A music teacher and outdoor enthusiast currently based in Portland, Oregon.
My primary passions are mountaineering and trail running. Any adventures that combine the two tend to be my favorite. Although I grew up primarily in Southwest Washington, outdoor recreation wasn't a priority in my family, so I came to love, appreciate, and learn about it on my own as an adult. I didn't even start hiking regularly until I finished graduate school in 2014! Backpacking, trail running, rock climbing, and mountaineering gradually became a part of my life over the past few years following those first hiking forays.
Outside of personal outdoor adventures, I enjoy being an ambassador for the PNW Outdoor Women group and organizing and providing opportunities for women to connect and adventure outdoors together. As a Filipina-Mexican woman navigating spaces predominantly occupied by white men, I'm especially passionate about getting more women of color climbing mountains and using whatever privileges I have to increase opportunities and gradually chip away at the barriers in place for many.
My goals are to continue to develop the necessary skills to assist or co-instruct on mountaineering courses offered through Climbers of Color; launch another gear scholarship for women of color and be able to equip more recipients this time; learn to climb ice
Favorite adventure to date: In 2019, my partner and I completed a single day summit and circumnavigation of Wy'east! It was such a fun and empowering experience, and a fantastic way to combine my two favorite activities on my favorite mountain with my favorite person. I hope to complete it again as a self-supported solo endeavor in the near future!
Fun fact: I have one sister. We have oftentimes been confused for twins because we have the same birthday, but we are actually two years apart!
