Hiking & Backpacking

Hiking & Backpacking

All posts

A Mountaineers Romance Story - Glen Strachan and Tatiana Sikora

Glen: We met the day after Thanksgiving on a Seattle Mountaineers hike to Green Lake on the northwest side of Mount Rainier. There were 10 hikers on the trip and I struck up a conversation with the Polish American blond woman with a charming accent and dynamic smile. Tatiana was the bright spot in the crowd of hard-core hikers. We discovered that we had common interests besides hiking – other outdoor activities, travel, cultural events, dancing, serving others, and our faith. We also had similar degrees in geosciences. At the end of the hike, we exchanged cards and shortly after, scheduled our first date at Starbucks in December, 2013. If we both had not gone on this hike organized by the Mountaineers, we likely would have never met. Read more…

Backpacking Courses Are Open for Sign Up

The Mountaineers are offering a variety of backpacking courses designed to kick start your spring and summer adventures. In addition to general courses, we have special-focus seminars as well as leadership opportunities. Classes are offered at a variety of locations and you’re welcome at any branch. Read more…

Get Outside with the Photography Committee

We go outside to find inspiration, and the experience is even richer when we can capture beautiful images of the places where we play. If you're looking to get outside and while taking your photography skills to the next level, check out these upcoming courses from our Photography Committee. Read more…

Don't Get Tripped Up

You’re done with the “hard part” of the trip. It’s all downhill now. On a trail. You’re tired. So is the rest of the team. Suddenly someone lets out a surprising loud “ouch!” He heard a pop. And now, your car seems so far away. Read more…

Creating Ideal Trails and Protecting Wildlife Habitats

As longtime hikers and explorers who think a lot about trails in the Cascades, the article “Trails Loved to Death?” by Craig Romano in the November/December 2015 edition of Mountaineer magazine really got our attention.  Read more…

Urban Hiking: Discover Seattle Stairways with The Mountaineers

Did you know Seattle is home to more than 560 publicly accessible staircases wander throughout Seattle's gardens, district neighborhoods, and urban nooks and crannies? That's over 10,0000 hidden steps! The Mountaineers are hitting the streets to explore these steps with urban adventures this winter.  Read more…

Secret Rainier: A Monument and Some Columns

This installment of Our Secret Rainier guides you to a monument and some amazing basalt columns in the national park. With extra effort, one can continue on to two scrambles in a remote part of the park.  Read more…

Wanted: Stories of your Walks in the Wild

Co-sponsored by the Foothills and Seattle Hiking and Backpacking Committees, this presentation series is about the unique and special places our members have explored on two feet with a pack on their back. These are places worthy of a life-list for other wild-walkers, places that are off the normal tourist track but still in-reach of any fit and hardy Mountaineer with the urge to go far afield. Read more…

The Hills are Alive with The Sound of Music And I'm Not Happy About It

There’s nothing like that rush of exhilaration you feel upon cresting a high ridge bursting with wildflowers and surrounded by snow-capped craggy peaks. You stand upon your heavenly perch and gaze out with utter astonishment on how breathtakingly beautiful the natural world is; from the glistening glaciers before you to the fluttering butterflies among a carpet of brilliant blossoms below you. With senses completely overloaded, who among us hasn’t felt the urge to twirl amid the lupines and pull a Julie Andrews?  Read more…

Trail Tales: Stevens Pass to Stehekin

Editors note: During the summer of 2016, six current and former Mountaineers Adventure Club (MAC) members hiked the Washington section of the Pacific Crest Trail. This blog is Part 4 of a 4 part recap series. To find out what already read Part 3 by Miriel McFarland. And learn what had in his pack to keep his base weight under 12 lbs through his detailed gear guide. Read more…