Interview with Mountaineer Theresa Silveyra

Theresa Silveyra is a goal setter. The Pacific Northwest-based music instructor is also a mountaineer and trail runner. In 2020, she set the goal of climbing Wy’East (Mt. Hood) thirty times before she turned thirty-years-old. She leveraged this challenge to raise awareness and funds for organizations that create safe spaces for women of color in the outdoors. Through the success of her fundraiser, she recognized the power of one. 

Ignited, Theresa set another goal- get more women of color into mountaineering. Creating a scholarship fund from her personal income, she provided women of color essential mountaineering gear and has been upfront about her willingness to mentor and climb together.  While there has been progress and conversation around accessibility in the outdoors, she can't help wonder, "Why are women of color still leading the charge to uplift other women of color. Where is everyone else?" ⁠

⁠Theresa sounds off about her love for mountaineering, her disappointment in mountaineering culture, and her drive to get more women of color into the mountains.

Photos from Theresa Silveyra.

You recently turned 30 years old. To commemorate this milestone, you decided to climb Wy'east (Mt. Hood) thirty times. Congratulations on completing this! What were the biggest highs and lows of this challenge? Thank you! It was such a fun challenge! And something that became more challenging when I still had 9 or 10 summits to complete when access was closed off due to COVID (during the prime part of the climbing season, too!). I'd have to say that that was probably the low point of the challenge. When access to the south side was restricted and stay-at-home orders went into effect in March, I came to the realization that completing my 30 before 30 goal probably wasn't going to happen. Even when it reopened at the end of May, I still wasn't sure I could make it happen before conditions began to deteriorate on the mountain.

One of the high points for me was the completion of the final five climbs. I did them all within seven days (3 consecutive climbs, 2 rest days, then 2 consecutive climbs). I felt physically destroyed after that, but I was so proud of myself for finishing strong and pushing through those physical and mental barriers. The final five climbs were also the climbs I used to launch a fundraiser for Climbers of Color, Outdoor Afro, and Decolonizing the Music Room. It was something that made me realize how much we as individuals are capable of doing to contribute to a collective effort. It was kind of a huge turning point for me, one that has made me more vocal and less afraid to take continued action to support my community. 

⁠How did you get into mountaineering? I grew up in Southwest Washington surrounded by Cascade volcanoes, but outdoor recreation wasn’t a priority for my family.  I had no idea that mountaineering was a thing until much, much later. When I moved back to the Pacific Northwest (after spending several years in Southern California), I wanted to start recreating outside more and to start climbing mountains. I built up to it gradually with hiking, backpacking, and trail/ultra running for a few seasons before doing my first winter climb of Loowit (Mount St. Helens), the mountain that dominated the skyline of my hometown. I was quite unprepared for it and learned a lot of lessons that day, but it also made me realize that this was something I loved and wanted to take more seriously. I saved up money and took a couple of classes with professional mountain guides to develop my skills and have been getting into the mountains ever since. 

What did you see as the biggest challenges to start mountaineering? How are these challenges amplified for women of color? For me, money was (and still is!) the greatest barrier to start and progress in mountaineering. The most basic equipment and attire alone (ice axe, crampons, boots, helmet, and proper clothing) costs hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars if you're unable to find it used or have it gifted to you. Taking classes, either with professional guides or through a mountaineering/climbing club, is also expensive and inaccessible for many. People will argue that finding mentors is the way to go in this case, but who do we see comprising much of the climbing community? Cis white men, many of whom actively deny that issues of racism and misogyny exist in the community. 

When I started mountaineering, I saw no one who looked like me. In my week-long mountaineering course for example, within a group of 10 people (both students and guides), I was the only woman AND person of color. In this instance, there was also this added pressure to perform well and attempt to exceed expectations because I wanted to be seen as worthy and deserving. It was exhausting. Not seeing yourself represented in spaces like these, on top of accessibility issues, is incredibly disheartening. 

In 2020, you created the PNW Women of Color in Mountaineering Gear Scholarship. You have also raised money for organizations who work to make the outdoors more inclusive with your "30 before 30." Why is this important to you? What is your vision for the future?  I started the PNW Women of Color in Mountaineering Gear Scholarship because I want to see more women of color getting after it in the mountains. Simply put, I want us to be represented. I want future generations to never have to question whether or not they belong in outdoor spaces.

The scholarship provides a few recipients with essential pieces of gear that are oftentimes cost-prohibitive, addressing at least one barrier to mountaineering. Many other issues need to be addressed for mountaineering to be a more accessible sport, but I do not doubt that the scholarship recipients will continue to support, uplift, and create future opportunities for other women of color in the mountaineering community (and beyond!). ⁠

If anything, I hope this scholarship can serve as yet another reminder to the existing (predominately white) outdoor community and brands that this work is being done on a grassroots level by women of color— often with very little means. 

Have you found the mountaineering community to be welcoming? What are the best and worst aspects of mountaineering culture? No, I have not found the mountaineering community to be welcoming, primarily because it is dominated by fragile, cis white men perpetuating toxic masculinity and colonizer mentality (ex. obsession with first ascents, attitude of "conquering" and "bagging" mountains, entitlement, gatekeeping, etc.). Off the top of my head, it's difficult to even see positive aspects of mountaineering culture. I guess the idea of comradery and teamwork could be seen as decent qualities, but again, when you don't see yourself represented in the first place, and your concerns about this are downplayed, mocked, or ignored altogether, it's apparent that comradery only exists for certain people. 

Recently, I have actively been seeking out and making a greater effort to climb with more women of color and it has been incredibly healing and fulfilling. I never realized how much I refrain from being my truest self around white climbing partners until I started climbing with other women of color. For the first time, I didn't have to worry about tone policing myself or trying to make myself more palatable. It was so freeing, like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. 

What do you love most about mountaineering? What keeps drawing you back? Strangely enough, I always find this question difficult to answer. I recently had this asked in an Instagram Q & A so I'll provide the same response. It's corny, but it still holds true. "Mountains and alpine environments have always been magical and awe-inspiring to me, especially growing up surrounded by them in Washington. Mountaineering has been my way of gaining proximity to that magic, and I enjoy working hard for it and discovering more about myself along the way." 

What is your advice to anyone who wants to try mountaineering? Go for it! Be safe. Be smart. Respect the mountains. They are not there for you to conquer. Don't compare yourself to others. Your journey is yours alone and mountaineering is something you do for yourself. 

Follow Theresa at @theresasilveyra. Please consider supporting her annual scholarship or other BIPOC-led organizations, projects, fundraisers, etc. that are working to increase diversity and inclusion in their respective spaces. Thank you for your time Theresa!