BaseCamp Mountaineering Center, opened in June 2025, is Portland’s first Latino-led outdoor hub. We provide affordable rentals, new and secondhand gear, and bilingual workshops that teach climbing, survival, and outdoor skills. Our consignment model keeps equipment accessible while promoting sustainability.100% of profits are reinvested into free community programs that open the outdoors to all.

Adidas Community Lab Support– Loco por la Aventura was selected by the adidas Community Lab in Portland as a partner organization recognized for advancing equity and inclusion in outdoor education. Through mentorship, training, funds and national recognition, we joined a network of social entrepreneurs creating lasting impact. This achievement was highlighted in Forbes here.

Written by our founder Aníbal Rocheta, Nadie Logra lo que No se Atreve (Nobody Achieves What They Don’t Dare) is an illustrated guide to climbing and mountaineering that combines academic insight with lived experience. Published in May 2023, this Spanish edition (206 pages) serves as both a practical reference and a source of deep inspiration for anyone seeking to explore the mountains.

For Aníbal—Venezuelan mountaineer, professional climber, ecotourism expert, and outdoor instructor—mountaineering is more than a sport; it is a way of life that has taught him persistence, resilience, and the value of never giving up in the face of obstacles. Over more than two decades, he has scaled towering walls and summited iconic peaks in Venezuela, Peru, and the United States, led major expeditions, and even pioneered outdoor education in Venezuela through the TV program Expedición 20:09 and his company Aguedo Xpeditions.

Now, as the founder of Loco por la Aventura, Aníbal brings that same spirit to inspire the Latino community and beyond in North America to discover the outdoors. His book not only teaches climbing techniques and mountaineering fundamentals, but also encourages readers to respect nature, conquer fears, and pursue their own summits—reminding us that truly, “Nadie logra lo que no se atreve.”

Since 2021, our founders have served as leaders and advocates of this program, supported by Mazamas, helping to shape the next generation of outdoor leaders. To date, the program has graduated at least 45 participants in basic mountaineering and climbing, equipping them with the technical skills, confidence, and cultural grounding to thrive in the outdoors. Beyond technical training, BCEP Latino (Basic Climbing Education Program) builds community, fosters representation, and inspires participants to step forward as future guides, mentors, and changemakers in the outdoor world.

Oregon Business highlighted the opening of Loco por la Aventura’s BaseCamp Mountaineering Center, the first Latino-owned outdoor store in Oregon. Co-founders Aníbal Rocheta and Maria Teresa Lopes transformed their guiding company into a community hub that blends retail with purpose: selling new and used gear, offering rentals, and reinvesting profits into free and low-cost bilingual outdoor programs. Despite the recent closures of major outdoor retailers in Portland’s core, BaseCamp stands out as a bold and resilient venture, reflecting both the founders’ immigrant story and their mission to break barriers for Latino families and the broader community. The article underscores how BaseCamp is not only filling a market gap but also reshaping what outdoor retail means in Portland—community-driven, inclusive, and future-focused.

The Oregonian/OregonLive, the most important and widely read news outlet in Oregon, highlighted the opening of BaseCamp Mountaineering Center, the state’s first Latino-owned outdoor gear store, located at 544 SE Oak St, Suite 206 in Portland. Founded by Aníbal Rocheta and María Teresa Lopes, who previously led a Latino-centered guiding company, the store offers new and used gear, rentals, and bilingual community-led workshops. As a nonprofit-inspired venture, proceeds from the shop are reinvested into accessible outdoor programs, creating a community hub that bridges outdoor recreation with underserved communities and elevates representation in the industry.break barriers for Latino families and the broader community. The article underscores how BaseCamp is not only filling a market gap but also reshaping what outdoor retail means in Portland—community-driven, inclusive, and future-focused.

OPB profiled Loco por la Aventura as a Latino-led initiative breaking language and cultural barriers to make Oregon’s outdoors more accessible. Founded by Venezuelan refugees Aníbal Rocheta and Maria Teresa Lopes, the nonprofit guides Spanish-speaking communities through rafting, climbing, camping, and mountaineering while fostering belonging, wellness, and joy. The article highlights their journey from arriving in the U.S. with two suitcases to creating a vibrant outdoor community where immigrants, families, and youth can connect with nature, celebrate culture, and gain confidence. With programs like rafting trips on the Deschutes River and the release of Rocheta’s Spanish-language mountaineering book, Loco por la Aventura is building equity, leadership, and community in Oregon’s outdoors.

VoyageUtah, a nationally recognized media outlet known for uplifting inspiring community stories, profiled Aníbal Rocheta—Founder of Loco por la Aventura. The feature highlights his journey from leading mountain expeditions and ecotourism initiatives in Venezuela to becoming one of the first Latino members of the Mazamas in Oregon. Arriving in the U.S. as a political refugee with limited English, Aníbal rebuilt his career through resilience and passion, ultimately co-creating Loco por la Aventura. The article emphasizes how the project, which began as a Spanish-language TV show with Open Signal, has grown into a mission-driven initiative that empowers Latino families to embrace outdoor recreation, health, and community connection.

Maria Teresa (Mate) Lopes Laguna and Aníbal Rocheta, Venezuelan creators and co-founders of Loco por la Aventura, share how their nonprofit invites the Latino community to connect with nature. In this episode, they talk about their outdoor adventures, video series, and Aníbal’s new book.

Producers Corner, from MetroEast Community Media, highlights diverse voices and creators from East Multnomah County and beyond.