These blog posts were transferred from our old blogging platform. We are working to categorize them over the next few months, but for now, they are in chronological order.
On October 18, a Portland-based man was arrested by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on suspicions of planning a mass shooting, targeting climbers at this weekend’s Craggin’ Classic at Smith Rock. Mazamas leadership first became aware of the situation that same morning, when we were notified of a credible threat. The perpetrator was detained shortly thereafter, and authorities are confident that there is no continued threat. We are grateful to law enforcement and others whose interventions and skillful efforts led to his swift and nonviolent arrest.
We have learned that the suspect was a member of the Mazamas, making this news all the more devastating and difficult. With the safety and well-being of our members, volunteers, and students always our top priority, the Mazamas takes physical, psychological, and emotional safety seriously, and we recognize this news may be especially troubling for members.
A native South Carolinian, Duncan lived in Maryland, Virginia and Rhode Island before moving to Oregon. His face is a familiar one at the Mazamas, and we’re fortunate that he is a devoted instructor. He’s a professor at Linfield College and volunteers much of his time teaching and overseeing first aid courses for the Mazamas. He also leads Basic Climbing Education Program teams, leads and assists on many climbs throughout the season and steps in as needed for other programs, like Families Mountaineering 101.
Name: Duncan Hart
Pronouns: he/him
Year Joined Mazamas: 2009
Present-day outdoor activities: Alpine climbing, camping, cycling, gardening, hiking, kayaking, and sandbox play
What’s your earliest outdoor memory?: Riding on the handlebars of my brother’s bike before age 3 and yes, we did not wear helmets back in the day.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? My manager would drag himself into Monday morning meetings with a big smile where he would spend a few minutes sharing Mazamas weekend adventures stories. At the time, doing the kinds of activities that Mazamas do seemed unimaginable to me. One day he asked where I wanted to be in life, and my response was that I wanted to be in a pair of snowshoes on Mt Hood. The response was priceless, “Well that sounds kind of risky. You really should have some BCEP training before going into the mountains.”
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Be responsible not only for yourself but for others. Thirty years ago, we moved to the Pacific Northwest for the natural beauty and outdoor access. Today, we might be loving our mountains and outdoors a little too much. The inner drive to get that next great selfie is taking some people beyond their physical limits and into risky situations. The policy response is to place access restrictions on public lands. I feel that more people should be educated on the 10 essentials and that a smartphone is never an adequate substitute for planning and preparation. Having more people in the outdoors with Wilderness First Aid skills would also be a very good thing.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Acts of human kindness. Each of us does simple things every day that can make life better for others. Sometimes it is reaching out to a teammate who was involved in a challenging situation with you. “Hey, how are you doing?” A casual check-in like this can make a big difference in the first 10 minutes, later in the day, or even the next day after a tragedy or a near miss. Traumatic events affect each of us differently. Pay attention to the subtle details and listen. When we come together as Mazamas for an outdoor or educational experience, we often become a close-knit team. What we do as Mazamas is a dangerous sport, and bad things can and do happen. It is those formal and informal leaders within the teams who have the right sense of timing of when and how to do a check-in that inspire me.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? The Society for Science & the Public is a nonprofit that publishes a monthly Science News magazine that seeks to promote the understanding and appreciation for science and the vital role it plays on people and the planet. The articles are synopses of peer-reviewed white papers published in the last two months. I am interested in following the environmental issues and where this scientific community is focusing. Everyone can make individual choices both big and small that can result in a positive impact on the environment.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? My wish is to take all of my grandchildren up a glaciated peak. I pick up summit rocks as gifts and tell them that someday they will need to take them back (hopefully with me). Climate change is a reality. If we inspire our youth, someday they will tell their grandchildren stories of the time when there were glaciers on the mountains.Maybe one of those children will grow up with the answers on how to save our planet.
Joshua moved to the Pacific Northwest about 10 years ago, and in the past few years he’s done a lot of climbing with the Mazamas through our Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP) and Intermediate Climbing School (ICS) programs. When not out in the wild, he works to create more equitable, prosperous and resilient communities.
Joshua also has been instrumental in creating the Queerzamas, an affinity group within the Mazamas for queer and/or trans folks and was part of our first-ever queer BCEP team.
