Grit and Guts

The PSU Outdoor Program has grit and guts! Check out the 75th anniversary edition of the Portland State Magazine, which features 21 fascinating objects and artifacts from Portland State University's past—one of which is connected to the Outdoor Program (ODP). The excerpt below dives into the ODP’s past with a 1969 yearbook photo and a mountaineering ice axe. Read the full Pieces of History story for a fond and fascinating look at PSU's past through 21 objects and artifacts.

A special thank you to Todd Bauch and Chris Bullard for their insight and contributions to this story.

Grit and Guts

This mountaineering ice axe from the mid- to late-1960s is a relic of the Portland State Outdoor Program’s earliest inventory. How it survived this long without getting lost, stolen or broken is a mystery. The axe was connected to the Outdoor Program by the number 11 imprinted on the handle, which is in series with the numbering on ice axes pictured in this photo from the 1969 Viking yearbook. The photo was likely taken on the south side of Mount Hood during a program trip. Printed above it is a poem that includes the lines: Somewhere amid bruises / and sore muscles and minor traumas, / you find strength. / On the outside, it’s know-how. / On the inside, it’s guts.

Established in 1966 and celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, the PSU Outdoor Program was the first of its kind and has served as a model for university programs across the nation. Today, it’s housed within Campus Recreation and offers guided trips, workshops and rental gear, as well as an indoor Climbing Center. You can even rent an ice axe, albeit a newer version, for your next adventure.