Blog

Next week, tens of thousands of people across Washington will join in a regional grassroots fundraising movement: GiveBIG. Early giving is open now; here are three ways you can give back to The Mountaineers community during this season. Read more…

Alan Kearney and his posse of bell-bottom clad buddies are obsessed with buildering. All the rage in 1973, ‘buildering’ is the art of bouldering on urban infrastructure, or in lay terms, climbing up a building. Inspired by the emerging ice climbers in the Alps, Alan and crew want to take their new passion a step further by buildering on ice. They look for ice anywhere they can find it, and stumble across a 15-foot frozen wall behind a local meat market in the dark of night. Ice axes in hand, they anchor a top-rope to a fence post and begin to climb. To call them “ice climbers” would be an overstatement, but they have a blast regardless. Ice buildering, as it turns out, is just as fun as they had imagined. Read more…

At the heart of the outdoor industry lies seasonal work. These fast-paced, short-term jobs are a great way to gain experience, meet like minded people, and work outside! In fact, many of our full-time staff members in the Mountaineers Youth Department are former seasonal workers. We’ve been field instructors, glacier guides, ski instructors, backpacking guides, camp counselors, and many things in between. We loved our experiences so much that we want you to come work seasonally with us! 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…

For 6 million years the Colorado River has flowed 1,450 miles from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. But in just a few decades, overallocation of water resources, climate change, and megadrought have altered the great river. In Living River: The Promise of the Mighty Colorado, a new book and campaign from Braided River - the conservation imprint of Mountaineers Books - conservation photographer and author Dave Showalter shares stories from seven years of hiking, biking, rafting, and adventuring through the watershed. Read more…

Like most major Mountaineers achievements, reducing the carbon footprint of our Tacoma Program Center (TPC) became a reality thanks to the passion and drive of our volunteers. Read more…

Mountaineers members play a hands-on role in protecting, restoring, and maintaining the lands and waters of our region. The practice of stewardship brings Mountaineers together from across branches and activities to care for the places where we recreate so that they continue to thrive for future generations. Read more…

A five-hundred-foot wall of loose rock loomed above me—the final five hundred feet between me and my first glacier summit, Clark Mountain. Someone on my climbing team drew a line through the air to map out our path. “Shouldn’t be more than thirty minutes,” our trip leader said. I flinched at the cheer in her voice. We’d left camp almost six hours earlier, and it felt like a lifetime away. My lungs and legs burned. I was hungry—no, thirsty. “Maybe I’ll just wait for you guys here,” I said, fishing for encouragement from our leader. “I think you can do it,” she said. “But it’s your decision.” Read more…

The hunt for Mother’s Day gift ideas for your one-of-a-kind mom can be a grueling one because not all moms want flowers and fancy soap every year. Instead, give her a thoughtful gift that reflects her hobbies and interests in the great outdoors with this foolproof guide. Written by someone with an outdoorsy mom, my categorized recommendations offer over 20 expertly-selected gifts that will create meaningful memories for both of you this Mother’s Day. 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…

Mountains present many challenges that are out of our control, but of all the factors we can control, fitness is arguably the most important when it comes to our safety, success and enjoyment. Whether climbing a Cascade volcano or attempting an 8000-meter peak, mountaineering demands a varied set of fitness components. If you climb mountains, you’re an athlete. No matter what your level, training for the specific demands of climbing mountains can make for a more fun and even safer experience. Read more…

If you haven’t been hiking for several months but want to prepare for a multi-day backpacking trip, can you get ready in four weeks? Possibly, but your body may not be very happy. Tendons, ligaments, tissues, joints, and muscles all need time to adapt to exercise. To avoid the common “too much, too fast” issues ranging from pulls and strains to bursitis, tendonitis, or illness, allow sufficient training time to prepare for your summer goals. Read more…

Given my strong family history, it’s not a matter of if I’ll get cancer, but when. Read more…

Meet Liz McNett Crowl, a Foothills backpack, hike, and urban walk leader. Liz is also one of the founders and leaders of the Foothills GoHike Course, founder and Chair of the Foothills Urban Walks Committee, and currently represents the Foothills Branch on The Mountaineers Board of Directors. Liz has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to the Foothills Branch with Super Volunteer badges in 2021 and 2022, and a Key Instructor badge in 2022.   Read more…

