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One Year, One Community, One Bigger Dream: Celebrating Loco Basecamp's First Anniversary

One Year, One Community, One Bigger Dream: Celebrating Loco Basecamp's First Anniversary

Maria Teresa Lopes Laguna |

A Year That Changed Everything

Some anniversaries celebrate time.

Others celebrate impact.

On July 25, we celebrated something much bigger than the first anniversary of Loco Basecamp Mountaineering Center. We celebrated a dream that became reality, a community that continues to grow, and a mission that becomes stronger every single day.

One year ago, we opened the doors of our very first physical space—a place designed not simply as an outdoor store, but as a community hub where people could discover the outdoors, build confidence, learn new skills, and feel that they truly belong.

Today, that dream is larger than ever.

Because Loco Basecamp has never been just a store.

It is a nonprofit-powered community center where every purchase helps make outdoor education more accessible for everyone.

When you shop here, you shop with purpose.

A Celebration Built Around Community

From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere felt different.

Music filled the room.

Friends reunited.

New visitors discovered our mission for the first time.

Families explored climbing equipment together.

Volunteers welcomed guests with smiles.

Throughout the day, everyone enjoyed:

  • 25% off on select premium climbing brands including Petzl, Grivel, and Edelrid

  • Free snacks and beverages

  • Six incredible raffle prize packages

  • Great conversations with members of our community

  • A chance to celebrate everything we've built together over the past year

The energy reminded us why we created this space in the first place.

Because outdoor recreation isn't just about climbing mountains.

It's about building community.

Music, Laughter, and an Unforgettable Atmosphere

No celebration is complete without music.

Throughout the day, DJ Mungadelico and DJ Hensy kept the energy alive, creating an atmosphere where people stayed longer, connected with one another, and truly enjoyed the celebration.

Children played.

Families laughed.

Friends danced.

New friendships were formed.

It felt less like a store event—and more like a family reunion.

Exactly what we hoped Loco Basecamp would become.

Six Amazing Raffles Made Possible by Incredible Partners

One of the highlights of the anniversary was our raffle, featuring six incredible outdoor prize packages available to customers who supported the store during the event.

These prizes would not have been possible without the generosity of our partners.

A heartfelt thank you to:

  • Sterling Rope for sponsoring several of our climbing prize packages.

  • Rocky Talkie for generously donating one of the raffle prizes.

Your support helps us continue creating opportunities that inspire people to begin their outdoor journeys.

Refreshing Our Community

Our guests also enjoyed complimentary beverages generously provided by:

  • Athletic Brewing

  • Best Day Brewing

  • Guayakí Yerba Mate

Thank you for helping us create a welcoming environment where people could gather, relax, and celebrate together.

Community partnerships like these make events like ours possible.

A Special Thank You to Our Volunteers

Behind every successful event is a team of people who quietly dedicate countless hours to making everything happen.

To every volunteer who helped organize, set up, welcome guests, assist during the event, and clean up afterward:

Thank you.

Your dedication continues to demonstrate that Loco por la Aventura is built not only by staff, but by an incredible community of people who believe in making the outdoors accessible for everyone.

We are deeply grateful

Homemade Pizza, Shared Around the Table

One of the most memorable moments of the day came thanks to one of our longtime volunteers, Luis Camacho, who surprised everyone by preparing and bringing delicious homemade pizzas for the entire team and our guests.

It was a simple gesture.

But it perfectly reflected who we are.

People sharing what they have.

People taking care of one another.

People creating community around a table.

Sometimes the most meaningful memories aren't part of the official schedule—they happen naturally.

The Biggest Surprise of the Day

As special as the anniversary celebration was, the biggest announcement came when guests realized they weren't celebrating inside our original location.

They were standing inside the future of Loco Basecamp.

After months of planning, designing, building, painting, moving, and dreaming, we officially introduced our new home.

We are still in the same building—but now on the ground floor.

