Rainier looms large on the skyline south of Seattle, but what do you do once you are standing on the behemoth itself? Author Dan Nelson and photographer Alan Bauer know just where to go. In their new hiking guide, Day Hiking: Mount Rainier from Mountaineers Books, these seasoned daytrippers survey a bevy of great hiking and backpacking trails.

Using stunning imagery and well-earned trail knowledge Alan Bauer will give you a grand overview of all that the mountain has to offer. The speaker will discuss the storm damage that has rocked Mount Rainier National Park over the past two years, the efforts to restore trails and roads, and what changes they have caused for visitors.

Join us at the Tacoma Clubhouse for this informative and awe-inspiring look at the 'perfect' outdoor destination.

Lincoln Hall likes to say that on the evening of May 25, 2006 he died on Everest. Hall, in fact, was pronounced dead, after collapsing from cerebral oedema (also known as "altitude sickness") shortly after reaching the summit. Two sherpas spent hours trying to revive him but, as darkness fell, the expedition's leader ordered via radio that the sherpas should descend in order to save themselves. Hall was pronounced dead and the news of his death traveled rapidly from mountaineering websites to news media around the world, and ultimately to Hall's wife and two sons back in Australia.

Early the next morning, an American guide climbing with two clients and a Sherpa was startled to find Hall alive, sitting cross-legged on a sharp crest of the summit ridge just staring at them.

On June 11 at 7 p.m., Lincoln Hall recounts his amazing story, also chronicled in his new book "Dead Lucky." This is a free event, and books will be available for sale.

Over the course of this summer, many groups involved with Wild Sky will be planning celebrations and special events connected to the area. We'll try to bring you notice of these events as they reach our office. This is truly and environmental success worth celebrating, especially after a somewhat difficult past few years.

Read about the Wild Sky's passage in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

As part of the efforts, Ranger Doug Enterprises has created a poster based on a classic WPA design from the late 1930's, shown at right. To see a larger image, head over to our Conservation blog. For more information about future recovery efforts, visit the SCA website, or head directly to the Mount Rainier page on the National Parks site and volunteer your time or make a donation.

Have you ever seen the spectacular colors of the maples and the hobble bush painting the landscape of New England? If not, join us as we hike under a canopy of fall colors in the ancient Appalachian Mountains, among the oldest on Earth and once towered above the continents as the Himalayans do today. The brilliantly jeweled gold and ruby ridges of the White Mountains will be etched in your memory for ever.

The Mountaineers' Recreational Properties Division will again offer an eight-day expedition through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We will depart Oct. 5 and return Oct. 12. Since we will be hiking between the full service huts and lodges of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), you will not have to carry a sleeping bag or food except for lunch. Most trails are dotted with large rocks and may include short stretches of scrambling.

Trip preview: Feb. 11, 7 p.m., Granite Room, Mountaineers Building. See where we are going, what we will be doing and what we may see on this outing.

For the full description of this outing, including fees and itinerary, please visit the International & North American Outings page.

Click to enlarge

Show your support for The Mountaineers, and tell the world where your priorities lie! These shirts are available through our Seattle office so stop by and pick one up. Or give us a call at 206-284-6310 to order yours today!

Braided River books bring together some of the world's best nature photographers with thoughtful essays by well-known authors, conservationists and public figures. The books' distinctive voices are carried to a wider audience through lectures, exhibits and multi-media presentations, held in partnership with leading environmental organizations. As branches of a braided river cut new channels and then reunite, the books are conceived to weave connections between photographers and writers, environmental groups and the public.

The first book to be published under the new imprint will be The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World, due out in February 2008. This remarkable book combines wildlife photography by Steven Kazlowski with first-person accounts of his Arctic adventures and thought-provoking essays that provide a fresh perspective on the effects of climate change.

Please visit the Braided River website to find out more about this incredible new imprint and its mission. And stay tuned for special events and announcements connected with Braided River.

Keep up with developments at Magnuson Park by visiting the website of the New Facilities Construction Committee (NFCC). There you will find pictures of the current Building 67, construction updates, schedules of activities, and more!