Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma - 2023

Youth Program

Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma

Year-round outdoor adventure, skill-building, and leadership development for teens age 14-18

Mountaineers Adventure Club (MAC) is a year-round course, focused on teaching climbing and backcountry skills to teens age 14-18

MAC Membership is $850 for the year. Members may register here and pay in full, or you may contact sarahh@mountaineers.org to set up a quarterly payment plan.

ABOUT MAC

Mountaineers Adventure Club (MAC) is a year-round course, focused on teaching climbing and backcountry skills to teens age 14-18. (If you are 13 and going into high school, or 19 and finishing high school, you are still allowed to participate.)

MAC members get to choose and plan their own outdoor trips and goals for the year, and then make a plan to achieve those goals. Members meet one Wednesday evening per month at the Tacoma Mountaineers to plan and practice skills, and then go on at least one weekend outdoor trip per month. 

TRIPS

MAC members brainstorm and plan the trips they want to do at the beginning of the year. Each year trips are different, but generally include a mix of rock climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing. Past trips have included:

Glacier climbing & mountaineering trips, such as: Climbing Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Baker, Mt. Daniel, Sahale Peak, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Shuksan

Rock climbing trips, such as cragging in Leavenworth, Squamish, Vantage, and Mazama, and Smith Rock

Alpine rock climbs, such as The Tooth, Liberty Bell, South Early Winter Spire, Ingalls Peak

Backcountry skiing Mt. St. Helens, Camp Muir, and Mt. Adams

Backpacking trips

Day hikes

Snow  camping at Mt. Rainier

SUPERVISION

All trips are supervised by adult staff and/or trained volunteers. Parent participation is not required, though parents with outdoor skills are encouraged to volunteer!  All staff and volunteers must pass a background check and be certified through The Mountaineers in any skill they are teaching or trip they are leading.

GEAR

Outdoor equipment can almost always be borrowed from The Mountaineers when given enough notice (usually 1-2 weeks prior to trip).  See the gear list below for more details.

EXPECTATIONS

To be in good standing with Tacoma MAC, members are expected to attend at least 75% of meetings, and at least 50% of trips. Communication about trips and meetings will happen primarily over email, and members are expected to respond to email in a timely manner. Members must demonstrate proficiency in skills at meetings and training trips in order to be eligible for alpine climbs.

MAC MEMBERSHIP FEE

MAC Membership is $850 for the year. Members may register here and pay in full, or you may contact sarahh@mountaineers.org to set up a quarterly payment plan. Your MAC membership costs cover: staff time, transportation costs, gear, camping fees and permits, and food for longer trips.  Members cannot opt out of payments because they missed that month's trip.

Program Requirements
Program Activity Date Availability Leader
TAC MAC Ski Mountaineering (optional)
Sahale Peak/South Slope
Sat, Apr 20, 2024 -
Sun, Apr 21, 2024
Registration closed Apr 18
3 participants
0 instructors
TAC MAC Scramble (optional)
Mount Ellinor (winter)
Sun, Apr 21, 2024
Registration closes Apr 19
4 participants
1 chaperone
0 instructors
Cadet Peak
Tue, Aug 13, 2024 -
Wed, Aug 14, 2024
Registration opens Jul 1; Instructor registration open now
8 participants
2 instructors
TAC MAC Skills Night (optional)
Tacoma Program Center
Wed, Apr 24, 2024
Registration closes Apr 23
5 participants
3 instructors
Tacoma Program Center
Wed, May 22, 2024
Registration closes May 21
6 participants
3 instructors
Tacoma Program Center
Wed, Jun 12, 2024
Registration closes Jun 11
6 participants
3 instructors
Tacoma Program Center
Wed, Jul 3, 2024
Registration closes Jul 2
6 participants
3 instructors
Tacoma Program Center
Wed, Jul 31, 2024
Registration closes Jul 30
6 participants
3 instructors
TAC MAC Backcountry Ski/Snow Scramble (optional)
Mount Adams/South Spur
Sat, May 4, 2024 -
Sun, May 5, 2024
Registration closes May 2
1 participant
0 instructors
TAC MAC Advanced Skills Night (optional)
Tacoma Program Center
Wed, May 8, 2024
Registration closes May 6
10 participants
0 instructors
TAC MAC Conditioner Hike (optional)
Snoqualmie Mountain
Wed, May 15, 2024
Registration closes May 13
0 participants
1 chaperone
0 instructors
TAC MAC Climbing Trip (optional)
Exit 32
Sun, May 19, 2024
Registration closes May 17
5 participants
2 instructors
Leadership Series (optional)
Tacoma Program Center
Wed, May 29, 2024
Registration closes May 27
7 participants
TAC MAC Alpine Climb (optional)
Bonanza Peak/Mary Green Glacier
Fri, Jun 21, 2024 -
Sun, Jun 23, 2024
Registration opens Jun 21; Instructor registration open now
3 participants
1 instructor
Mount Baker/Coleman Glacier
Thu, Jul 18, 2024 -
Fri, Jul 19, 2024
Registration opens Jun 1; Instructor registration open now
9 participants
2 instructors
Mount Olympus/Blue Glacier
Sat, Jul 27, 2024 -
Mon, Jul 29, 2024
Registration opens Jul 1; Instructor registration open now
8 participants
2 instructors
TAC MAC Climbing/Camping Trip (optional)
Leavenworth
Thu, Jun 27, 2024 -
Fri, Jun 28, 2024
Registration closes Jun 25
5 participants
1 instructor
Klipchuck Campground
Sun, Jul 7, 2024 -
Sun, Jul 14, 2024
Registration closes Jul 5
15 participants
3 chaperones
5 instructors
Roster
Required Equipment

See trip equipment list

Program Materials

There are no materials for this program.