PORTLAND, Oregon — In this week's Let's Get Out There, we head to the Oregon Historical Society (OHS). An exhibit highlighting the history and community of the Mazamas is on display through March 24, 2024.
Since 1894, the Mazamas have put feet on the snow and heads in the clouds. The nonprofit group with 3,000 members is sharing its history through an exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society.
“We have members that have been around for 50 or 60 years and we have members who are five and six years old," said Mazamas Board President Greg Scott. Scott has been involved with the Mazamas for 20 years and has climbed the 16 major Northwest peaks from Mount Shasta to Mount Baker.
“If you summited a mountain, say Glacier Peak in 1935, we probably have the summit register log with your name in it or maybe your grandfather's name,” Scott said.
Aside from exploration, the group is dedicated to conservation and research as well.
The Mazamas were officially formed at the summit of Mount Hood in 1894, and they named William Gladstone Steel their first president. Not only did Steel help found the Oregon Historical Society, he also helped Crater Lake gain national park status.
38 women and 155 men summited the mountain the afternoon of July 19, almost 130 years ago. From its inception, the group has been a mountaineering club with a focus on environmental studies. The Mazamas were the first to survey Mount Hood’s glacial activity from the air. Their data is still requested for scientific studies.
For many years, the primary requirement for Mazamas membership was one had to climb a glaciated peak. With receding glaciers a sort of elephant in the room, Scott says another school of thought went into recently doing away with that requirement.
“Many of us looked at that requirement for the glaciated peak and thought that it was a little bit exclusive. And we wanted to increase access for anybody to be able to enjoy the outdoors. So now people have…a more direct path to learning how to recreate in the mountains and access those programs.”
Along with classes and climbs, they offer more mellow hikes and even a family mountaineering course.
“But this isn't the kind of program where you just drop off your kids,” said Scott. “You get to take the class with your kids. And so it's this important community building class in that respect.”
‘Street rambles’ are another event the Mazamas host closer to downtown Portland for hikers of all skill levels. “If you want to go on a very short, slow walk you can do that. If you want to trail run. There's somebody who can do that as well,” Scott said.
The Mazamas exhibit at OHS runs through March 24. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or to live vicariously, Scott hopes you’ll see the community you can find outdoors.
“I hope people walk through the exhibit and they learn more about where we are currently and where we're going in the future. And I think that history is an important part of that because they can see the story that's told throughout this exhibit is how we've changed throughout the years.”
If you are interested in joining the Mazamas, visit: mazamas.org/join/
Let's Get Out there airs once a week on KGW's 4 p.m. newscast and The Good Stuff, which airs Monday-Thursday at 7 p.m. We're including viewer photos for this series. You can text your photos to 503-226-5088 or post them on the KGW Facebook page.