Mazamas | Evening Travel Programs

7:00 pm, Wednesday evenings (and some Fridays), October through April
at the Mazama Mountaineering Center (Click here for a Map to the MMC)

Welcome to the Mazamas 2007–2008 season of evening programs from October through April. Our shows are free and open to members and the general public. We do appreciate a voluntary one dollar contribution at the discretion of each attendee. Thank you for supporting our successful series by your regular attendance.

The Mazamas Program committee hosts evening slide programs. These programs are free and both members and non-members are welcome to attend. Programs begin at 7:00 pm, and are usually held every Wednesday (and occasionally Fridays) from early October through late April. During the program season, a full description of each show is printed in the Mazama Bulletin and will be posted on this web page.

While scheduled programs almost always keep to this schedule, there are occasional cancellations and last minute switches. It can be a good idea to contact the Mazama office at 503-227-2345 to confirm these shows beforehand. Please scroll down this page for more detailed show descriptions.

There is no charge; however a voluntary donation of $1 is suggested. Both members and nonmembers are welcome. Programs begin at 7 p.m.

Program Committee: Nancy Bentley, Karen Park, Rick Pope, Ellen Brussock, Gail O’Neill, Dyanne Foster, Klindt Vielbig.

Skiing the Cascade Crest - Twenty-five Years of Skiing Across Time – From the Summit of Baker to Rainier’s Summit—Wednesday, March 12
A special appearance and slide show by Lowell Skoog of Seattle with a unique historical overview of Cascades high mountain and backcountry skiing. The show is a multi-year adventure of skiing the Cascade crest from Mt. Baker to Rainier, including ski ascents to the summits of each major volcano. The slide program includes a mix of modern and historical photographs as well as rare movie footage of Cascade skiing between the 1930s and 1950s. Skoog is a noted mountain skier and climber and we are very pleased for his special trip to Portland for the Mazama Mountaineering Center tonight. Skoog is a writer and historian and is working on a skiing history of the Cascades, and tonight we suggest special voluntary donations. Thank you for your thoughtfulness in this regard.

Everest: A Climb for Peace—A Climb to the Summit of Everest, a Rescue, and a Story of the Human Spirit --Wednesday, March 19
Tonight’s program features a film that was hailed by the Dalai Lama as a “tremendous achievement.” The film’s narration is by Orlando Bloom, a screen celebrity who takes us along on this inspirational film story with incredible Everest footage, including a dramatic rescue from near the summit. Filmed on location in Nepal, Tibet, Israel, Palestine and Jordan we’ll follow nine “peace climbers” from different faiths and cultures to the summit of Everest. The movie is a socially relevant documentary about peace, war and the human spirit. Filmmaker Lance Trumbull will introduce the 63-minute film and answer questions. The Mazamas are indeed fortunate to present this highly acclaimed film that views the Nepalese culture and its ties to international mountaineering. A DVD of the film will be available for sale tonight. Web site: http://www.EverestPeaceProject.org.

The Ascent of Mustagh Ata, 24,600 feet, Himalayas, Western China, Pamir Range Adventure on Skis—Wednesday, March 26
Mazama member Wim Aarts takes us on a 20-day mountaineering and high-altitude skiing expedition with German expedition friends and climbers. The team made four high camps, the highest at 20,000 feet, starting from the mountain’s base at 7,500 feet. Most of the climb was done on skis. A rough drive of 650 miles of travel on the Karakoram Highway was required to reach the mountain in China.

Cordillera Blanca, Peru – The Americas’ Most Spectacular Peaks - A 12-Day Trek of 80 Miles – Passes up to 16,000 Feet, and Stunning Scenery—Wednesday, April 2
Mazama Varis Ratnieks brings us a remarkable show of his twoweek, 75-mile hike of the Alpamayo Circuit where Alpamayo at 19,600 feet is a central feature. The trek was done with just one companion, Richard Anderson of Bend, Oregon, and a local guide with mules, and they enjoyed perfect weather. The loop crosses 10 mountain passes, the highest was 16,000 feet, one over 15,000 and four over 14,000. The circuit is in one of the world’s most dramatic ranges. We’ll also visit the mountain town of Huaraz, then Lima, the capitol of Peru, a former Spanish colonial city. As a bonus, tonight we will also join Varis on a Mazama Cordillera Blanca expedition to ascend Jatun Monte Punctu at 17,800 feet that also included Eric Hoem and Bob Wilson. Hoem may also have a selection of pictures of the Bolivian Andes where he recently explored and plans to lead a Mazama Outing.