Name: Joshua Baker
Pronouns: he, him, his
Year Joined Mazamas: 2022
Present-day outdoor activities: Mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, backpacking
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? Growing up on a dairy farm in northern New York – cows out to pasture are an early outdoor memory. In terms of outdoor recreation, ice skating on a frozen pond at my grandparents farm with my sisters and cousins is an early memory I have.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? I first learned about the Mazamas about a decade ago when I worked for the nonprofit, Focus the Nation. Each summer we held an annual climate focus retreat at the Lodge and went on Mazama-led hikes up to Elliot Glacier area. It wasn’t until I had a couple friends who did BCEP in 2019 that I decided I wanted to get involved in the Mazamas though.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Find what brings your joy in the outdoor community.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Historically I’ve been a solitary creature – particularly when it comes to outdoor activities. More and more I have found inspiration, comfort, and enjoyment in the community building aspects of my outdoor pursuits. That’s why I’m particularly excited to be part of the new Queerzamas affinity space. Queerzamas will also be marching in the Pride Parade on July 16 – hope to see you there!
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? For folx who’ve spent a good amount of time around me the past few years, they know I’m a bit obsessed with beavers and their importance to ecosystems in the West (and that they are adorable). A lot of my passion stems from reading Ben Goldfarb’s “Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.”
What’s on your adventure bucket list? In addition to the mountains, I love the Oregon High Desert. I’m slowly chipping away at visiting, hiking, and volunteering on environmental stewardship trips to sites along the Oregon Desert Trail and across High Desert. I’m hoping to get out to the Owyhee Canyonlands for an adventure soon!
Born and raised in Baltimore, Md., Koko moved to Portland in 2013. She loves to hike and climb and considers the outdoors a meaningful, meditative space. To her, mountaineering is less about climbing the next big thing and more about showing up to be in supportive community, with curiosity, to have fun, be safe, and find joy in every tiny victory within. She is very passionate about and committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the outdoors. Inspired by her time in nature, Koko also is an artist who creates many mountain-themed pieces.
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? Biking along the NCR trail from Maryland to the PA border with my uncle during the summer
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? My bestie and I got early season permits to the Enchantments in 2016 and didn’t feel equipped to climb Assgard Pass in the snow but seeing everyone attempt it made me want to learn skills to go higher and see more! I found mountaineering during a really hard transitional time in my life and it really helped remind me of my own strength again and find some great community.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? You belong here just as you are. The outdoors are such a healing space and I want everyone who wants to be a part of that to feel like they belong, because you do. Period.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? My friends inspire me a lot and many are doing super badass things in the community. Random acts of kindness and wildflower hikes fill up my serotonin stores.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? Ted Lasso- my dad is a soccer coach and it is both hilarious and wholesome and the character development makes my heart swell. Team Roy+Jamie besties forever.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? Trekking inPeru, Tatras in Poland, Mount Athabasca and pretty much anything in Canada, climbing in the Tetons, Patagonia
Hailing from the high scablands of eastern Washington Joe has bounced around the Pacific Northwest his entire life. As a creative director/designer Joe creates websites, motion graphics, brand identities and advertising for clients big and small. These days, his work primarily helps Native American tribes and their various entities. When not pushing pixels, Joe is an accomplished musician. He spent most of his life playing drums in all kinds of bands, touring the country until chronic illness put an end to that.
Joe’s foray into the outdoors and mountaineering began as a way for him to deal with a chronic condition called Fibromyalgia. He’s an open-book about his experiences with the medical system, trauma and dealing with “invisible” conditions that affect him daily. He took BCEP in 2019 (Levis/Bodien Mountain Bluebirds!), ICS in 2021 (Dwelle) and is currently a provisional climb leader. He’s a dog lover with an affinity for Brachycephalic breeds.
Name: Joe Preston
Pronouns: He/Him
Year Joined Mazamas: 2019
Present-day outdoor activities: Climbing, hiking, camping, etc.
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? I was an “indoor” kid—playing video games/Legos, etc. So the earliest memory I’ve got in the outdoors must have been when I was in first or second grade. I was dragged to the soggy Washington coast to “hunt” geoducks. Of course this meant I had to bring my brand spankin’ new Batman slip-ons—the left one was promptly stuck in the mud. My mom made me leave it and carried me away crying.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? From my mid-20s to my mid-30s I was on a medical rollercoaster of misdiagnosis regarding some chronic conditions I deal with—May is national Fibromyalgia awareness month. My wife wrote a moving piece about that period. During which I stumbled onto some mountaineering books and documentaries and felt a calling. Later a coworker mentioned that their partner was taking this class called BCEP.
