My mother-in-law likes to get out. She's a Mazama. Membership requires that you must have climbed to the summit of a glaciated peak. She did that years ago...and probably more than once! She used to go on 25-mile bicycle rides back when she was in her 70's. Now, she limits her activities to things more suitable to her age. She wouldn't think of missing her hike every Wednesday with the group she has belonged to for the last 30 years.
After having some health issues that might require immediate treatment, she felt trapped by the need to stay close to the city. She decided a cell phone would give her the security to venture out to the trails and maintain her independence.
So, on Sunday, we signed her up for a cell phone. Three days later she had need for it.
While hiking in the Columbia River Gorge, where on two separate days this spring, two younger people than her have slipped off an trail and tumbled down a cliff to their deaths, my mother in law had use for her phone, but not for herself.
Her 90-year-old hiking partner slipped off a recently altered trail and tumbled head-first down a cliff. After hitting a ledge, he tumbled again and was out of sight. The old gals hustled down the trail and were lucky enough to come across a trained medic who scaled the cliff and provided immediate first aid to her friend.
By the time they pulled him up the cliff on his stretcher, plenty of police cars had responded to the call. And news stations from the three network TV stations in Portland.
It must have been a young punk from the TV station who thought he would get a scared or shook-up reaction from the dignified lady sitting out of the way in the car. He poked his camera into the car and asked her if they were going to quit hiking.
She looked at him and replied. "We've been hiking for 30 years. Why would we stop? Look, we don't even let the rain stop us."
When I got the call at work about the accident, I mentioned it to some of the 50-year-old youngsters I work with. Their reaction? "She went hiking in this weather????"
Luckily her friend will be okay. He was fully conscious and cracking jokes in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
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Comments: 78
It wore me out just reading this Ellie. Do you even try and keep up with her?
I'm glad her partner is ok.
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Ten plus for the most inpirational story I've read in weeks, Ellie.
Thank you!
Hey, is 'Mazama' for the volcano that became Crater Lake?
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 is simply to . . . “Provide a comprehensive climbing program with allied activities that enhance and protect the participants and the environment.”
To support this mission, we offer over 350 climbs and 700 hikes annually, and sponsor conservation and research to protect and better understand the alpine environment. Our activities depend almost entirely on the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, who contribute over 38,000 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.”
The Mazamas 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.
I'm glad that things turned out okay for her hiking partner.
Very cute! I'm glad everyone is okay!
I hope I'm like that when I'm old!
Ellie, your MIL is one tough lady. I love it!
She is an amazing lady.
dunno what shape I will be in this age....awesome!
You are lucky to have such a brave and sporting MIL I wish her many more such adventures,I dare not call it misadventure,
Oh my goodness, your MIL sounds like quite a woman and I'm glad she got the phone. Isn't it crazy what the news pays attention to?
What an amazing woman she is and so are her friends - wow, they've got more, (a lot) more energy than I do and unlike me, they're not afraid of heights. I'm pretty sure I'm jealous! This is very, very uplifting.
Now that's the way to go. If you're going to go anyhow, do it having a blast.
Good for your MIL and her friends.
wow, she is quite some lady... more power to her...and all her friends .... LOL
What a gutsy lady your mother-in-law is... Good for her!
Ellie - well, I like your mother in law - tough ole bird that she is and that goes for all her friends and especially the one who fell down - wow! I think it's important that we all keep moving because that's what keeps our bones strong! This is inspirational and reminds me a bit of my own 86 year old cousin who is a newly wed - her new husband, number six, is in his 90's and they still go out dancing! Salud
She has a 90 year old hiking partner...good for her. Loved this article...it gives me hope...maybe I'll be hiking at 90.
That is so cool! I want to go through the rest of my life like that! Kudos to her and her friends! I'm glad no one was hurt, but life is for living, not waiting around to die!
ye older n wiser bolder and faster
Very interesting!
Wonderful story Ellie! We should never stop doing things we want because of age. It would seem that "activity" is the fountain of youth!
I've been getting out more so, hopefully, I can be doing the same thing when I'm that age!
otherwise it would prolly b great fun 2 hike w/ ur mil
Guess I'd best start my training. I'm only in my 50's and so I've got some time.
I bet you are very proud of her.
They were on the TV news again last night. The injured gentleman laced up his hiking boots again...with doctor's ok. They made it a short hike...just 5 miles! My MIL was upset because she would have worn something nicer if she new the TV would have been there!
To wish you a Happy Halloween too
Glad her friend is alright. I liked what she said to that TV
guy, bet he didn't expect that !!
Hugs, Barbie