General Information

The Mazamas were established July 19, 1894 on the summit of Mt. Hood.  We have a proud tradition of leadership, safety, conservation, and climbing education in the Northwest for well over a century.  Our mission:  The Mazamas promotes mountaineering through education, climbing, hiking, fellowship, safety, and the protection of mountain environments.To support this mission, we offer over 350 climbs and 900 hikes annually, and sponsor conservation and research to protect and better understand the mountain environment.  Our activities depend almost entirely on the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, who contribute over 80,000 hours of time annually to support Mazamas’ programs.

(a very brief) History

Responding to an advertisement run in the Morning Oregonian of June 12, 1894:  “To Mountain Climbers and Lovers of Nature . . . It has been decided to meet on the summit of Mt. Hood on the 19th of next month ...” more than 300 people encamped on the flanks of Mt. Hood on July 18. By 8:00 am the next day, the first climbing party reached the 11,239’ summit, followed by the rest of the 193 men and women who were to reach the summit that day. One hundred and five climbers became charter members.  More on the history of the Mazamas

Name, Slogan and Logo

What does “Mazamas” actually mean?  From the unabridged Webster’s dictionary:

From mazame (see mazama) from Nahuatl “mazatl” (deer) ” A name applied by early writers to various American ruminants supposed to be the Rocky Mountain Goat.”
Mazama founders thought that the strongest climber in the mountains (the goat) was an appropriate symbol.  The southern Oregon mountain that collapsed and became Crater Lake (Mt. Mazama) was named for our organization.

The Mazamas’ slogan, “Nesika Klatawa Sahale” is Chinook Indian jargon, freely translated as “We Climb High.” It has been used since the organization was formed in 1894.

The Mazamas’ logo depicts a mountain goat, or “mazama,” atop a triangle with a dot in the center - the surveying symbol for a benchmark, often found on mountaintops.

Membership

To join Mazamas, you need to have climbed to the summit of a mountain peak on which there is at least one glacier.  There are about 3,000 members.  More on Mazamas membership

Mazama Mountaineering Center

The Mazama Mountaineering Center is located at SE 43rd and Stark, (Click here for a Map to the MMC). At the MMC, our facilities include five meeting rooms, a 175-seat auditorium, a library, administrative offices, and the museum/archives.  Office and library hours are Mon-Thurs, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Library

Housed in the Mazama Mountaineering Center, our library contains an extensive collection of mountaineering books, periodicals and videos. The collection also includes biographies, trail and field guides, conservation and natural resource texts, books on travel and exploration, and videos on climbing expeditions and technique. Books may be borrowed by members for a maximum of four weeks, videos for one week.  Non-members are welcome to use the library during regular office hours, but may not check out materials.  Library hours are the same as the office: Mon-Thurs, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  More on Mazamas library

Mazama Lodge

The Mazamas owns and maintains a mountain lodge located near Government Camp on Mt. Hood, 50 miles east of Portland. The lodge is open year-round, with a manager in residence. Meals and bunkhouse lodging, and a few private room accommodations are available for members and their guests, affiliate organizations and nonprofit groups.  More on the Mazama Lodge

Publications

We publish a monthly bulletin, membership roster and annual journal, all distributed to members as part of their membership. Non-members may also subscribe to the bulletin for a fee. The bulletin contains news of our day-to-day activities, activities schedules, and reports on actions taken by the Executive Council and standing committees. The Mazama Annual features articles, reports and photographs of significant events and activities of the previous year.  More info on Mazamas publications

Organizational Structure

The Mazamas is governed by the Executive Council, consisting of nine members who set policy and oversee the work of the Mazamas subject to the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws. The Council is selected by the members at an annual election, for terms of three years. Bylaws cannot be changed except by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership. The Executive Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month and meetings are open to members. The annual meeting of Mazamas is held on the first Monday in October. Members are welcome to attend all council or committee meetings. More on the Executive Council

Committees

The primary work of the Mazamas is carried out in committees. 80,000 hours of volunteer effort within these committees go into conducting our programs, activities and events. More help is always welcome!  If you’d like to help on any of them, contact us at the Mazama Mountaineering Center and we’ll get you started.  More on Mazamas committees

Classes and Education

Each year we teach over 900 students a variety of courses in mountaineering related fields for students of all levels.  Non-members may participate in classes and all activities offered through the Mazamas. Class lectures are open to those who are not enrolled in the class.  We offer classes in Basic and Intermediate Mountaineering, Advanced Rock Climbing, Advanced Snow and Ice Climbing, Summer and WInter Rock Review, Ski Mountaineering, Mountaineering First Aid, Expedition Training, and Nordic Skiing.  More on Mazamas classes

Mountaineering and Climbing

Mountaineering is the primary activity enjoyed by over 2000 of our members and non-members. The climb schedule, consisting of approximately 350 different climbs, is published in the April issue of the monthly bulletin and found online. Climbs are open to anyone, members and non-members, who meet the qualifications set by individual leaders.  There is a fee charged for each climb through purchase of a “climb card” from the Mazama Mountaineering Center (Click here for a Map to the MMC). We also have programs in winter climbing and ski mountaineering.  More on Mazamas climbing