I took BCEP in 2019 (Levis/Bodien) and the experience was so transformative for me physically, mentally and emotionally that I’ve been volunteering, climbing and taking classes with the organization every year since—this year being my first as the BCEP Committee Chair and co-leading a BCEP team. I love this organization, the people involved and the mission.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Take BCEP and join the Mazamas!
I’m a firm believer that the mountains and wilderness are spiritual and healing places, not sports arenas. Don’t be so eager to check the boxes on your list or reach the summit that you miss the experiences.
I also believe that the mountains are for everyone, so be supportive and encouraging to everyone you pass on the trail. You’d be amazed how much impact a little positivity can have on someone.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I’m inspired by artists, musicians, people who overcome adversity, people who are kind and the crazy notion that we are flying through space on a beautifully amazing and mysterious rock. Stay gold!
I’m constantly inspired by our Mazama climb leaders and other volunteers who give their time to help others.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? Books: Man without a country-Vonnegut, Savage Arena-Tasker, Art of Freedom-McDonald, When the Moon Turns to Blood-Sottile
Movies: The Last Starfighter, Life Aquatic, Metanoia, way too many to list ha.
TV Shows: Twin Peaks, The Office, Trailer Park Boys, The Woodwright’s Shop
Social media: Dogs!
What’s on your adventure bucket list? I was recently promoted to a provisional climb leader. I’m working my way through our leadership development program with the aim of helping other folks get into the outdoors that suffer from chronic illness, trauma, etc. Beyond that just having adventures with my friends, my partner and my dogs. Spending as many days as possible in the mountains.
The first time I entered the MMC was only 3 months after I moved to Portland. Eager to learn more about hikes in the area and meet people to adventure with, I attended an event hosted by the Adventurous Young Mazamas where member Matt Reeder spoke about his new book, PDX Hiking 365.
Fast forward 5 years and PDX Hiking 365 is a staple in my hike planning, rarely making its way back onto the bookshelf, and Matt Reeder is now a close friend. I anxiously awaited the release of Matt’s newest book: Extraordinary Oregon! 125 Fantastic Hikes across the state of Oregon.
Matt started writing this book during the early days of the pandemic, and over the last 2 years, he drove over 20,000 miles to come up with this comprehensive list of the best, most extraordinary hikes in our beautiful state. He hiked over 1500 miles in Oregon alone. To be included, all hikes must be easy to access and navigate, and also must be doable in one day.
I am a big fan of the way Extraordinary Oregon! is organized. There are numerous ways to dive in when trip planning, either by starting with the map of the entire state; starting with the region you’re interested in and narrowing it down using the charts at the beginning of each chapter that note the distance/elevation gain of each hike; or using the detailed index.
Each hike starts with a helpful quick reference guide — distance, elevation gain, trailhead elevation, trail high point, season (that the trail is accessible), best time of year, and what pass (if any) is needed. One notable addition to this book is a land acknowledgment for each hike, letting the reader know whose traditional lands the hikes take place on. This is followed by driving directions to the trailhead, along with drive time from the closest town.
From there, Matt describes what to expect. He walks you through the hike, describing each section and offering fun facts or tidbits along the way. He may tell you what flowers and trees you’ll find (like the fascinating Brewer’s spruce on Kerby Peak), or an interesting historical fact about the trail or area. He’ll often offer suggestions for ways to continue the hike if you’re up for a longer adventure, or offshoots to explore. He makes sure you’re aware of any notable risks, such as exposed sections you may want to closely watch a child (or someone with a fear of heights!) near, a difficult creek crossing, or the presence of ticks. Although not a guide for backpacking, the guide does note where you may find a good camp spot on some of these routes.
Each hike also includes a CalTopo map of the trail, as well as a QR code that allows you to open the map from your phone or download and print a copy. Other things to note, is that any hike that is not dog-friendly will include an icon at the top of the page, so you know to leave your furry friends at home.
The photography throughout the book is beautiful — I only wish printing costs made it feasible for them to be in color! The marketer in me cannot resist pointing you to Matt’s Instagram account (@offthebeatentrailpdx), where you can find these photos and so many more.
Overall, Extraordinary Oregon! is an excellent guide to hiking in our state and I cannot wait to dive into these hikes in the coming months and years. I’ve always thought it would be fun to make my way through one of Matt’s books until I’ve completed each and every one — I think this may be the one to do it with!
Sarah is a Colorado native who moved to Portland from New York City in 2020. She finished our Basic Climbing Education Program in 2022, joined Mazamas shortly thereafter, and is a recent Intermediate Climbing School graduate who loves ice climbing and steep snow alpine routes. Sarah is working to start a Mazama affinity space for women, femme-identifying, and genderqueer people.
