Category: Activities

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Countering Climate Change with Carbon-Neutral Building

By Jeff Hawkins

Sixteen years ago, the Conservation Committee hosted the Melting Mountains Conference to a packed house in the Mazama Mountaineering Center (MMC) auditorium. We covered four climate change-related topics: the state and future of glaciers; governmental policies and actions by the city, county, and state; organizational change; and individual action.

I took the last two to heart and decided to make the Mazamas carbon neutral. It has been a long path with numerous obstacles: naysayers, financing, technical challenges, competing priorities, and my own foot-dragging. But now, after all that, I am thrilled to announce that we are finally there. The MMC is now carbon neutral! (The Mazama Lodge is not and will not be for a while unless an angel steps in with a donation of an estimated $250,000.)

We did this by eliminating our natural gas usage and going 100 percent electrical, installing high-efficiency heat pumps, reducing our electrical consumption, creating our own electricity via a large solar array, and purchasing 100 percent green power from Portland General Electric (PGE) for the balance of energy not created by our solar system.

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The final step of replacing the boiler with heat pumps is particularly exciting. The new system will add heating and cooling to areas of the building not previously conditioned: the library, the library workroom, the basement lobby, and the MR1 classroom*. The boiler, which was far too large of a heat source for the auditorium, will no longer be driving us to wastefully open the windows an hour after turning it on. The auditorium will also have air conditioning. Mathew, in the library workroom, will no longer swelter in the summer and huddle around two space heaters in the winter. And the basement lobby and library will be comfy too. Along with these spaces, the archives have a new system too, far more efficient than the original system that broke nearly two years ago!

Our total energy bill might stay the same or potentially go down. We will use more electricity and less natural gas (zero actually). For the last two years, and likely this year too, the solar array has produced more than 100 percent of the electrical energy consumed. The excess production has been donated to PGE’s Energy Assistance Program, an average of $1,750 per yearǂ. The MMC also used approximately $1,250 per year in natural gas. This means there is $3,000 per year available to cover increased electricity usage for the new heat pumps. The actual usage depends on the members.

By the time you read this, a demolition party will have already removed the boiler, the radiators, and the piping. It took three weekends, nearly 200 hours of work and about 15 volunteers to haul away thousands of pounds of boiler-related remnants.

There are of course many people to thank—people whose efforts and donations made this possible. They are too many to include for all the projects since the start of this journey. For this final step, major funding came from Linda Lewis on behalf of her late husband and Mazama member Phil Dean, who was a champion of Mazama history and the archives, and from George Cummings, Rick Pope, Dick Miller, and Jim Van Lente, with additional donations from Albert Iggi, Terry Brenneman, Peter Boag, Debra Wilkins, Noelle Price, and Rahul Ravel. Jeff Welter and Rick Amodeo contributed in a big way by helping with the engineering of a different heat pump system for the auditorium that we ultimately did not pursue.

Efforts like this are not wasted; they are essential in the process of considering alternatives that lead to a final best solution. And Mazama Facilities Manager Rick Craycraft listened patiently to every one of my ideas and complaints, and to the range of emotions I experienced along the way. I am grateful to you all. Thank you.

It is my hope that the work we do together as Mazamas, to be consistent with our mission, will inspire others to action. The glaciers are melting. We have more work to do. Let’s keep at it. Please find a way to contribute in whatever way you can. If not on reversing climate change, then to the Mazamas in other ways. What we do together touches people’s lives in amazing ways. 

* MR1 was heated by two electric wall heaters. Replacing these units with a heat pump will save significantly on peak electrical demand and overall consumption.ǂ Donating excess annual solar-generated electric energy to the Energy Assistance Program is part of the Net Metering contract with PGE.

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The Mazama Centennial Trail Endures, Delights

Ever since our founding in 1894, the Mazamas wanted a presence on Mt. Hood in an effort to demonstrate the importance of this mountain and our organization’s devotion to it. The Mazama Trail was conceived as a way to mark our 100 years of existence, which began at the summit of Mt. Hood in 1894.

The closure and abandonment of the Cathedral Ridge trail in the late ‘80s made way for the creation of the Mazama Trail, located on the Northwest side of Mt. Hood. It took nearly a decade from conception. In that time, volunteers tended to constant blowdowns, out-of-control huckleberries, rhododendrons and underbrush that overtook the trail. The Mazamas worked on ridge reconstruction, switchback creation and obvious rest spots.

Photo by Mary Spiering

Since the successful completion of the Mazama Trail in 1994, the area has withstood the Dollar Lake fire in 2011 and ongoing winter storms. And every year, we tend to it, to ensure it remains an enjoyable trail, which we did this past weekend.

Photo by Gina Binole

Over the course of three days in July, and an advanced scouting trip in June by Trail Tending leader Rick Pope, more than 30 people, the oldest being 90, cut out 32 logs, brushed back about 3 miles of trail, cleared out 60 drain dips, initiated ¼ mile of tread repair and hauled 50 buckets of gravel, which was spread, or stashed in strategic locations. It required about 257 hours of volunteer time, plus 36 hours of scouting time in June for a total of 293 hours.

For the uninitiated, the Mazama Trail serves as a ridge crest connector to a number of destinations, such as McNeil Point, Cairn Basin, Dollar Lake and the Timberline Trail. It offers the diversity of shady forest, a couple of springs, a talus-filled gully, a rhododendron alley, gorgeous views of Mt. Hood and more.

Photo by Brandy Quinn

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The Mazamas Supports BLM’s Public Lands Rule

Pilot Rock/Bureau of Land Management

By The Mazama Conservation Committee

The Mazamas fully embrace the opportunity to publicly support the Bureau of Land Management’s historic effort to address our intensifying climate crisis by improving biodiversity and ecosystem resilience on our public lands. Our current predicament unquestionably demands aggressive action and rethinking fundamental priorities.

We agree wholeheartedly that preserving mature, old-growth forests is essential to any new plan. Not only do these forests store vast quantities of carbon from our atmosphere, but logging activity in these forests instead releases vast, harmful quantities of carbon – and needs to stop now.

These mature forests have shown they are more resilient to drought, insects, and fire, rendering them more valuable than ever. They support countless wildlife and plant species, enhance our threatened water supplies, and help combat flooding and erosion. Saving them from destruction must be a keystone of any forward-thinking and, yes, planet-saving, standards.

We believe much more can, and should, be done to mitigate and even reverse ongoing damage to our public lands. The BLM must continue to decommission unneeded roads. It should greatly limit free-range grazing and transition to rotational grazing wherever possible. The Bureau must work to restore and protect critical wetlands; and focus on biodiversity (rather than monoculture) when replanting/reseeding in deforested or otherwise-damaged areas. While the BLM and other public land managers have long juggled competing priorities of economic, recreational, and ecological interests, at this point there is only one path forward, lest these publicly owned treasures simply cease to exist: Restoration and preservation of environmental health and biodiversity must lie foremost in all planning.

(This was submitted to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning on behalf of the Mazamas)

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Meet the Mazamas

Meet the Schwabs: They’re a blended family— each with varying degrees of “from-here.” While Meg moved to Oregon from the Midwest as an adult, Michael’s family basically got here with the Pioneers. Tegan and Isaac actually have the deepest roots to the Pacific Northwest though, because they’re members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde through their mom’s side of the family.

Thankfully, they all love being outside equally, and enjoy spending lots of family time exploring the outdoors. They were grateful to discover the Mazamas during COVID, and decided to take the Families Mountaineering 101 class together last year. 

