Teresa has mountaineering in her blood. Both her parents were active Mazamas who instilled in her a healthy respect for the outdoors. She was just 6 when she first summited Mt. Hood, motivated by the prospect of keeping the small ice axe her dad had rented.
School and life led her away from the Northwest for many years, returning in 2016. That year, she and her husband enrolled in our Basic Mountaineering Education Program to refresh their skills, reacquaint themselves with the splendor of the PNW and make climber friends.
She graduated from ICS in 2019, enrolled in the Mazama Leadership Development Program, began volunteering for Portland Mountain Rescue and led a BCEP team last year. When not climbing, and even when she is, Teresa loves to take photos and share her love for adventure with as many people as possible.
Name:    Teresa Dalsager
Pronouns:  She/Her
Year Joined Mazamas:  I was lucky to get to check out some Mazamas activities as a kid with my Dad, but officially joined in 2016, when I moved back to Oregon.
Present-day outdoor activities:  Mountain climbing, hiking, kayaking, biking, backpacking, rock climbing, skiing and swimming.
What’s your earliest outdoor memory: Creeping into the forest (it was actually the woods) with my siblings and cousins behind my grandparents house in Stevenson, Wash.Â
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization?  As I’ve already mentioned, my Dad was a member when I was a kid in the 1970’s. I moved away after high school and upon returning to Portland in 2016 my husband Fred and I joined almost immediately to meet people who climbed. It was the best decision. We joined BCEP, made a bunch of friends, started climbing regularly and got more involved by volunteering and taking courses. My relationship with the Mazamas was a springboard for joining Portland Mountain Rescue.Â
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them?  Learn mountaineering fundamentals and accident prevention through a trusted organization like the Mazamas. Resist the temptation to learn these skills on the fly through a meet up group or anyone who can’t readily provide their experience and qualifications.Â
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? People inspire me. We all have different strengths and skillsets. It’s fulfilling to witness people overcome obstacles and reach their personal goals through determination, commitment, and sometimes sheer grit.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why?  Book: A Prayer for Owen Meany, written by John Irving. The main message of the story is “not to judge a book by it’s cover.” This is a metaphor for not judging people based on the way they look. Check out the book or see the movie based on the book called Simon Birch. You’ll be inspired too.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? . Patagonia, Nepal (Spring 2024), Kilimanjaro, & Via Ferrata adventures in Europe.