Blog

A gentle drizzle begins to fall as Foothills hike and urban walks leaders Lori Heath and Liz McNett Crowl gather with Mountaineers for a Mindful Outdoor Experience at Saint Edwards State Park. The activity begins with a yoga-like warm up, breathwork exercises, and a poem before starting down the trail. Walking at a slow pace, Lori encourages participants to pay attention to the feeling of their feet on the trail and notice more subtle sensations – the weight of each step, the stretch of each muscle, the tickle of rain on the skin – to increase awareness of their physical bodies. The goal is to observe with curiosity, as if seeing something for the first time. Read more…

We are proud to participate in GiveBIG, a regional grassroots giving event where every donation makes a difference. When you make a GiveBIG donation, you are joining thousands of people across the Pacific Northwest who believe in the value of community and the power of our collective generosity. 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…

At The Mountaineers, we believe adventure means more than simply reaching a summit objective or snapping a photo at the perfect viewpoint. It’s about how we show up with curiosity, care, and a sense of responsibility—about connecting more deeply with nature, with one another, and with something bigger than ourselves.  Read more…

Each year, our community gathers at this annual fundraising Gala to make a difference and support our mission. The funds raised this night represent more than one third of our charitable revenue for the year, elevating our initiatives across branches and activities, including nonprofit publishing, adult programming, youth outreach, scholarships, volunteer leadership development, conservation advocacy, and more. Read more…

Are you up with the sun to beat the heat of the day? Do you hit the road at 4am to get the trailhead’s best parking spot? Do you set an alarm so you’re first on the roster for your next Mountaineers adventure? You might be an early GiveBIG giver.  Read more…

When spring hits, hikers turn their sights to alpine adventures. As we welcome the new season, it can be easy to jump too quickly into activities without proper preparation. But how do we make sure to not overdo ourselves in our eagerness to visit favorite trails? And how do we maintain training programs when motivation is low, or life is distracting? Below, I share training tips inspired by writer and speaker James Clear’s philosophy on identity-based habits. 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…

Spring is a busy time of year at The Mountaineers, and this year that feels especially true. The need to connect people with each other and the natural world has never been greater. Read more…

The chances of seeing a wolverine in the North Cascades are low but no longer zero, thanks to the intrepid animal’s return from Canada. 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…

Spring is a busy season at The Mountaineers. The majority of our courses are underway and summer camp is right around the corner. Lengthening days pull us outside and the rising snow line tempts us deeper into the alpine. Behind the scenes, we’re also setting the stage for a new budget year, measuring our mission impact, and exploring ways to strengthen our community and protect outdoor spaces in the months and years to come. Read more…

The Mountaineers advocacy to protect public lands and the outdoor experience transcends the places where we recreate and the courses we lead here in the Pacific Northwest. This work doesn’t happen alone; partnerships lie at the heart of our advocacy story. About nine years ago, The Mountaineers joined Outdoor Alliance (OA) - a national coalition of human-powered recreation organizations. Over the years, we’ve deepened our involvement because our community is a unique catalyst for conservation and advocacy work on a national scale. Read more…

Want to be more involved with The Mountaineers and support programs at a foundational level? Consider becoming the new Chair-Elect for the Foothills Branch. Read more…

Planning summer backpacking trips is at the top of my mind this time of year. I’m tired of the cold, dark days, and can’t wait to escape to the backcountry. In planning, I prefer to use paper maps to determine my route and study the terrain. Digital tools like Caltopo and Gaia are useful (and I love them!),  but carrying a paper map in my pack – and knowing how to use it – is a practical tool that encourages self-reliance when digital devices fail. More than that, maps give me a big-picture view of the landscape: ridgelines towering above alpine tarns, creeks tumbling into waterfalls, meadows hidden beneath sheer cliffs.  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…

Lying in the tundra miles north of the Arctic Circle, the sun shines warmly on my face. The autumn air smells fresh and crisp. If I listen closely, I can hear the distant tweet of birds and wind whistling over the fells. This is what I’ve learned to look forward to on every hike: a slow moment to rest. Read more…

On Friday, April 4, Mountaineers members and supporters from across the organization came together for a community update on the growing impacts of significant reductions to the federal land manager workforce. Our conservation team shared a deep dive on the ongoing efforts to cut federal agency staff who manage and steward our public lands, how we’re responding and helping move toward solutions, and what you can do to protect Washington’s public lands. The robust engagement we experienced online provided a strong reminder that our members are continuing to stand up together for our national parks and forests.  Read more…

I don’t know about you, but I feel that Washington’s state-managed parks and public lands are truly special and offer something for everyone. Outdoor places like Blanchard Mountain, Cape Disappointment, the Exit 38 climbing area near North Bend, and many others connect us to nature through recreation across every region of the state. Read more…

Recognizing local edible berries, flowers, greens, roots, tree parts, mushrooms, seaweeds, beach vegetables, and shellfish is a passport to a comforting sense of place. In Pacific Harvest: A Northwest Coast Foraging Guide, expert forager and longtime guide Jennifer Hahn introduces both novice and experienced foragers to the Pacific Coast’s ample and diverse edible species, while highlighting authentic Indigenous harvesting practices and amplifying profiles of Indigenous leaders in the traditional foods movement. Hahn’s coastal foraging guide offers a sustainable approach to foraging, reminding readers of what other beings also depend on our local plants and animals as food and shelter sources. 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…

This month was everything March should be: glimpses of sun to get you excited for warmer weather and just enough snow for some satisfying spring skiing. Read on, dear friends, for lunar landscapes, trolls, and churning currents! Read more…

In February 2025, we invited our members and volunteers to participate in our community survey. We do this every few years to understand how experiences change over time and identify areas of need when balancing resources. We’re pleased to share these preliminary results with our community, and look forward to deeper analysis with the staff and volunteer leaders who drive our programs and accomplish our mission in the community. Read more…

Looking for your next adventure? Enjoy a glimpse of the exciting auction items available at The Mountaineers 2025 Gala! From memorable getaways to top-notch gear packages, your bid directly supports outdoor education and conservation—helping our community build stronger connections with the natural world. Read more…

As we gear up for the summer season, many Mountaineers are pining for majestic peaks, pristine rivers, and the kind of solitude that makes you question how long it’s been since your last shower. But let’s be honest: spending time disconnected from the internet has some serious social consequences. Read more…

Our national parks and forests connect us to nature and to each other. Whether it’s a family hike near Snoqualmie Pass, a winter ski trip to Mount Rainier, or a bucket list backcountry trip in the Enchantments, Washington’s federally managed public lands lie at the heart of outdoor recreation in the Pacific Northwest. 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…

Outdoor adventure offers many benefits, including helping us be well-balanced, both physically and mentally. Not only do The Mountaineers rely on conserved public lands and waters for our outdoor adventures, but so do many other outdoor recreationists. Now more than ever, it’s critical that we engage with our local, state, and federal lawmakers regarding the outdoors.   Read more…

In the wintertime, we often think of slab avalanches as our main problem to contend with. However, before you know it, springtime will be upon us. Our days are already growing longer, the angle of the sun is becoming more direct, and the average temperatures in the mountains are rising.  Read more…

That’s a wrap on another successful and engaging year of Mountaineers Leadership Conferences! The Mountaineers Leadership Conferences are day-long, in-person events dedicated to thanking, inspiring, and empowering The Mountaineers current and aspiring volunteer leaders. This fiscal year we held our newly renamed North Sound Leadership Conference on December 7, 2024 at the Seattle Program Center, and our South Sound Leadership Conference on March 22, 2025 at the Tacoma Program Center. Both events were filled with inspiring learning opportunities and fun moments that we want to share with you.  Read more…