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Some of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in the outdoors was when I completed a difficult challenge by being well prepared and using skills that I learned to mitigate risks. So, I would say, at least regarding mountaineering/climbing, one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to prioritize learning and truly understanding systems and skills that contribute to keeping you safe.

What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I get anxious about being bad at things, so I’ve been working on putting myself out there more with new hobbies. It’s been way more fun and encouraging than I expected. I’ve found a lot of inspiration from friends who are passionate and excited about interests that are different from mine.

What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? Pick one. Angie and I listen to a lot of podcasts when on the road. Our favorite outdoor podcast is The Sharp End, and our favorite easy listening podcast is Normal Gossip.

What’s on your adventure bucket list?  Currently scheming up a plan to check out the Bugaboos next summer. The Bugaboos are a mountain range in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia, Canada