Name:  Michael (dad), Meg (stepmom), Tegan, 12, and Isaac, 9

Pronouns: He, she, she, he

Year Joined Mazamas: 2022

Present-day outdoor activities: Hiking, camping, backpacking, climbing, and snowshoeing 

What’s your earliest outdoor memory? As a fam: the kids have been camping since they were babies, and we’ve been taking them on hikes since before they even liked it. 

How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? Since COVID, we were always on the lookout for activities to do outside, because it really seemed to help the kids get through being stuck with online learning and not being able to see their friends as often. We found Family 101 in 2021 (through a google search, I think?), but the planned dates that season didn’t fit with the 50/50 parenting-time schedule we have. For 2022, the calendar was almost exactly [magically] aligned, so we applied!

As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? For families specifically: get started as early as you can! Even when you think it’ll be hard at first (FYI: you are correct), you’ll all get the hang of it eventually. Nothing has brought our family unit closer than the times we’ve been hanging out together outside. Also, if you have the opportunity to go with other families with kids (ex. FM101!): jump on it. 

What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Every time we’ve been at the summit of a crazy-difficult hike and seen a parent walk by with their baby in one of those backpack-carrier things. So metal. 

What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? Primitive Technology by John Plant. 

What’s on your adventure bucket list?  Re-doing our favorite trips we did when the kids were too little to take them with us. Banff National Park, Zion, and the Inca Trail stick out as the main ones.

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Earth Day Work Parties

Compiled by the Mazama Conservation Committee

It’s April, and quite naturally Earth Day-themed events abound.

There are trash pickups, workshops on composting and tending native plants, and countless activities that let young children dig in the dirt, explore flora and fauna and learn how to help Mother Nature every day.

For Mazamas – who, shall we say, lean toward more vigorous pursuits – the calendar also offers serious roll-up-your-sleeves, lace up the boots and get after it meet-ups across the Portland-Vancouver metro area.

And that’s where we’ll focus this compilation of work party listings we unearthed for Saturday-Sunday, April 22-23:

Forest Park in Portland requires constant care in the form of trail work and pulling invasive species. This time the focus is on the Birch or Wildwood trails. April 22. https://forestparkconservancy.org/get-involved/events-calendar/

The Boise Eliot Native Grove in North Portland could use some real muscle for extensive post-digging work to place new signage. April 22.
https://pdxparent.com/event-single/6th-annual-earth-day-work-party-boise-eliot-native-grove/

Time to clear more ivy and other nasties from the Willow Place Natural Area along Lake Road in Milwaukie, along with planting new shrubs. April 22.
https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/sustainability/earth-day-restoration-event

In nearly the same neck of the woods – and facing the same creepy threats – North Clackamas Park in Milwaukie needs hands-on help. April 22. https://ncprd.com/event/earth-day

Trees along the Clackamas River near Oregon City also need serious ivy-pulling, which the Clackamas River Basin Council and Earth on the Edge has prioritized this year. April 22. https://clackamasriver.org/events/earth-day-save-a-tree-from-ivy/

Field Bridge Park in West Linn is primed for a round of new plantings and invasive removal, organized by the Tualatin Riverkeepers. April 22. http://tualatinriverkeepers.org/events/fields-bridge-restoration

With some modest muscle, volunteers can rid West Linn’s Palomino Park of invasive plants, as well. Sunday, April 23. https://www.solveoregon.org/opportunity/a0C8W00000VBzsnUAD/earth-sunday-at-palomino-park

Just up the road in Lake Oswego, similar natural habitat cleanup – ivy pulling, digging, trimming and the like – will help keep Springbrook Park in good shape. April 22.
https://www.solveoregon.org/opportunity/a0C8W00000VBR4aUAH/lake-oswego-or-spring-clean-up-restore-habitat-at-springbrook-park-42323

In nearby Southwest Portland is another tree care event – actually two projects along Tryon Creek, one of them near the recently rebuilt Boones Ferry Road Bridge. April 22.

https://allevents.in/portland/tree-care-event-portland-or/10000579516017007

Clark County, Washington, is in on the action, too. Join the Clark Public Utilities-sponsored Salmon Creek planting/restoration work just northwest of Vancouver. April 22. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/streamteam-earth-day-tree-planting-tickets-560706908457

There are plenty more Earth Day events in our area and beyond, designed for all ages and interests. Included are numerous cleanups, family friendly gatherings and workshops, guided hikes, and other celebrations.
            To find a good match, check with your county, or city, or parks department; your church or school; or any outdoors or volunteer organization of choice.

