Blog

It’s that time of year, dear friends - temperatures are rising, the snow is changing, and wildlife is coming out to play. May you find exemplary leadership, geological curiosities, and extraordinary scenery in this month’s top trip reports. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, Adventure with Purpose is the unifying vision that connects our diverse programs, from outdoor education and conservation to publishing and philanthropy. While our vision is clear, the structure and programs that support it are broad and complex. As a nonprofit, we must balance mission-driven goals with financial sustainability. Because of this, we hold financial transparency essential to fostering understanding and trust within our community. Read more…

On May 29, 2025, The Mountaineers hosted our annual Block Party at The Seattle Program Center, an event celebrating super volunteers, key leaders, key instructors, and donors who have given their time, expertise, and financial support to advance our  vision, Adventure with Purpose. The event – now in its third year – is a great way to kick off the summer while honoring some of our most engaged members and the contributions they’ve made to our outdoor community.  Read more…

What we do out in the beauty of nature is not “safe” –  every backcountry adventure involves some level of risk-mitigation. Reflecting on my time within The Mountaineers as Safety Committee Chair, I realize how valuable it is to document near misses, whether within your party or observed about another group.   Read more…

Going once, going twice, sold! During the 2024 Mountaineers Adventure with Purpose Gala, Fred Northrup Jr. wasn’t just working the event as the evening’s emcee and auctioneer, he was also an active bidder for package number 1024: Brew Your Own Beer with Ghostfish Brewing. At the end of the evening, Fred (a long-time Mountaineers member and superfan) was ultimately the winner of this very unique experience package, and The Mountaineers was the beneficiary of auction proceeds thanks to the donation from our partner and sponsor, Ghostfish Brewing Company. It was a win-win-win situation. Read more…

The purpose of this report is to provide transparency regarding the risks of glacier travel and influence motivation for technical competency in glaciated terrain. Below is a detailed report on a crevasse fall and rescue that occurred on the Squak glacier, Kulshan (Mount Baker) on May 23rd, 2025. No injuries were sustained. Read more…

We set some ambitious goals for our spring fundraiser, aiming for 300 Mountaineers members and donors to pay it forward with donations of all sizes. In these final hours, we need just 19 donors to close the gap. That’s half as many Mountaineers as you can see in this week’s photo collage! Read more…

If you’ve ever dreamed of venturing beneath the surface to explore hidden passages and ancient landscapes few ever see, then Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky should be at the top of your adventure list. As the world’s longest known cave system (over 400 miles of mapped passageways and counting), Mammoth Cave is truly one of North America’s most fascinating natural wonders. Read more…

We’re excited to once again be calling for nominations for individuals to join our Board of Directors, and this year we are also seeking individuals to join as part of our branch leadership. Our open nominations process is rooted in our core values and ensures we bring forward an excellent and diverse slate of candidates to be elected by membership. Nominations are due by June 22, 2025. Read more…

 For more than 25 years, Christopher Van Tilburg has served as a volunteer with the Hood River Crag Rats – the nation’s oldest all-volunteer mountain rescue organization based on the slopes of Mount Hood, Oregon. As the Crag Rats recently marked their 100th anniversary, Van Tilburg turned a reflective eye to the team’s remarkable legacy in his newly released Mountaineers Books title, Crisis on Mount Hood. Read more…

Over the past few months, an increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) visits and raids on places where people work and gather has been reported across the U.S. and here in Washington State. Having a plan that defines how to respond to an ICE visit is an important way to protect the rights of The Mountaineers and our community.  Read more…

At The Mountaineers, the learning never stops. Every time we go out together, we sharpen our skills and learn more about the natural world. Any volunteer will tell you that every trip and every student provides an opportunity to become a better leader. And each of the 6,000 volunteer-led trips in the last year created space for leaders and students alike to learn with and from one another, and build genuine connections that flourish. 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…

Throughout the Pacific Northwest, recreationists are facing a new reality: wildfires are impacting outdoor recreation more than ever before. From smoky skies to long-term trail closures, fire season is no longer an occasional disruption, but a defining part of the summer outdoor experience. Read more…

