DECEMBER 2015
VOL. 97
NO. 12
the
Issue Thank you, Volunteers! How a Team of Volunteers Changed My Life 2016 Trail Tending Opportunities My Enthusiasm Knows No Bounds: Kate McCarthy, 1917–2015
FEATURES Thank you, Volunteers!, p. 4 Members on Volunteerism, p. 6 The Thread that Binds Mazama Volunteers, p. 10 October Executive Council Retreat, p. 11 2016 Trail Tending & Climber Steward Opportunities, p. 13 “My Enthusiasm Knows No Bounds:” Kate McCarthy, 1917–2015, p. 14 How a Team of Volunteers Changed My Life, p. 24 Owyhee Canyonlands, p. 25
MONTHLY COLUMNS Mazama Families, p. 16 Adventurous Young Mazamas (AYM), p. 18 Evening Travel Programs, p. 19 Classics, p. 20 Lodge Notes, p. 21 Outings, p. 22 Trail Trips, p. 28 Executive Council, p. 30 Membership Report, p. 31
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHTS Maggie Woodward, p. 4 Chris Simmons, p. 7 Bob Smith, p. 12 Laura Rumford, p. 11 Carol Lane, p. 15 Marina Wynton, p. 13 Meg Linza, p. 22 Sarah Root, p. 25 Mike Magyar, p. 27
Publications Committee Committee Chair: Kristie Perry, publications@mazamas.org
Committee Members: Catherine Diaz, Ken DuBois, Joe Fox, Sue Griffith, Lacy Turner
Cover: Pearly Gates–Mt. Hood. Photo: Chris Wilson (one of our Portland Alpine Fest photo contest winners!). This page: PAF-man Todd Torres on his way to first place at the Portland Ice Comp at Portland Rock Gym. Photo: Jacob Raab
Mazama Staff Lee Davis • Executive Director • lee@mazamas.org Jamie Anderson •Member Services Manager jamie@mazamas.org Adam Baylor • Stewardship & Advocacy Manager • adam@mazamas.org Sarah Bradham • Marketing & Publications Manager • sarah@mazamas.org Mathew Brock • Library & Historical Collections Manager • mathew@mazamas.org Laura Burger • Membership & Development Assistant • laura@mazamas.org Kati Mayfield • Volunteer Manager • kati@mazamas.org Charles Barker • Mazama Lodge Manager • mazama.lodge@mazamas.org
CONTACT US Mazama Mountaineering Center 527 SE 43rd Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97215 • 503-227-2345 • adventure@mazamas.org Hours: Mon.–Thu. 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Mazama Lodge 30500 West Leg Rd. •Government Camp, Oregon, 97028 503-272-9214 • mazama.lodge@mazamas.org Hours: Thu. Noon–Mon. Noon
Reinventing Leader Development Dear Members, Two weeks ago, I gathered with some 600 Mazama members, supporters, and friends at “The Summit,” the culminating event of the third annual Portland Alpine Festival (PAF). PAF—hosted and organized by the Mazamas— is a weeklong celebration of mountain recreation. The Summit featured inspiring presentations from Jim Whittaker and Alex Honnold. In addition to seeing many old friends, and enjoying good food and wonderful storytelling, we celebrated and recognized some of our most dedicated volunteer leaders. Longtime member John Godino received the Parker Cup volunteer service award after more than a decade of leading climbs, teaching classes, and helping countless new adventurers ‘stay found’ through his regular navigation classes and lectures. Whenever we recognize our leading Mazama volunteers, we remind ourselves that volunteerism is the driving force behind all Mazama education and activity programs. Every year more than a hundred individuals stand up and agree to lead Mazama hikes, climbs, outings, committees, task forces, special projects, and/or serve on the board. These extraordinary gifts of time and skill are what makes the Mazamas great. Roughly ten years ago I was new to the Mazamas, and back then individual volunteer leaders like Ed Holt, Gary Beck, Dick Miller, Terry Cone, Ray Sheldon, Larry Stadler, Mike Holman and countless others were well known by all because they gave so much of their time and effort year after year. They weren’t just climb leaders; they also led hikes, organized outings, chaired committees, taught classes, spearheaded major projects, and served on the board. They were also constantly recruiting new volunteers and telling everyone how wonderful the Mazamas were. We certainly have volunteers of this caliber in our ranks today, but it is clear that there are fewer people at this level than in the past. Even though we still have super-volunteers, who give enormous amounts of time, we need ADVERTISER INDEX Active Adventures, p. 17 Base Camp Brewing Company, p. 5 Centered in Motion, p. 30 Classifieds, p. 5 Climb Max Mountaineering, p. 21 Embark Adventures, p. 20 Massage with Eugene, p. 26
to recognize that volunteerism in America, and therefore volunteerism at the Mazamas, is changing rapidly. Finding individuals who want to make three-year volunteer commitments to the Mazamas is becoming increasingly difficult. On the flip side, we’re seeing more people than ever willing to make shorter term or episodic commitments to help with our programs. As many of you know, we are beginning the second year of our strategic plan that is aimed at solving a series of high-priority and truly challenging problems which have been holding us back and keeping us from growing for decades. The Plan is fundamentally about improving our program-service model to be modern, scalable, and relevant to the broader community. Finding a way to radically expand our ability to recruit, train, and support our volunteer leaders has been a top priority of the Mazamas for at least ten years, and it remains a top priority today. In the past we’ve been reluctant to make changes to our traditional leader development systems because those systems were based in recommendations from a formal risk assessment performed in 1998. So last year we started the Leadership Development project by performing a needs assessment and evaluation of our climb leader development program. Kati Mayfield, our volunteer manager, with support from the Climbing Committee, Executive Council, and staff, is spearheading and managing this project to reinvent leadership development at the Mazamas. We started this project in 2015 by contracting with Alex Kosseff from the Outdoor Safety Institute (OSI) to help us evaluate our current leadership development systems and practices. OSI is the current leading contractor advising the National Outdoor Leadership School, Outward Bound, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and the Sierra Club on risk management and outdoor leadership. OSI’s final report is available on the members section of our website for anyone who wants to read more.
Advertise with us! tinyurl.com/MazamaAdvertising Montbell, p. 23 Mountain Shop, p. 27 Next Adventure, p. 15 Oregon Mountain Community, p. 12 SPOT, p. 8 Sunny Freeman Real Estate, p. 10 Yatvin Computer Consultants, p. 12
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Starting in 2016 and continuing through 2017, we will be initiating and testing pilot programs that will shape the way we recruit, train, and place volunteers at the Mazamas of the future. We will be simplifying the entry points and pathways of volunteerism, and working to build training programs that are both engaging and flexible. These changes will be done in coordination with our impending IT project so that getting started as a volunteer and staying engaged will be easier than ever. The ways in which people experience the mountains, learn to care for them, and eventually protect them are changing rapidly. When the Mazamas was founded, skiing was not a popular sport, there were virtually no roads into the mountains, and things like backcountry snowboarding and paragliding were beyond the imagination. As the interests of our community change and grow, we need to change and grow as well in order to remain relevant. By working together on projects like Leadership Development and the other projects in our strategic plan we will prepare the Mazamas for the future. Happy Holidays,
Lee Davis
MAZAMA (USPS 334-780) Editor: Sarah Bradham (mazama.bulletin@mazamas. org). Advertising: mazama.ads@mazamas.org. Subscription: $15 per year. Bulletin material must be emailed to the editor. All material is due by noon on the 14th of the preceding month. If the 14th falls on a weekend, the deadline is the preceding Friday. The Mazama Bulletin is published monthly by the Mazamas—527 SE 43rd Ave., Portland, OR 97215. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MAZAMAS, 527 SE 43rd Ave., Portland, OR 97215. The Executive Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are open to members. The Mazamas is a 501(c)(3) Oregon nonprofit corporation organized on the summit of Mt. Hood in 1894. The Mazamas is an equal opportunity provider.
DECEMBER 2015
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Volunteer Spotlight
Thank you, Volunteers! by Kati Mayfield As Mazamas, we believe volunteers are the driving force in everything we do. Teamwork, collaboration, and generosity of spirit, are the essence of who we are. Volunteerism, one of our core values, speaks to the fact that volunteers are the backbone of the Mazamas. The strength, expertise and passion they bring to their volunteer roles is inspiring. The importance of volunteerism at the Mazamas can’t be contained in figures - still, we’re impressed by the numbers, and we think that each Mazama volunteer ought to be mighty proud of these accomplishments. We had over 600 volunteers all-told, 234 of whom staffed 30 different committees. We had 90 active Climb Leaders, and 120 active Hike Leaders. In the past year, these volunteers have: ▶▶ Led 11 outings, domestically and internationally ▶▶ Led 875 hikes, Rambles, and snowshoe trips ▶▶ Led 184 successful climbs, with 1,202 successful summiteers! ▶▶ Hosted 28 evening travel programs ▶▶ Run countless events, including the annual Used Equipment Sale, Round the Mountain, and Portland Alpine Fest ▶▶ Maintained dozens of miles of trail
Maggie Woodward
When I joined the Mazamas, I quickly realized how volunteer-based this group was. I was amazed at the time, effort, and skills that others shared. Wow! I learned SO much and gained the experience that opened up the outdoor world to me. I couldn’t help but want to give back, but in small ways that fit my “play” schedule. I knew that I didn’t care to sit through meetings, and am so grateful others will, but that I enjoy working outside. From trail tending, picking up litter, removing invasive species, and anything to do with recycling, I’ve found activities where I can give back and it just makes me feel good. A real sense of accomplishment. It’s been fun, fulfilling, and certainly has made me appreciate the efforts of others as well. I give a little bit here and there on my own time and schedule and it all just works so well for me. Great times! Volunteer Category: Whatever, Whenever & On-call
By mentoring new leaders, these volunteers ensure that their great work will continue. In the past year, they: ▶▶ Supported a dozen new hike leaders ▶▶ Initiated six people into the Climb Leadership Development Program, advanced six people to provisional leader status, and promoted 10 people to be full-fledged Climb Leaders ▶▶ Nurtured 18 people through the Leadership Cohort They have also trained hundreds of climbers, skiers and first aid responders through our educational programs, expanding our community of safe, prepared alpinists. In 2015 these volunteers gave over 92,000 hours of service. What an accomplishment, thank you!
Turn your volunteering into $$!
Investigate your company’s Volunteer Hours Matching program. Did you know that many employers in our area offer Volunteer Hours Matching programs? These employers assign an hourly dollar value to the time their employees spend volunteering, and will donate that amount of money to the nonprofit at which the employee volunteers. In some cases the match kicks in right away; in others, it kicks in after a certain number of hours are accrued. Does your employer match? Here’s a list of companies that we know provide a match:
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▶▶ Bank of America ▶▶ Boeing ▶▶ Covidien ▶▶ eBay ▶▶ Gap ▶▶ Google
▶▶ Intel ▶▶ PacifiCorp ▶▶ PRG ▶▶ Starbucks ▶▶ Verizon ▶▶ Wells Fargo
Help us maximize your impact by 1) checking with your employer to find out whether they offer such a program; and, if so, 2) letting us know! We cannot request the match (you have to initiate it) but we can help you fill out
the appropriate paperwork and track your hours. If your employer does not have a volunteer hour matching program, they may have a donation matching program; or a grant program open to those nonprofits for which their employees volunteer. The Mazamas benefits from over 92,000 hours of volunteer service each year, why not make those hours go even further?
Conflict Resolution Training Opportunity
past, present, and future work. Contact Tom Bard, Chair, to RSVP—bardtom535@gmail.com.
Have you ever wanted tools and strategies to make it easier to address and work through conflict? Are you interested in how to support others who are experiencing conflict? Join us for this free workshop with Resolutions Northwest, Thursday, 12/3 at 6:30 p.m. at the MMC. Contact Kati Mayfield, kati@ mazamas.org to sign up.
Nordic Instructors Needed
Thursday, Dec. 3
Classic Mazamas Monday, Dec. 7
Are you interested in becoming more involved in the Classics? Come to our meeting, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. at the MMC. Help plan our Holiday lunch and other winter events. We are also working on our transportation plan with Flora Huber, our new transportation coordinator. To RSVP or learn more, please contact Kate Evans, EC liaison (kateevans97@gmail.com) or Rose Marie Gilbert, Chair (gilbertrosemarie@centurylink. net).
Conservation Committee Members Ongoing
The Mazamas Conservation Committee is recruiting new members to support our work in advocating for protection and management of natural areas in support of healthy ecosystems; educating membership; and guiding the Mazamas to become carbon neutral. Join us at our December meeting to discuss our
December/January
Seeking Nordic enthusiasts to volunteer as instructors or assistants for Nordic school. Instructors should have First Aid and CPR (encouraged but not required for assistants). We’ll reimburse for CPR/ First Aid, mileage and provide professional instructor skill training by Shelley Hakanson ( first weekend in December). If interested in volunteering with a Mazama Nordic Ski School class please contact Jodi Wacenske at jwacenske@yahoo.com.
CPR Instructor Ongoing
Are you currently a certified CPR and First Aid instructor? Or, are you interested in becoming certified? We need a volunteer (or two) to teach the monthly CPR classes at the Mazamas. The Mazamas teaches the American Heart Association course, and will reimburse you for your instructor certification. If interested in learning more or volunteering, please contact Jamie Anderson, jamie@ mazamas.org.
Stewardship Opportunities Ongoing
and sign up for our monthly newsletter with stewardship opportunities and updates at http://mazamas.org/activitiesevents/trail-tending/
Library Task Force Short-term
The Mazama Library and Historical Collections seek volunteers to serve on the Library Task Force, which will research and present to the Library and Historic Collections Manager a range of options for a cost-effective, easy-touse, searchable circulation software solution for our book collection. This opportunity is limited duration and project based. Volunteers should have a basic understanding of how libraries work, strong computer competency, and good communication and interpersonal skills. Please contact Mathew Brock, mathew@mazamas.org.
