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 offerthem? 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 andwhy? 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
Erin has been involved with the Mazamas for the past 11 years and has been lead climbing for 10. She has a strong sense of wanderlust and recently traveled to South Africa for her honeymoon in June and then rafted the Grand Canyon in August. She recently ran the Smith Rock Run half marathon in the beginning of November. When not adventuring, she works an occupational therapist and currently works with preschoolers.
Name: Erin Reaksecker
Pronouns: She/Her
Year Joined Mazamas: 2015
Present-day outdoor activities: Rock climbing, running, biking, mountain climbing!
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? My earliest outdoor memory is camping at Wallowa Lake with my family in elementary school!
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? When I first moved to Portland after grad school, I found a golden scroll at my aunt’s house that said “One free annual membership to the Mazamas,” so I asked my aunt about the organization and made a phone call and joined the Mazamas shortly after!
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? My advice is do something that makes you uncomfortable, try something new and keep an open mind, because that allows you to grow and have memorable experiences.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I am inspired by ultra runners. I recently attempted a 50k and met some amazing people along the way. I realize that it takes significant mental toughness to complete an ultra and worked with a great running coach to help myself train! Dana Katz is amazing.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? Pick one. I enjoy listening to the podcast “Against the Odds” and learning how people get through unexpected circumstances in the great outdoors.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? I would like to travel to South America and climb in Patagonia. I would also like to return to Squamish and lead some multi-pitch climbs!
Almost as if winning the birth location lottery, Britt grew up near Olympic National Park and grew up camping there. She joined the Mazamas after realizing she needed some solid mountaineering education and has been active in the organization ever since. This past year, she helped bring back our Eastside Rambles, leading folks from the Mazama Mountaineering Center to trails (and stairs) on Mt. Tabor. She blogs about her adventures.
Name: Britt Q. Hoover
Pronouns: she/her
Year Joined Mazamas: 2016
Present-day outdoor activities: Backpacking, mountaineering, cycling. I also co-lead the new weekly Eastside Rambles!
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? I grew up in a small town near Olympic National Park. My earliest outdoor memories are of car camping with my father and siblings around the park each summer.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? Many years ago a few friends invited me to climb Mount St. Helens with them. It was my first time on a mountain and climbing on snow. Although I summited, I was woefully unprepared for the early start, elevation gain, and physical exertion. On the way down, while glissading, I (lightly) stabbed myself in the leg with my ice axe. It was at that moment I realized I should probably sign up for the Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP)—and I did, that spring!
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? We all start somewhere. It can feel intimidating for those new to the outdoors to figure out the right gear, understand weather and safety, and plan trips. I learned a lot by hiking and climbing with others, and I am so grateful to those who shared their knowledge with me. I encourage anyone just starting out to adopt a growth mindset and ask questions.
What activities, situations, or people inspire you most? I’m inspired by situations that call for quick thinking and helping others. I often read mountaineering accident reports to learn from others’ decisions and apply those lessons to prevent future incidents. My favorite Mazama experience was taking the Mountaineering First Aid course, and I’ve used these skills many times to aid others outdoors.
What is your favorite book, movie, TV show, or social media account that you follow, and why? Pick one. One account I love following is Kimber Cross (@kimberbelle) on Instagram. Kimber is an alpinist, adaptive athlete, rock climber, and kindergarten teacher. I’ve followed her since she started her introductory course with the Mountaineers. Now, she’s regularly summiting tough peaks in the PNW, ice climbing in Montana, and is sponsored by North Face among other companies. Kimber is down-to-earth and an excellent example of how far you can go with hard work and dedication. I’m truly inspired by her.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? I just checked a trip off my bucket list in February! My spouse, Jeff, and I completed a 7-day backpacking trip across the remote Avellanos Valley in the Aysén region of Patagonia. I posted some photos from the trip on my website, Yes Mom I’m Alive (www.yesmomimalive.com).
Tiffany, a nurse practitioner, is board-certified in psychiatry and a solo practitioner. She is a therapist with the American Alpine Association’s Climbing Grief Fund and the American Avalanche Association Resilience Project.
She divides her time between Virginia, where she helps manage care for her mother who has Alzheimer’s and Oregon, where she climbs with the Mazamas and assists with the Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP).
