Everett Branch Blog Posts

Thriving public lands that support outdoor recreation depend on stable, robust federal funding from Congress. As we look toward the next funding cycle, the public lands we know and love are at a crossroads. Over the last year and half, federal land managers like the Forest Service and Park Service have experienced multiple waves of staffing cuts. These workforce reductions - of up to 25% nationally - have significantly reduced the agencies’ ability to protect natural resources, manage sustainable outdoor access, and support local partnerships on public lands.  Read more…

The daylight is waning, but The Mountaineers spirit certainly isn't! Read on, dear friends, for salmon runs, fungi, and even a rainbow that brightened our day during this dreary season. Read more…

Update: On Wednesday, November 12, Congress passed - and the President signed into law - a short-term funding bill to fully re-open the federal government and end the partial government shutdown. However, it will take some time for things to return to normal.

Mountaineers members have flexed their grassroots advocacy muscle in a big way this year. From rebuffing public lands sell-offs in Congress to speaking up to defend backcountry forests protected by the Roadless Rule, your constituent letters have made a difference by elevating the importance of public lands and outdoor access with lawmakers during a challenging time. Read more…

The North Sound Leadership Conference is just one month away! Read more…

The annual gold rush has come and gone... and I'm happy to report that our Mountaineers didn't miss a single second of it. Read on, dear friends, for photogenic clouds, berry snackfests, knee-deep pow, salmon-egg slime molds, yummy yellows, and a whole host of shoulder-season sagas. Read more…

Each year, The Mountaineers and our Outdoor Alliance Washington (OA WA) partners visit Washington, D.C. to unite leaders in the human-powered outdoor community to advocate together with lawmakers and land managers for shared conservation and recreation priorities.  Read more…

The Everett Branch is seeking an interim Branch Chair to finish the last 2 years of the current 3-year leadership cycle. 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…

For years, the Mount Pilchuck Road - which provides access to the Heather Lake Trailhead and Mount Pilchuck - was notoriously known for its many potholes and extremely rough road. Thanks to funding from the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), visitors to the area have enjoyed a significantly repaired road since 2024, making the popular Heather Lake and Mount Pilchuck hikes accessible to more outdoor enthusiasts. This project is just one of the many ways the LRF has created a more safe and sustainable future for Washington’s public lands and the recreation experiences they provide. Read more…

For over a century, the Fairfax Bridge has carried hikers, climbers, and campers into Mount Rainier National Park’s northwest corner. Now, the bridge is permanently closed, cutting off access to some of the most popular destinations in the park. Read more…

For nearly 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected the natural resources and backcountry recreational opportunities provided by the National Forest System from road construction, logging, and other development. With this foundational conservation measure now under threat, the mantra “defend the Roadless Rule” is rallying Mountaineers and stakeholders across Washington’s outdoor community to take action in high numbers to protect old-growth forests and backcountry experiences.  Read more…

Update: On Wednesday, November 12, Congress passed - and the President signed into law - a short-term funding bill to fully re-open the federal government and end the partial government shutdown. However, it will take some time for things to return to normal.

Lawmakers in Congress failed to pass a stopgap funding bill by the end of the fiscal year deadline of September 30, resulting in a partial federal government shutdown. Read more…

The Mountaineers is thrilled to welcome artist, climber, and adventurer Jeremy Collins to the BeWild Speaker Series for an evening unlike any other. Fresh off the release of his new graphic memoir, Eventually a Sequoia: Stories of Art, Adventure & the Wisdom of Giants, Collins is bringing his creative process to life through an immersive performance that blends visual art, storytelling, and environmental reflection. Read more…

For over a decade, The Mountaineers has inspired adventures of all kinds through the BeWild Speaker Series - and this year’s lineup promises to be as unforgettable as ever. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we know the critical role that federal land managers like the Forest Service play in the conservation and stewardship of our public lands. Behind each trail improvement, bridge replacement, and forest health project on your favorite national forest is the support and expertise of regional agency staff. Regional capacity, knowledge of local landscapes, relationships in forest communities, and on-the-ground experience are increasingly critical to carrying out the mission of the Forest Service - work that can look different from forest to forest.
Read more…

Mountainfilm on Tour will return to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on Thursday, October 16, at 7pm! Founded in 1979, Mountainfilm is one of America’s longest-running documentary film festivals, dedicated to celebrating stories of indomitable spirit and inspiring audiences through film, art, and ideas. Read more…

Over the last two months we’ve shared about the administration’s intent to roll back the Roadless Rule and how Washington’s Roadless Areas support Mountaineers adventures. Now the USDA has formally launched a federal rulemaking process to rescind Roadless protections for nearly 45 million acres of the National Forest System. Nearly two million acres of Washington’s forests would be put at risk. It’s time to take action once again in support of Roadless Areas.
Read more…

August is the heart of summer, and trip reports from this month of scrambling, sea kayaking, star-gazing, and more confirm that our hearts are full. Read on for some of our favorite trip reports from this month. Read more…

Photographer and author Tommy Corey has built his career around amplifying stories of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the outdoors. As an LGBTQ+ Mexican-American creative based in Redding, California, Corey first fell in love with life outside during his thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey that sparked a wholehearted devotion to documenting the transformative power of nature.  Read more…

Mountainfilm on Tour is coming back to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center! Founded in 1979, Mountainfilm is one of America’s longest-running film festivals, inspiring audiences through stories of indomitable spirit.  Read more…

The Roadless Rule is a key conservation safeguard that protects two million acres of national forests in Washington - and more than 58 million acres nationally - from logging and development. Unfortunately, the current administration is planning to undermine Roadless protections by repealing the Roadless Rule. Read more…

One of the ways we're reducing our organization's impact on the environment is by educating our community about sustainability and how we can collectively reduce our carbon footprint as Mountaineers. This includes sharing about the Carbon Footprint Reduction Committee’s work to reduce the carbon impact of Mountaineers facilities and operations, as well as steps you can take to reduce your individual carbon footprint. Read more…

Say goodbye to summer by unloading your extra outdoor gear or by scoring items on your fall gear wish list with our End of Summer Gear Grab! You can stop by The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on September 9 from 6-8pm to buy or sell gently used outdoor gear. Read more…

The towering evergreens and moss-covered trails of the Olympic Peninsula play an important role in connecting outdoor enthusiasts from near and far to the natural world. But public lands and trails like these aren’t just critical for outdoor programs, they’re an ideal setting for relationship building efforts with policymakers and their staff, one hike at a time. Read more…

One of the ways the recreation community speaks up for the lands we love is by participating in public comment opportunities provided by federal land agencies like the Forest Service and the National Park Service. Many opportunities to weigh in on land management planning processes are required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Through the years, Mountaineers have continued to answer calls to action to participate in NEPA processes, including efforts to protect Washington’s Methow Valley from mining and how to access Mount Rainier National Park during the peak summer season.
Read more…

Our community knows well the critical role that land managers play in the conservation of our shared public lands. During our annual Donor and Volunteer Block Party this spring, attendees shared their appreciation by signing six thank you cards to federal land managers. As a significantly reduced land manager workforce faces growing challenges, our support is deeply appreciated, and there's more we can do to support sustainable management of Washington’s parks and forests. Read more…

Apparently, midsummer means mosquitos, mountain goats, and a whole lot of Mountaineer spirit! Read on, dear friends, for some of the best trip reports from this July, with more alpine lakes, wildflowers, and creatures of legend than you could ask for. Read more…

Are you currently an outdoor leader, or interested in outdoor leadership but aren’t sure where to start? If so, the Leadership Development Series is for you! We curate the Leadership Development Series to help you expand and hone your outdoor leadership skills. Whether you are new to leadership in outdoor spaces, or have been leading and guiding in the wilderness for a lifetime, there are seminars for you. Read more…

Imagine a future where the natural spaces we love are diminished, trails are restricted, and the climate is irreversibly impacted. It's not a distant nightmare; it's a very real threat we're facing right now, and it affects every single one of us who finds solace and adventure in the outdoors. Read more…

One of the ways The Mountaineers advocates to protect backcountry recreation on our national forests is by defending important conservation safeguards like the Roadless Rule. Inventoried Roadless Areas protect one third of the national forest system (59 million acres, including two million acres in Washington state) from logging and development. Roadless Areas support recreational opportunities across Washington’s six national forests. For example, the Mount Baker, Lake Quinault, and Washington Pass areas offer popular opportunities to recreate in backcountry forest areas protected as Roadless. Read more…

With over two decades of high-altitude experience, Melissa Arnot Reid has become one of the most respected voices in modern mountaineering. As the first American woman to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, Melissa’s career has been defined by resilience, leadership, and a deep commitment to learning from the mountains she calls home. Read more…