Aida Bagheri Hamaneh

Youth Programs

While Aida spent much of her childhood in creeks or up trees, it wasn’t until grad school in 2022 that she got hooked on climbing. Living in southwestern Virginia, she was a short(ish) two hours from the New River Gorge, where climbing offered a welcome reprieve from long hours in the lab. 

She initially fell in love with climbing because it made her feel strong and brave, but she stayed for the community and the way climbing can be welcoming, diverse, and accessible to people of all backgrounds and abilities. In her professional and volunteer work, Aida partners with organizations to make the outdoors more accessible for marginalized groups.

When Aida moved to Hood River in 2024 to start a job with the Forest Service, one of her first stops in town was Brimstone, and she's been coming back ever since. She’s excited to join the team and inspire the next generation of climbers!

When she’s not climbing, Aida loves taking plunges in alpine lakes, backpacking, and going herping with friends.