Name: Tiffany McClean
Pronouns: She/Her
Year Joined Mazamas: 2018
Present-day outdoor activities: Rock and alpine climbing, backpacking, downhill skiing, scuba diving and horseback riding.
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? Being on my dad’s sailboat in the Chesapeake Bay, which is akin to camping. It wasn’t a big boat, but it was big enough that we could sleep on it. I used to sleep in the cockpit as a little girl and just look up at the stars.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? To be honest, it was a rough introduction, although that can’t be blamed on the Mazamas. I first heard about the organization when I was dating someone who thought they were skilled enough to bypass BCEP and go straight into Intermediate Climbing School (ICS), but the Mazamas disagreed. Then, one of my close friends and colleagues was dating someone who died on Mt. Hood. I had climbed Mt. Adams, South Sister and other peaks, and I really, really wanted to climb Mt. Hood, but after that, I was so afraid. I knew I needed training that would allow me to take care of myself at a minimum, so I signed up for BCEP, and I got in!
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offerthem? I think first and foremost, nature and the outdoors are for everyone. And I mean everyone, regardless of age, sex, disability, race, etc. In the Climbing Grief Fund, we celebrate turning around, and I firmly believe mountaineering is more than just summiting. People need to know their limits, must work to fill in their knowledge gaps through organizations like the Mazamas and be OK with being vulnerable. Vulnerability in the outdoors is absolutely acceptable and should be encouraged..
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I guess I’d have to say that people who are willing to speak about their own fears and share mental health issues in the mountains. People can push the envelope of fear in climbing and yet still be willing to say, “Today is not my day,” or “I know my limits. South Sister is my Mt. Hood, and I am fine with that..” Mazama Climb Leaders Tim Scott and Pushkar Dixit embody these values and definitely inspire me.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow andwhy? Pick one. I have listened to almost every single episode of Hidden Brain. It’s a great podcast.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? I’ve had to cancel a few Glacier Peak climbs to be with family, so that looms large on my list. I’d really like to trek to Annapurna base camp. I’d also like to dive into a great white shark cage. I feel like that can be done ethically.
Sarah Lydecker is a Portland-based rock climbing instructor, artist and Certified Recovery Mentor. She’s been climbing for more than a decade, inspired by strong women mentors from her first all-women’s mountaineering course. Sarah has taught climbing skills since 2015, using her passion to empower others and build community and develop outdoor programming for adults in recovery. A certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Sarah is thrilled to be the lead outdoor guide for the Multnomah Athletic Club.
Name: Sarah Lydecker
Pronouns: She / Her
Year Joined Mazamas: 2014
Present-day outdoor activities: Cragging, wandering around in the mountains, and finding the best outdoor napping spots with my dog. I also work as a professional guide leading climbing and hiking excursions.
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? Feeding the horses and donkeys at the end of our street in west Texas.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? I had gotten into hiking, and some of the trails took me up into alpine meadows and onto snowfields. Having grown up in the south, I had no understanding of snow, and was convinced I was going to die if I hiked in the mountains without training. I started reading about people doing something called peak bagging and was really drawn to the appeal of climbing up Mt Hood, so I enrolled in the Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP).
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offerthem? Sooooooooo many things! I think the biggest thing is to do activities for your own enjoyment and not to have ‘epic adventures’ to share on social media. If you couldn’t post your outing on Instagram, would you still do it?
I would suggest that people really enjoy their beginning period of outdoor recreation. You don’t have to do hard stuff all the time, and your validity as a sportsperson is not dependent on what grade you climb. You do not need to be pushing hard all the time with training, committing routes and long approaches. It’s okay to take it slow with the skills you develop. I took BCEP in 2014, AR in 2018, and SSI in 2023; having time between those courses allowed me to find confidence in myself as a climber and ask more informed questions when I was a student.
For rock climbing, the best advice I ever got was from the guy who taught me trad. After I led my first pitches and got his seal of approval to go and lead on my own, he handed me his copy of Climbing Self Rescue and told me to read it all and learn how to execute the techniques in that book before I sought out climbing partners independently. The skills I learned in that book got me out of trouble almost instantly. I think that as climbing becomes more mainstream, people can lose sight of the objective risks that the sport has. Yes, rock climbing is an extremely accessible sport that people of all ages and bodies can do, but gravity will always win and it’s important that we recognize that. Even if you are following a skilled friend up an easy multipitch, can you deal with a situation where there’s a bad leader fall and more than half the rope is out?