Name: Sarah Diver
Pronouns: she/her/her
Year Joined Mazamas: 2021
Present-day outdoor activities: Indoor and outdoor rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, alpine touring, downhill skiing, hiking and backpacking, trail and road running
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? My earliest memory outdoors would be running through the woods at the YMCA’s Camp Shady Brook in Deckers, Colorado. I am from Denver originally, and every summer I went to Shady Brook for a few weeks, where I fell in love with mountains and forests. I remember very clearly how much I loved the smell of the pine trees baking in the sun. Very magical. Second only to the special hell that was learning to ski at age 5.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? In 2019, I signed up for an all-women’s charity climb of Mt. Adams, where we raised over $10,000 for breast cancer and MS research. While we did not summit, I was instantly hooked and wanted to be able to climb more glaciated peaks. When I moved from New York City to Portland in 2020, I literally just googled “Portland mountaineering” because I wanted to learn those skills – Mazamas was the first thing that popped up! I applied for BCEP in 2021, and the rest was history. Since then I’ve been extremely lucky to be mentored and encouraged by many experienced Mazama climb leaders and volunteers.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? I think when someone first begins recreating outdoors more frequently, it’s easy to get “summit fever” and think only of checking peaks or goals off their list as they gain competency. All of the activities I do outdoors I think of as lifelong pursuits, and I personally try to cultivate a sustainable pattern of growth in a holistic sense: what is sustainable for my body? The environment? For my personal safety both mentally and physically? The mountains are on a much longer, more geologic timescale than all of us as it is. My advice to those interested in being outdoors is to prioritize how they can care for the natural places they visit and for themselves first – and the rest will follow.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Pick one. Honestly, what has been most inspiring is watching all of the wonderful people I’ve met through the Mazamas do what they do. Having just graduated from ICS this spring, it’s been amazing to see so many friends conquer their fears, learn new skills, and fulfill personal goals throughout our time together. Whether they are ultrarunners or just learned to lead climb, being around other motivated Mazamas who get after it has been incredibly inspiring – makes me want to continue to stay in shape and learn more to keep up too!
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you followand why? Pick one. One of my favorite Instagram accounts is @pastagrannies. These British filmmakers are in the midst of a multi-yearlong ethnographic documentary attempting to detail all of the various regional handmade pasta techniques in Italy. They find ancient Italian grandmas and film them making pasta. It’s amazing.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? People who know me well know that I am very passionate about ice climbing. So, my long-term adventure bucket list therefore includes as much alpine and water ice as I can reasonably and safely access.
I’m also very interested in traverses as I find we in the Pacific Northwest often have an “up-and-out” mindset, where we approach-summit-descend-go home-repeat. I like the idea of visiting less traveled peaks or terrain by seeking less conventional routes that connect different mountains. Perhaps this is a pipe dream, but in the meantime, I hope to do the more established Ptarmigan and Tatoosh traverses this summer, both in Washington.
In general, I’m not someone who has a “tick list” I’m working from, as that’s not really a priority for me. I am chasing the experience of being out there, appreciating the incredible beauty of our planet while I still can, and challenging myself. What I strive for each trip is the elusive, if not impossible to attain, “type I fun mountaineering.” To me, this means that I have prepared enough physically, mentally, and technically to be able to comfortably travel over any terrain presented along the route, while also being challenged enough to where I have to think critically in the moment. In the future, I’d love for Type I fun mountaineering to include as much technically interesting terrain as possible – ice, snow, and rock. That would be peak living!
Roberta Zouain on the summit of Mt. Rainier/June 2021
Born in Brazil, Roberta Zouain has called Oregon home since 2015. Ever the outdoors person, she grew up camping, swimming in rivers, snorkeling/sailing in the ocean. After moving to the Pacific Northwest, she fell in love with the mountains and snow.