Trail Tending & Climber Steward Info Night December 10, 2015, .7–9 p.m. at the MMC
Stop by to learn more about trail maintenance volunteer opportunities for next year. Find out what skills you need to lead your own stewardship trip. Mazama Staff will be available to answer questions and share info.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Curious about volunteering but don’t see an opportunity that interests you? Fill out the Mazama Volunteer Survey, tinyurl.com/MazVolSurvey, to let us know more about your skills and interests, and we’ll be in touch to brainstorm with you.
KATI MAYFIELD VOLUNTEER MANAGER KATI@MAZAMAS.ORG Kati Mayfield joined the Mazamas as Volunteer Manager in 2012. In this role she supports Mazama volunteers by connecting them with the resources and information they need to fulfill their duties; and by helping new volunteers engage in meaningful ways. Kati also manages the Youth Outreach Program, geared towards creating opportunities for kids in our community to learn about and play in the mountains.
Wrap up 2015 and kick off 2016 right with a Mazama stewardship project! Check out the article on pp. 13 of this issue of the bulletin to learn about the projects that have already been planned,
Classified Advertising THESE LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. THE MAZAMAS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CONTENT.
KILIMANJARO + SERENGETI UNDER $4800, EXCL. AIRFARE. FEB 13-28 trip with Mazama CL benefits Tanzanian healthcare. Call 971-2227215, web: danschuster@bmet-aid.com, www.bmet-aid.com. HOUSE AND PET SITTING BY BILLIE GOODWIN—Mazama member since 1986. Call 503-254-6121 or email oriongood@aol.com. DECEMBER 2015
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Members on Volunteerism by Sue Griffith This month’s Bulletin focuses on the heart of our organization—our volunteers. By sharing your time with the Mazamas, you help to shape the kind of community you want the Mazamas to be. And I find the old adage to be true—the more you give of your time and talents, the more you get and the better you feel. Not a bad return on investment. For me, volunteerism is doing things I’m not otherwise required to do, just because. I asked a random collection of Mazamas to share what volunteerism means to them and was hugely inspired by their responses. I hope you are, too. No one says, or does, it better than our Mazama volunteers. “Volunteering is giving of your time rather than, or in addition to, your money. The more the mission speaks to your heart the more rewarding volunteerism can be.” Steve Hooker, Executive Council President
“The Mazamas have enriched my life immeasurably through climbs, hikes, climbing and skiing classes, outings, and wonderful friendships. It is only right that I give back to the organization that has given me so much by trail tending, tree planting, and serving on committees and the Executive Council.” Kate Evans, Executive Council Member & Hike Leader
“To me, volunteerism is giving back to your community in a positive way without expecting anything in return. Personally I’m motivated to volunteer if I find it fun. Luckily for me, teaching practical and safe mountaineering skills for the Mazamas is something I look forward to all the time!” Shane Harlson, RTM Leader
“A few phrases capture the essence of why I volunteer with the Mazamas: Teach others; Give back; Make a difference for someone or people; Help shape someone’s life for the better; Plus, feedback says I’m a good leader and good volunteer so I continue.” Tom Davidson, BCEP Volunteer
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“When I moved to Oregon, all I knew was that I wanted to go hiking and climbing. But I didn’t know anybody here who was into it. So I joined the Mazamas, and in the 16 years since, I have met all kinds of great people, been on many wonderful activities, and made a few really good friends. All of that happened because people were volunteering back then. So for me, volunteering for Mazamas is a way to give back to the community, keep the good times rolling, and continue to enjoy new people and fun activities.” Paul Gerald, RTM Leader
“Where else can one meet great new people and go where few will dare…” Josh Lockerby, Climb Leader, BCEP Instructor, BCEP Coordinator
“For many, volunteerism is giving back to the community. For me it is being part of the community. It is the joy of learning and teaching. The joy of making new friends and meeting like-minded people. Volunteerism gave me opportunities to witness amazing moments in people’s lives—seeing the look of pride and amazement on my friends’ faces when they reach the summit or top of the difficult route is priceless. Through volunteering I have made friendships that are based on trust, knowledge, and will to explore the great outdoors together.” Ania Wiktorowicz, Climb Leader
“Volunteering with Mazamas, planting trees, and reviewing and writing Outings procedures are ways to even the balance sheet and have fun. Mazamas has given me knowledge, adventure, and wonderful friends. Giving back, even in small ways, is a privilege.” Leigh Schwarz, Outings Committee Member
“The quote on volunteering that resonates with me is ‘the more you give the more you get.’ I find that by being involved in the planning, coordinating, and leading of Mazama Trail Trip activities it enriches the experience, allowing me to enjoy the activities on a deeper level.” Marilyn Zigler, RTM Organizer, Hike Leader, Trail Trips Committee
“The main reason I like volunteering for the Mazamas is to meet new people and get them excited about hiking and climbing. I love hiking and climbing and it is great fun to get others excited about it too. The Pacific Northwest has so many places to go and explore you can find something for everyone. I enjoy volunteering but have limited time so I look for organizations that are a good fit for me in terms of their mission. I find with a good fit you get energy/satisfaction from the experience and consequently give more of your time and are more engaged—a benefit to everyone.” Jean Cavanaugh, Mazama Volunteer
“In 2007 Eric Hoem asked me to present a Mazama Program with him. I had never been to a program until then. Klindt Vielbig was Programs Committee Chair and asked for volunteer committee members. Some of the things I am passionate about are photography, wilderness, hiking, climbing, and adventure travel. I saw volunteering as a way to see all of the programs, which focus on one or more of those passions almost every week. Also I saw volunteering as a way to get to know more Mazamas, including climb and outing leaders. It might not be fair, but it is easier to get on climbs and outings if you are an active Mazama and know more leaders. The following year Klindt sent an email to the committee stating that John Leary is now the committee chairperson. I was unknowingly drafted. It has been a fun and rewarding experience to be involved, meeting famous climbers, authors, artists and many adventurous, talented Mazamas. Best of all, I have made good friends with other volunteers over the years.”
Volunteer Spotlight
John Leary, Programs Committee Chair
“The legacy aspect is what most attracts me to Mazama activities and volunteer gigs; where else can I chug up the Tatoosh with a teenager and a 92-year old (trying to replicate the latter’s impeccable footing); and volunteer on a committee with four generations of Mazamas? I volunteer for the love of mountaineering and the way it brings all of us together.” Lacy Turner, Publications Committee Member
“Why do I volunteer? Because I love the Mazamas! Who wouldn’t want to give of their time to an organization they love?” Gary Riggs, Office Volunteer “I initially joined the Mazamas, in part, to meet like-minded adventurers in the Portland area. I found the organization to be excellent and the members, especially the assistants, very welcoming and helpful. They clearly loved what they were doing and were eager to share it. I continue to volunteer with the Mazamas largely for the same reasons - I love climbing and want others to be able to get the same pleasure from it as I have. And I enjoy the camaraderie, hanging out with my Mazama friends, and making new ones. It is rewarding to see a budding climber do something they haven’t done (and sometimes didn’t think they could do) before. Just yesterday I received a postcard from an ICS student thanking me for my help during the sport climbing weekend. It was really sweet.” Nicole Castonguay, ICS Assistant
“Volunteering with the Mazamas for me has meant supporting an organization I believe does so much for those interested in our outdoor environments, as well as training people to safely move in the wilderness. As I have learned certain skills I have also been able to support others in learning to be safe in the outdoors and climbing. I have also had the opportunity to try and promote the vision, mission, and core values of the Mazamas, as well as support the goals and outcomes in which our organization is moving.” Paul Steger, Education Committee, Strategic Planning Committee
Photo: Christina Barry-Simmons
Chris Simmons
Chris Simmons first started volunteering for the Mazamas in 2011, assisting with BCEP, ICS, and MFA. Later he added the Advanced Rock class to his list of volunteer activities, along with service on the AR Committee and chair of the Financial Affairs Committee. Currently, Chris is busy lending his expertise to the ASI Committee. Chris lists the northwest slopes of Huron Peak as his favorite hike, though candidly admits it’s really more of a climb. He describes a non-technical trail rising from a ponderosa pine forest before climbing above the tree line, that offers stunning views of the Three Apostles and Ice Mountain. Chris and his wife tackled this route on a trip to Colorado after she graduated from BCEP. Chris loves climbing, too. “My favorite climb is the South Face of the Petit Grepon. It was the first major outing with a good friend and climbing partner after graduating from AR. This climb is located in a beautiful setting in Rocky Mountain National Park and has a very unique summit. There are several cruxes, which may or may not include: thunderstorms, stuck ropes on the descent, a large herd of elk blocking the approach trail, and deciding what to celebrate with post climb at Oskar Blues. [I’ve been told] if you don’t like this one, consider taking up another sport.” When tackling new adventures, Chris relies on two favorite pieces of advice gathered over the years: “It doesn’t have to be fun to be fun,” and “check your knot.” A true outdoor lover, he says every time he gets outside with family and friends, he feels triumphant. “It means we’ve collectively overcome sloth, scheduling challenges, and the fickle Pacific Northwest weather.” Lucky for the Mazamas, Chris fills his time with hiking, climbing, and volunteering. When asked about favorite things to do when he is not engaged in one of these three, he responded, “I’m not familiar with this concept.” Thank you, Chris, for lending your considerable knowledge, energy and enthusiasm to the Mazamas! Volunteer Categories: Long-term, Episodic DECEMBER 2015
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THE GIFT OF Y T I V I T C E N LIFE, CON TION IS C E T O R P D N A
E E R F NOW 3,9
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We Teach Trad
Advanced Rock Applications Accepted Nov. 30–Jan. 12 Applications will be accepted soon for the Mazamas Advanced Rock/Beginning Trad class, which runs from March-May 2016. To view more information about the course and to apply, visit mazamas.org/ education-classes/advanced-rock/. THE CLASS CONSISTS OF: ▶▶ A series of 11 lectures given by knowledgeable speakers with hands on demos or exercises where appropriate. ▶▶ 8 weekend field sessions coordinated by skilled, experienced climbers. ▶▶ Opportunities to meet new and experienced rock climbers. ▶▶ A chance to learn about local climbing areas. ▶▶ Involvement in a supportive group that will facilitate learning new skills and challenging yourself through climbing. ▶▶ FUN!! And lots of it. Photo: Alicia Imbody
If you have questions, contact the leadership team at mazamas.ar@gmail.com or the Mazamas business office at 503-227-2345
Alpine Photography Clinic
Do you want to improve the quality of the pictures you take while on a Mazama or any climbing trip? This two lecture and full weekend session workshop will give you the tools to use your camera more often and more efficiently, with a mountain-centered focus for outdoor enthusiasts who want to improve their photography skills. Course topics will cover understanding manual setting and controls like exposure, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and shooting modes. During the workshop audience will get an opportunity to learn and practice skills in outdoors under different conditions. Topics will also include gear management lens selection/philosophy, composition techniques, low light and night photography, random tips and tricks, post processing and presentation. ▶▶ Dates: Lecture/workshop March 2 & 10, 2016, 6–9 p.m., MMC ▶▶ Field Session: March 5–6, Smith Rock State Park ▶▶ Cost: $55 members; $90 nonmembers For more information and to register see the webpage at : mazamas.org/education-classes/alpine-photography/
Photo: Vaqas Malik
The Thread that Binds Mazama Volunteers: Inspiration by Dan Schuster
A
sk any longtime supporters why they give heart and soul to the Mazamas and you’re likely to get different answers. Contrary to popular myth, we aren’t all climbing sport enthusiasts. Yet to say we all love the mountains or mountaineering may exclude rock climbing buffs who’d rather hang out at Smith, or hikers who love the woodlands. It’s difficult to identify a common thread binding us together because our passions sometimes drive us apart. While we each may have a different vision of what the Mazamas should be, one thing we all share is inspiration. Mazama volunteers have inspired us and in turn, we volunteer to inspire others. For many of us, that inspiration started with our BCEP instructors, and I was no exception. My BCEP ‘88 instructor, Bo Nonn, is one of the unsung Mazama heroes. That’s not to say he didn’t receive all the awards that come from being a long-time climb leader, but he kept a low profile, focused instead on inspiring us to pass on the love of mountaineering. I followed his example through BCEP, ICS, and ASI for the 28 years since, and as a climb leader for the past 14. Over the years, I’ve given both personal time and money to the Mazamas and with so many other critical needs out there, you might ask, “Why the Mazamas?” It boils down to inspiration. For example, you may have seen the movie “Meru,” and been inspired by the extremity of purpose and commitment that might seem absurd to some. Yet the adventure aspects of the movie inspire even non-climbers in a way that golf and baseball never can. The movie had particular significance to me because of my experience with another Mt. Meru, Kilimanjaro’s unassuming cousin. In 2007, I traveled to Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. My daughter accompanied me as far as Moshi, and while I was on the mountain, she volunteered her nursing skills at a local hospital. Afterwards, she shared
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her dismay on discovering how little of the hospital’s medical equipment was in working order. We later learned through a WHO report that up to 80% of East African medical equipment was nonfunctional. Inspired partly by Greg Mortensen’s school construction project for Afghan girls and partly by my BCEP instructor’s Peace Corps experiences in Botswana, I set about to remedy the equipment situation. It occurred to me that the many engineers who travel to Africa on safari and to climb Kili were part of the answer. “Voluntourism,” historically dominated by medical staff, was in dire need of technologists. After struggling to find a cooperative venue, I returned to Tanzania in January 2010 as an instructor at Arusha Technical College (ATC). Nestled in the shadow of Mt. Meru, ATC was created to fill the demand for qualified technical personnel in Tanzania. Since that first visit, I’ve spent 18 months in Arusha training future biomedical technicians to repair medical equipment and established a nonprofit corporation, Biomedical Engineering Technology Aid International (BETA Int’l), to support that endeavor. BETA Int’l has subsequently facilitated a biomedical engineering technology program at ATC by training faculty, providing modern test equipment and parts, and providing stipends for student internships at area hospitals. With a comprehensive training program in place, ATC now supplies electrical and biomedical engineering graduates to hospitals throughout Tanzania. I’m not sure any of this would have come about if not for the volunteers that inspired me and the inspiration that comes from my own volunteering. Climbing taught me many valuable lessons including this from scree and soft-snow slogs: slide back a step for every two forward, keep going, and you eventually make the summit. You definitely need this kind of tenacity to deal with bureaucracies and governments in developing nations. And inspiration has opened doors to new opportunities. Now BETA is teaming with GE Foundation to address medical technology issues in all lowresource countries. Haiti is next, although it is more like climbing Mt. Everest. We’ve been slogging there since 2011, without yet reaching the first base camp.