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I’m inspired by all the gray-haired ladies out there who are climbing. By Leora Gregorgy, who can outpace me walking up Mt Hood and by Teresa Dalsager who came out ice cragging with me this winter and helped me find the joy in that sport. I’m inspired by the women who have babies and still recreate despite the changes to their bodies and home life. I grew up in a world where the prevailing narrative for women is that our life is over after 30, and that’s something that has haunted me as a childless dog lady. I’m starting to get excited for my 40s and all the adventures they will hold.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow andwhy? Pick one. I absolutely love “The Witches of Eileanan” series by Kate Forsyth. I listened to the audiobooks while doing a lot of solo backpacking in 2020 and I found the story and world so captivating. The characters are well-written and the author focused on the importance of platonic relationships and community. Reading a “happy ever after” where the main character and her lover both have separate intellectual callings and projects they devote themselves to was a revelation for me– very different from the standard story ending where the couple gets married, has kids, and that’s it.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? Astroman in Yosemite, All Along the Watchtower in the Bugaboos, Peter Croft’s Big Four in the Sierra, and being able to swing ice leads in Cody, WY. Maybe also learning how to whitewater kayak.
Megan, Arya y Sienna acampaban antes de dejar de usar pañales, y su amor y curiosidad por la vida al aire libre sigue creciendo.
“La Familia MÁS”, como se autodenominan, adora hacer caminatas, irse de mochileros, acampar, escalar en el gimnasio, andar en bicicleta y caminar con raquetas de nieve. Unirse al grupo Mazamas, los ayudó a descubrir la escalada al aire libre, aprender algunas técnicas como el glissading y llevar su aventura a otro nivel.
Nombres: Megan, Arya (10) y Sienna (8) Nace
Pronombres: Ella
¿Cómo se enteró de FM101 y qué la impulsó a tomar el curso?
Megan estaba investigando sobre actividades divertidas para hacer con sus hijas y se topó con el sitio Families Mountaineering 101 (FM101) y le pareció perfecto para ellas. Después de asegurarse que el padre de las niñas estaba de acuerdo, presentó una solicitud y cruzó los dedos.
¿Cómo describirías las actividades al aire libre de tu familia antes de tomar FM101?
Megan había comenzado recientemente a escalar montañas como Adams y Hood. Además, las excursiones con mochila por solo una noche, las raquetas de nieve y la escalada de South Sister formaban parte del repertorio familiar.
¿Han cambiado las cosas desde que lo completaron? Si es así, describe cómo.
Claro que si. Los niños sueñan en grande y están empezando a hacer excursiones con mochila de varias noches. Su confianza en ellos mismos ha aumentado, y ahora también conocen mejor sus habilidades y límites.
Megan ha empezado a practicar barranquismo, sigue entrenando para hacer Mount Rainier y espera aprender a hacer anclajes sencillos para que los niños puedan seguir practicando sus habilidades de escalada fuera del entorno del gimnasio.
Comparte algunos puntos destacados del curso para nosotros. ¿Hiciste buenos amigos? ¿Superaste el miedo a las alturas? ¿Hiciste cosas que nunca soñaste que fueran posibles?
Arya: Nunca imaginé que podía hacer rapel, pero lo hice con la ayuda de Rich. En Horsethief Butte, Xena me mostró un lugar donde podíamos pasar el rato al sol y eso me encantó. ¡También pudimos ver el eclipse con gafas solares!
Sienna: Hice muchos amigos. Tenía mucho miedo a las alturas, pero cuando conocí a los Mazamas, me enseñaron a mantener la calma en las alturas. Superé mi miedo a hacer rapel nuevamente después de haber tenido un incidente en Horsethief Butte. Me gustó conocer a Evelyn porque me ayudó con muchas cosas y nos hicimos muy buenas amigas.
Megan: Comencé el curso asumiendo que estaría exclusivamente apoyando el aprendizaje de mis hijos como madre soltera de dos hijos. Estoy encantada de terminar este programa con niños valientes y con nuestras destrezas, haber mejorado mis propias habilidades y haber creado una nueva comunidad de amigos.