Here are some good links with comprehensive listings:

https://www.solveoregon.org/spring-cleanup
            (differs from):

https://www.solveoregon.org/solvecalendar

https://www.eventbrite.com/d/or–portland/earth-day-events/

           

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Alano Club & The Mazamas Team Up for Peak Recovery

Ali Marie & Susan Koch on Dog Mountain. Photo supplied by Ali Marie Koch

In her 20s, Ali Marie Koch struggled with anxiety, an eating disorder, depression and panic attacks. 

“I tried a lot of different things to make myself feel better,” Ali recalls. But nothing helped. She even succumbed to her suicidal thoughts with a failed attempt. “When I found myself in a place of hopelessness, I knew I had to create a path back to wellness.”

That path led her to the Mazamas. Well, actually her mother, Susan Koch, a 2008 Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP) graduate, hike leader and Guardian Peaks award recipient, shepherded her to the organization.

“I didn’t think there were other people like me who were happy on a hiking trail and not walking at the mall,” Susan says. “But I just fell in love with climbing and hiking, and the Mazamas were so kind and made me feel so welcome.”

Susan, a physician with Kaiser, wanted to at least try and expose Ali to the outdoor experiences that positively transformed her life decades before. They began hiking together. Susan waited until Ali’s strength and endurance increased and the wildflowers were peaking. Then she brought Ali up Old Snowy. 

“When I stood on top of that mountain, I felt a sense of strength and inner peace I’ve never felt before,” Ali says. “I was connected to something bigger than myself…I thought there was a secret sauce here, which can lead to mental and physical wellness.”

Now 11 years into her recovery, Ali is an active Mazama who enjoys snowboarding, climbing and split boarding. She also aims to offer up some of that “secret sauce” to next year’s BCEP students via the Alano Club of Portland, the largest and oldest recovery center in the United States. Peak Recovery, a project of Alano, supports people in mental health and substance use recovery with free outdoor movement-based programming rooted in a true love of nature.

With Ali as program manager, Peak Recovery is excited to partner with the Mazamas and fund nine BCEP students in 2023 who identify as being in mental health and/or substance use recovery. Peak Recovery will cover the cost of the class and provide transportation in a 9-passenger Sprinter van. After the class, participants in the Peak Recovery cohort will be gifted a membership to the Mazamas to continue on their mountaineering journey.

“The ethos of Alano and Peak Recovery is in line with the Mazamas,” says Joe Preston, BCEP committee chair. “It’s the kind of partnership that will help us be more inclusive and welcoming, and we all want to see efforts like this expand every year.”

In 2022, BCEP put together several affinity teams, including an all-Latino team, an LGBTQ team and a sober team. The Peak Recovery partnership is an 18-month pilot program that Ali and Brent Canode, co-founder and Alano’s executive director, hope will become an ongoing partnership with the Mazamas.

“There’s a popular saying, and one of my favorite truisms in the behavioral health field, which goes like this: ‘The opposite of addiction is connection.’ At Alano Club of Portland we’ve taken that idea a bit further, recognizing that the point of connection must be meaningful and authentic for true community to grow and flourish,” Canode says. “Like most things in life, recovery is not a

One-size fits all journey, and those points of connection must speak in a way that compels a person to reach out and then remain on that path. That’s why we are thrilled to bring Peak Recovery to our community in partnership with the Mazamas, another legacy non-profit with a deep history of service and impact in Oregon.”

