Featured in 2027
alpine, ice & rock climbing guide
USA
Theresa is a full-time alpine, ice, and rock climbing guide in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado - happiest teaching alpine skills and guiding Mount Hood. A Rescue Leader with Portland Mountain Rescue and its first BIPOC leader in that role, she founded the Color the Cascades gear scholarship for women and genderqueer people of color in the Pacific Northwest. She left a 15-year music teaching career to pursue her dream of becoming a Certified Alpine Guide through the AMGA.
What do you do in the mountains?
I work as a full-time alpine, ice, and rock climbing guide in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. I particularly love getting the opportunity to teach alpine skills to help clients and students reach their climbing goals. My favorite medium to climb is ice. My favorite mountain to climb and guide is Mount Hood.
I volunteer as a Rescue Leader with Portland Mountain Rescue - only one of two female Rescue Leaders in our organization, as well as the first and only BIPOC Rescue Leader. I founded and run the annual Color the Cascades mountaineering gear scholarship program for women and genderqueer POC in the Pacific Northwest.
The moment that means the most
Leaving my music teaching career of 15+ years to fully pursue guiding as a career and dedicate more time to the guiding certification process.
What's next?
Finishing the AMGA Alpine Guide certification in the next couple of years and continuing to expand the terrain and objectives I guide. Continuing to grow the Color the Cascades scholarship program.
Theresa is one of twelve women in the 2027 Women of Mountaineering wall calendar. Every calendar funds future Summit Scholarships and Adventure Lens Grants for women and girls.
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