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Here's your opportunity to learn a little bit more about the Mazama climb leaders who will be leading climbs this summer.
Climb Leader Bios
Wim Aarts
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Have done some kayaking, climbing, skimountaineering,hiking, biking, expeditioning, canyoneering and other trashing adventures
Starting in 1988 in the German Alpine Society I started Skimountaineering. Soon ...
Lindsey Addison
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My pronouns are she/her. I’m a queer climber in recovery, and I love any and every chance to get out into the mountains! Summer weekends ...
Agreen Ahmadi
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She/her pronouns. I'm from iran and my name is a Kurdish name (it means to be made of fire, symbolic for passionate and brave). I ...
Patricia Akers
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Hi, my name is Patricia. I’m a sister, a friend, an ally, a listener, a volunteer, a plant lover, and I give great hugs. I ...
Jesse Applegate
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Ultra-runner/private-pilot sees mountain: wants to ski it. Joins the Mazamas, takes a bunch of classes. Mind blown. Climbs all the things. Still hasn't skied that ...
Scott Auble
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Mild-mannered technologist by day – inveterate adventurer all other times.
Judith Baker
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I enjoy all aspect of mountaineering and find being in the mountains both challenging and inspiring.
Gary Ballou
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I joined the Mazamas in 2008, at an older age than most, having been on a few guided climbs before that. It’s been a good ...
Tom Baughman
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Co-owner of a structural engineering firm
Father of two, native Oregonian
Tyler Bax
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For me, climbing is an exploration of the unknown — a pursuit where physical challenges combine with mental skills, and each journey becomes an opportunity ...
Larry Beck
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Mazama member since 2006; BCEP grad, 2006 (Bronder/Caldwell); BCEP Assistant, 2009-2012 (Bronder/Caldwell); ICS grad, 2010-11 (Murphy/Weston); ICS instructor, 2011-2019 and 2023; BCEP team co-leader, 2013-2023 ...
Jeremiah Biddle
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I enjoy being in the outdoors and been active backpacking, climber for last twelve years. I graduated from NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) Outdoor educator ...
Gary Bishop
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Born and raised in Portland I feel very fortunate to have the wonderful Pacific Northwest in my backyard. I've been a Climb Leader since 2012, ...
Andrew Bodien
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(He/him/his)
Political Scientist by education, International Trade Consultant by profession, and constantly searching for the perfect pun. I am a denizen of the Pacific Northwest, ...
Lisa Brady
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I started in the Mazamas in 2009 after moving to PDX from Florida. I enjoy any time out in the backcountry. I have 2 small ...
Eric Brainich
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My passion is climbing on ice and snow and being on a glacier. I've been climbing since 1996 and cut my teeth climbing in the ...
Jason Breaker
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Mazama service: Assist regularly with BCEP, ICS, and Canyoneering; Canyoneering Committee 2017-19; ICS Committee 2016-17; Education Committee 2016-17; Expedition Committee (Chair) 2016-17, 2018-19; Research Committee ...
Bob Breivogel
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I joined Mazamas in 1982, started leading climbs in 1988. Over 350 Mazama climb leads, including all the 16 peaks. I also have lead over ...
Richard Bronder
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I am originally from the Midwest. My wife and I moved to Vancouver in the late 1980’s because of work. We rented an apartment that ...
Amy Brose
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(She/her)
I enjoy climbing big Cascade peaks, and love building camp in the snow and staying on a mountain for days. Favorite climbs include Eldorado ...
Jeremy Buck
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Growing up in upstate New York, I loved hiking and climbing in the Adirondacks. After visiting grad schools and climbing in the Pacific Northwest, I ...
Ann Marie Caplan
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Pronouns: She/her
I started rock climbing and mountaineering in 1991. I have climbed in Yosemite, Skaha, Squamish, Smith Rock, and Red Rocks (my new favorite ...
Justin Colquhoun
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(He/Him) Climb Leader. 80s song lyric and bad movie quoter. #snacks #SnackLife
Toby Contreras
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I'm an Instructor with Guide Dogs for the Blind and have lived in Portland since 1997. I took BCEP in 2016 (Yatvin), ICS in '17-18, ...