Name: Roberta Zouain
Pronouns: she/her
Year Joined Mazamas: 2018
Present-day outdoor activities: Hiking, climbing, all sorts of skiing, and occasionally running and biking
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? Camping with my brother and cousins and swimming in the river
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? I first heard about the Mazamas from a co-worker, but at the time I never thought I would ever get into mountaineering. Years later, after having climbed Mount St Helens, I was planning on climbing Mount Adams and remembered Mazamas members got rescue insurance, so I signed up before my climb. A few months after that, in 2019, I decided to take BCEP, and since then I’ve been involved taking and instructing different classes.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Just get out there, don’t worry too much about whether you have the right gear or if you are not necessarily racking up miles or vertical feet. And finding a community you can connect to can really help, too. The Mazamas offers several programs such as hikes and rambles, as well as affinity groups that can provide a safe space to communities who have historically been excluded from outdoor recreation.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Pick one: I really admire people working to make the outdoors more accessible for everyone. Organizing these groups is such a tough job, and I’m incredibly thankful for those dedicated to breaking down the barriers to the sports we love. There are so many organizations in our community and within the Mazamas itself, naming just one would be impossible 🙂
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? I love following @pattiegonia on Instagram! The work she does around promoting inclusiveness in the outdoors and environmental activism is incredible. And the memes are always on point.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? I’d love to hike and climb the Dolomites in Italy.
New to the Pacific Northwest and well-traveled, Chris Donato is an avid rock climber and musician. He’s played in bands since he was 16. As for mountaineering goals, he aims to climb the tallest peaks of the Cascades.
Name: Chris Donato
Pronouns: he/him/his
Year Joined Mazamas: 2022
Present-day outdoor activities: mountaineering, rock climbing, snowboarding, hiking
What’s your earliest outdoor memory: I remember my mom taking me to the hiking trails around Brewster, NY, about 30 minutes north of our home in Westchester County. We would walk the trails for hours on end, and she would give me practice following the different marked trails. It really cemented my love of the outdoors from an early age.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? My partner and I moved to Portland, OR specifically to be closer to the natural beauty of the PNW, and wanted to get involved with an organization that both facilitates the enjoyment and conservation of these treasures. After a quick online search, I found the Mazamas and immediately joined.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Try as many outdoor activities as you can. There are so many ways to have fun outdoors, whether it’s the adrenaline-seeking rock climbers or the more laid back nights around the campfire – there are ways for everyone to have fun and connect to the outdoors. If you are going to try some more high-energy activities, I highly recommend taking an intro class (like BCEP!), as it’s a great way not just to learn foundational skills, but also meet fellow adventurers that you can build lasting bonds with.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Pick one. Through previous jobs, I had the opportunity to meet dozens of people who’ve worked tirelessly to build a better world, but the one that will always have a place in my heart was Vice President Walter Mondale, who not only led conservation efforts in Minnesota while in office, but continued to do so for the rest of his life.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? @savethebwca – it was the first conservation organization I worked for and it taught me the importance of speaking loudly for quiet places. The people I met continue to inspire me to this day.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? This year I want to climb the North side of Mt. Adams, after summiting the south side in 2022. It was my first 12K+ ft peak, so it has a special place in my heart. Outside of the PNW, I really want to get over to the Alps and climb Mt. Marmolada and within 5 years, Mt. Blanc.
When not hard at work at a desk job in Portland, Josh Lupkin can be found giving back to the local construction and mountaineering communities through volunteer efforts and escaping to the high country in pursuit of lunar landscapes.
What’s your earliest outdoor memory (can be anything—iceskating, hiking, sledding, biking, fishing, fort building): Hanging out in a tent pitched in the back 40 of our yard in New Jersey. “Back 40” to a four-year-old is really only a 100-foot deep yard surrounded by pine trees.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? I heard about the Mazamas through a friend I met on the summit of Mt Adams. At the time, I had no idea what I was doing with regards to mountain climbing, nor did he. We felt taking the beginner climbing class (BCEP) with the Mazamas would be a good idea; so we did. I’ve been climbing, volunteering, learning, and teaching with the Mazamas ever since.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Take a class or learn from an experienced friend before venturing out into the wilderness. Learn and live by leave no trace principals. Respect trail etiquette, especially with regard to preserving boot, ski, and snowshoe tracks in the alpine.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Pick one. I am very inspired by those who volunteer a great deal of their time to teaching others how to be safe and respectful in the climbing environment. Specifically, Jay Satak and Matthew Sundling (Mazama climb leaders) have been very impactful mentors to a significant number of climbers.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? I’m currently reading Spitsbergen by Hugo Nünlist, the story of a 1962 Swiss Spitsbergen scientific expedition. I really enjoy reading about early alpine explorations in the 19th and 20th century.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? Torment-Forbidden traverse, Ingles-Stuart-Sherpa traverse, and life goal to continue backpacking into my 80’s.
If you are a member and wish to participate in our occasional Friday blog post “Meet the Mazamas,” the questions will remain the same, so drop your responses and a photo of yourself in an email to ginabinole@mazamas.org
