Conservation & Advocacy

This August, while backpacking through the Hoover Wilderness in California with my husband and brother-in-law, I ran into a woman about my age. She was headed down the trail in our direction so we hiked together a few miles, chatting about our work, her Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike the previous summer, and our mutual love of solo trips. She was a teacher out on a three-day trip before the school year started back up. I told her about my work with Outdoor Alliance and our efforts to bring together the outdoor recreation community to protect public lands. Read more…

As many of our Mountaineers members know, the Land & Water Conservation Fund expired at midnight on September 30th. We were disappointed to hear that not only did the fund expire, but Congress members were not even given the opportunity to vote on the bill - which traditionally has bipartisan support. Although this is not great news for our outdoor community, our efforts were not wasted and the fight is not over. Environmentalists, senators, recreationists, and Mountaineers stepped forward in a big way to protect one of the most important conservation programs. Read more…

I grew up blind to the American legacy of public lands — an inheritance for all people, regardless of background, language, or creed. I get shivers to think of what my life would be without the rush of climbing mountains in the North Cascades, diving into alpine lakes in the Grand Teton backcountry, or having Elysian Park as a family gathering place for our “Carne Asadas,” our version of a family BBQ. I found my soul in the wild and the heart of my passion within my family in the city of Los Angeles.  Read more…

Leave No Trace isn't just for orange peels or poop. It applies to all facets of our outdoor explorations. Climbing is unique because it is one of the few outdoor sports where you often must leave gear or webbing behind to descend safely. Consequently, the climbing community must work as a team to limit our collective impact, especially on our popular climbing routes.   Read more…

Our "100 Friends of 100 Classic Hikes" opportunity had only been open for a few hours, and hardly even promoted yet, when the first gift came in from Mountaineers hike leader Steve Payne. 

What prompted Steve to sign up? Read more…

Last week, we joined other Outdoor Alliance members - paddlers, climbers, backcountry skiers, mountaineers, and mountain bikers - from 5 states to advocate for public lands with officials in Washington DC. We met with lawmakers from Colorado, Montana, West Virginia, Arizona, Washington, and Tennessee to talk about the impending expiration of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Read more…

As many Mountaineers members experienced, this year was record breaking for wildfires. You may have had your hiking plans cancelled due to large fire-related closures in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, or if you spent time anywhere in the mountains this summer, you had a high chance of experiencing a smoky haze. Learn more about the proposed funding changes. Read more…

The North Cascades has just been named a finalist for the Washington State Book Awards! We couldn't be happier to have this book illuminating the stunning beauty of the North Cascades receive this recognition. Read more…

Obama's historic three-day trip to the state of Alaska really kicked off before he arrived, when he restored the name Denali for Alaska's highest mountain. On the ground, he has met world leaders at a  climate change conference in Anchorage, and dropped in on a reality survival show. Read more…

For over a century, The Mountaineers has inspired conservation and stewardship of our public lands through our outdoor education programs and books. Today, we build on this tradition by taking responsibility for protecting the places that inspire, excite, and challenge us. The Mountaineers is uniquely positioned to define and grow the modern conservation movement by providing powerful outdoor experiences that enable people to gain special connections to these places and the desire to protect them. We instill stewardship and Leave-No-Trace wilderness ethics through the educational components of our courses and provide opportunities to learn and engage in conservation issues – practices that ignite passion and action in current and future generations of conservationists. Read more…

Twenty-five years ago Cold War Enemies, united by climbing, stood together on the highest point on earth honoring world peace and the environment. Join us September 17 to celebrate this ground-breaking anniversary.  Read more…

Admission is FREE and registering will guarantee entry at Wild Rivers Night.  Read more…

“There are two things that interest me: the relationship of people to the land, and the relationship of people to each other.” –Aldo Leopold Read more…