Teresa Dalsager
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Mountaineering and a healthy respect for the outdoors have played a huge role in shaping my life. My parents were both active Mazamas and ignited ...
Howie Davis
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As a Pacific Northwest native with a love for travel and time spent living abroad, I bring a broad perspective to my role as a ...
Brad Dewey
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Since completing BCEP in 2021, the Mazamas has been a big part of my life. AR 2025, ICS 2021/22, Canyoning 2022, BCEP co-leader 2026, BCEP ...
Sue Dimin
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- basic climbing school 1994
- Assistant with BCEP about 15 years
- ICS 1998 and 2001
- Hike leader
- on several committees over the years including outings, banquet and steering , nominating
Pushkar Dixit
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He/Him/His
Appreciative and grateful for the mountains, the plateaus, the plains, places where we live and play.
I enjoy teaching, and am eager to ...
Debbie Dwelle
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I'm passionate about climbing and love sharing outdoor adventures with other folks. I also love teaching and being a part of others achieving their goals. I took the Basic ...
Joe Eberhardt
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I enjoy the challenge of climbing. You must be physically fit, maintain your positive attitude, and be technically skilled for the many varied situations that ...
Eric Einspruch
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I began venturing into the mountains as a teenager, and have enjoyed doing so ever since, as I find great value in spending time outdoors. ...
Aimee Filimoehala
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I’m an adventure enthusiast who grew up getting dirty in the beautiful Utah mountains, where backpacking and skiing were just a way of life. I ...
Jeremy Galarneaux
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I have a family, Marta my wife of 18 years and two daughters, Calista (12) and Trinity (9). I gave up climbing about 9 years ...
Brinda Ganesh
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I'm a climber at heart and an engineer by day. I grew up in the plains of India and have made the Pacific Northwest my ...
John Godino
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Mazamas member since about 1995, climb leader since about 2002. Mazamas instructor in advanced rock and wilderness navigation. Favorite summit snack: good quality olives. Other ...
Amy Graham
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Outside of climbing, I enjoy playing tennis, biking, strength training, spending time with family and friends and traveling around the world. I like a good ...
Karen Graves
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When I took BCEP in 2011, my only goal was to fulfill a childhood dream of climbing Mt. Hood. My first climb out of BCEP ...
Leora Gregory
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I climbed my first mountain (Mt. Hood) in 2000, in which one of our party members fell and seriously broke her ankle. Fearing that I ...
Sohaib Haider
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"We never grow tired of each other
The mountain and I" - Li Po : )
BCEP 2021, ICS 2022, SSI 2022, Leadership Development participant ...
Shane Harlson
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I’m a transplant from the Midwest. Came over here for school in 2003, and haven’t left since. I discovered the Mazamas in 2010, and it’s ...
Duncan Hart
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Taught Organizational Behavior and Management at local university. Worked in environmental compliance and semiconductor operations/construction for big companies. Spent time in the Navy specializing in ...
Stephen Hirai
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Always up for a challenge, meeting new people, and experiencing the mountains and the rock.
Melinda Hugo
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Climb. Be kind. Be safe. Not necessarily in that order.
Mazama Volunteer work:
- Active Mazama Climb Leader
- Climbing Program Team: 2025-present
- ICS Class Coordinator 2022-23
- ICS Program Team ...
Ryan Johnson
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(He/Him) All are welcome on my climbs.
I took BCEP in 2014 followed by ICS (Snafflehounds 2015-16), AR in 2017 and became a climb ...
James Jula
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To put it briefly, you could say I'm addicted to altitude!
My Mazama journey began in 2005 when I joined to take BCEP so I ...
Jill Kellogg
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I grew up in Pac NW and was introduced to the great outdoors early in life. It is my playground and my refuge. But the ...
Julie Kentosh Lau
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- Climb Leader Since March 2020
- Led 9 of 16 major northwest peaks
- 37 Mazamas summit certificates 2017-2022
- ICS 2017-2018
- I work out every day: 1,507-day streak and counting!