The author on the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Photo: Godlisten Christosa.
For some of you this may not resonate (unless you climb Kilimanjaro and have need of hospitalization). For me, it justifies my “Curmudgeon Challenge” to raise funds for the MMC, and the countless hours I’ve put into Mazama training, climbs, and committees. My Mazama training was a prelude to a much bigger life mission—one that has become world-transforming. I understood that in 2003 when I teamed with Monty Smith to rescue a family on the Eiger’s neighboring peak; our oft-repeated leadership training saved five lives. So mountaineering will never be just a sport to me—the inspiration goes far deeper, and it is a fundamental test of character. Yes, I do love the mountains and any excuse to be in them—anywhere in the world. What inspires you may be different, but do keep our volunteer tradition alive within the Mazamas, and pass along the inspiration to others. Inspiration is the most pervasive impact we can have in this world, and our only legacy. Author’s note: If you are bound for Kilimanjaro, interested in voluntourism opportunities, and have a medical or engineering background, see BETA International’s website at www.bmet-aid.com. Author’s bio: Dan Schuster is a Mazama climb leader (2001) and has taught climbing since 1989. A retired Caltech-educated engineer, he founded Biomedical Engineering Technology Aid International (www.bmet-aid.com), a 501(c) (3) non-profit, and is also a volunteer science museum educator in lasers and robotics at OMSI.
October 2015 Executive Council Retreat Report by Steve Hooker, Mazamas President Dear Members, This October you elected Jon Jurevic, Chris Kruell, and Darrell Weston to join the Mazamas board of directors (Executive Counil) for the next three years. For the past three years, the Mazamas has been growing under the leadership of our Executive Director, Lee Davis, and the continually strong support from our amazing volunteers, staff, and members. As the Mazamas grows, and seeks to become modern and ever more relevant to our members and community, the way we manage our work will need to evolve and grow as well. Towards that end, at the board retreat this October we specifically discussed three major topics: We looked carefully at our strategic plan progress and clarified our priorities for the year ahead, including how to allocate resources to manage that work. We looked at the ongoing challenges we face as a result of our 120-year old organizational structure and discussed ways of improving that structure to enhance effectiveness and accountability. We also proposed some changes to the structure of our Executive Council meetings to focus more of our time on higher-level strategic issues that impact Mazamas long term. Last fiscal year was our first year of pursuing our new strategic plan, and we got a lot done. We started a new Outdoor School program on Mt. Hood called the Mazama Mountain Science School. We completed needs assessments for Leadership Development, IT, and Stewardship and Advocacy projects to enhance the way we serve members and accomplish our most mission-critical work. Finally, we restored management of our historical collections and library, and trained and added staff so that Mazamas can responsibly pursue annual development. At the retreat we reviewed the work accomplished and ratified our top priorities for the upcoming year, which are all a part of our overall strategic
plan. The largest effort this year will be moving forward with a comprehensive IT (Information Technology) overhaul to finally replace and modernize our aging member database, to integrate our online and administrative systems, and yes, finally move climbing applications online. Continued progress on our Leader Development project and our Stewardship and Advocacy project are our next priorities. The new Mazama Mountain Science school, which is a part of our youth outreach efforts will continue, as will our continued investment in management of our historical collections and archives. The keystone of our entire plan though is expanding our revenue base through annual fundraising and development. We believe that by modernizing our internal systems, and investing in new services like youth outreach and stewardship, that the Mazamas will become ever more valuable to our members and the community. Hopefully, most of you reading this would agree that the Mazamas provides more than $5 a month of value (the equivalent of your $60 annual dues payment). While we anticipate continued growth in fee-for-service program revenue as well as fundraising revenue, we also discussed whether it was time for a modest dues increase. Dues have not been raised in nearly ten years and our rates are more than 20% below the other major alpine clubs. We will be looking in depth at this question as well as other ways to sustainably fund expansion of our core programs and services. As always, we welcome member input and feedback in these discussions, and you can reach me anytime at president@ mazamas.org. I’m excited to be working this year with Jon, Chris, Darrell and the rest of our EC members, staff and committee volunteers and look forward to another great year at the Mazamas. Thanks as always to our dedicated volunteers and our members for your continued support of the Mazamas!
Volunteer Spotlight
Laura Rumford
I was lucky enough to be raised in a family that loved the outdoors. Some of my earliest and fondest memories are of camping trips and vacations taken to the Drakensberg mountains near (l to r) Mark Rumford, where I grew up in Samantha Rumford, Laura South Africa. My Rumford, Leah Rumford parents weren’t Photo: Craig Martin mountaineers, climbers or backpackers, but they introduced me to places that inspired me. When we took family day hikes into the mountains, I always despaired at having to turn back again. I wanted to go further, explore more, and stand on top of those rugged peaks. It was as though I could hear the mountains calling my name. And so began a lifelong love for the outdoors, and especially the mountains. Life has taken me to quite a few places, and I have now lived and worked on three continents. My husband, Mark, and I first emigrated to the USA in 2006 and we spent a number of years in California. Then, when we were given an opportunity to move to Oregon at the beginning of 2014, we grabbed it with both hands. We have not been disappointed - we love it here and hope to never have to leave! The people are vibrant and friendly, and the outdoor opportunities are extensive. What more could we ask for? We sought out a hiking and outdoor club when we first arrived here, in the hopes of finding likeminded people who shared our love for exploring. What we found was the Mazamas! We quickly got involved, and before we knew what we were doing had signed up our entire family for the inaugural FM101 class last year. What an amazing experience that was for us. We learned so much, and we were doing it right alongside our kids. We went from being hikers, campers, and backpackers to being mountaineers and climbers too! I now volunteer on the Families Committee and am passionate about passing on a love and respect for the outdoors to the next generation. Seeing families getting outside with their kids is exciting and inspirational for me. We are in the job of planting seeds in young minds. I don’t think there is a better gift a parent can give their children than a deep and sincere love for all that mother nature has to offer! Volunteer Category: Long-term DECEMBER 2015
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Volunteer Spotlight
Bob Smith
Regulars on Portland Street Rambles are sure to recognize long-time leader Bob Smith. “I started out by attending the Rambles when they still began at the old clubhouse downtown. A good friend suggested the Rambles to me along with the weekend hikes as a way to meet people, which really proved to be true ... I love that the Rambles are a great point of entry for people into the Mazamas.”
An accomplished hike and Ramble leader with over 400 leads, Bob is also the liaison to the Trails Trips Committee and has assisted on a number of domestic outings. Bob categorizes his hikes as “high” and “low.” For low hikes, the Lower Salmon River Trail in winter when there is ice on the river and Burnt Lake in the Mt. Hood National Forest top his list. Favorite high hikes take him to Paradise Park and McNeil Point on Mt. Hood. Hiking in Glacier National Park stars in a category of its own. Here, Bob loves “all hikes on the east side of Glacier Park, like Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier.”
Bob also finds time to volunteer with the Used Equipment Sale and Hike Leader Appreciation Night. He says his love of cooking lured him on board and now he’s invited back each year to share his delicious cookies, breads and other baked goods with the volunteers. Bob is a retired fishery biologist from the National Marine Fisheries Service. He worked with the salmon and steelhead trout hatcheries in the Columbia River Basin and with fish ladders and fish protective facilities at irrigation diversions all over the Basin. He took up bike riding when he retired and has ridden Cycle Oregon four times and volunteered the past several years on the Cycle Oregon recycling team. An avid photographer, Bob says he is never without a camera. He also enjoys cooking, baroque music and with a little pushing from his friend, Joey Zarosinski, he recently added world traveler to his list of passions. In the past four years, Bob and Joey have
Photo: Joey Zarosinksi
been to Morocco, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Greek Islands, Turkey, and Germany. Maybe we can get Bob to lead an international outing in 2016! Volunteer categories: Episodic, Long-term
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2016 TRAIL TENDING & CLIMBER STEWARD OPPORTUNITIES Are you looking to give back to the trails that you love? Have you seen some poor trail conditions and thought about doing some handy work? Do you want to involve your BCEP, ICS or AR team in trail maintenance? If the answer is yes, then you have options in 2016. To help you plan, we have been listening to your concerns about trails on Mt. Hood, the Gorge, the Coast Range and beyond. We have also been asking land managers for permission to do more trail work. Finally, we are figuring out what it takes to keep our hikers and climbers trained in the art of stewardship. For hikers, we have revitalized our Trail Tending program by supporting activities with staff resources. That simply means we are organizing more trail work parties in 2016. Here is what we have on the calendar so far and will add to in the next few months: ▶▶ Dog Mountain, Columbia Gorge, (Dec. 5, 2015) with Washington Trails Association ▶▶ Elk-Kings Trail, (April 9, 2016 & others TBD) ▶▶ PCTA Trail Skills College, Cascade Locks - (April 22–24, 2016) ▶▶ Wahkeena Falls Trail (Spring 2016) ▶▶ Yocum Ridge Trail (Summer 2016) ▶▶ Mazama Trail (July 7-9, 2016) ▶▶ Beacon Rock State Park, Mt. Hamilton (TBD) For climbers, we are partnering with land management agencies to provide volunteer work in popular climbing areas such as Beacon Rock, Smith Rock and Yosemite. In the recent past, we have worked with Advanced Rock graduates but not exclusively so these opportunities are open to all members. Climber stewards are needed at any skill level. So get involved at a crag near (or far) from you! ▶▶ Rooster Rock State Park, (March or April 2016) ▶▶ Spring Thing! Smith Rock State Park, Crag Trail Work Event, April 30, 2016 ▶▶ Koala Rock, Marsupials (by Smith Rock State Park on BLM Land) May 2015, TBD ▶▶ Climber Stewards in Yosemite Trip (June & Sept. 2016) ▶▶ Smith Rock Craggin Classic (Fall 2016 TBD) ▶▶ Broughton Bluff (Ongoing) ▶▶ Beacon Rock State Park, climber trail (ongoing) For more information on joining or leading a project, contact Adam Baylor, adam@mazamas.org, or join us for Trail Tending & Climber Steward Info Night on Dec. 10, 7-9 p.m., at the MMC. Volunteers welcome!
Volunteer Spotlight
Marina Wynton
You may remember Marina Wynton from a January 2015 Bulletin article highlighting her village-to-village trek in Nepal as part of the Mazama Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team, providing grief support to the families of workers killed in the Khumbu avalanche. And that’s just one chapter of her volunteer story. Marina joined the Mazamas in 2003 and began volunteering on the Lodge Committee. “Lodge was a lot of fun. We worked on a lot of capital improvement projects, chopped a lot of wood, thought about ways to increase income. Al Papesh and I put together the lodge display in the front lobby of the MMC back then [and] I organized the winter family weekend for a few years.”
that occurred after the earthquake earlier this year. We are extremely fortunate to have very strong support from our Mazama community for this project. In addition, CISM became a team member of the ICISF (International Critical Incident Stress Foundation) and agreed to be called upon in the event of a mass tragedy in the Portland area. Those are all firsts for us!”