The Mountaineers adventure with purpose. We seek out places bigger than ourselves to uncover joy and be transformed by nature. We advocate on behalf of our lands and waters. We teach responsible recreation and break down barriers to belonging in the outdoors. And we flourish thanks to a culture of giving back. Those who volunteer empower others to confidently explore the Pacific Northwest and beyond. And those who donate help us go father. Donors provide resources to reach more people and preserve the outdoor experience for generations to come. Each act of giving strengthens our bonds with each other and with the natural world. Read more…

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” - Charles Dickens

As the winter melts away and the flowers dare to bloom, we too must dare to "March" forward into the new year. Read on for our Top 10 Trip Reports for the month of March, filled with outings and adventures galore!  Read more…

Tonight is the night! We can’t wait to welcome you as a virtual guest at the Gala this evening. The evening’s festivities will have a lasting impact on our community, with all proceeds supporting mission-driven programs and initiatives. This year we’ve set an ambitious goal of $535,000 and we need your help to make it happen! All funds raised through ticket sales, auction bids, and Raise the Paddle donations provide unrestricted funding to help make the magic of Mountaineers programs possible. Read more…

One of the telling markers of spring is the trilling of birds gradually filing our newly-cerulean skies. To humans, birdsong is a welcomed reminder of the sunny days and warm-weathered adventures ahead. To the birds, these songs are an earnest attempt to captivate a mate and charm them into the breeding season. Luckily for us, birds have remarkably good voices, and although it may seem that songbirds come out of the nest ready to serenade, baby birds undergo quite a bit of training before being awarded their solos. Read more…

Join us in the Gear Library at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on Friday April 21 from 10am-2pm for a half-day of volunteering! The Mountaineers Gear Library believes everyone should have the opportunity to get outside and aims to reduce some of the obstacles to having a safe and comfortable outdoor experience. Our gear goes through a decent amount of wear and tear over the course of a year, and we are putting a call out to the community to help restore and organize our fleet! Read more…

Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry blends art and science to celebrate this diverse yet interconnected region through natural and cultural histories, poetry, and illustrations. Read more…

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

Learning is a never-ending journey. At The Mountaineers, we continue to elevate our organization’s position in the outdoor community and enhance our own courses and activities by supporting our volunteers' skill development. Each year, The Mountaineers designates funds to the Leadership Development Fund, which allows Mountaineers leaders and instructors to attend conferences, workshops, courses, and programs led by other organizations. Read more…

Hiking has always been my refuge from the craziness of the world. I find solace and peace of mind in the wilderness. I know that the natural world can be as unforgiving as the civilized world, but I find wilderness far easier to negotiate. Perhaps it’s my illusion that when taking off for the backcountry, I need only worry about my actions and not the actions of others. In the human world there are far too many people making decisions that will affect me—and often not in a positive way. 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 Mountaineers Annual Gala is only eight days away but bidding in the silent auction starts TODAY! There is still time to join us virtually to access our online auction and catch all the action on April 1 during the livestream presentation. Register for a virtual ticket to ensure you receive the link to the auction and live broadcast.  Read more…

Have a gear wish list a mile long, or some extra gear you'd like to unload? Come to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center from 6-8 pm on Monday, May 22 for our upcoming Gear Grab.  Read more…

Last year, we came very close to passing a package of recreation bills called America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA). Many of you took action to urge Congress to pass this legislation because it included one of our long term policy priorities, the Simplifying Access to Outdoor Recreation Act (SOAR Act). If passed, AORA would have improved the unpredictable recreational permitting system that creates barriers for people who want to experience the outdoors through Mountaineers courses and youth programs, as well as other changes to improve outdoor recreation on public lands and waters. 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…

Join us for a screening of Resistance Climbing, one of three Reel Rock 17 films on tour right now. In the strife-torn hills of Palestine, a diverse crew of Bedouins, dirtbags, and urban professionals embrace climbing as a much-needed respite from the burdens of the Israeli military occupation. American writer and climber Andrew Bisharat visits the West Bank to explore his own roots and the power of climbing to transform lives. Read more…

As the pandemic ebbed in 2022, five of us Mountaineers decided it was time to finally travel again. Our goal: the Ausangate Loop in Peru, a 60-mile, weeklong trek that ambles between 13,600 and 17,200 feet. We ranged in age from 43 to 68 and all identified as female-bodied. So, basically, we were five middle-aged ladies on a high-altitude adventure. Read more…