Walter Keutel
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I grew up in Germany and discovered Oregon in the early 90’s after crisscrossing the US a number of times. After years of stalling and ...
Sergey Kiselev
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I like the mountains and I like taking people to the mountains. My goal is to make the team experience fulfilling, enjoyable, and educational.
A ...
Janelle Klaser
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I have a deep love for the outdoors, adventure, and exploration. Living in Portland since 2001, I’ve pursued ultramarathons, backpacking, circumnavigations, rock and ice climbing, ...
Chris Kruell
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A native Minnesotan, I moved to Portland in the mid-1990s, and like many, quickly became enamored with our natural surroundings of ocean, forest, desert, and ...
Kirstin Labudda
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I was born in Germany and moved to Portland in 1994. I have worked as a research assistant and Public High School teacher. I am ...
Derrick (Dirk) Lakeman
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I like to make it fun for the climbers! I love to teach and really enjoy seeing the excitement on the faces of climbers, especially ...
Sandor Lau ???
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Pronounced SHAWN-door. Born in a good mood. I'd rather ski down the mountain. Rarely accused of being shy or taking too few photos. ...
Andrew Leaf
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A native Portlander, I grew up hiking and backpacking around the NW. I caught the climbing bug by taking BCEP in 2011 and haven't managed ...
Petra LeBaron-Botts
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(Very) technically from Portland, but raised in the Middle East and then in Washington, DC. I've been fortunate to call many places home including each ...
Chris LeDoux
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Pronouns: they/them
I appreciate mountain therapy and all of the ways that being and connecting in nature helps me to ground and heal. I believe ...
Climb Leader Bios
Josh Lockerby
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- Took Basic School (BCEP) in '83. Became a climb leader in '91.
- I like to teach/mentor climbers. Other hobbies include photography, astronomy, map making, home improvement. ...
John Lombard
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(He, him, his) Portland native who enjoys anything outdoors. In November, 2017 I decided to join Mazamas, learn to climb mountains, and meet others who ...
Linda Mark
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I took BCEP in 2006 and was instantly hooked on mountaineering. I followed up with ICS in 2007, Advanced Snow (spring snow module only) in ...
Walker McAninch-Runzi
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Passionate about all outdoor experiences, teaching others, and learning new things. Specifically stoked on alpine, ice climbing and my latest hobby: curling (all things ice ...
John Meckel
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I've been climbing since 1996 and for the past 20 years I've helped out teaching BCEP, ICS, and AR.
Forest Menke-Thielman
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If applying to my climbs: Please first check out this link about applying to climbs in the Mazamas for basic questions. Additionally, I ...
Rico Micallef
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I was very active in scouting. My son is an Eagle Scout, I even went to National Jamboree where I volunteered to teach scuba diving. ...
Daniel Mick
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**Note to potential applicants**: The first priority is ensuring fitness and well-balanced experience for the team. You can make this easier for leaders to evaluate ...
Thomas Miller
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My motivation to climb comes from being in a place that inspires awe of the natural world. Not necessarily the summit.
I have been a ...
Stephanie Nelson
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The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know. -Albert Einstein
Kirk Newgard
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"Going to the woods is going home." I love the outdoors. Raised by two Seattle Mountaineers, I have been outside hiking and camping my entire ...
Andy Nuttbrock
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Born and raised in Oregon and have been active in the outdoors for as long as I can remember. Skiing, Camping, fishing, hiking, etc. A ...
Laetitia Pascal
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From France, I started hiking and rock climbing in the Alpes, including Swiss / Italian / Julianisch Alpes, and started skiing.
After I moved ...
Nimesh Patel
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Climbing Resume
I moved out west in 2014 from the east coast (Washington DC area) and have been pretty much addicted to ...
Lynne Pedersen
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My goal is to create a team atmosphere with collaborative spirit to achieve a common goal of climbing a peak. Highest priority is to return ...
Theo Pham
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Climbing and nature are how I rest and also how I build community. Peak or no peak, having fun and getting back to the trailhead ...