In 2006, Marina joined CISM, employing skills gained through several years of volunteer neighborhood mediation. “CISM has a lot of similarities to mediation, and it was a great way to evolve existing skills into trauma support. In 2012 I became the Chair of CISM and have been since then. It’s been a wonderful honor to serve with a great group of people who are very committed to what we do and a huge honor to help people move through trauma to get back out there. Up until 2014 we were quietly going about our business providing support to the Mazama community when we were invited by the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation to travel to Nepal to provide support to Sherpa families who lost expedition workers in the avalanche on Mt. Everest. We’re going back again this year to continue that effort in partnership with the Juniper Fund. Unfortunately, there are 11 more families and widows to see as a result of the avalanche on Everest
When not traveling to lend her expertise to the global climbing community, Marina draws on her passions for gardening and environmentalism in her job as a landscape designer. “All of my interests in life have come together in garden design.....[and I’ve] gotten really interested in the flora, fauna and culture of Nepal.” While she lists the Havasupi Trail in Arizona as her favorite hike, she admits to not finding much time to climb anymore, “since I’m so busy saving the world with garden design and running a small company.” When asked about personal triumphs, Marina reflected, “Going to Nepal last year was a lifelong wish fulfilled!” Thank you Marina, for your generous contributions to the Mazamas and the outdoor community at large. Volunteer Category: Long-term, Innovation, Short-term projects
DECEMBER 2015
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“My Enthusiasm Knows No Bounds” Kate McCarthy, 1917–2015
by Barbara Weiss Feisty. Passionate. Zealous. Determined. Conservationist, founder, wife, mother, photographer and public speaker. Kate McCarthy was all this, and more. McCarthy, a long-time Mount Hood resident and ardent advocate for protecting the mountain’s wilderness, died Tuesday, November 3 at the age of 98. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., December 13, at the Hood River Inn, 1108 E. Marina Way. “I come to my love of ‘The Mountain’ honestly, as I was born in the shadow of Mt. Hood,” McCarthy wrote in a biographical statement given to the Mazamas on the advent of her induction as an honorary Mazama member in 2002. In 1907, McCarthy’s father and lifetime Mazama member, Homer Rogers, settled on land four miles south of Parkdale. McCarthy spent most of her summers at home near Parkdale, but then moved to Portland during the school year to attend Miss Catlin’s School for Girls ( founded by her great aunt, now Catlin Gable School.) During her high school years she and her younger sister ran a summer camp for girls on the family property. After high school McCarthy attended Reed College, Yale Nursing School and Graduate School at Oregon Health Sciences University. In 1943 she married Gerald McCarthy. They raised four sons in the Seattle-Tacoma area and Roseburg, before returning to Parkdale in 1968 where she remained for the rest of her life. In a 1996 Hood River News article about the 10th anniversary of the National Scenic Act, McCarthy wrote, “When it comes to the Gorge, my enthusiasm knows no bounds. We have a treasure in our midst, almost beyond comprehension, with such a variety of resources – visual, botanical, geological, historical.” It was that boundless enthusiasm and deep respect for the natural world that drove McCarthy’s involvement with many conservation organizations including the Columbia Gorge Commission, Oregon Natural Resources Council (now Oregon Wild), and 1000 Friends of Oregon. McCarthy was a founding member of Friends of Mount Hood; she served on the boards of
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the Oregon Environmental Council and Friends of the Columbia River Gorge. After McCarthy’s son Mike returned to Hood River with his family, he became an active conservation in his own right. Together, Kate and Mike and other concerned citizens, founded the Hood River Valley Residents Committee, a land use and environmental group focused on promoting intelligent planning and natural resource protection. Mazama member, Vera Dafoe recalls working Kate McCarthy amidst the lupine in 2009. Photo: Unknown. closely with McCarthy on the designation of the Columbia River Gorge as a National Scenic Area. “Kate and I were on the Oregon-based Columbia Gorge Commission in –Kate McCarthy the late 1970s. There was also a sevenenvironmental efforts includes her person Washington-based Columbia decade’s long role as a watchdog over Gorge Commission,” said Dafoe. “We were Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort’s ongoing the only serious environmentalists on development efforts. In 1975, McCarthy the commissions. We believed a bi-state began to photograph the impact of manmanagement system would not work made development on Mt. Hood in an effort because of different regulations in the states. to galvanize support for protecting what We argued for federal management.” remains of the mountain’s wild habitat. Her When the governors of both states photos provided Mazamas and other groups requested reports from the commissions to with material upon which formal appeals of take to Congress regarding the Gorge, the the resort’s expansion plans have been based. assumption was that both commissions A 2002 article in the online version of High would support bi-state management. Country News, by Ted Katauskas, describes Dafoe and McCarthy wrote a minority McCarthy’s two-hour slide show as “a opinion for the Oregon commission in photographic indictment of the developer’s support of federal management. “Much to environmental sins on the other side of the our amazement, when the voting happened mountain: wildflower meadows entombed at the big public meeting, our minority in asphalt, streams clogged with silt, oil, recommendation for federal management and logs, an alpine forest of rare Whitebark became the Oregon Columbia Gorge pine clear-cut for a ski run, denuded slopes Commission’s advisory recommendation to ravaged by runoff.” Governor Vic Atiyeh. We had won!” Monica Reid, a longtime friend of Another of McCarthy’s staunch McCarthy, (as quoted in the November 6,
“It is well to remember that Colorado has 52 peaks over 14,000 feet, and Oregon has only one mountain over 11,000 feet. We must respect, treasure and protect our alpine areas.”
Volunteer Spotlight
Carol Lane For volunteer Carol Lane, it all started in 2004 with a Mount St. Helens climb, led by Jonathan Photo: Sandy Gooch. and Sandee Myers. “I tried to get into better climbing shape by doing a bunch of Street Rambles and while waiting for one of the Rambles to start, I got sucked into the memorabilia, so I volunteered to do some archiving at the MGM building to help prep for the Mazama move into the Mason’s building. Then I took BCEP, hung out with the AYM gang (Adventurous Young Mazamas) and climbed a few more mountains before my interest shifted more towards Nordic Skiing and the Mazama Ski School.” Carol’s volunteering didn’t stop with the archiving project. “At the end of my first Nordic ski class I made a comment about how much fun it was, but that I needed a lot more practice. The two patient and charming instructors, Ed Conyngham and Ed Wortman, told me that if I volunteered to be on the Nordic Committee I’d get to take the classes for free, so I joined for selfish reasons and out of curiosity. But after seeing what this effective and enthusiastic committee was doing, I decided I wanted to be a part of spreading the joy of cross-country skiing and worked up my confidence to become an Assistant Instructor, which includes not only free classes but also free professional ski instructor training with Wy’East Nordic!” Asked about her favorite hike, Carol couldn’t provide a single answer. “Any trail that I hike with fantastic friends is my favorite, especially if I have never done it before so I’m seeing everything for the first time. Oneonta is a good example. I had no idea what to expect and the AYM leaders really took advantage of that and built up the suspense. I knew it would be damp and beautiful, but I never knew that it would be absolutely other-worldly and end in the surprise fulfillment of one of my childhood dreams—to swim in a waterfall.” When not volunteering or participating in other Mazama activities, Carol can be found going to work as a public servant for the City of Portland, knitting hats, felting wool, and taking various art and craft classes such as glass blowing and botanical illustration. “I really need to take my mini-Aussie, Tucker, out on more hikes although I think he prefers the beach. I keep saying that we’re going to try skijoring but I still haven’t hooked Tucker up ...” Volunteer Categories: Long-term, Episodic, Short-term project
Kate Mccarthy, continued from previous page Hood River News) said that, “Kate was truly a remarkable woman who worked tirelessly to conserve and protect the Oregon landscapes that we love and cherish.” All of us in Oregon, whether Mazamas or not, hikers, climbers, lovers of our great mountain wilderness—we have all benefitted from Kate McCarthy’s lasting legacy. While we may mourn her passing and celebrate her profound accomplishments— the very least we can do is continue to be good stewards of the land she loved and carry her legacy forward. DECEMBER 2015
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JOIN MAZAMA FAMILIES ON A MOUNTAIN ACTIVITY IN DECEMBER SATURDAY, DEC. 12: DRY CREEK FALLS VIA HERMAN CREEK, 9:30 AM–2:30 PM This hike starts just east of Cascade Locks, OR. From Reeder (2013): “Dry Creek Falls is one of the quietest waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge accessible by trail…Along the way you’ll cross a fantastic bridge over Herman Creek, pass some fascinating rock pinnacles, cross a talus slope with views across the Columbia River to Table Mountain and check out a bonus waterfall deep in a rock cleft” (p. 57). Eric Einspruch, hike leader. 8 miles, 1,000 feet elevation gain. All are welcome who can complete the hike in 5 hours, including parents backpacking their kids. The meeting location will be sent to applicants. Allow 50 minutes travel time from the MMC, and each vehicle will need to display a Northwest Forest Pass. The hike begins at 9:30 a.m. Fee: $2 per person, $5 max per family. SUNDAY, DEC. 13: TRAIL OF TEN FALLS, 8:30 A.M.–1:30 P.M. Silver Falls is among the most iconic places in Oregon, and it’s a delight to visit in any weather. We’ll be prepared for rain, wind, and cold with wool or synthetic layers from head to toe (warm hats required!), plus a change of clothes and socks in our packs. Footwear that can handle slick trails is also recommended. We will take a photo break at each waterfall, but if it’s cold our lunch break will be brief, so snacks are advised. We’ll return to South Falls Lodge in time to experience the charming Silver Falls Christmas Festival before it wraps up at 4 p.m. Bill Stein, hike leader. 7.8 miles, 870 feet elevation gain. All are welcome who can complete the hike in 5 hours, including parents backpacking their kids. The meeting location will be sent to applicants. Allow 90 minutes travel time from the MMC, and each vehicle will need to display an Oregon State Park Day Use Pass (or pay $5). The hike begins at 8:30 a.m. Fee: $2 per person, $5 max per family.
Left: Charlotte slacklining. Right: Charlotte and Elissa.
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KIDS’ CORNER By Charlotte Wylde My name is Charlotte. I am 9 years old. My family is taking the family mountaineering course this year. My favorite things about Mazamas are that we climb and learn new skills. We take trips to beautiful places. Although, my favorite thing about Mazamas is that we use nature. We climb real rocks and use a compass for navigation. I like meeting other kids with similar talents. But I don’t find many kids like that. But, at Mazamas I found so many kids who also like to climb. One of my favorite things about Families Mountaineering 101 is the volunteers. They are so nice! I love the volunteers because they want you to achieve your goal. The volunteers are patient and friendly. The volunteers help us in so many different ways. I love the volunteers. My goals for Mazamas are to learn to use a compass, learn to pitch a tent, learn to rappel, learn navigation, reading the map, and learn all of my knots. The highlight of my Mazamas experience so far was the overnight trip to Horsethief Butte. First, we drove to Horsethief along the Columbia River. Then we climbed a lot and learned many new climbing skills. After that, we drove to Maryhill Park and pitched our tent there. The kids were climbing trees, walking on the tightrope and playing the cornhole game. We played tag and told scary stories. We ate a big dinner and went to bed. I am looking forward to other trips like this.
Portland Alpine Fest Photo Contest Winners
Our first Portland Alpine Fest photo contest netted 232 submissions in the span of two weeks! Our five judges selected three winners through four rounds of voting. The final winner, jury selection, was the result of voting at Base Camp Brewing Company during the festival week. Congratulations to all four winners! (the cover and back cover image are the other two winning images.)
Summer Solstice on Mt. Adams. Photo: Amy Balbier. (Jury Selection winner)
A Climber on Aiguille du Midi, France. Photo: Jake Woodard
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Upcoming Trips & Activities
Some people spend their winters hibernating like bears. It’s fair to assume that those people have not discovered winter trips with the Adventurous Young Mazamas. The calendar for the next couple months is chock full, so there is no excuse to sit inside with a mug of hot chocolate and that Jack London novel that you’ve been meaning to read ... that is until you’ve earned it after a fresh winter excursion! SUNDAY, DEC. 6—HIKE: WATERFALL TRIPLE HEADER Join us for three short Gorge waterfall hikes in one day! We’ll visit Latourell, Elowah, and Wahclella Falls, with a short drive between each. There are a total of 6 waterfalls along the 3 trails, including some of the most impressive in the Gorge. 7.3 miles, 1,580 ft. Level: Moderate. Semi-exploratory. Meet at Gateway Transit Center, SE corner, 8:30 a.m. Leader: Keith Dechant (keith.dechant@ gmail.com) SUNDAY, DEC. 6—HIKE: LARCH MOUNTAIN This exhausting hike to Larch Mountain via Multnomah Falls provides the most beautiful view in the area and lots everything—waterfalls, elevation and miles. You’ll be surrounded by forest with stunning views of Mts. Hood, St. Helens, Adams, Jefferson, and Rainier. We’ll go back the way we came, it’s all downhill. Plan on stopping by the Multnomah Falls Lodge on the way back to the cars for refreshments! 14.4 miles, 4,050 feet. Drive: 50 miles. Meet at the SE corner of Gateway Transit Center. Depart at 8 a.m. Limited to 12; email leader Adonay Solleiro to sign up: adonayvs@hotmail.com WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9: SÁNDOR LAU’S OREGON TRAIL PRESENTATION 7 p.m. at the MMC. See next page for full details. TUESDAY, DEC. 15: CLIMB NIGHT 6:30 – 9 p.m. at Planet Granite—NW 14th Ave. Cost: $18/person; harness and shoe rental available at additional cost.
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SATURDAY, DEC. 19—HIKE: ELK-KINGS TRAVERSE A winter visit to a coast classic. Strong knees, heart, and lungs are required on this hike. Might be a downpour or a beautiful but cold day. This hike is extremely steep and narrow, gaining 1,900 feet elevation in 1.5 miles. Traction devices and raingear always a good idea. The reward for this hike is the beautiful view stretching from Mt. Hood to the Pacific Ocean. Plan on stopping by the local lodge on the way back home for a bite and refreshments! 8 miles, 3,400 feet. Drive: 70 miles. Sunset Transit Center. Level: Difficult. Depart at 8 a.m. Leader: Adonay Solleiro. Advance signup required; email leader to sign up: adonayvs@hotmail.com. SATURDAY, DEC. 26—HIKE: INDIAN POINT Indian Point has what many say is the best view in the entire Gorge. When the weather is clear you can see for miles and miles and miles! Plan on stopping by Cascade Locks Ale House on the way back home for a bite and refreshments! 8 miles, 3,000 feet. Drive: 80 miles. Meet at the southeast corner of Gateway Transit Center. Pace: 2.5mph. Depart at 8 a.m. Email leader Adonay Solleiro to sign up: adonayvs@hotmail.com. FRIDAY–SUNDAY, FEB. 5–7, 2016: WINTER WEEKEND! It’s never too early to start thinking about Winter Weekend! Get ready for a fun weekend out in the snow. We’ll have snowshoeing, nordic skiing and backcountry skiing at all levels. After a full day of outdoor winter fun, we’ll return to the warm and comfortable Mazama Lodge. There will be a lot of fun folks, great food, socializing, board games, sledding and camaraderie around a roaring fire - and possibly even some igloo building! Registration will begin in December, so keep your eye on our website! Activities are $2/$3 members/nonmembers unless otherwise noted. Be prepared for all activities with rain gear, food, and other essentials. Suggested donation of $.10 per mile to driver.