Susan and Ali credit the Mazamas in part for the happy, healthy lives they lead today, exposing them to a community of people passionate about movement and time in nature, tightening their family bond with trips that included the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and highlighting how resilient they are as women in the healthcare field.

“It’s been such a privilege to spend time in nature with other Mazamas, some of whom we now feel are like family,” Ali says. “It’s now a privilege to light this fire, to share the transformative, healing powers of mountains with others.”

  • Learn more and register for the course at  Peak Recovery under the Mountaineering section for the “Mazama + Peak Recovery” BCEP team.
  • Learn more about BCEP and join the BCEP Info Night webinar at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11.
  • Applications will go live January 18th, and applications close February 9th
  • Anyone applying for these 9 spots on the “Mazama + Peak Recovery” BCEP team will all be in the same cohort (which will be led by James Jula from the Mazamas BCEP leader team)
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MAZAMA BYLAWS: Proposed Amendments

Written by Aimee Filimoehala, Mazama Vice President
Printed in the January/February 2021 Mazama Bulletin

The Mazama Executive Council endorses the following proposed amendments to the bylaws. Updating and modernizing the bylaws will allow the organization to attract many new like-minded members, to improve operational efficiency, and to take a definitive step toward increasing diversity and inclusivity in the Executive Council, which is critical for a modern council’s decision-making ability. Understanding the reasoning for these bylaw changes will be facilitated by a town hall meeting in early spring. A special election to vote on the bylaw changes will be held in early May 2021. We continue to look to our past for a foundation, while also reaching to the future as we aspire to challenge ourselves to be better.

Glaciated Peak

According to our current bylaws, an individual must summit a glaciated peak to qualify for Mazama membership. The original intent of this requirement served to foster a sense of community and ensured that all Mazamas shared a love for the mountains. There has been an ongoing and genuine interest from nonmembers to become part of our member community while enjoying outdoor activities being offered through the Mazamas, including:

      • Hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, and rambling
      • Rock climbing
      • Skiing (Nordic and Backcountry)
      • Canyoneering
      • Outings

Removing the requirement of summiting a glaciated peak allows us to:

      • Remove a barrier to becoming a Mazama, which is in line with the council’s goal to make it easier for participants that share the values of the organization to actively participate in and contribute to the Mazama experience.
      • Directly support our mission of inspiring everyone to love and protect the mountains.
      • Advance efforts of inclusiveness and diversity in our organization regardless of socioeconomic status, physical abilities, age, and outdoor interests.
      • Increase membership while improving both political presence and financial stability.

Our identity is preserved through our behavior and established culture. Other well-established mountaineering organizations such as the American Alpine Club and The Mountaineers have no such requirement and are still considered climbing organizations by their members and the larger community. The Mazamas will continue to recognize climbing achievements through badges and awards, including:

      • Completing the Basic Education Climbing Program,
      • Completing the Intermediate Climbing School,
      • Completing Advanced Rock
      • Summiting a Glaciated Peak,
      • Summiting the Guardian Peaks
      • Summiting the Seven Oregon Peaks
      • Summiting the 16 Northwest Peaks

Operations

Recent unpredictable and unavoidable events have highlighted limitations in conducting day-to-day business given our existing bylaws. In order to improve our ability to comply with bylaws while operating effectively, the Executive Council is recommending we separate some of the day to day operational structure currently dictated in the bylaws into a separate operations document. Recommended changes to the bylaws will:

      • Change the name of the Executive Council to the Board of Directors (Board), and its members will be board members or directors;
      • Allow board communication by electronic means according to Oregon law as needed;
      • Remove the requirement for two authorized signers for all financial transactions and allow the Executive Director or an authorized officer to sign for expenses up to $1,000;
      • Move the creation and management of committees to conduct essential work to an operations document.