Trail Trips (Hiking)

Hiking is one of the most popular activities of our members with more than 900 hikes organized each year for over 10,000 hikers. These include moderate hikes, strenuous conditioning hikes, trail tending (work trips), backpacks, snow bivouacs, snowshoes and street rambles around Portland. Most of the hikes are within easy driving distance of Portland, with several offered each weekend, as well as weekday and evening hikes. A description of each hike with the name and phone number of the leader can be found in the monthly Mazama bulletin and online. Advance signup is usually not required unless the hike is in the wilderness, although hikers are encouraged to call the leader with questions. Most hikes meet in Portland where carpools are arranged for the drive to the trailhead. A nominal fee is charged and carpooling is encouraged with riders helping to reimburse the driver. As with most Mazama’ activities, the hikes are open to the general public as well as to members.  Those who are not able to pay the cost of the hike will not be turned away.More on Mazamas hiking

Trail Tending

The Mazamas actively promotes the establishment and maintenance of hiking trails through its trail tending work. Trails such as Trapper Creek, Chetwoot Loop, and Mazama Trail were created, and are regularly maintained, by the Mazamas. Mazamas’ Trail Tenders were instrumental in re-opening many trails in the Columbia Gorge that had been hit hard by the devastating storms of early 1996. Monthly Trail Tending parties are listed in the hike schedule with the letter “T” preceding the date and meeting place. No fees are charged and participation is open.  More on Mazamas trail tending

Outings

Annual outings (adventure tours) range in duration from five days to three weeks. They vary in scope and number from year to year, depending on the volunteer leadership. Most of the outings involve climbing or hiking but also may be geological trips, whitewater river rafting, canoe trips or ski trips. Although most outings are held in the Western United States, many travel to foreign destinations. A listing of the annual outings appears in the monthly bulletin and on the Web site.  More on Mazamas outings

Conservation

Beyond the recreational activities of the Mazamas, conservation is central to the Mazamas’ mission. Since inception, the Mazamas have played a significant role in preserving existing wilderness areas. Historically we have played a role in establishing Crater Lake and Mt. Rainier National Parks, Cascade Forest Reserve, Three Sisters Wilderness Area and Portland’s Forest Park. The committee endeavors to maintain a close liaison with officials in all land managing public agencies to ensure that the viewpoint of those who access and enjoy outdoor areas is clearly understood by authorities. We offer conservation grants, generally to northwest non-profit organizations.  The committee keeps members informed of issues pending before local, state and federal governments concerning wilderness, wildlife, natural beauty and recreational resources.  More on Mazamas conservation

Research

The Mazamas gives grants that fund research related to the alpine environment including the long-term study of glaciers.  Numerous photos are archived for public use.

Evening Programs

Informative and entertaining programs are held at the Mazama Mountaineering Center each Wednesday evening, October through May. The outdoor-oriented programs are free and open to the public, and range from movies and slide shows to lectures and demonstrations. The program schedule appears in the monthly bulletin.  More on Mazamas evening programs

Annual Celebration

Our Annual Celebration is held at the conclusion of the summer activities each year, usually the weekend before Thanksgiving. This is a social gathering of members for dinner, a silent auction, awards presentations and a guest speaker. The general public is welcome to attend.  More on the Annual Celebration

Used Gear Sale

The Used Equipment Sale, sponsored by the Trail Trips Committee, is held annually in March. This is a great opportunity to find bargains in gear for hiking, camping, climbing and skiing - and a great way to sell surplus outdoor clothing and equipment and support the Mazamas at the same time. Details are published in the bulletin.  More on the Used Equipment Sale

Youth Outreach

The Mazamas has partnered with Impact Northwest and Portland Public Schools through the SUN program to teach students of middle-school age about climbing, hiking, outdoor safety and stewardship.  10-20 students per year, some of whom have never been on a hike in the Gorge or to Mt. Hood, have the opportunity to build their wilderness skills and experience Mazama Lodge, Mt. Hood, navigation courses and hiking.

Community Involvement

All classes, activities and programs are open to the public.  Since experienced and skilled volunteers teach our classes the Mazamas offer all educational programs at very affordable rates.  In addition, the Mazamas offers: grants for conservation, environmental research, and expeditions; free weekly adventure programs; hikes and rambles at nominal rates for which no one is turned away if they cannot afford to pay; 10-essentials safety information cards; a Web site full of climbing, hiking and safety information; a youth outreach program; trail tending; a library and archives; SOLV beach clean-ups; photos, records and documentation for scientific research; a comprehensive archival photographic collection; an active commitment to conservation and preservation issues; booths and activities at outdoor fairs and youth-related events; and we contribute time, resources and funds to search and rescue groups, USFS climbing rangers, and the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps.