Stewarding Public Lands: Our Conservation and Access Priorities
Publicly-owned forests, mountains, and shorelines are the staging grounds for over 2,500 Mountaineers courses, trips, and activities each year. Our members recreate, volunteer, study and teach on a patchwork of lands managed by state, federal and local agencies. As citizens of the public lands system, we are not only qualified, but obligated to be involved in the management and protection of our public lands for future generations.
The Mountaineers connects passionate and intelligent people to the public landscape, cultivating outdoor citizens who further the following priorities:
Environmental Literacy
Inspire, engage, inform
Environmental literacy encompasses awareness and knowledge of the environment -- the foundation for all informed policy action and individual action. The Mountaineers continues a long tradition of programs and courses that connect the public to issues affecting the natural world.
Wilderness Protection
Protect wild, intact ecosystems
Wilderness is the stage for true backcountry experience, but more importantly, expansive and undeveloped landscapes are vital for wildlife habitat, clean water, and healthy forests. By preserving wild, intact lands we preserve the defining features, flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest and provide the ability for future generations to explore the untamed natural world.
Responsible Recreational Access
Preserve connections to healthy landscapes
Recreational access to public lands is essential to the continued conservation and stewardship of the outdoors. The Mountaineers supports environmentally-sound trails, climbing routes, and water access for a range of human-powered activities. In circumstances where access conflicts with other conservation objectives, The Mountaineers will make a concerted effort to choose the position that provides the best-possible result for the long-term sustainability of the area in question. The Mountaineers will work with land managers to steward recreational infrastructure and provide oversight on fees collected for public use.
Low Impact Recreation
Prevent and respond to backcountry recreation impacts
Recognized as a leader in best practices for outdoor activities, The Mountaineers has a great capacity to reduce and prevent recreational impacts to the environment. By aligning with the principles and skills promoted by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Education, The Mountaineers will be a regional leader and on the cutting edge of training educators and leaders in the field. Partnerships with land managers will thrive as The Mountaineers works to identify and restore backcountry areas that have seen over-use or abuse by recreationists.
Accountable Land Management
Advocate for responsible administration of public lands
As the largest organized recreational user group on public lands in the region, The Mountaineers offers an informed, boots-on-the-ground perspective into land management policies and practices. Land managers and policy makers recognize The Mountaineers as a reputable and responsible stakeholder. Through policy advocacy, training and issue education, The Mountaineers will continue to be vigilant champions for responsible rule-making and advocates for accountable management of public lands.
Protect the Outdoors/Get Involved
The Mountaineers offers opportunities to participate in public land stewardship, environmental education, and policy work across our branches. Contact Sarah Krueger, Public Lands Programs manager, to find out how to get involved!