With their dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea, and ancient ruins, the Greek Islands provide an idyllic setting for outdoor exploration. Read more…

Poking my head out of my tent one damp morning on the wild Olympic coast, I spot a mother otter leading three pups into the surf. As dawn touches the nearby offshore rocks, I watch with Mountaineers companions as mama teaches her babies how to swim and catch breakfast. Above, bald eagles swoop low, their curious gargles providing constant entertainment. Other gulls, terns, and sanderlings dot the shore in abundance. Read more…

Bursting blossoms, migratory birds, and majestic mountain views have put a spring in everyone’s step this April. Read on, dear friends, for a warm welcome to the spring season in this month’s top trip reports. Read more…

Update: We were glad to see public lands sales stripped out of the final version of the reconciliation bill that passed the House. Support from the outdoor community and efforts by Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and the congressional Public Lands Caucus were instrumental in securing this near-term win. Unfortunately, other harmful public lands provisions were left in the final House bill, and public lands sales could crop up again as the Senate considers the reconciliation package in the coming months.

As a lover of public lands, it can be disheartening to read the news lately. Recent actions by Congress and the administration represent a mounting threat to our shared lands and waters - places where we find connection to the natural world. The largely partisan support for these harmful policies - which include public lands sell-offs - is built on the short-sighted premise that public lands are solely items on a balance sheet to be leveraged for financial gain through privatization and development. Read more…

Did you know that last winter – just between November and January – our community grew by more than four percent? People need community more than ever. Our hunger for connection to the natural world and to each other has never been greater. Donations to The Mountaineers help ensure that everyone can find joy, confidence, and connection outdoors. 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…

Earlier this week, one of our longtime landscape protection priorities, the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, was reintroduced in the 119th Congress by two members of the Washington delegation. Senator Patty Murray continues to champion this effort in the Senate and freshman Rep. Emily Randall (WA-06) has reintroduced the Wild Olympics bill in the House. The bill protects key recreation areas of the Olympic National Forest through the designation of new Wilderness and the Peninsula’s first-ever Wild and Scenic rivers.  Read more…

Whether you’re a seasoned outdoorsperson or just beginning your journey with The Mountaineers, you won’t want to miss our Spring Gear Grab. Read more…

When we go outside together, we not only increase our connection to each other, but also to the natural world. This is why, at our core, Mountaineers are not just learners and adventurers, but also advocates and conservationists. We fall in love with places and then do our utmost to conserve that experience for others. Read more…

When two climbers who met in the mountains get married, it only makes sense to tie the knot in the alpine. Last August, I eloped with my now husband Garrett on the summit of Liberty Bell in the North Cascades for an intimate, sunrise ceremony. Eloping in the mountains where we fell in love was an exciting and special way to celebrate our love, our relationship, and our commitment to each other. Read more…

Before you grab your Discover Pass and head to your favorite Washington state park or recreation area this spring, read on for a post-legislative session update to learn more about the critical funding that makes our adventures on state lands possible. (Spoiler alert: it’s a mixed bag.)
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Our community raised more than $15K during GiveBIG: an event dedicated to the power of generosity in every form and donations of every size. Thank you to the 77 donors who gave a total of $8,489 to support The Mountaineers mission and community, and to the matching challenge that added an additional $7K. 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…

As federal land managers like the Forest Service and the Park Service continue to sustain deep cuts that will jeopardize their ability to steward public lands and manage outdoor access, members of Congress and the recreation community are coming together to support the landscapes and outdoor experiences they cherish. The Mountaineers continues to stand up for our public lands, including by sharing how ongoing agency workforce reductions are affecting Washington’s federally managed parks and forests - the landscapes that host 60% of our organization's courses and trips. Read more…

Meet Rob, a Foothills backpack, hike, snowshoe, and urban walk leader, Key Leader, Super Volunteer, and Mountaineers Leader of the Year who loves to spread the joy of the outdoors and mentor new leaders. Read more…

When we build the kind of community we believe in, the joy we find is unmatched. Do you know what can be matched, though? Your GiveBIG donation to The Mountaineers! A longtime member has offered to give $1,000 for every 10 unique GiveBIG donors up to 100 donors and $10,000.  Read more…