Board Makeup

The existing Mazama Bylaws require board members to be a Mazama member in good standing for at least three years. A recommendation to emphasize skillset, applicable experiences, and diverse backgrounds vs. length of time within the organization is being made. The practical needs of our organization require knowledge and proficiency in specialized areas such as fundraising, accounting, and law, to name a few. With the current requirements, we have severely limited our ability to find and recruit the talent that is needed for our board. If we remove these requirements and instead place value on experience vs. length of time with the Mazamas, we will be able to recruit highly skilled board candidates and improve confidence in our members that we are operating in their and the community’s best interests.

Recommended changes to the board makeup include:

      • Removal of the requirement for three years of continuous Mazama membership to run for the board. These nine board members will still need to be voted in by the membership.
      • Three additional board members, who need not be Mazama members, will be appointed by the nine board members for their special skills or experiences, including their connections in the broader non-Mazama community, and they will share the same voting rights and responsibilities. Appointments will be made for three-year terms with the exception of the initial appointments. To stagger vacancies and to provide continuity, the initial appointments will be: first appointee for 1 year; second appointee for 2 years; and third appointee for three years.

Keep an eye out for the official voter guide in the March/April Bulletin. We will be holding a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, to discuss the proposed bylaw amendments.

If you have questions or comments about the bylaws, please email bylaws@mazamas.org.

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Safe Backcountry Recreation This Winter

Article and photographs by Ali Gray, from the December 2020 Mazama Bulletin
Good social distancing in the Mazama Backcountry Skiing course.

As I write this, the United States and the world are waiting in limbo for the results of the 2020 presidential election. What else am I and my fellow winter recreation enthusiasts waiting for? Snow! Each winter, people across the Pacific Northwest get out in greater and greater numbers to enjoy the wonders of winter backcountry recreation.

In fact, backcountry skiing and snowboarding is currently the fastestgrowing segment of the snow sports industry. At the same time, the numbers of people getting out in other ways—think snowmobiling and snowshoeing—are also increasing in leaps and bounds. This is a trend that has been happening for well over a decade.

But then COVID-19 hit. Thrust into a worldwide pandemic in the middle of the prime spring season, ski resorts across the country shut down. With nowhere else to go, and with the prospect of everyday attractions such as concerts, bars and restaurants, museums, and other social gatherings canceled for the foreseeable future, people turned to nature. Trailheads overflowed with recreationists, and backcountry touring equipment sold in record numbers throughout March and April. This trend continued through the summer, with many areas across the Pacific Northwest and beyond seeing more people on our public lands on weekdays than are normally seen during peak weekends and holidays. Weekend warriors like myself started to seek out trails that are more remote and off the beaten path to avoid the crowds.

What does this mean for winter? Ski resorts have implemented plans to remain open during the pandemic, but the reality is that the number of people riding the lifts this winter will be greatly reduced. Winter hiking, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling will also likely be on the rise as those who took to the trails all summer and fall will want to continue the activity while urban activities remain limited. It’s pretty easy to see that backcountry recreation will see record numbers of people out on the slopes and trails this winter. Although I’m delighted more folks will be experiencing nature in the snow, I’m worried about the consequences of more people with less experience in volatile winter environments. So how can you stay safe?

COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS

First off, a no-brainer. Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you’re safe from COVID. Social distancing and wearing a mask are still important. Remember that studies have shown that fleece neck gaiters and buffs are less effective than cotton face masks and surgical masks. Also remember, cotton is normally a big no-no in the winter because it’s cold when wet and dries slowly, so you may need to bring a handful of masks on your outing, especially if you’re going to be breathing heavily.

KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE (IT’S NOT JUST FOR COVID)

We’ve all heard about avalanches and the risks they pose. Sliding snow isn’t just dangerous for the person that triggers the avalanche—many slides travel much further down the slope than you’d think, and can easily trap people down below who weren’t involved in the initial triggering event. With more people on the slopes this winter, this will be especially important. Be aware of your surroundings and how busy your trail is, and avoid traveling at the bottom of large slopes or in gullies. If you cross a steep, snowy slope, go one at a time. This way, if an avalanche were to occur, only one person is caught instead of your entire group.