Leader Profile This month we are profiling a relatively new Hike Leader, Mike Kacmar. Mike has been a friend of AYM since August 2014, a Mazama member since May 2015 after climbing Mount St. Helens, and a Hike Leader and Committee Member with AYM since July 2015. Where are you from? Mike: Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Raised in Englewood, Ohio. What was your favorite trip that you’ve led with the Mazamas? Paradise Park. It was my provisional hike and took place on a cold, windy, misty, whiteout, summer day. The group was wonderfully energetic despite having nearly zero visibility. What is one thing that you always bring on a hike that is not one of the 10 essentials? A great attitude! Bring your best self in the presence of others and great things will happen. What is your favorite leader treat? Smoked Chinook! When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up and why? Astronaut. I remember always looking up at the sky, in suburban Dayton, wandering and wanting to know what else was out there. What is one surprising thing about yourself that people don’t usually know about you? I developed into an advanced orienteer/ navigation racer within a year of learning about it as a sport (last summer). It’s extremely challenging and requires a perfect balance of mental and physical stamina. Why should I hike with you? You truly appreciate the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and want to go on an energetic, positive, and collective journey. I want people to feel they are at home or to find their peace while exploring the wilderness. Mike will be leading some upcoming hikes, so keep your eye on the schedule to sign up for a trip with him!
EVENING TRAVEL PROGRAMS
Exciting Evening Adventures!
We appreciate voluntary contributions at the discretion of each attendee. Carpooling, public transportation, biking, and walking to the MMC are encouraged. Thank you for supporting our successful series by your regular attendance. Program Committee: John Leary (Chair), Dyanne Foster, Ben Jones, Sharon Leary and Nancy Bentley.
Wednesday Programs begin at 7 p.m., and are free and open to Mazamas and the general public.
DEC
Shavasana in Mongolia
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Mazamas BCEP Graduate & AYM Hike Leader Ashley Michael Karitis traveled to Mongolia alone, for six weeks, and without a guide or language translator. Her spiritual pilgrimage involved living with traditional herders on the Steppe and Dukha indigenous communities in the Mongolian Taiga.
The Oregon Trail The historical Oregon Trail was far more than a greenscreen video game where you died of dysentery. Writer and filmmaker Sándor Lau shares stories and video clips of his expeditions following in the footsteps of the pioneers. The settlers who built Oregon as we know it walked through 2,000 miles of cholera, rattlesnakes, and high-velocity lead poisoning from Missouri to Oregon City. The tribes whose land the pioneers crossed and ultimately took would be just as changed as the settlers. Sándor Lau is working on a TV series and book, Sándor’s Oregon Trail, learning how to make mashed potatoes with a black powder rifle, get fish to jump into your frying pan, and play footsies with history. www.SandorsOregonTrail.com.
Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago Interested in learning more about the legendary 500 mile Camino de Santiago? Join us in welcoming award-winning filmmaker Lydia B. Smith as she talks about the Camino and her seven year journey in making the acclaimed documentary “Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago” which has won nine film festival awards, was #12 documentary in the US/Canada in 2015 and currently the #2 documentary in all of Australia. Lydia will be showing clips about the Camino and excerpts from the popular film as well as doing a Q &A session. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRnUKseugag
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No Program–Holiday Wednesday DEC 23 & DEC 30
Thru-Hiking The Great Divide Trail The Great Divide Trail is a 750 mile route that begins at the US/Canada border and traverses the Canadian Rockies along the Continental Divide between Alberta and British Columbia. It is known as one of the most spectacular and challenging trails in the world and is an experience like no other. Join Erin “Wired” Saver, who has backpacked over 10,000 miles, as she takes you along on her recent through hike of the Great Divide Trail. More on this thru hike and many others can be found on Erin’s blog, walkingwithwired.com.
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DECEMBER 2015
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CLASSIC MAZAMAS
For members with 25 years or more of membership or for those who prefer to travel at a more leisurely pace CONTACTING THE CLASSICS Email chair Rose Marie Gilbert at 503-762-2357 or gilbertrosemarie@centurylink. net or Executive Council liaison Kate Evans at 503635-6540 or kateevans97@ gmail.com or email classics@ mazamas.org. LEADING EVENTS IN JANUARY If you are interested in leading an event in January, please contact Rose Marie Gilbert by Dec. 12. MON. DEC. 7 CLASSICS MEETING, ROOM 3, MMC, 1 P.M. Are you interested in becoming more involved in the Classics? We could use your energy, enthusiasm, and assistance. We’ll be discussing the holiday party on Dec. 11 and other winter events. FRI. DEC. 11, THIRD ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON MMC, NOON We are having our Third Annual Holiday Luncheon at the MMC on Friday, Dec. 11 at noon. This is an opportunity to mingle and visit with fellow Classic Mazamas and MMC staff, and to eat a wonderful lunch. A short program will include recognizing and awarding pins to new 25-year and 50-year members. RSVP: We are asking for a suggested donation of $5 to cover about half the cost of the lunch. To help us determine food needs
and seating requirements, please RSVP by Monday, Dec. 7 to Dyanne Foster at 503-2678937 or dyfozter@gmail.com. THU. DEC. 17: DOWNTOWN WALK AND DINNER Meet at the lower level fountain of Pioneer Place (N. end at 5th and Morrison) at 5 p.m. We’ll view the lights, the big Christmas tree, Santaland and animated window scenes at Macy’s. Nordstrom’s Cafe offers soups, sandwiches and pastas until 7 p.m. Leader: Anne Jacobs 503-293-6304. TUE. JAN. 26: SNOWSHOE: TRILLIUM LAKE We will meet in the parking lot at 9:30 a.m. The leader will bring a stove to heat water for anyone who would like to make soup, coffee or tea for lunch (they bring the water). The trail is 4.4 miles; Sno-Park permit is required. Interested? Email: David.R.Christopher@ gmail.com. 25-YEAR MEMBERS Our new 25-year members (joined in 1991)! David Anderson, Gretchen Baller, Ken Barker, Anita Bieker, Edna Borders, Julie and Richard Bronder, Rebecca Bruns, Richard Caldwell, Dan Clark, Joanne Dalsass, Don Erickson, Lucretia Fisher, Louise Frewing, Richard Getgen, Sally Greer, Michael
GEAR CATALOGS
Harris, Joan Hayse, Gerald Itkin, Lynn Kitagawa, Karl Kratzer, Jay Leavens, Sarah Linden, Meg Linza, John Maroney, Larry Mastin, Tony Murczek, Don Nearhood, Patricia Orlinski, Gisela Piercy, Alan Proffitt, Tim Ragan, Fenella Robinson, Miriam Rosenthal, Rick Schmidt, Joan Sears, Mark Shafer, Tanya Sharratt, H. Joe Story, William Sullivan, Raymond Thygesen, Kathleen Welland, Jim Whittaker, Kermit Williams, Lawrence Woelfer, Don Zeck 50-YEAR MEMBERS Our new 50-year members (joined in 1966) Owen and Ruth Bentley, Eric Burbano, Nicholas Clinch, Terry Cone, Jon Dickinson, Charles Edgar, Wolf Fahrenbach, Kenneth Guenther, Ted Haller, Kathleen Hersh, Marshall Hill-Tanquist, Gregg Hoffman, Carol Hult, Robert Hungerford, Donald Lange, Greg Leo, Edward and Malcolm McAninch, Thomas McCormack, Ray Mosser, Gene Newcomer, James Palmer, Michael Proust, Frances Prouse, Richard Shook, Allison Smith, Larry Stadler, William Wells, William West, Barry Wright
The Mazama Museum is missing the Spring 1995, 1998, and 2003 Black Diamond gear catalogs and we do not have any Metolius catalogs. If you have any of these catalogs and no longer need them please donate them to help us identify and date gear.”
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MAZAMA LODGE
Your Home on the Mountain DEC. 12: ST. LUCY SCANDINAVIAN DINNER Celebrate St. Lucy with a traditional Scandinavian dinner and live folk music by the Seattle bank Skolkis, as heard on Prairie Home Companion. Dancing and celebration begins at 5 and goes on until midnight! Tickets are available through Veronika Newgard, 503-6367509 or vj_newgard@yahoo. com. Tickets are $40. Dec. 12 at 5 p.m.
DEC. 25: CHRISTMAS AT THE LODGE The Lodge will be open at noon on Christmas Day. A traditional ham dinner will be served at 6 p.m. $13.25 for adults and $7 for kids. Dec. 25 at Noon.
DEC. 21: COOKIE DECORATING LUNCHEON The best place to spend the shortest day of the year is our annual cookie decorating luncheon. Lunch and cookie decorating supplies are just $10. Dec. 21 at 11 a.m.
JAN 1: NEW YEARS DAY BRUNCH Brunch will be served from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. $9 for adults and $6 for kids.
DEC. 31: NEW YEARS EVE PARTY Nothing says New Years better than a night at the Mazama Lodge. Enjoy our famous New Years Eve Celebration at the Lodge!
NEW YEARS EVE MENU Appetizers–5 p.m. ▶▶ Alpine Cheeses and Cracker ▶▶ Hot Cider
Dinner–6 p.m. ▶▶ Caesar Salad ▶▶ Homemade Bread ▶▶ Creamy Polenta with Mushrooms ▶▶ Mashed Potatoes ▶▶ Sauteed Carrots ▶▶ Selections of Carved Meats served with Horseradish Sauce Dessert: Flaming Bananas Foster Midnight Snack: Tea Sandwiches and Milk
DECEMBER 2015
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ADVENTURE TRAVEL— FOREIGN & DOMESTIC
Enjoy affordable adventure travel with qualified trip leaders in 2016
Volunteer Spotlight
Meg Linza
While lending a hand to the Mazamas in a variety of areas over the years, leading Roundthe-Mountain (RTM) teams is Meg Linza’s favorite volunteer activity. She loves introducing participants to the various flora, fauna, and views from diverse locations on Mt. Hood. The “Blue Moon Bandits” and their RTM trail antics stands out in her memory, along with the great friends she made in that group. RTM also provided Meg’s silliest moment on a hike — a surprise mooning of fellow RTM hikers as they crossed paths on Mt. Hood.
NORTH TO ALASKA 2016 March 5–12, 2016
This outing travels to Talkeetna, Alaska and uses a beautiful log lodge as a base for late winter activities in the foothills south of Denali. The trip this year overlaps with the start of the Iditarod and the plan is to attend the restart of the Iditarod in Willow on March 6. The group will meet in Anchorage and use rental vehicles to drive to Talkeetna. In Talkeetna and the surrounding area, there will be opportunities for XC skiing, snow shoeing, aurora watching, learning about dog mushing and the Iditarod, photography, meeting locals, learning about Denali mountaineering history and the role Talkeetna plays in modern mountaineering in the Alaskan
Range. There will likely be an optional air taxi flight around Denali, with glacier landing in the Ruth Gorge. Group participants can arrive earlier in Anchorage to attend Iditarod and Fur Rondy activities. Deposit of $600 covers Talkeetna housing, ground transportation during the outing, half of food costs and the outing fee. Participants are responsible for airfare, Anchorage housing, all restaurant meals, equipment rentals and extra activities. Signup deadline Feb 1, 2016. Individuals interested in joining the Outing, need to contact Tom Bennett at nordlystom@gmail.com Please let Tom know why you want to attend and what special skill set you bring to help us have a fun and rewarding trip for all participants. Age 21 and over.
Want to go on an outing? Contact the leader for more information. Forms you will need: application, liability release, and a medical information form. Send those forms to the leader and then, upon acceptance for the trip, send payments directly to the Mazama office with the name of the outing written on the check. As a service to our members, we are providing links to the following organizations that may also offer trips of interest: Seattle Mountaineers—seattlemountaineers. org, Colorado Mountain Club—cmc.org, Appalachian Mountain Club— outdoors.org, and the American Alpine Club—americanalpineclub.org. “As an incentive for leaders to put in the time and effort to arrange and lead outings, the leader and assistant leader costs may be paid by the participants.”
