Blog

For nearly 120 years, The Mountaineers has been a regional leader advocating on behalf of the natural world, and our successes would not be possible without the dedication and thoughtful advocacy of our entire community. On Thursday September 18, we gathered for An Evening of Advocacy, an annual event that highlights and invites people to support the work of our Conservation & Advocacy program.  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…

In August, Braided River launched In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations: Conversations about Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in Nature - an Indigenous-led book and engagement campaign that draws on ancestral knowledge to further empower and inspire Indigenous-led environmental campaigns with non-Indigenous allies, partners, and supporters. 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…

In building a culture of philanthropy at The Mountaineers, we’re always seeking ways to communicate clearly and concisely the importance of our mission to funders. This work requires a deep understanding of the connection between our daily efforts and long-term impact. 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…

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

Two vans, eight tents, 24 sleeping bags, 56 dehydrated meals, and countless packs of oatmeal and jerky is only a small part of what it takes to make a backpacking trip happen for a class of local high schoolers. Most people would think taking 24 teenagers into the backcountry is a big ask, but when that opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance. Read more…

Each October, the Olympia Mountaineers gather to recognize graduates of all our courses and present awards to leaders who have shown exemplary service in climbing, conservation, youth outreach, scrambling, and hiking. Achievement pins and patches are also presented. One Olympia Mountaineer is awarded the Branch Service Award, which recognizes their outstanding service over a multi-year period. 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…

Hiking and camping at Baker Lake and Lake Kachess on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest remind me of the intrinsic value of Washington’s forests. It can be easy to take our favorite public lands for granted or assume they will always be public. Until this year, I never imagined these places and other cherished national forest areas could so quickly become at risk of being sold off to developers. Read more…

I was 17 years old when I went on my first hike. It was miserable, painful, and downright humbling. A heavy pack, an environment of unknowns, and 43 miles to go, I thought what any naive teenager would: why am I here? By the end of that hike, I felt completely rebuilt by the mountains. 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…

The wind whistled through whitebark pines and subalpine firs. This August Friday had been hot at Mount Rainier, but with the sun beginning to set behind the volcano, temperatures cooled rapidly at these elevations. The meadows along Sourdough Ridge glowed in the warm afternoon light. Read more…

Many of the outdoor skills we teach are perishable. These skills are often in response to an incident, are used infrequently, and require periodic review and practice. Good examples of perishable outdoor skills include glacier crevasse rescue, wilderness first aid, and avalanche companion rescue. As responsible recreationists, we take many measures to avoid having to use these skills in real-life scenarios, but when incidents occur, our calm and skillful response can literally mean the difference between life and death. Read more…

Whether venturing out to climb cliffs, hike through mossy verdant forests, or paddle the Salish Sound, the Pacific Northwest offers breathtaking beauty and adventure. And with the warm days and cool nights of late summer comes a surge in bug activity. These bugs can be a nuisance, and pose real health risks. Read more…

Enjoy access to our quarterly Mountaineer magazine, keeping you up-to-date with everything our organization and community have been up to. Hear from regular contributors on topics from training exercises to trail tips, and read features from our members sharing stories from the outdoors. We encourage you to access all of our updates, stories, tips, and more in the tree free online magazine today. 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…

Have you ever wondered what it takes to protect the outdoor spaces you love? The Mountaineers Conservation & Advocacy program is our deliberate and strategic plan to safeguard the natural places we all cherish. Our unique, grassroots engagement model is powered by over 17,000 members, including you, and combines conservation education, stewardship, and advocacy with deep policy expertise. This community-driven approach to getting people outdoors creates strong connections to the natural world, turning our community into powerful advocates for public lands and other protected areas. Read more…

As a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led organization, The Mountaineers depends on the generosity, initiative, and leadership of our volunteers to steward the future of our organization. We are humbled by the service provided by Board and branch directors whose positions are confirmed by members each year. Thank you for all you do as members to elevate our mission, and for your participation in the forthcoming election process for these organization-wide leaders. 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…

The Mountaineers is an extraordinary community of givers who selflessly and passionately support our mission to connect
people to the natural world and each other. Read more…

Too exhausted to pause for a snack, we finally round the last switch back. Our water supply is depleted. Above us, slivers of snow glimmer on the talus field we just glissaded down. Below, we hear the raging river, lined with alpine shrubbery. The sun is almost gone as twilight engulfs the sky. Just as a student mutters, “are we there yet?” a sight for sore eyes appears near the river: our blue Subaru.   Read more…

Last week, Mountaineers conservation staff and our Outdoor Alliance Washington (OA Washington) partners enjoyed a scenic hike on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest with Representative Rick Larsen, members of his staff, and local land managers. The Congressman was eager to spend time on public lands in the North Cascades with recreation stakeholders during this year’s summer congressional district work period. These relationship-building opportunities with lawmakers and their staff represent one of the ways OA Washington is building bipartisan support for public lands and outdoor recreation initiatives in Congress. 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…

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…

Back-to-school is right around the corner and now is a great time to seek out year-round outdoor adventure at The Mountaineers. While most of our programs are geared toward adults, Mountaineers ages 2-18 can find joy and confidence outdoors through Youth Programs like break camps, year-round clubs, and after-school programs. Read more…

As I step into the warmth of the Meany Lodge common area, a cacophony of oohs and aahs leads me to a table at the front that is overflowing with various mushrooms. Beneath blacklight, one glows vibrant neon. Another puff ball mushroom releases dark clouds when I squish it. Across the table, I spot smaller species: tiny slime molds. Finally, my eyes and nose discover a prized matsutake emanating its iconic smell – spicy with notes of cinnamon and pine. With guidance, fellow curious observers and I are invited to taste, smell, and touch the species on display. Read more…

As a child, I had a lot of adverse experiences exploring the outdoors. I was taught that outdoor spaces were not for people with my skin-tone, religious beliefs, and dietary traditions. It wasn’t until I found an informal BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) group of hikers and climbers in my early 20s that I felt finally able to grow my love for getting out into nature. Since moving to Seattle, I’ve fostered my outdoor pursuits through The Mountaineers – first through backpacking, then climbing and cross-country skiing, before finally finding my true passion: canyoning. Read more…