And that changes everything.

Our new space is approximately three times larger than our original location.

More importantly, it allows us to better fulfill our mission.

The larger layout gives us room to host more educational workshops, community gatherings, climbing clinics, leadership trainings, bilingual outdoor education programs, and nonprofit events while continuing to operate our outdoor retail store.

Being located on the first floor also makes the space significantly more welcoming and accessible for everyone who visits.

The excitement on people's faces as they walked into the new space reminded us why we spent more than six months working tirelessly to make this vision a reality.

More Than a Store

Loco Basecamp exists for a reason.

Yes, you'll find one of Portland's best selections of climbing, mountaineering, camping, and outdoor equipment.

You'll also find:

  • Outdoor gear rentals

  • A curated selection of used climbing equipment

  • Technical advice from experienced climbers

  • Community workshops

  • Educational programs

  • Leadership courses

  • Free and low-cost outdoor education opportunities

But what truly makes this place different is what happens after every purchase.

Unlike traditional outdoor retailers, 100% of every purchase directly supports the mission of Loco por la Aventura, our nonprofit organization.

Every dollar helps us remove barriers that prevent people from accessing the outdoors.

That support helps provide:

  • Bilingual instructors

  • Climbing education

  • Mountaineering programs

  • Camping experiences

  • Transportation for participants

  • Technical equipment

  • Scholarships for families with limited resources

  • Leadership development opportunities that help participants become certified outdoor instructors

Shopping here isn't simply buying equipment.

It's investing in someone's first adventure.

It's helping improve someone's physical and mental health through nature.

It's helping build the next generation of outdoor leaders.

Visit Our New Home

We are excited to officially welcome everyone to our new location.

Loco Basecamp Mountaineering Center
411 SE 6th Ave
Portland, OR 97214

We are now open every day of the week, making it even easier to visit us whenever it's convenient for you.

Store Hours

Monday – Saturday
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Simply ring the doorbell when you arrive, and we'll be happy to welcome you inside.

Whether you're looking for climbing gear, camping equipment, mountaineering advice, rental equipment, or simply want to learn more about our nonprofit programs, we'd love to meet you.

A Space for the Entire Community

Our new location was designed to serve more than outdoor enthusiasts.

We hope it becomes a welcoming space for nonprofit organizations, local businesses, community groups, educators, and individuals looking to host workshops, meetings, presentations, or educational programs that align with our mission.

Whether you're teaching, learning, collaborating, or building community, Loco Basecamp is a place where people come together.

Looking Back—and Looking Ahead

As we looked around during the celebration, we didn't just see climbing gear on shelves.

We saw countless volunteer hours.

Months of renovations.

Late nights.

Big dreams.

A community that believed.

Most importantly, we saw tangible proof that outdoor recreation can change lives.

One year ago, Loco Basecamp was simply an idea brought to life.

Today, it has become much more than an outdoor store. It is a community hub, an educational center, and a place where people of all backgrounds can discover the outdoors in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Every climbing harness sold, every backpack purchased, every rental, every class, and every workshop directly supports our nonprofit mission of making outdoor recreation accessible to the Latino community and beyond.

Together, we are helping more families experience camping for the first time.

We are introducing new climbers to the sport.

We are improving physical and mental well-being through outdoor recreation.

We are training future outdoor leaders and instructors.

And we are proving that the outdoors truly belong to everyone.

Our first anniversary wasn't simply a celebration of one successful year.

It was the celebration of a dream that has already impacted thousands of lives—and a reminder that the journey is only beginning.

Thank you to every volunteer.

Thank you to every partner.

Thank you to every sponsor.

Thank you to every customer.

Thank you to everyone who believes in our mission.

Because every purchase, every event, every class, every conversation, and every person who walks through our doors helps us continue breaking barriers and creating opportunities through outdoor recreation.

Here's to many more years of adventure, education, community, and purpose.

We'll see you at Basecamp.

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