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An avid climber, Meg’s favorite climbing moment was a Mt. Baker climb led by Dick Miller. Approaching the summit block in the wee hours, she realized on the downclimb Dick had led the team through a crazy crevasse field while keeping everyone safe in the dark. Asked how she keeps herself going through Oregon’s rainy winters, Meg shared the following advice. “Keep hiking. [There are] still many hikes, especially waterfall hikes in the Gorge, that are close and beautiful in the winter. Also, head to the mountain to ski and snowshoe, that is if we get some snow this year.” Her best piece of advice? “Learning the rest step early in my hiking/climbing days from my BLS leader, Sarah Lewins. If you pace yourself and keep moving you don’t cool down and you have something left for the down-climb. I think most hikers/climbers make the mistake of using up all their energy and strength on the way up and have nothing on the way down, leaving you susceptible to a fall.” Thank you, Meg, for sharing your time and talents with us. Volunteer Categories: Long-term, Episodic, Short-term project
SUCCESSFUL CLIMBERS September 13, Mt. Washington, North Ridge. Leader: Daniel Bailey, Asst: Scott Osbron. Arielle Cooke, Thomas Ulrich October 4, Hepzibah Blop, East Ridge. Leader: Preston Corless, Jon Daby, Jeffrey Diephuis, Tom Dodson
Surface fabric Baffle
It takes a team to evict a rat’s nest
How a team of volunteers changed my life by Kristie Perry It started with seven little words. “Take Beecept, Kreestee. You vill love eeT.” So proclaimed Ania Wiktorowicz, a relentlessly cheerful co-worker and one of the many awesome ambassadors for mountaineering that make the Mazamas such a terrific organization. I wasn’t so sure about this BCEP thing. At that point in my life, I was about 18 months away from my last cigarette and about four years away from my last bottle of red wine. I had, at least, quit committing slow-motion suicide. But I was, at most, a recreational hiker and car camper with a head full of “I can’t.” Should I really do this BCEP thing? I was quite convinced the answer was No. But every Monday morning, there was Ania, egging me on. “Take Beecept, Kreestee. You vill love eeT.” So with high hopes and even higher anxiety, I enrolled in BCEP. It was a life-changing experience. There came a moment during the eightweek class when I fully realized that the massive undertaking that is BCEP is run entirely by volunteers. A lot of them: volunteers who are recent college grads, moms and dads, and grandmothers and grandfathers; volunteers with full time jobs as social workers, accountants, physicians, lawyers, engineers, and sales reps; volunteers who seem to have been born wearing crampons; and volunteers who only recently learned how to tie a butterfly knot. That light bulb moment about BCEP came at the conclusion of Jodie Adams’ presentation on strength training exercises for budding mountaineers. Jodie is a Mazama member and physical therapist.
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She’d just had a baby. It was still very tiny. And yet Jodie hauled herself down to Jackson Middle School on a rainy Tuesday night in March 2013 to talk to a bunch of wannabe mountaineers about the proper body position for deep squats. I felt tremendous gratitude for Jodie’s willingness to share her expertise with us. She did it for free. She did it with cheer. She did it even The author at the summit of Mt. Hood, July 7, 2012. though as a new mother she Photo: Steve Deardorff was extraordinarily sleep deprived. I experienced many moments like that during BCEP. There was Colleen Sinsky, who rescued me from a meltdown during knot-tying practice. There was Sue Giordano, who So I did the only thing I was really coaxed me up my first climb qualified to do for the Mazamas right after of the MMC rock wall. There was Kyle taking BCEP: I joined the Publications Heddy, who hugged me after I stemmed Committee. I got to geek out with other up the chimney at Horsethief, and Brian grammar nerds on the finer points of Anderson who made sure I did my BARK the Oxford comma. I got to apply my check correctly before rappelling back administrative and organizational skills down. This chorus of “You got this, to some process improvement projects. Kristie!” was conducted by BCEP Team Eventually, I got to be chair of the 7 Leader Kevin Clark, who patiently committee. instructed me—again—on how to plunge And with every article I proofed and step after accepting me on his Mt. every meeting agenda I put McLoughlin climb. together, I got to say thank you. Volunteers. Every single one of them. Thank you to each and every Teaching me the skills of mountaineering. Mazama volunteer that has Doing it for free. Doing it because they come before me and made this wanted to. Doing it with a magical mix of organization what it is today: a patience and encouragement. Amazing. welcoming place where even timid, Every single one of those volunteers middle-aged chicks with a head played an important part in evicting that full of “I can’t” can learn to glissade rat’s nest of “I can’t” that had been so with the best of them. thoroughly ensconced in my head for so Author’s bio: Kristie Perry is a threelong. year Mazama member and Director of Donor Relations at Central City Concern.
“How could I not give back to the people and organization that had done that for me?”
Volunteer Spotlight
Sarah Root
I joined the Mazamas in search of people who wanted to wake up earlier in the morning and enjoy the vast array of mountains and trails that the PNW has to offer. I have since gone through BCEP and ICS. Participation in the classes and my encounters with the many instructors and volunteers helped me to feel empowered, strong, and more confident in my life as a whole. My volunteerism within the club has been fueled by my desire to help others learn what I did (assisting with BCEP, ICS, and MFA), to help out in classes where I thought a bit of improvement was needed (creating hands-on breakout sessions for MFA), and to inspire people to see their inner leaders (running the Leadership Cohort). There is a lot of freedom for your creativity within the Mazamas. In all of the ways I’ve been inspired to help out, I’ve been able to completely create and/or collaborate on something and then hopefully watch it thrive. I am an educator and an artist, so being able to help people take in information effectively, joyfully, and creatively excites me. I feel honored to have had such a strong role in the areas in which I volunteered and am endlessly grateful for the opportunities and for the incredibly intelligent and passionate friends with whom I worked. The most important thing I would say with regard to volunteering is: follow your inspiration. There is no wrong way to volunteer with the club if you are doing it from your heart, with passion and hopefully a sense of balance. There is no obligation necessary. Just have fun and share your joys and wisdom! Maybe it’s just enjoying the endless classes; maybe it’s creating something entirely new. Just have fun! Volunteer Category: Long-term
Owyhee Canyonlands: A Town Hall Meeting by Adam Baylor, Mazamas Stewardship & Conservation Manager In southeastern Oregon, near the Idaho and Nevada borders, where the Snake River and its tributaries carve deep, red rock canyons through high desert sagebrush there is a place called the Owyhee. In the 1960s and 70s, the Mazamas ventured into this area as part of our now defunct Whitewater Committee’s official Owyhee River Outing. Records of the journey can be found in our archives today in the form of a faded prospectus. Not much is known about the Mazamas in Owyhee, which is fitting for such a remote part of our state. One thing is certain about exploration there; paddlers, hikers, climbers, canyoneers and other intrepid adventurers found beauty, peace and solitude in the wilderness of the Owyhee. They found it much like it had been for thousands of years. That is exactly why the Mazamas and other members of the Owyhee Coalition* are working today to permanently protect this wild place. Threats from oil and gas exploration, mining, harmful livestock grazing, uncontrolled ATV use, invasive species and climate change are real and present dangers in the most remote place in the Lower 48. To further the dialogue around a conservation strategy and as part of the the Owyhee Coalition, I took part in a town-hall style meeting in Adrian, Oregon on October 29, 2015. This gathering was organized by Oregon state legislators; Senator Ted Ferrioli and Representative Cliff Bentz. These lawmakers convened a panel of 16 men who are opposed to the Owyhee Coalition’s proposal which would protect 2.5 million acres through wilderness and national conservation area designations. The town hall meeting turned out mostly residents from Malheur County. Best estimates were that 500 people packed into Adrian High School’s gymnasium and spent more than three hours sharing concerns about federally protecting land in the area. Oregon
Natural Desert Association’s Executive Director Brent Fenty was the first of the Owyhee Coalition to speak about our proposal. He stood in front of the panel and anxious crowd for more than 45 minutes answering questions from each panel member. The situation grew more intense by the minute as the microphone was circulated to Oregonians in support and in opposition. Supporters of the plan were able to share facts about Wilderness and National Conservation Areas as well as a National Monument proposal. Not only would conservation measures protect ecosystems and watersheds but it would support local economies and attract business to the underserved area. These words of support were attacked by misinformation, which is troubling for locals and visitors that may not feel comfortable enough to speak out in favor of such a proposal.. This puts Mazamas and our partners in the important position of educating supporters and non-supporters about the intricacies of federal land designations. Did you know that grazing and hunting are allowed in Wilderness? Even some mining and resource extraction can take place if it is grandfathered into these land designations through management plans. And not all roads would be closed to motorized traffic. Thousands of miles would remain open allowing search and rescue to take place, fire fighting, and of course access to the Owyhee River and other bodies of water. I encourage all of our members to make a trip to the Owyhee area if you haven’t already. While you are planning your next road trip to the southeastern corner of Oregon, take a few minutes to call Senator Wyden and tell him how you feel about this proposal. (503) 326-7525 *The Owyhee Coalition is made up of individuals as well as the following nonprofits: American Rivers, American Whitewater, Mazamas, Oregon Natural Desert Association, Pew Charitable Trust, Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society.
Photo: Kim Edger DECEMBER 2015
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Information for Mazamas Nordic Ski School Instructors
The Nordic Ski School instructors are Nordic skiing enthusiasts who volunteer to teach Nordic skiing simply for the love of the sport. They have First Aid and CPR certification and receive professional instructor training (Wy’East Nordic), guidelines, and support from the Mazamas. The Nordic Committee pays for these trainings! Each class also has at least one assistant instructor. If you are interested in teaching or assisting with a Mazama Nordic Ski School class, or just have questions about it, please contact Kati Mayfield at kati@mazamas.org. If you are unable to apply online please call the Mazama Mountaineering Center at 503-227-2345 and apply over the phone. INSTRUCTOR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND REIMBURSEMENT Lead Instructor
Assistant Instructor
Recommended by lead instructor of class they assisted
Completed Mazamas Intermediate level ski class OR recommended by a Mazama ski instructor
Currently Standard First Aid and CPR certified
Current First Aid and CPR encouraged but NOT required
Attend Instructor Orientation annually
Attend Instructor Orientation annually
Attend at least one day of the Instructor Clinic bi-annually
Attend at least one day of the Instructor Clinic bi-annually
APPLY ONLINE ▶▶ mazamas.org/education-classes/nordic-ski-school/ IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2015-2016 MAZAMAS NORDIC SKI SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS ▶▶ Dec. 1, 2015 (Tuesday): Instructor application deadline ▶▶ Dec. 9, 2015 (Wednesday): Mandatory Instructor Orientation ▶▶ Mid-December: Instructor Clinic. There will be 1 or 2 Instructor Clinics on dates to be determined. ▶▶ Jan. 8, 2016 (Friday): Student Orientation. 6:30 p.m. check-in (start at 7 p.m.) at the Mazama Mountaineering Center. ▶▶ Jan. 23, 30, and February 6, 2016 (Saturdays) or January 24, 30, and February 7, 2016 (Sundays): Nordic classes
Request for Proposals The Mazama Research Committee is now accepting proposals for consideration for funding.
The Mazamas promotes mountaineering through education, climbing, hiking, fellowship, safety and the protection of mountain environments. We support scientific research, including the collection and dissemination of scientific information regarding mountain and wilderness environments. Research of geologic features, biological communities, and human endeavors pertaining to the understanding, enjoyment and safety of outdoor recreation are some of the relevant research topics supported by the Mazamas. The Request for Proposals, including instructions, can be found here: mazamas.org/index.php/resources/researchgrants/ Funding will be awarded in the spring of 2016.
Whether you are a lifelong Mazama member, currently enrolled in the Basic Climbing Education Program, reading this Bulletin at your local climbing shop, or somewhere in between, you should make sure you know all of the benefits of Mazama membership. Go here to learn more: Are you ready to join? Get all the details on how to become a member of one of the oldest mountaineering organizations in the country: mazamas.org/join
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DISCOUNTED rates on all Mazama activities— climbs, hikes, classes & outings.
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DISCOUNTS at local retailers and gyms.
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Access to MAZAMA LODGE at the base of Mt. Hood, along with great member rates.
Supporting outdoor enthusiasts Reach your Dreams Yoga Classes Therapeutic Massage Travel Adventures
Eugene Lewins LMT 16438
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MassageWithEugene.com 503-939-9657
This MAGAZINE, filled with activities, events, and articles, delivered to your door monthly. Icebreaker, Mountain Hardwear, The Mountain Shop, Mountaineers Books, Next Adventure, Oregon Mountain Community, Portland Rock Gym, Prana Portland, Redpoint Climber’s Supply, Rock & Ice Magazine, Sharp End Books, Trail Butter, US Outdoor Store
INFORMATION Access to special member pages on the Mazama website. Receive free RESCUE INSURANCE anywhere in the world below 6,000 meters. Gain full access to the world-class mountaineering LIBRARY.
Volunteer Spotlight
Mike Magyar Inspired after reading a volunteerism issue of the Mazama Bulletin, Mike Magyar contacted Kati Mayfield about volunteer opportunities and immediately jumped on board. His first volunteer effort was stacking wood at Mazama Lodge, followed by a stint as a bouncer at Alpine Fest. He went on to assist with BCEP, ICS, the First Aid Committee, and to chair the Ice Wall Committee. Despite his substantial contributions, Mike is quick to recognize fellow Mazama volunteers. “There are so many volunteers that give so much of themselves, just look around, their commitment to the organization is staggering; everyone you see at a Mazama event is providing some level of leadership or volunteer service to the organization.” Mike lives on the north Oregon coast, where he works for a small consulting engineering firm. He enjoys spending his free
time with his girlfriend and climbing partner, Allison, who spoils him with her amazing cooking. He is also designing a climbing wall in his 30’ x 40’ pole barn and hopes to build a tree house in some ancient Sitka spruces overlooking the Young’s River Estuary.
Photo: Allison Tigard.
An avid hiker and climber, Mike has completed Basic Rock, Crevasse Rescue, Intermediate Snow, MFA, Wilderness First Responder, BCEP, and ICS. He plans to apply for Advanced Rock and Advanced Snow and Ice after gaining more experience and learning more about what kind of a climber he wants to be. When the coastal winters prove too dark and rainy, Mike likes to escape to the Desert Southwest. His favorite trails are in southern Utah and
northern Arizona, although the Yosemite back-country has been a staple for over 30 years. He is currently focused on developing his trad climbing skills and aspires to lead in the Pickett Range, Cirque of the Towers, Cochise Stronghold, and the eastern Sierra. Mike’s advice to the Mazama community? “Call Kati! Volunteer! Meet people, learn stuff, get on climbs!” Volunteer Categories: Episodic, Short-term project, Innovation
DECEMBER 2015
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TRAIL TRIPS SCHEDULE
Join us! Mazama Trail Trips are open to everyone. Contact Trail Trips Committee chair Regis Krug at 503-704-6642 with any questions. To lead a hike next month, go to: mazamas2.org. CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES Leaders may schedule a hike after the Bulletin is published, or occasionally a hike location will change. Visit mazamas.org/activities-events/hikeschedule/ for updates! ADVENTUROUS YOUNG MAZAMAS HIKING Everyone is welcome. See the separate list at mazamas.org/activities-events/ aym/ WILDERNESS DESIGNATION Wilderness—Limit 12 indicates that the hike enters a Forest Servicedesignated Wilderness Area and the group size is limited to 12.