If you’ve never heard of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), you’re not alone. Yet, LWCF is one of the most effective tools we have to conserve land and improve outdoor recreation opportunities, and it expires this September. It's responsible for protecting sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and Mt. Si, to name a few. Follow this link  to help save it. Read more…

 We took a sharp turn onto Alaska Place and parked at a dead end in front of a house with a green awning covering the front porch. “Green Seattle Partnership” lined the edge of the tent, shovels were laid out in a perfect pattern, and a huge -pile of mulch sat next to the front door. Read more…

The Outdoor Access Working Group (OAWG) believes that people should be able to responsibly appreciate and experience America’s National Forests. For many people, organized trips are the ticket to outdoor recreation. Therefore, the organizations that lead these trips are crucial leaders in terms of outdoor recreation. Read more…

The U.S. Army has proposed several helicopter landing sites in the North Cascades for pilots to practice flyovers and high altitude landings. Some of the proposed landing zones have raised concerns because of their proximity to popular recreation areas and trails. Read more…

A bi-partisan energy bill released by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Murkowski (R-AK) includes PERMANENT reauthorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Read more…

Few have documented the new American West as thoroughly or as beautifully as conservation photographer Dave Showalter. In a new book of photography and essays, Sage Spirit (out in August from nonprofit conservation publisher Braided River), Showalter illuminates the Sagebrush Sea which houses an abundance of unique wildlife, including the quickly receding population of Greater and Gunnison Sage-grouse. Read more…

Have you heard about efforts in Western States, including Washington, to transfer federal public lands to the state? A campaign to transfer public lands to state control threatens hundreds of millions of acres of national forests, rangelands, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas and historic sites across the Western US. Read more…

National Forests are by definition multi-use areas: they sustain a thriving recreation economy, protect wildlife and waterways, and support timber, grazing, and development. To balance all these interests, we must ensure that different communities can participate in decision making. Read more…

The Mountaineers have been helping people enjoy responsible outdoor recreation for over 100 years. Recent difficulties with outfitter-guide permits for facilitated use in National Forests have restricted many organizations from taking people outside. As as result, numerous people are unable to learn, appreciate, and experience America's Forests. Complex and inconsistent permitting procedures make the current system difficult for everyone. Read more…

  Read more…

By Margaret Ullman-Hess, Communications Manager at The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust

Bipartisan legislation was introduced today to designate the Mountains to Sound Greenway as a National Heritage Area. Senate legislation was introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and House legislation was introduced by Congressmen Dave Reichert and Adam Smith. Read more…

Earlier this month, our Everett Branch Trail Maintenance folks celebrated National Trails Day with work on the White Chuck Bench Trail outside of Darrington. Read more…

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) - our State's primary tool for conserving the gorgeous natural areas beloved by our community - is at risk. The State Senate budget will be dismantling the WWRP and cutting funding to almost all planned backcountry recreation and conservation projects for state lands. These projects preserve our natural heritage and ensure our lands and waters remain open to the public. Read more…

A call for Citizen Scientists - be a part of our regional volunteer effort to detect and eradicate invasive plant species! Read more…

I made my first trip to Washington, D.C. for The Mountaineers about five months into my job here. As I coordinated with partner organizations to schedule meeting with legislators, I was a bit surprised — I was easily able to get meetings as a representative of The Mountaineers that other organizations couldn’t. I say only ‘a bit’ surprised because I knew I was walking in the footsteps of giants; that our organization’s reputation as a leader in outdoor education and conservation far preceded any of my work here. Indeed, The Mountaineers’ legacy of leadership is why I joined and took on the role of defining and amplifying our conservation work as we move forward. Read more…

One of the most important things we do as Mountaineers is inspire people to love the outdoors. Since you can only love what you know, we work to get people of all ages outside into nature. Our public lands provide outstanding places to recreate and experience the great outdoors up close. Read more…

As I look out over a plain of rushing water, a pleasant earthy smell permeates the air, hinting surprisingly of sulfur. Read more…