SPEAKING OF DISTANCE …

If you’re like me, you may be traveling to fartherout and more remote places this winter to avoid the crowds. Keep in mind that while the trail may not be a conga-line and there may still be fresh powder, you’re also farther away from help. Carrying an emergency beacon is a really good idea, and also, in addition to the 10 essentials, make sure to carry extra warm clothes, socks, gloves, and maybe even a camp stove and small bivy sack. Remember that even a small injury can become way more difficult to manage when it’s freezing and there is snow on the ground, and that it gets dark quickly and early this time of year.

Avalanche debris on the climbing route on Mt. Shasta, 2019.

SPEAKING OF AVALANCHES …

There are going to be more people out this winter, so it’s super important each one of us does what we can to keep each other safe. While many online resources are aimed at skiers and snowboarders, knowledge of avalanches is just as relevant and important for snowshoers, hikers, climbers, and motorized users.

If you haven’t already, attend an avalanche awareness class! These free events are put on by local businesses across the Portland metro area, with many also being offered online this year. Awareness classes last a few hours and will teach you about the types of avalanches, where they occur, and how you can best avoid them. Also, Know Before You Go (kbyg.org), avalanche.org, and Avalanche Canada (avalanche.ca/start-here) are great online resources for avalanche education. The Northwest Avalanche Center (nwac.us) and the Central Oregon Avalanche Center (coavalanche.org) are our go-to places for avalanche information and forecasts in the region.

Want to go further? Take an Avalanche 1, 2, or Rescue course! These indepth classes cover risk management, terrain selection, and rescue techniques, and are imperative for anyone who spends time in the mountains in winter. Classes are filling up faster than normal, so make sure to sign up soon on the AIARE website at avtraining.org.

LEARN MORE

There is so much more to learn about traveling in the backcountry in winter, which won’t all fit here. For more, check out my article covering avalanches, winter weather, and preparing for the unexpected on page 8 of the January 2020 Mazama Bulletin: tinyurl.com/MazJan2020

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Mazama Trail Tending in 2020

Delayed But Not Stopped by COVID

August 24, 2020
By Susan Brickey

Many thanks to the twelve Mazamas and the Forest Service Volunteer Coordinator, Paul Bach, for stepping up on short notice and assuring the Mazama Trail’s legacy continues! 

Image: Three men with brightly colored safety helmets wave from the upper leg of a switchback on the Mazama Trail, Mt. Hood. The men are practicing safe physical distancing. Behind them, further up the switchback, is a tip of a small peak, with dead trees and bright green bushes surrounding it. It is a bright, sunny day with blue skies.
Mazama trail tendering volunteers on the Mazama trail. Photo: Susan Brickey. 2020.

Normally, the Mazama Trail work party is scheduled in late June after most of the snow is gone, but this year COVID-related delays by both the Forest Service and Mazamas postponed it until the heat of August.  Still, after much communication, the work went on with additional COVID protocols and special release requirements.  While we missed the Avalanche Lilies, a huge feature of the June work parties, we were delighted with the ripe huckleberries that replaced them as an enticement up the trail.

What is the legacy of the Mazama Trail?  Last year, longtime Mazama climb and hike leader Ray Sheldon retold the story for the 125th anniversary of the Mazamas.  It all started in 1994 when the Mazamas went in search of an appropriate way to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The abandoned Cathedral Ridge Trail was identified, adopted, and rebuilt!  This project took four years and involved temporary shelters to house people and gear.  When it was finished, the trail was renamed after our organization and a legacy was born.  See “Mazama Trail Construction” (DVD) in the Mazama Library for the full story and for images from the project.