¿Qué consejo le darías a otras familias que podrían estar considerando FM101 y también a aquellas que ya se han postulado?
Sienna: Confía en ti misma.
Arya: Confía en el sistema. Se que será difícil al principio, pero una vez que sigas practicando, se volverá cada vez más fácil.
Megan: ¡Hazlo! Tenía muy poca experiencia fuera de las habilidades en la nieve cuando empecé la clase, y la oportunidad de aprender y vencer los miedos junto con mis hijos ha sido la experiencia más increíble que he tenido como madre hasta ahora.
La oportunidad de que mis hijos me entrenaran y trabajar juntos para superar las cosas difíciles, creó una unión familiar como ninguna otra. No te dejes intimidar si sientes que no tienes suficiente (¡o nada!) de conocimiento o cumbres. Son un grupo acogedor y estamos ansiosos por brindar apoyo.
¿Qué actividades/situaciones/personas te inspiran más?
Sienna: Rich me ayudó a escalar y bajar cuando creía que no podía hacerlo y me inspiró a pensar que puedo hacer cosas difíciles. Quiero seguir escalando cuando sea mayor. Evelyn me enseñó a hacer viajes en línea fija y estaré disponible para ayudar a los estudiantes el año que viene.
Arya: Me inspiró la travesía tirolesa en Horsethief. Fue una actividad divertida y debe haber sido muy difícil organizarla. Lo hice 17 veces. Una situación que me inspiró fue cuando Sienna se volcó al suelo mientras hacía rapel. Agradezco que Jeff haya bajado y la haya ayudado a bajar de forma segura. Aprendí mucho sobre la seguridad y sobre los sistemas y equipos.
Megan: Personas que se arriesgan y aportan su yo auténtico al servicio de los demás o del planeta, con una mente aguda en pos de la equidad. Mi colega, Olga Acuña, se destaca como alguien que humildemente superó muchos desafíos, ha servido a nuestra comunidad de Hillsboro de muchas maneras, tiene un don para conectar a las personas adecuadas y ha abierto oportunidades para innumerables personas.
¿Cuál es tu libro/película/programa de televisión/cuenta de redes sociales favorito que sigues y por qué? Elige uno.
Arya: Me gusta Moana porque va a salir una segunda. Te muestra lo que es posible y es una historia realmente hermosa.
Sienna: Recomiendo Inside Out 2 porque puede muestra sus emociones y es una muy buena historia sobre una niña que crece con sus padres.
¿Qué hay en tu lista de aventuras familiares? Sienna: Quiero escalar Mount Rainier y Mount Hood algún día. Arya: Practicar en Rooster Rock y volver a nadar. También quiero escalar Mount St. Helens en verano y en invierno para poder deslizarme. Megan: He soñado con llevarlos a Mount Thielsen desde el primer día que comenzó FM101. También estamos planeando un viaje a Mailbox Peak y escalar St. Helens este verano.
Megan, Arya and Sienna were all camping before they graduated from diapers, and their love of and curiosity for the outdoors continues to grow. No one is putting bells on their shoelaces any longer though. “La Familia MÁS,” as they self-style, love hiking, backpacking, camping, gym climbing, biking and snowshoeing. Getting involved with the Mazamas has helped unlock outdoor climbing, family glissading and another level of courage.
Names: Megan, Arya (10), & Sienna (8) Nace
Pronouns: she/hers/ella
How did you hear about FM101, and what prompted you to take the course?
Megan was doing research on fun activities to do with her daughters and stumbled across the Families Mountaineering 101 (FM101) site. It felt like a perfect fit. After securing buy-in from the kids’ dad, she put in an application and crossed her fingers.
How would you describe your family’s outdoor pursuits before taking FM101?
Megan had recently started climbing mountains like Adams and Hood, while one-night backpacking, snowshoeing and climbing South Sister were part of the family repertoire.
Arya & Sienna on the rock/ice wall at the Mazama Mountaineering Center
Have things changed since completing it? If yes, describe how.
The kids are dreaming bigger and moving into multi-night backpacking trips. Their youthful confidence has grown, yet they are also more knowledgeable about their skills and limits. Megan has picked up canyoneering, continues to train for Mt. Rainier, and hopes to learn to build simple anchors so she can keep the kids practicing their climbing skills outside of a gym environment.