NEW: HIKE PUNCH CARDS!
HK B1.5 Dec 05 (Sat) Angel’s Rest. Dirk Lakeman derricklakeman@gmail.com. Angel’s Rest is an exposed bluff on the Western end of the Columbia River Gorge, characterized by a long, rocky spine surrounded on three sides by cliffs, boasting a striking 270 degree view! While there is plenty of space to avoid danger at the top, it should be noted that it’s a good idea to keep little ones close by to avoid them getting too close to the cliffside drop-offs. 4.6 miles 1,584 ft. Dr. 42 Gateway 8 a.m.
Are you a frequent Mazama hiker, or do you know someone who is? The Trail Trips Committee is introducing a punch card system to help activity participants avoid the hassle of carrying cash, and you can save money by purchasing an 11-activity punch card for the price of 10.
HK B2 Dec 05 (Sat) Dry Creek Falls (Herman Creek Pinnacles). Dan Smith 503-408-8923. Hike from parking lot under the Bridge of Gods, to Herman Creek Pinnacles then a little ways to small waterfall, then back to Dry Creek Falls for lunch. Then back at the trail head and go for coffee! 7.6 miles 1,800 Ft. ft. Dr. dr.78 TH Gateway 8 a.m.
COST: ▶▶ Ramble participants under 55: $20 ▶▶ Ramble participants 55 and over: $10 ▶▶ Hike/Snowshoe participants (Mazama members): $20 ▶▶ Hike/Snowshoe participants (nonmembers): $40
TT Dec 05 (Sat) Dog Mountain Trail Tending. Adonay Solleiro adonayvs@hotmail.com or adam@ mazamas.org. Plan on a 6-mile round trip hike but could be less depending on amount of trail work. Volunteers need to be in good hiking shape and do NOT need to be familiar with trail work. Training and tools will be provide by the Mazamas and Washington Trails Association to anyone that attends this work party. Bring gloves and your usual lightweight hiking setup! MU 6 miles 2,900 ft. Dr. 100 TH Gateway TC 8 a.m.
The punch cards are available beginning Nov. 1 at the MMC during normal business hours, or from Trail Trips Leaders who choose to sell them. At this time punch cards apply only to Mazama Trail Trips ramble, hike, and snowshoe activities. Punch cards may be introduced later by Families, AYM, and Classics.
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HK A2.5 Dec 05 (Sat) Warrior Rock/Sauvie Island. Sherry Bourdin 503-314 2911. We will be departing from the usual forest trails to enjoy this winter walk, closely following the Columbia River to a tiny lighthouse and secluded beach. Geese and bald eagles spend the winter here so be ready for sightings. 6.8 miles negligible ft. Dr. 20 REI Portland 9 a.m.
MAZAMAS
HK A2 Dec 06 (Sun) MacleayWildwood Loop. Terry Lawson 503-819-9250. This Forest Park hike takes the Lower Macleay trail through Balch Canyon to the Stone House, and then follows the Wildwood, Dogwood and Leif
Erikson trails and city streets back to the start. Call leader if you wish to join us at the TH instead of MMC.MU 5.5 miles 950 ft. Dr. 18 MMC 9:30 a.m. HK B2 Dec 06 (Sun) Wolf Creek Trestle. Bill Stein 503-8300817. Winter is the best time to maneuver the remains of the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad and to view the full extent of a 5-mile section’s 2007 destruction. We will hike on trails, railroad tracks, trestles, off trail, and in tunnels (bring a strong light!). This hike is exploratory for the leader, but be assured that the tracks are easy to follow. 10 miles 740 ft. Dr. 84 Sunset Transit Ctr–NE Corner, Hwy26/217 8 a.m. HK C2 Dec 06 (Sun) North Lake via Wyeth Trail (W). Regis Krug 503-704-6442/regis_krug@mentor. com. You must contact the leader by email/phone to participate in this hike. Wilderness—Limit 12. Great winter conditioning hike to a shallow little lake surrounded by forests and the cliffs of Green Point Ridge. After the initial stream crossing, the trail wanders for just a bit before starting the 1,000 ft. per mile ascent up Wyeth Ridge. After climbing 3840 ft. in the first four miles, you descend 500 ft. before regaining the elevation as you approach North Lake. Excellent vistas of the Columbia River Gorge. MU 13.5 miles 4,160 ft. Dr. 88 TH Gateway TC 7 a.m. HK B2 Dec 09 (Wed) Angels Rest via Coopey Creek. Rex Breunsbach 971-832-2556 or breunsba@teleport.com. Not your normal Angels Rest hike. We will climb steeply up the slope west of Coopey Creek and then head east, eventually connecting with the trail to Devils Rest. 8 miles 2,000 ft. Dr. 45 MMC 8 a.m. HK B2 Dec 11 (Fri) Linnton Streets/Forest Park Loop Hike. William O’Brien 503-679-5194 or wobobr123@yahoo.com. Pleasant walk starting in Linnton Whitwood Court section hiking along Leif Ericson to Linnton’s Waldmere neighborhood to Linnton’s former school, then a long scenic loop via Wildwood Trail back to Springville Rd and
the original TH. 9 miles 750 ft. Park on the shoulder of Springville Rd near Ogden 9 a.m. HK A1.5 Dec 12 (Sat) Cascade Locks Fun Hike. Jim Selby 828508-5094. Just for fun and to eat! We start at Eagle Creek, parking near the camping area, then hike to Cascade Locks and eat lunch at Bridgeview Restaurant ( formerly Charburger), then return. Can be windy but trail is mostly the old highway so footing is fine. 5 miles 400 ft. Dr. 74 TH Gateway 8:30 a.m. MU HK B2 Dec 12 (Sat) Devils Rest (via Wahkeena). Dan Smith 503-408-8923. Great hike up past several waterfalls and along the top of the ridge. May see Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens on clear day. Short drive and back early. 7.4 miles 2,400 ft. Dr. 45 Gateway 8 a.m. HK C2 Dec 12 (Sat) Elk-Kings Traverse. Rick Craycraft 503679-2113 or leftfield5@juno. com. A winter adventure on a coast classic. This hike has the potential to be dicey under certain conditions. Leader will track weather closely. Traction devices and raingear always a good idea. Car shuttle. 8 miles 3,400 ft. Dr. 66 Target/185th 7:30 a.m. SS B Dec 12 (Sat) Twin Lakes Loop Snowshoe/Hike. David Nelson dkbmnelson@gmail.com. Wilderness—Limit 12. We will snowshoe from Frog Lake SnoPark, join the Pacific Crest Trail and head towards the lower Twin Lake, and then on to the upper lake. Have lunch, and depending on conditions and group desires, we will either backtrack or continue on for the 8-mile loop around Bird Butte. Pace will be moderate. Expected time is 4–5 hrs. plus driving. If no snow, this will become a hike. Please contact leader via email if you plan to go. 5-8 miles 1,200 ft. Dr. 110 SnoPark Gateway 8 a.m. HK A2 Dec 13 (Sun) Columbia Slough Loop out of Kenton. Paul Steger PaulSteger612@gmail. com. Meeting at SE corner of Kenton Park, walking through Kenton to and along Columbia Slough, then connecting through
Class A: Easy to moderate; less than 8 miles and under 1,500 feet elevation gain
STREET RAMBLES
Various leaders will lead walks every Tuesday and Thursday. Multiple groups will be led at different paces. Bring a headlamp. 4-8 miles, 500-1,500 feet. Meet at REI-Pearl, NW 14th and Johnson. Group leaves promptly at 6 p.m. New Columbia and north Portland neighborhoods, returning to Kenton Park.MU 5 miles 100 ft. Dr. 0 None 9 a.m. HK B2 Dec 13 (Sun) Pittock Stone House Loop. Terry Lawson lawson.terry@gmail.com. Starting at the Pittock Mansion viewpoint overlooking the city, we follow Wildwood Trail about 5 miles and loop via Dogwood, Leif Erikson and Aspen Trails back to Wildwood and climb back to Pittock Mansion. MU 9.3 miles 1,400 ft. Dr. 0 Pittock Mansion overlook 9:30 a.m. HK C2.5 Dec 13 (Sun) Franklin Ridge. Adonay Solleiro adonayvs@ hotmail.com. You must contact leader to sign up for this hike. Wilderness—Limit 12. We’ll climb up Franklin Ridge, where we will meet the Larch Mountain Trail well above Multnomah Falls. We’ll then descend this beautiful trail to a junction near Multnomah Falls to complete our loop. This is a great hike in any weather and a great hike in any season. 11.6 miles 3,200 ft. Dr. 55 Gateway 8 a.m. HK Dec 16 (Wed) Waespe Point Christmas Trail. Rex Breunsbach 971-832-2556 or breunsba@teleport. com. We will hike up Multnomah Creek, then take the High Water trail up to the plateau. We will take lunch near Nesika Lodge and celebrate the season with some hot cider and a walk along the Christmas trail.MU 8 miles 1800 ft. Dr. 45 MMC 8 a.m. HK A2 Dec 19 (Sat) Trail of Ten Falls. Jess Beauchemin 503-446-0803 or beauchemin.jess@gmail.com. See ten waterfalls in less than ten miles on this pleasant walk through Silver Falls State Park. Be prepared for rain, ice and/or snow on the trail; anything can happen in December! We’ll stop in the cafe to warm up by the fire partway through. 7.5 miles 600 ft. Dr. 140 State Park Contact leader to arrange carpool 8:30 a.m. HK B2.5 Dec 19 (Sat) Eagle Creek
—Cross-Over Falls. Gary Bishop gbish90@hotmail.com. Wilderness— Limit 12. Eagle Creek in its Winter glory. Enjoy several waterfalls along this well graded trail. Hike may be shortened or moved depending on ice and snow conditions (Signup at Gateway TC only.) 12.6 miles 1,080 ft. Dr. 74 TH Gateway 8:30 a.m. SS B Dec 19 (Sat) White River Canyon Snowshoe. David Nelson dkbmnelson@gmail.com. Wilderness—Limit 12. We will venture up White River canyon approx. 2 miles, gain the West ridge and travel off trail back down Boy Scout Ridge to the cars. Pace will be easy/moderate. Bring ski poles. Please contact leader via email to reserve a spot. And hope for snow. 4 miles 1,000 ft. Dr. 110 SnoPark Gateway 8 a.m. HK C2.5 Dec 20 (Sun) Nesmith Point (W). Adonay Solleiro adonayvs@hotmail.com. You must contact leader to sign up for this hike. Wilderness—Limit 12. Up, up and away! Plenty of switchbacks with some river and mountain views along the way. Great vista just past the Point to include Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens. 9.8 miles 3,810 ft. Dr. 60 Gateway 8 a.m. HK A1.5 Dec 26 (Sat) Moulton Falls. Jim Selby 828-508-5094. Hike Leader’s favorite end of year winter hike. Brief stop at Lucia Falls to see salmon going up the Falls, then Moulton Falls with your lunch at the Chelatchie RR station near the Falls. Can be hiked in any kind of weather. Back to Gateway by 3 p.m. 6 miles 200 ft. Dr. 60 Gateway 8:30 a.m. MU HK A1.5 Dec 27 (Sun) Explore Metro parks—Scouters Mountain. Rick Craycraft 503-679-2113 or leftfield5@juno.com. A nature park plunked down in the middle of Happy Valley. A short hike, but we can do it as many times as we like. If we get cold and wet there’s a New Seasons nearby where we can get something to drink to warm us up.
Meet us at the trailhead if it is more convenient for you. 2 miles 700 ft. Dr. 19.6 MMC 9 a.m. HK C2.5 Dec 27 (Sun) Table Mountain (West Ridge). Adonay Solleiro adonayvs@hotmail.com. You must contact leader to sign up for this hike. One of the Columbia Gorge’s hardest and highest elevation hikes. Beautiful views from the summit if we get a clear day. This hike will keep your lungs clear and your legs strong. They don’t call it Heartbreak Ridge for nothing... 9 miles 3,450 ft. Dr. 84 Gateway 8 a.m. SS A Dec 27 (Sun) White River Wintertime Moonlight Snowshoe. Joe Whittington joewhittington@ gmail.com. Just past the Winter Solstice and a full moon, let’s hope for snow and work off the plum pudding. Bring warm clothes, hot drinks, and a headlamp. If you wish to go, contact leader for hike information. MU 4 miles 200 ft. Dr. 116 SnoPark Contact Leader 6 p.m. MU HK A2 Dec 31 (Thu) Forest Park Rollercoaster. Rex Breunsbach 971832-2556 or breunsba@teleport.com. New Year’s Eve - Quickie. We’ll start at the Newton Road trailhead, hiking downhill to the end of Newton Road, then up the steep BPA. Then on to Fire lane 12 and “Hole in the Park.” From here it’s downhill to Fire lane 15, uphill to the Wildwood Trail, on to Fire lane 10 and back to our starting point.MU 7.6 miles 800 ft. Dr. 30 MMC 8 a.m. SS A Dec 31 (Thu) Trillium Lake Winter Wonderland. Regis Krug 503-704-6442/regis_krug@ mentor.com. Wilderness—Limit 12. Early morning snowshoe trip in to Trillium Lake. Depending on weather, this activity is geared towards photographers. We will leave very early in order to do some star photography. MU 6 miles 300 ft. Dr. 100 SnoPark Gateway TC 3:30 a.m.