The traditional three-day work parties involve camaraderie and fun, with the common goal of clearing the trail and protecting it for another year of adventuring.  Since the Dollar Lake Fire in 2011, a large part of the trail maintenance requires taking out trees that have fallen over, impeding the trail.  There are two major burn areas on the trail but in the years since the fire, huckleberries, flowers, and trees return.  One year, 75 trees fell across the trail!  This year, relatively lucky only 28 needed to be cut.  It’s a good thing that tree removal is a favorite of work parties!  However, this job is also dangerous, and saw certification training is required for the oversight. Thankfully, Mazama leader Rick Pope has that certification, which allows us to host work parties consistently.  Safety is key, especially in wilderness areas!  Don’t be discouraged if you’re new the trail tending game, though. First-timers quickly learn to handle the second side of the saws. This year, new participant Andy Klumpp took his first turn on the trip and said he’d be back to help again. We’re looking forward to it, Andy!

Mazama leaders, volunteers, and our USFS partner removed 28 trees during this work party! Photo: Susan Brickey. 2020.

Trail tending offers work for everyone.  In addition to the heavy work of removing trees, the work usually includes benching the trail to keep it wide, cutting back brush (with a benefit this year of munching the huckleberries along the way), and clearing drains to assure water runs off with all of our rains and snowmelt.  

The Mazama Trail features 14 switchbacks before you reach the Mt. Hood Wilderness boundary.  When you reach the boundary, be sure to look back over your shoulder to view the tops of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens.  Not to mention, the breathtaking views of Mt. Hood that you are treated to at the trailhead, as well as several places along the trail. Nothing like trail work with a view (and snacks, don’t forget those huckleberries)!

Finding some huckleberry snacks along the trail. Photo: Susan Brickey. 2020.

To ensure the health of our leaders and volunteers, 2020’s sign up process limited the number of workers each day and required using the online sign-up system (the same as used when signing up for hikes and climbs). Participants in this year’s trail tending work party were Paul Bach, our Forest Service representative, Rick Pope, Mazama Lead, Sue Brickey, Asst. Lead, Mary and Dave Mullen, David Carrier, Gary Riggs, Jeff Hawkins, Andy Klumpp, John Maroney, Tom Davidson, John Meckel, and Mike Kacmar. Thank you to these dedicated and hardworking volunteers!  

Missed this year’s work party and feeling bummed? Fear not! The logs holding the switchbacks in place require replacing and gravel on the scree field needs refreshing, so be sure to watch for more trail tending work parties in the near future!  

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Mazama Face Mask Design Contest

Now that we have all added a new item to our packing checklist, we thought it was time to make some functional, yet beautiful, masks!

So, whether you’ve found some new quarantine-inspired creativity or you’ve been at it for years, we want to see what you’ve got! Enter as many designs as you’d like and once the submission period ends, the Mazama community will have the chance to vote on their favorite designs. 

The design with the most votes will be available for pre-order purchase, at which time we will close the form and make our order. Masks will be sold for $21 each, with quantity-based discounts to ensure you have a mask for every occasion. The purchase price includes shipping and handling. 

Masks will be made from stretch-woven polyester face fabric and cotton blend lining, with an antimicrobial finish. Comfortable, breathable, and built to last, it’s a great option for everyday wear or your next alpine adventure. Plus, they’re local! All masks will be made in Salem, OR by our friends at NW Alpine. Designers can get an idea of the possibilities at nwalpine.com/collections/masks.

Design Specs*

  • Designs should be in the spirit of the Mazama mission to “inspire everyone to love and protect the mountains.” 
  • Designers may submit as many designs as they choose.
  • Files should be submitted as .ai, .tiff, or .png.
  • The outer mask has 2 sides that get seamed together in the middle. See this PDF for a design template.

*The Mazamas reserve the right to deny design submissions based on our quality and community standards. 

The artist whose design is chosen will receive 10 masks in their design!

Submit your original artwork here!