Please share a few course highlights for us. Did you make good friends? Did you conquer a fear of heights? Did you do things you never dreamed were possible?
Arya: I never dreamed that I could rappel, but I did with the help of Rich. At Horsethief Butte, Xena showed me a place we could hang out in the sun, and I loved that. We also got to watch the eclipse with solar glasses!
Sienna: I did have a lot of friends.I was really scared of heights, but when I met the Mazamas, they taught me to be calm around heights. I conquered my fear of rappelling again after I flipped upside down at Horsethief Butte. I liked meeting Evelyn because she helped me with a lot of things, and we became really good friends.
Megan: I went into the course assuming I’d be exclusively supporting my kids’ learning as a single mother of two. I was absolutely delighted to finish with accomplished children, my own skills, and an accepting community of friends.
Arya & Sienna at the Mazama Lodge for FM101 Snow Weekend
What advice would you give to other families who might be considering FM101 and also those who have already applied?
Sienna: Trust in yourself.
Arya: Trust in the system and know that it will be hard at first, but once you keep practicing it will become easier and easier.
Megan: Do it! I had very little experience outside of snow skills coming into the class, and the opportunity to genuinely learn and conquer fears alongside my kids has been the most incredible parenting experience I’ve had so far. The opportunity for my kids to coach me and to work through hard things together was family bonding like none other. Don’t be intimidated if you feel like you don’t have enough (or any!) knowledge or summits. We’re a welcoming group and eager to support.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you?
Sienna: Rich helped me climb and lower when I believed I couldn’t do it and inspired me that I can do hard things. I want to keep climbing when I’m older. I don’t know how he does it. Evelyn taught me how to do fixed line travel and I’ll be available to help students next year.
Arya: I was inspired by the Tyrolean Traverse at Horsethief. It was a fun activity, and it must have been really hard to set it up. I went 17 times. A situation that inspired me was when Sienna got turned upside down on a rappel. I appreciate that Jeff came down and helped her get down safely. I learned a lot about how safe all of the systems and equipment are.
Megan: People who take chances and bring their authentic selves in service to others or the planet, with a keen mind for equity. My colleague, Olga Acuña, stands out as someone who humbly overcame many challenges, has served our Hillsboro community in a myriad of ways, has a gift for connecting the right people and has opened up opportunities for countless individuals.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow andwhy? Pick one.
Arya: I like Moana because a second one is coming out. It shows you what is possible, and it’s just a really lovely story.
Sienna: I recommend Inside Out 2 because it can show emotions, and it’s a really good story of a girl growing up with her parents.
Megan: A book that really helped me to know better and work to do better was White Fragility. Human beings are nothing if not learners, and this book was huge in helping me grow beyond simply having good intentions. It’s a great read for white people.
What’s on your family adventure bucket list?
Sienna: I want to climb Mt. Rainier and Mt. Hood someday.
Arya: Practice at Rooster Rock and swim again. I also want to climb Mt. St. Helens in the summer and the winter so I can glissade.
Megan: I’ve literally dreamed of taking them up Mt. Thielsen since the first day of FM101. We’re planning a trip up Mailbox Peak and to climb St. Helens this summer.
Julie moved to Portland from the Washington, D.C. area in 2019 and discovered the Mazamas shortly after arriving. She’s quickly plugged in and has volunteered for the Intermediate Climbing School (ICS) program for the past two years. ICS which will begin accepting applicants for the class of 2024-25 on July 10. When not climbing, Julie also enjoys biking and splitboarding.
Name: Julie Tembunkiart
Pronouns: she / her
Year Joined Mazamas: 2022
Present-day outdoor activities: Hiking, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering, Biking, Splitboarding
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? In elementary school, I was at an outdoor summer camp that offered electives. I wanted to take horseback riding, but didn’t bring the right shoes. So, I was sent to the rock climbing wall instead. Although I didn’t continue to climb consistently, I was hooked instantly. Even after years of not climbing, I always found it something I’d seek to return to.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? My husband and I moved to Portland in 2019 and with the pandemic starting shortly after, I’d had trouble meeting friends and creating an outdoor community. I was looking for a way to find outdoor friends and came across the Mazamas website.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offerthem? Ask for help and be open to learning. I’m always looking to learn more about how to engage in outdoor recreation more safely.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I’m always inspired by the successes of women in outdoor spaces.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow andwhy? Pick one. The 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice with Kiera Knightly. It’s just a classic.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? My brother and I have pushed each other in outdoor climbing activities even climbing Hood together for both of our first times. We have a running list including rim-to-rim in the Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, and bouldering in Thailand.
