Meet the Mazamas

Lisa has been climbing mountains since she was little kid. She has served our organization in many capacities, volunteer climb leader, BCEP leader, canyoneering leader/instructor, teaching:  ICS, AR, MFA, Crevasse Rescue, Rock Rescue, Skill Builders, FM101, CPR & First Aid and an organizer for our Used Gear Sale.

When not climbing above the earth’s surface she likes to cave and SCUBA dive below it. She also supports other organizations and is rappelling off of the 536-foot U.S. Bancorp Tower this August to raise money for domestic violence survivors and veterans who suffer from PTSD.

Name:    Lisa Ripps 

Pronouns:  She/Her 

Year Joined Mazamas :  I started doing things with Mazamas in the late 90’s but only joined in 2007.

Present-day outdoor activities:   Mountain climbing, Hiking, Canyoneering, Biking, SCUBA Diving, Bird Watching, Snow shoeing, Skiing, Kayaking, Ice Climbing  

 What’s your earliest outdoor memory:  Catching frogs while camping with my family 

How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization?   Mazamas had a reputation in Portland as the best of the best.  Very safety conscious, and a group that was serious about mountain climbing.  I had already climbed a number of mountains including Mt Hood years before I joined Mazamas, then I decided I should take BCEP to learn more and to meet more climbers. 

As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them?  Get some good training so you can enjoy the outdoors safely and more confidently. 

What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Pick one.  The BCEP students who are non-traditional.  Who have not grown up hiking and spending time outdoors, and who might start out less physically fit.   

What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why?   Deep Survival (Laurence Gonzales) – Led me to consider why we do what we do, and how each of us deals with challenges when they occur. 

What’s on your adventure bucket list?  Kilimanjaro, Borneo, Antarctica, more Pacific NW climbing