James Pitkin
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I'm a climb leader interested in sharing my love of the outdoors and technical climbing. I was a backpacker for many years before I moved ...
Joe Preston
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(He/Him/His) I spent years playing drums and touring the country in punk bands. I'm a dog guy with an affinity for Boston Terriers. I have ...
Erin Reaksecker
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My name is Erin and I am in love with the outdoors! I moved to Portland about 13 years ago and got involved with the ...
Stacey Reding
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In August 2014 I learned about BCEP sitting on the crater rim of Mount Saint Helens with a hiking group with the Sierra Club. I ...
Lisa F Ripps
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- Climbing Since: I was a little kid
- Mazama Leader Since: 2010
- I Like Climbing On: Everything
- Mazamas Service: Climb Leader, BCEP leader, canyoneering leader/instructor, teaching: ICS, AR, MFA, ...
Christin Ritscher
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I love being out and about, and I'm adventurous by heart. <br> Learning & Teaching Climbing Skills is my favorite thing to do :)
I'm ...
Kevin Ritscher
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I joined the MAZAMAS around 2019, and shortly afterwards, joined BCEP, ICS, SSI, AR. I’m a young climb leader right now, and after some exposure ...
Anibal Rocheta
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Aníbal Rocheta is a Venezuelan-born mountaineer, published author, and the visionary founder of LOCO POR LA AVENTURA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating equitable access ...
Courtney Rust
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I'm a toddler mom, so climbing looks and feels different these days. Motherhood has completely reshaped my views of risk, teamwork, support, and communication.
...
Jay Satak
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I love the mountains and sharing it with friends. I like high places, snow and rock. I find the challenge of the mountains one I ...
Trey Schutrumpf
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My pronouns are he/him/his.
I grew up in Virginia spending most of my time around the water before I went to college in Appalachia. After ...
Greg Scott
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Pronouns: He/Him
People often ask me “what is your favorite climb?” I think the assumption is the answer will be something difficult or famous like ...
Marty Scott
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Retired CPA, Climb Leader since 1989, 16 peaks recipient. Since joining the Mazamas I have volunteered in many different capacities including coordinating and assisting with ...
Tim Scott
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I climbed South Sister and then joined the Mazamas in 1998. Since then, I've met a lot of great people climbing throughout the PNW, with ...
Suresh Singh
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Been climbing with the Mazamas for several years. Completed BCEP (2011), ICS (2012), AR (2017).
Rob Sinnott
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I grew-up in New Hampshire, ski bummed my way through college at the University of Utah, and now reside in NE Portland with my wife, Jeanne, and our ...
Bill Stein
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I grew up in South Carolina, where I was more drawn to its mountains than its coast. I have lived in Oregon for the bulk ...
John Sterbis
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My wife and I moved to Portland in 2012 after living in several Midwest cities and we love it here. In addition to climbing, I ...
Christine Troy
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I am an engineer turned middle school teacher turned engineer again who fell in love with climbing when I took BCEP in 2016 (Yatvin). After ...
Tracie Weitzman
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[She/her] Lifelong Oregonian got bit by the rock climbing bug in 2012 after years of hiking and backpacking. Took BCEP in 2015 to learn snow ...
Jeffrey Welter
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After a decade of Columbia River Gorge longer-distance hiking my first mountain climb was in 2000, Mt. Hood Wy'East route at the invitation of a ...
Guy Wettstein
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I grew up in both the Willamette Valley and San Francisco. Few personal accomplishments feel as rewarding to me as a well-executed climb, except maybe ...
Joe Whittington
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I joined the Mazamas in 1978 after climbing Mt. Hood for the first time, and I've been a climb leader since 1991. I have been ...
Glenn Widener
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I have been climbing with Mazamas and leading my own climbs since 1989, leading for the club since 2009. I Love Alpine Rock - the ...
Ania Wiktorowicz
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Born and raised near the Polish Tatra Mountains, the region where many great Polish climbers come from (ask me about it and I will never ...
Doug Wilson
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I grew up in Alaska and started climbing and skiing in high school. Joined the Mazamas in 1981 and became a leader in 1989. My ...