Julia is a recent graduate of our Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP) who loves to eat fun snacks on big mountains! Her day job is a hydrologist at the USGS Oregon Water Science Center. Ask her about rocks!
Name: Julia Grabowski
Pronouns: she/her
Year Joined Mazamas: 2023
Present-day outdoor activities: rock skipping, hiking, running, climbing, Nordic skiing
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? My parents are very outdoorsy North Carolinians, and I have a lot of great, early outdoor memories. They have a picture holding me on top of Hanging Rock as a 2-week-old-infant. My best memories are from when I got to play with nature — licking icicles like popsicles on Roan Mountain, making “rock music” with my friend by throwing rocks in the water and finding salamanders in creeks with my sister.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? I moved to Portland two years ago and seemed to hear about the Mazamas from everyone. I had been looking for an outdoor community and more knowledge of mountaineering and Mazamas hit!
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offerthem? Remember that our fun hobby is a hobby, and it’s supposed to be for fun! I get annoyed seeing people taking themselves and their activity too seriously. If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I feel really inspired by the intergenerational aspect of the Mazama community. It feels really good for my soul to be always engaged in teaching and learning at the same time, and being surrounded by people of different ages facilitates those interactions. I love learning from my elders, and teaching is also really fulfilling.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow andwhy? Pick one. The “SE Taylor Street Cat News.” Someone posts a monthly page on a street corner in SE Portland describing the recent goings-on with the neighborhood cats. I’m very interested in community organization that isn’t routed through Mark Zuckerburg’s pocket and always looking for inspiration!
What’s on your adventure bucket list? I would love to go canoe/raft camping in the Northwest. That is something I used to do in the Southeast, but the Northwest rivers are more serious, and I have not felt comfortable jumping in without a supportive group with me.
Joe, who will turn 80 in July, has been active with the Mazamas since the late 70’s. He still leads at least one or two climbs each year and is set to refresh his Mountaineering First Aid skills with the Mazamas in the fall. Below he shares his history with the organization:
Growing up in Portland, views of Mt Hood and Mount St. Helens were a constant and instilled a latent desire to climb those puppies. However, my parents were from East Texas and didn’t have much of an outdoor, much less, climbing tradition. I spent many hours on our farm in Sunnyside wandering through the forest and spent the summer after my senior year in high school on a forest fire crew, but my outdoor skill set was not very developed.
In 1977, when I ended a 10-year active-duty stint with the US Navy and moved back to Portland, I was focused on signing-up for the Mazama Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP), which I completed in 1978. That spring I climbed Mt. Hood and became a Mazama member. That summer I also climbed Mount St. Helens, and Middle and South Sister. (My second Hood climb with the Mazamas was on May 18, 1980, and we were able to observe the eruption of Mount St. Helens from the summit.)
The next 10 years were mostly filled with family responsibilities: US Navy Reserve weekends, work as a marketing manager at Tektronix, and a slow slog to complete a computer engineering degree at the University of Portland. I was able to get in two to four climbs a year and received the Guardian Peaks Award in 1982. For a couple of years, I had a three-week teaching gig at the US Navy Intelligence School in Denver, CO and was able to hook-up with the Colorado Mountaineering Club to do some climbs with them.
In December 1988, I attended my last Navy Reserve drill weekend and finished my engineering degree in April 1989. I immediately signed up for Intermediate Climbing School (ICS). I started going on more climbs, received the Oregon Cascades Award in 1989, started helping with Basic Climbing School, was selected as a climb leader in 1991, and received the 16 NW peaks award in 1992. This was also about the time I became infected with the State Highpointing bug.