UPPER TWIN LAKES BACKPACK Never been backpacking in the winter before? Intimidated by it all? This is your opportunity to give it a try. Beginning at the Frog Lake Sno-Park, we will do an easy 2 mile snowshoe hike up the Pacific Crest Trail to Lower Twin Lakes, where we’ll set up camp. Once we’re settled in, you can relax in camp or explore the area around the lake. After a lazy breakfast on Sunday morning, we’ll snowshoe to Upper Twin Lake and Palmateer Point. If the weather cooperates, we should have clear views of Mt. Hood, Barlow Butte, and the Barlow Creek valley. Then, it’s back to camp, pack up, and head for the trailhead. About 1,500 feet of elevation gain and 9 miles overall. We’ll have a pre-trip meeting in late December or early January to discuss gear and winter backcountry issues. Contact Regis Krug (regis_krug@mentor.com) for more information on this trip.
Class B: Moderate to difficult; less than 15 miles with 1,500–3,000 feet elevation gain OR 8–15 miles with less than 1,500 feet of elevation gain Class C and Cw: Difficult to strenuous: 15+ miles in distance OR 3,000+ feet elevation gain; Class Cw indicates winter conditions Class D and Dw: Very difficult, strenuous trips in challenging conditions. No specific distance or elevation gain. Special equipment, conditioning, and experience may be required. Contact leader for details before the day of the trip is mandatory. Dw indicates winter conditions. Numeral after class indicates pace. All pace information is uphill speed range; e.g. 1.5 = 1.5–2 mph: a slow to moderate pace; 2 = 2.0–2.5 mph: a moderate speed common on weekend hikes; 2.5 = 2.5–3.0 mph: a moderate to fast pace and is a conditioner. “Wilderness—Limit 12” indicates the hike enters a Forest Service-designated Wilderness Area; group size limited to 12. MU: Hike is posted on Meetup. Hike fees: $2 for members, each family participant, and those belonging to clubs in FWOC; $4 for non-members. No person will be turned away if they are unable to pay. Street Ramble fees: $2 per person; $1 per person if over 55 or 14 and under. Both members and nonmembers are welcome at all trail trips. Trail Tending events are free. Meeting Places: Gateway–SE corner of P and R Garage near 99th and Pacific (I-84 Exit 7); Land C–Lewis and Clark State Park (1-84 Exit 18); Oswego TC–Boones Ferry Rd at Monroe Parkway; Salmon Creek P and R–Vancouver P and R at 134 St (1-5 Exit 7 or 1-205 Exit 36); Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center–Sandy Blvd. and 98th Ave. (1-205 Exit 23A); Durham–P and R at Boones Ferry and Bridgeport (1-5 Exit 290); MMC–Mazama Mountaineering Center, 527 SE 43rd at Stark; Pendleton–Pendleton Woolen Mills in Washougal; REI–Pearl, NW 14th and Johnson; Target185–Target P/L Sunset Hwy at 185th. Dr.–round-trip driving mileage. ft–Hike elevation gain. TH Pass–USFS parking pass needed for trailhead; SnoPass–Snow park pass. Trail Trips Hike Rules: Hikers are encouraged to carpool and share costs. The maximum suggested total rate each is a donation of ten cents per mile for up to three people per vehicle. Dogs are not allowed except for hikes designated as “dog-walks.” Alcohol and firearms are not allowed. Participants should wear appropriate hiking shoes; carry lunch, water, rain gear (umbrella, parka, or poncho), and the 10 essentials (whistle, extra food and clothing, sun protection, map, compass, flashlight, first aid kit, pocket knife, waterproof matches, fire starter). Participants should be in a physical condition appropriate for the difficulty of the hike. Leaders may decline anyone not properly equipped or judged incapable of completing the hike in a reasonable time frame. Hikers voluntarily leaving the group are considered nonparticipants. In case of accident, illness, or incapacity, hikers must pay their medical and/or evacuation expenses whether they authorize them or not. Hikes leave the meeting place at the time listed. Adverse conditions, weather, and combined circumstances can affect difficulty.
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EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MINUTES—NOV. 9, 2015
The Executive Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are open to members. Draft Minutes.
Attending: Steve Hooker, President; Marty Hanson, Vice President; Jon Jurevic, Treasurer; John Rettig, Secretary; Chris Kruell, Amy Mendenhall, Darrell Weston. Absent: Kate Evans, Sunny Freeman. Staff: Lee Davis, Executive Director; Jamie Anderson, Sarah Bradham, Kati Mayfield The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by President Steve Hooker. It was noted that a quorum was present. It was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously to approve the agenda, with addition of an item for the vice president to announce his choice of auditor. The general minutes from Oct. 5, 2015 were reviewed. It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes as written; motion carried unanimously. BUSINESS AND STAFF REPORTS: The Secretary’s October 31 membership report was reviewed. See details on the next page.. Jon Jurevic provide a verbal year-end summary of the Treasurer’s Report for FY 2014-15. The written report will be available in December. Lee Davis presented the Executive Director’s report, incorporated herein by reference. Items noted beyond the written summary provided in the packet were as follows: The Gray Family Foundation staff has recommended inclusion of Mazama Lodge in their 2016 camp maintenance grant funding cycle. These grants are typically $40,000 a year for three years and are intended to improve facilities for use by Outdoor School programs like our new Mazama Mountain Science School - we will learn about our status soon. Lee asked that we direct the Portland Apine Fest silent auction revenue to the
Mountain Science School. Marty Hanson moved and Amy Mendenhall seconded a motion to so direct this revenue; motion carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: The consent agenda was reviewed; written reports from AYM, Climbing, Expedition, Outreach, Risk Management and Trail Trips. The reports not requesting action were approved as a group as a consent item; Marty Hanson moved and Amy Mendenhall seconded a motion to so approve; motion carried unanimously. It was noted that one new chair was reported; John Rettig moved and Darrell Weston seconded a motion to approve Larry Beck as the new Climb Committee chair; motion carried unanimously. The FY 2015–16 grant funding issue that was tabled from September was considered; in attendance were the following committee members: Tom Bennett (chair), and Terrence Conlon from Research and Tom Bard (chair), Barry Buchanan and Joan Zuber from Conservation. The history of how the grant budgets were cut, through the creation of the $20,000 Executive Council (EC) contingency line item, was reviewed by Lee Davis. The committee chairs gave a short presentation on the importance of this grant funding to the outside community, the goodwill and leverage it enabled with other organizations, and the doors that it opened. It was also clarified that Research and Conservation Committees had each had their grant budget decline $2,333 from the FY 2014-15 budget, and $3,333 from the initial draft of the FY 2015-16 budget. Also, the Research Committee will be disbursing their first grants in March 2016, Conservation in May 2016.
After some discussion, Steve Hooker offered that we would better know our financial position by March 2016, and that it would be best to table this matter again until that time, as it appeared the final word on this could wait until then. Steve suggested we meet in January to look over the benefits we derive from our grant system, and have this summarized for the March meeting. Marty Hanson moved and Chris Kruell seconded a motion to again table; motion carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS: John Rettig briefly recapped the proposal made earlier for a member open comment period, and requested that it be timed to occur after the official meeting begins. John Rettig moved and Darrell Weston seconded a motion to initiate an open member comment period, with rules as documented in the packet, at the beginning of each EC meeting, starting in December. Motion carried unanimously. Lee Davis and Steve Hooker reviewed a proposal to change our EC meeting agendas to cover strategic issues in odd months, and business issues in even months. After some discussion, it was felt that since the president generated the agenda and could make such changes at his or her discretion, only a consensus of members was really necessary to start this system; this was verbally given. There was a verbal update on action items that were generated from the retreat: ▶▶ A draft letter to members from Steve Hooker summarizing the retreat and incorporated herein by reference, was given a verbal okay ▶▶ Committee challenges (Chris Kruell, John Rettig, with possible support from member Teresa Dalsager) - review in December, roll out in January 2016
Sunny Freeman sunnyfreeman@windermere.com SunnyFreemanHomes.com twitter.com/sfreemanhomes 503.684.9698
Your Mazama Realtor 30
MAZAMAS
▶▶ Staff authority and delegation (Steve Hooker, Lee Davis) – will be meeting soon ▶▶ Executive Council Roles and Responsibilities (Jamie Anderson, Steve Hooker) – Jamie will forward her ideas to Steve Darrell Weston presented a proposal to restrict dates of committee meetings so that they don’t overlap EC meetings and cause liaisons to miss the meeting. There was general consensus for such a restriction, and it was also felt that this should also apply to sub-committees relative to their parent committee. It was moved by Darrell Weston and seconded by Marty Hanson to disallow the scheduling of a committee meeting during the time of the regularly scheduled EC meeting, and likewise for the scheduling of a sub-committee meeting during the time of the regularly scheduled parent committee meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Kati Mayfield gave an update on her work on organizational culture, incorporated herein by reference. Sarah Bradham gave an update on the rollout of new email addresses for staff, committee chairs, and EC members; after a few questions to clarify the new system, this was accepted. It will roll out before Jan. 1, but since it was noted that everyone but new members have had these addresses the past year and we didn’t yet have universal usage, she requested that those who needed to get a password reset contact her. Marty Hanson announced that his choice of auditing firm for the financial audit is Kern & Thompson LLC. It was noted that the price quoted was $2,300 higher than budgeted, as only a financial review had been budgeted. Lee Davis offered to cover the $2,300 shortfall with his ED contingency fund; this was considered acceptable. We adjourned at 8:28 p.m. -John Rettig, Secretary Executive Council minutes are abridged and subject to approval; for official version, go to mazamas.org/members/executive-council-reports/.
Welcome New Mazamas! Danielle Allen—Mt. St. Helens David Beltramo—Mt. Rainier Kein Brunner—Mt. Hood Margaret Butler—South Sister Steve Chapman—South Sister Dwain Clifford—South Sister David Comerford—South Sister Ryan Coussens—South Sister Nicholas Deem—Mt. Baker Lee Fehrenbacher—Mt. Rainier Kristin Garrett—South Sister Carol Hawkins—Mt. St. Helens Lennie Hawkins—Mt. St. Helens Sangye Ince-Johannsen—Mt. Shasta Mark Lewis—Mt. Hood Colin Lincoln—Mt. Massive Victoria Meadows—Mt. Adams
Justin Moulton—Mt. St. Helens Antonio Navarro—Mt. St. Helens Rebecca Olsen—Mt. St. Helens Dustin Pendergraft—Mt. Adams Richard Peppers—South Sister Nicholas Reynolds—Mt. Baker Jesse Roos—Mt. Adams Tristen Ross—Mt. Hood Katherine Scofield—Mt. Kilimanjaro Jesse Shapiro—South Sister Tammy Stephens—Mt. Kilimanjaro Antonio Tatum—Mt. St. Helens Michael Vincerra—Bocca di Brenta Alexander Wiley—South Sister Caterine Wyman—Mt. Hood Dan Zimmerman—Mt. St. Helens
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Deceased: Cameron Bangs (1990) TATED W NS
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Reinstated: Susan Barker (1981), Brett Buesnel (2013), Chrys Pappas (2012), Dallas Tate (2014) 01 1, 2 5
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UPCOMING ORIENTATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Wondering how to get started as a volunteer at the Mazamas? Over the next few months we have a number of orientation and training opportunities, designed for interested volunteers. Some of these are specific to a program, event or activity; others apply no matter what sort of volunteer role you take here. Contact kati@ mazamas.org to rsvp to any of these events. ▶▶ Thursday, Dec. 3: Conflict Resolution training with Resolutions Northwest. This training will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the MMC. ▶▶ Thursday, Dec. 10: Stewardship Information Night. If you’ve been curious about the work and activities the Mazamas does to care for the places we love to play, and you’ve wanted to get involved, come to this informational night with Adam Baylor, our Stewardship and Communications Manager. The info night will be held at the MMC starting at 7 p.m. ▶▶ Sat–Sun, Dec. 12-13: Nordic Assistant and Instructor Training. If you have a passion for Nordic skiing and would like to share that with others, consider becoming an Assistant or an Instructor for the Mazamas Nordic School. Volunteers will receive professional training from Shelly Hakanson & WyEast Nordic on the weekend of Dec. 12-13. ▶▶ Wednesday, Dec. 30 and Jan. 27: Welcome Nights. Join us, the last Wednesday of each month, for the Mazama Welcome Night. This evening is designed for new, prospective or returning members who want to learn about the variety of ways they can engage with the Mazamas, including volunteer opportunities. These sessions begin at 7 p.m. ▶▶ Wednesday, Jan. 13: Hike Leader Orientation. Have you ever thought about leading hikes with the Mazamas? We have a number of great groups leading hikes – Families, Classics, Adventurous Young Mazamas and Trail Trips – and the basic requirements are the same for each group. During the orientation we will discuss the general steps, and then hear more about each specific group. 6:30–8:30 p.m. at the MMC.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
A Mazama committee providing support services to Mazamas. If you or your group have had a traumatic experience contact the Mazama office (503-227-2345) or Marina Wynton. All debriefs conducted through CISM are confidential.
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Thanks to everyone who came out for the Portland Alpine Fest! It was a jam-packed week. Look for a recap article on the festival next month.
Pure Imagination Ice Cave at the base of the Sandy Glacier, Mt. Hood. Photo by Drew Lesch-Wragge. (One of our PAF photo contest winners.