Mazamas

Publication Year: 1967.

Mazamas. The Mazamas of Portland, Oregon, finished 1966 with statistics that reflect the ever-increasing interest in mountaineering. The summer climbing schedule resulted in the following: 151 climbs started, 2407 individual starts, 2052 individual ascents, 136 successful climbs, and 59 leaders participating. In addition were climbs made on club outings and in the newly instituted winter climbing schedule. A winter ascent of Mount Rainier, led by Walt Ericksen, is believed to be the first winter climb of the peak by a climbing club.

Basic Climbing School, under Lisle Walker’s leadership, enrolled 336 people, of whom 159 completed graduation requirements. John McCloskey’s Intermediate School enrolled 61 and graduated six. During the year Bill Cummins formed an Advanced School, with climbs which included class 5 routes on Beacon Rock and a class 6 ascent of Monkey Face, the prominent overhanging monolith in the Smith Rocks area in central Oregon. Bad fall weather precluded the graduation of any Advanced School candidate. Provision is made, however, for requirements to be met over a two-year period. Finally, Amos Smelser conducted a three-session course in leadership, the most comprehensive of any such course to date.

Club outings were held at Tuolumne Meadows area in Yosemite National Park; Park Creek Pass and the southern Pickett Range in Washington under John Neal; and under Jack Grauer in the Mount Olympus area, across Queets Basin and out the North Quainault trail.

The first death on a Mazama climb in 28 years occurred in September, when Lisle Walker, an esteemed leader and club official, died of pulmonary edema while leading a climb of Mount Adams. Walter Ericksen, another cherished leader and member of the Executive Council, met an untimely death on an Oregon highway.

The Oregon Climber’s Guide, edited by Nick Dodge, is approaching publication after some time in preparation.

JACK Grauer, Chairman, Climbing Committee