I led probably 15 BCEP sessions and was on the Climbing Committee in 1994 and 1995. I was the assistant ICS coordinator in 1994 and lead in 1995. I also wrote and distributed, by mail, the Climb Leader Newsletter and was the Climb schedule coordinator. One of my strong inputs on CC was the creation of a Climb Leader Development Program to ensure that Mazama climb leaders had a full set of verified skills to enhance climb safety. In May 1994, I and two other Mazamas made it up to 16,000 feet on Denali but had to back off due to one of the party members being unable to continue. Being my first high-altitude climb, this was a massive learning experience. In 1995, I started assisting Doug Wilson in joint climbs with the Toyama Mountaineering Club in Japan. They climbed with us several times, and we were able to go to Japan and climb with them. A very special experience!
The Mazamas were slow, even resistant to transition to the digital age—no email or webpage. In the mid-90’s, I lobbied for a FAX machine, and it was reluctantly finally approved. Now we could FAX stuff to the office and not have to drive down or mail it. I grew increasingly frustrated with how hard it was to schedule climbs, file climb reports, and generally communicate anything with the Mazama office. I became chair of the Financial Affairs Committee in 1998 and focused on ways to be more efficient in tracking finances. We had one staff member, the Secretary, who finally got a computer running MS-DOS, and was entering all the financial information into Lotus 123.
In 1998, I was nominated and elected to the Executive Council through 2001, and served as Membership Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice-President. While many people were involved and worked hard to implement the following initiatives, I provided strong input and worked on implementation:
Establish the position of Executive Director, in addition to Board Secretary.
Hire an individual with strong computer and web development skills to fill the Board Secretary position. I interviewed John Godino and recommended he be hired.
Build a Mazama website and email newsletters
Conduct a member survey to better determine demographics and obtain input for the future direction of the organization.
As Treasurer, I implemented an actual budgeting process and pushed a dues increase to offset ongoing deficits.
Helped smooth over relations between the Lodge managers and the Lodge Committee, as well as help develop a positions and responsibilities document for the Lodge Committee.
Worked with Peter Green and Ian Wade to write an accident report, analyze Mazama activities, and develop risk management procedures.
Established that we needed to move from our leased space on NW 19th.
In 1998, I retired from Tektronix and built an outdoor adventure company, Oregon Peak Adventures. We climbed, led hikes and multiday backpacks, and taught outdoor skills classes through PCC and the metro Park & Recs and did a couple of international trips a year. I was unable to lead BCEP classes or many Mazama climbs and run my business, but still stayed involved with the organization. In 2013, I did my last company trip. In 2000, I led an outing to Kilimanjaro and in 2013 led a trip, assisted by Eugene Lewins, to China and Tibet.
I still led a few climbs each year and was awarded the #16 Leuthold Award in 2004 and the #5 Terry Becker Award in 2009. I continued to lead snowshoe, XC skiing, and hikes as well.
Over the years, I led Outings to complete the Oregon Coast Trail, backpack the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail, led climbs to summit all 31 of the Oregon peaks over 9,000 feet, and all the Oregon County Highpoints. In 2008, I summitted Mt. Marcy in New York for my 49th state highpoint. I was Chair of the Outings Committee for three years.
I have slowed down in my dotage (I turn 80 in July), but I am still a qualified e-level climb leader (at least when I complete the MFA session in November). My current project is to climb the 100 highest peaks in Oregon (I am up to 80) and I try to lead a couple of climbs a year on the remaining peaks.
The Mazamas have been a constant focus of my life since 1978, and I have made many friends and have many memorable experiences because of my association with the organization. I look forward to maintaining my membership and engaging in further adventures.
Name: Joe Whittington
Pronouns: He/Him
Year Joined Mazamas: 1978
Present-day outdoor activities: Slow – climbing, hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing.
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? Wandering around the forest on our farm and adjacent property.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? I believe I heard about the Mazamas during my senior year at Portland State in 1966 just prior to going on active duty with the Navy.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offerthem? Find joy in having a well-conditioned body and find mentors who are willing and pleased to teach you the skills you need to enjoy the activities.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? I read the book, Annapurna, by Maurice Herzog and it blew my mind. I had many Mazama members who mentored and trained me, and I have met many world-class climbers who have inspired me as well.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow andwhy? Pick one. I read a lot, but am a huge fan of Craig Johnson and his Longmire series.
What’s on your adventure bucket list? Climbing as many of the 100 highest peaks in Oregon while I still am able.
