Blog

Have you recently sorted through your gear stash and found things that you haven't used in a while or no longer need? Rent a table at the Used Gear Sale and go home with some cash! Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we believe everyone should be able to access great stories. That's why we are thrilled to launch The Mountaineers Dispatch, a pilot project that brings our written content to life through audio. Audio tracks will allow members and readers to engage with our content in new ways, so whether you’re commuting, recreating outdoors, managing screen fatigue, or relying on audio formats for accessibility, you can now listen to Mountaineers stories wherever you are.  Read more…

Are you fascinated by the mysteries of the universe and the stars in the night sky? If so, then The Mountaineers Night Sky and Astronomy star gazing class is the perfect opportunity for you to explore and learn more about the wonders of the sky! Led by expert instructors who are passionate about astronomy, this class offers an unforgettable experience that will leave you inspired and awe-struck. Read more…

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to.. Read more…

Sunlight filters through the trail’s forested canopy as I struggle to keep up with nine students from Interagency Southeast. We’re on a day hike to Twin Falls in Ollalie State Park. Read more…

Looking for an opportunity to provide leadership for your branch’s vision and goals? Interested in offering key support for the Seattle Branch’s most dedicated volunteers? Ready to assume a Board of Directors position and serve as a liaison for The Mountaineers largest branch?  Read more…

Looking to translate your outdoor stoke into advocacy action to protect your backcountry forest adventures? We’ve got you covered. The Roadless Rule protects some of our most treasured places to recreate, like Washington Pass and the Teanaway. Last fall, the administration began a process to fully repeal the Roadless Rule and open up 58 million acres of national forests nationally to increased logging and development.  Read more…

Until I checked my membership date recently, I hadn’t realized I’ve been a Mountaineers member for 30 years. Wow! My career in environmental protection carried me from my Midwestern flatlands birthplace to the Pacific Northwest — a place I had dreamed about since childhood. After several years in Oregon and then Olympia, another career move brought me to Seattle. Read more…

Beyond Crystal Mountain ski area, Highway 410 winds past Mount Rainier’s Sunrise area, then jogs over Cayuse Pass before switch-backing over blasted cliffs to reach Chinook Pass and its flowery gem, Tipsoo Lake. Here in 1949, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court William O. Douglas was riding his horse on the Pacific Crest Trail when the horse shied, lost its footing, and rolled over him. The horse was all right, but the Justice broke 23 ribs and suffered a punctured lung. Read more…

The Olympia Mountaineers has been sponsoring Banff Mountain Film Festival for around 30 years. The tradition is still going strong - in March 2026, the festival will be back for three exciting evenings! Read more…

In the lead up to Erik joining us in Seattle for our Annual Gala in April, we asked him a few questions about his experiences in the outdoors and how he lives a life of adventuring with purpose. Enjoy these excerpts from an extended conversation with Erik. (Responses have been shortened for space.) Read more…

If there’s one thing that Mountaineers had in common in February, it was wishing for a lot more snow and a little more waterproofing. Despite less-than-ideal winter conditions, members still got out to hike, ski, paddle, scramble, and more together throughout the month of February.   Read more…

Since the 1960 release of the keystone title, Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, Mountaineers Books has served as a mission-driven home for the voices that define our relationship with the natural world.  Read more…

The Foothills Branch is seeking a new Branch Chair-Elect to begin the next 3-year leadership cycle by October 2026.  This is a meaningful and rewarding volunteer opportunity for someone who’s excited about supporting our broader Mountaineers community, strengthening volunteer connections, and helping the branch continue to grow and thrive.  Read more…

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

I was sitting in the third row of a large SUV, eyes wide as my sister passed an empty Oreo tray to the back of the car. My family had cracked open a window and gathered falling snow on the plastic lid, passing the snack tray from seat to seat excitedly as if they had captured a piece of magic. The mound of tiny ice crystals glittered under the car’s dome light. My first snowfall. Read more…

Washington’s state recreation areas - places like Tiger Mountain, Exit 38, and Frenchman’s Coulee - support Mountaineers programs and connect outdoor enthusiasts to nature across the state. Our ability to experience the outdoors through these state public lands relies on funding for land managers through the Washington state budget. Unfortunately, budget challenges have led to cuts to the land management agencies that manage and conserve these places.  Read more…

In January of 2025, I hiked about 50 miles of the Olympic Coast. The weather looked fairly dry the first week of January and the tides lined up, so I packed my bag and headed out. Read more…

Watching wildlife on our outdoor adventures can be a great way to connect to and foster a  deep appreciation for the natural world. Washington’s public lands span unique ecosystems and are home to a rich diversity of wildlife species. Spotting animals like owls, eagles, bears, or mountain goats creates special memories and enhances the outdoor experience. But wildlife encounters - and even our broader presence in wildlife habitat - can pose challenges that affect a species’ ability to thrive across landscapes. Read more…

Hiking is a year-round activity in the Pacific Northwest, which makes it the most popular way for new Mountaineers to find their footing in our community. Whether you are new to the region, new to hiking, or an experienced hiker new to The Mountaineers, here are some tips and trends that will help you feel confident in showing up to your first Mountaineers hike.  Read more…

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Volunteers are the heart of The Mountaineers operations, and this past year was no exception. A heartfelt thank you to the more than 3,000 members who generously gave their time during Fiscal Year 2025 (October 2024–September 2025), and to the many others who supported us from afar. Your contributions have truly made a difference. Read more…

Mountaineers members play a hands-on role in protecting, restoring, and maintaining the lands and waters of our region. From the Olympic National Forest over to the North Cascades and down to Mount St. Helens, our community continues to team up with land managers and outside stewardship organizations to support the trails and recreation areas that call us outdoors.  Read more…

Renowned thru-hikers and Mountaineers Books authors Derick Lugo and Heather Anderson are headed to BeWild on March 5 to celebrate their newest releases A Fabulous Thru-Hike and Farther. Read more…

As a kid, I never questioned my place in the outdoors. I grew up in the small town of Palmer, Alaska, running cross country, Nordic skiing, and snowshoe racing outside with my brothers. I didn’t yet realize how rare it was to be a young woman of color recreating in those spaces, because for me, it was all I had ever known. Read more…

The Mountaineers values transparency and takes pride in celebrating our successes. Our team is continuously working on updating our website, e-learning, and automated processes to enhance the user experience for members and volunteers. In this Changelog, we capture what improvements we have made over time so you can follow along and take advantage of new features. 

To learn more about our Technology program, check out our Technology Hub! Read more…

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to.. Read more…

Last month, we received the incredible news that The Mountaineers has been awarded a $324,000 Commercial & Industrial Decarbonization Grant from Puget Sound Energy for our Seattle Program Center (SPC) building electrification project.  Read more…

On January 11, over 40 members of the Foothills Branch met at the North Bellevue Community Center to celebrate our accomplishments in 2025! We had an incredible evening recognizing our leaders and Service Award recipients. Thank you to everyone who joined us! Read more…

The Foothills Branch Council is pleased to welcome Leah Rush as the new Branch Board of Directors Representative! We would like to thank the outgoing Branch Board Representative, Liz McNett Crowl, for all her service to the branch. Read more…