Blog

One of the first impulses we have while recreating outdoors is to take a photo. We want to share the exhilaration of our alpine scrambles, the warmth of alpenglow on an early morning snowshoe, or the unexpected wildlife dotting our hiking trails. We photograph because we have a deep connection to these natural places and we want others to experience that connection, too. Read more…

On Monday, January 9, The Mountaineers will be hosting a Pop-Up Donor Center with Bloodworks Northwest at the Seattle Program Center from 9am-3pm. Read more…

There is just one day left to make your 2022 donation to The Mountaineers. The funds raised this season will help youth find their inner confidence, equip advocates to speak up for wilderness and public lands, and ensure that outdoor education is available to all.  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…

I know it's a busy season, so I will get straight to the point: we need your help to raise $200,000 by the end of this month so that The Mountaineers community can go farther in 2023. If you have found value in programs or books at The Mountaineers, will you consider making a donation this holiday season? Read more…

Are you dreaming of outdoor adventures or trying to enhance your skills?  Members and non-members are invited to spend an evening learning about upcoming Olympia Mountaineer programs and activities.  This is a great opportunity to meet with activity leaders and ask any questions you have about course offerings.  They will have information about what it takes to get started, the gear you will need, course schedules, and more.  Read more…

Many years ago, I spent my first snow camping trip on the Skyline Lake Trail opposite Stevens Pass Ski Resort. As we settled in for the night, I could see the slopes across the valley light up for night skiing and hear alpine music playing. Our side of the mountains was quiet and dark. I was a downhill skier at the time, and was charmed by the difference. 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…

After three years, The Mountaineers annual Volunteer Appreciation Night is back in-person. Last year, we pivoted to a virtual event and had a wonderful time recognizing our 2021 Volunteer Award Recipients. Read more…

We’ve heard from many members expressing concern about this winter’s weekday closure of the Longmire to Paradise Road in Mount Rainier National Park. We share those concerns for the loss of winter recreation access, and we are sympathetic to the staffing challenges the Park is currently facing. Read more…

I adore this time of year. The comforting contrast of dark green cedars against bright snow. Breathing in the crisp air. Feeling the grounding weight of an extra full pack while I let my mind float to a cold winter sky. Coming home with rosy cheeks, kicking snow off my boots at the door, and feeling the warmth of a fire embrace me like a bear hug. I experience so much joy in the winter when I am able to get outside and then return home. This joy heals and sustains me. Read more…

I grew up in New Hampshire, a state not known for agreeable weather. An old local saying boasts that in New Hampshire we have 11 months of winter and one month of damn poor sledding. While the climate has changed and winters have become milder (the winters of my youth were truly much colder, snowier, and longer), an abundance of snowy and cold days continue to make New Hampshire and other northern states tough places to live. Read more…

Last year we announced that The Mountaineers is leading Outdoor Alliance Washington (OA Washington), a network of organizations representing the human-powered outdoor recreation community in Washington State. The goal of OA Washington is to forge strong relationships with lawmakers and land managers so that we can effectively advocate for shared conservation, recreation, and climate priorities. By amplifying the voices of more than 75,000 hikers,  paddlers, climbers, backcountry skiers, and mountain bikers across the state, we can achieve a more sustainable future for Washington’s outdoors. Read more…

As I sit down to write a year-end letter to the readers of Mountaineers Books, I’m trying to envision who exactly I am writing to, who is reading this? Are you a climber, a sea kayaker, a mountain biker? Are you a lover of mountaineering literature or do you collect books of nature photography? 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 many of us who live in the PNW, outdoor experiences on public lands have provided us with opportunities to connect to nature, experience joy and belonging in the outdoors, and adventure with purpose. As a kid in Seattle, accessible parks and trails shaped some of my best memories. Hiking under old growth cedars at Discovery Park and along the coastal dunes of Grayland Beach State Park ignited my joy and connection to nature. Read more…

You’ve got the gear, taken the avalanche classes, found some friends, and are ready to hit the slopes. But where do you go for your first self-directed backcountry ski tour? Finding a safe place to explore, especially when you’re new to touring, can feel overwhelming. To help you on your way, here are five favorite ski (and splitboard!) tours for beginners, from our enthusiastic backcountry-loving staff. Be sure to check the local weather and NWAC forecast before you go, always pick tours within your ability level, and of course carry a beacon, shovel, and probe (and know how to use them). 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…

Each year, The Mountaineers partner with Banff Mountain Film Festival to bring their World Tour to the Pacific Northwest. In addition to a heavy dose of stoke, the festival provides a gathering place to visit with old friends and new adventure buddies. Banff also provides the prefect venue to recognize and celebrate our Peak Society donors, who bolster our ability to serve a growing outdoor community in ways we could not do with earned revenue alone. Read more…

At the 2022 Annual Awards Celebration, the Olympia Branch recognized outstanding leaders, awarded  hiking and climbing pins, and congratulated students who graduated from a wide variety of courses.  Read more…

December 20 Update: Many of you took action recently to urge Congress to pass the Wild Olympics bill and secure outdoor recreation permitting reform in an end-of-year public lands and recreation package. Despite our best opportunity yet to secure these important wins for the outdoors, they failed to pass Congress by the end of the year. We'll continue to urge Congress to pass Wild Olympics and recreational permitting reform in the next session of Congress.  Read more…

Join The Mountaineers for our annual Holiday Gear Grab! Come search for holiday gifts, treat yourself to something special, or sell your used gear. Summer, winter, and all-season gear is welcome. The Gear Grab is open to all at the  Seattle Program Center from 6-8pm on Monday, December 12. Read more…

Since taking on the role of Everett Branch Chair about a month ago, I’ve been humbled by the words of encouragement I’ve received and by the number of volunteers who have stepped forward to take on leadership roles in our community. Many of you heard the calling I made at our Annual Awards Banquet on November 5 and have raised your hand to help and to learn more about the critical roles in Everett that need filling. Read more…

We are excited to announce that three of our titles are 2022 Banff Mountain Book Competition finalists! This internationally recognized literary competition included 166 books from 11 different countries this year.  Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we believe a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. This belief is reflected in our core values and is the driving vision to foster outdoor experiences where all people feel belonging. One way we strive to do that is through affinity group activities.  Read more…

As life changes, the way we play outside does too. This is true of families with newborns, folks with caretaking responsibilities, those of us who might be nursing an injury or just want to take it a little slower for whatever reason. If you’re looking to get outdoors in a way that requires less planning and is less strenuous, consider an indoor adventure like renting a beachfront cabin at Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island. Read more…

As we increasingly experience the impacts of climate change in our communities and on outdoor experiences, it’s time to meaningfully invest in fighting the climate crisis. This summer, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - a massive package of climate, healthcare, and tax bills - was passed by Congress and signed into law. Read more…

Giving Tuesday was a day to remember! 

As snow descended across Western Washington, many of you chose to give back to The Mountaineers with a special donation in support of The Mountaineers Access Program (MAP). We got a special surprise when a member offered to match up to $5,000 with a gift of $100 for every Giving Tuesday donation of any size. And to round out the day, a few people even joined Peak Society with gifts of $1,000! Read more…

Rain on the windshield distorted the headlights of other cars waiting in the dark parking lot. My older sister was in the backseat next to me, leaning against our dad’s headrest as she looked over his shoulder. He flipped on the windshield wipers just as a school bus pulled in. “Is that it?” my sister asked. Mom replied, her eyes intent on her husband. “Looks like it. They said the bus would be here at 6.” 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…