Courses & Activities

Courses & Activities

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Helicopter Rescue: A Story of Survival

The level of outdoor community support in the Pacific Northwest is truly unmatched. As a transplant myself, I know it can be difficult to make connections in a new place. Not so much when you go outside. You can roll up to any trailhead, crag, or mountainside and form friendships to last a lifetime. That’s why it’s only fitting that I should find myself here, working at The Mountaineers, through a lucky connection with a fellow outdoor enthusiast: Miles McDonough. Read more…

Crag climb next fall in Kalymnos, Greece with Loni Uchytil!

Ever dreamed of climbing a crag over the deep blue Mediterranean and dropping into the warm sun-speckled water? Riding a scooter every day to climb another fantastic 5.8-5.9 face? Check out next fall's Mountaineers rock climbing adventure to Kalymnos Greece led by long-time crag leader Loni Uchytil!  Read more…

BeWild with Colin Haley: From Shuksan to Cerro Torre

Trying to plan event with an alpinist is like trying to pin a tail on a kite already in the air. You’re generally limited to catching up with them in quick email bursts whenever the weather has turned foul, then you can expect radio silence during any fair weather stretches. Read more…

Reflecting on Reinhold Messner's Visit to Seattle

It may sound odd, but Reinhold Messner has been inside my head for more than two decades. His deeds, his remarkable introspection, and his sheer productivity set him in a class all his own. In addition to climbing the fourteen 8000-meter peaks, crossing Antarctica and the Gobi Desert on foot, and researching the roots of the Yeti, he has written some sixty books. I’m proud to note that Mountaineers Books has published translations of fourteen of those books, making us his publisher of record in North America.  Read more…

A Conservation BREAKTHROUGH

You’d be hard pressed to miss the invitations and communications over the past couple of months about our Mountaineers BREAKTHROUGH fundraising event on April 11. With an all-star lineup of climbers in the program, you’re probably wondering why we’re writing about it in relationship to conservation. Well, underlying the climbing theme of the evening is the impact story about why anyone should care about The Mountaineers efforts to get people outside – conservation is a primary driver of that story. Read more…

Climbing the Sea

The bow rose and fell. At times the water hit against the fiberglass hull to make a low thud noise then frothed and hissed like soda bubbles as it dispersed in white foam around us. Read more…

Snap into Spring with The Mountaineers Photography Courses

The Basic Photography courses cover instruction in digital camera operation, exposure settings, quality of light, and composition. The Seattle course has two classroom sessions and an optional half day in the field. 

Seattle is also offering an Introduction to Close-Up Photography which focuses on getting creative and up-close and personal with your photography subject. 

Sign up today and start taking better pictures!

Starting off on Sea Kayaking

The Tacoma Mountaineers Basic Sea Kayak Course is scheduled for March 28 – April 19, 2015.  This course is loaded with practical information, hands-on education, introduction to kayak gear and an emphasis on paddling safety.  Read more…

Sea Kayaking - a sport for everyone

Water has always been a big part of my life. I got certified as a SCUBA diver in the 9th grade, was a swimmer through high school, have whitewater rafted on three continents, and got an advanced diving certification during my honeymoon. Read more…

Join the Mountaineers Lycian Way trek in Turkey

A spot has unexpectedly opened on this spring's Mountaineers Global Adventure trek in southwest Turkey, along the historic Lycian Way.   Read more…

Kick-off Sailing Season with The Mountaineers

Spring has sprung and it's time to get out on the water. Join The Mountaineers for their first sailing kick-off event March 14. Six boats will sail to Port Madison and raft-up together for an on-the-water potluck. We will return to the dock by 6pm. This is an introduction to sailing event. No sailing experience necessary. Read more…

How To: Extended Rappel with Autoblock

Extending your rappel, when done safely, offers many advantages including improved ability to manage the autoblock, and convenient set up of saddle bags if needed. 

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Check out other climbing how-to guides!

How To: Crevasse Rescue

When a climber on your rope team yells "Falling!", drop in to self-arrest and stop the fall immediately!  Once the fall is stopped, follow the following steps: Read more…

How To: Belaying - A Friction System

 

Belaying - a friction system

One of the first important safety skills a climber must learn is how to belay.  Belaying is a way of managing the rope, using friction created by bends in the rope around a carabiner and either a hitch or belay device, so that should the climber fall, the rope, and you, will halt the fall, keeping the climber safe.  Check out this video from Climbing Magazine which illustrates great belay technique.

How To: Belay Escape

If a climbing partner is seriously injured, and there are limited resources to get help, it may be necessary to tie off the climbing rope to remove yourself from the belay system, so you can investigate, help your partner, or go for help. Read more…

Peak Performance: Training with Back-to-Backs for Backpacking Trips

When getting ready for a multi-day adventure, the best way to train is through “back-to-back” weekend outings. Carry a weighted pack, two days in a row, while training and your backpacking, climbing, scrambling or sea kayaking adventures will be that much more comfortable, so you can focus on the scenery rather than your muscles. Read more…

Announcing #OurPNW Photo Contest Winners

In January, we asked you to share what living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest means to you in the #OurPNW photo contest. Using social media, you submitted photos showing how you enjoy #OurPNW, and told us why you like to get outside in the photo caption. Read more…

Seattle Alpine Scramble Course

The 2015  Seattle Alpine Scramble Course is about to kick off with two workshops. March 2nd in Seattle and March 10th in Redmond. This excellent Mountaineering Course will prepare you for pretty much everything. Read more…

Kayaking the Aleutians – March 3

 Hear award winning filmmaker  and expedition sea kayaker Justine Curgenven (of "This is the Sea" ) talk about the highlights and challenges of her world first kayaking journey. She traveled along the Aleutian islands and Alaskan peninsula, described as "the greatest technical sea kayak expedition in the world". Read more…

Avy Awareness Lecture - Feb 5

Not sure if you're heading into potential avalanche territory? Want to know more about the causes of avalanches, pre-trip indicators, and backcountry hazards? Come join us and find out more from an expert in the field. Read more…

Capturing Stars - photographing the wild sky

The Spider Meadows - Buck Creek Pass Loop, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, is one of those trips that I had on the list of must-do for years. I love reading trail guides and imagining the terrain and views from the descriptions. No matter who I spoke to, this loop was described in hushed tones of awe and majesty. I scheduled the trip at the last part of August, during the New Moon. My goal, besides just having an awesome time, was to get an image of Glacier Peak, capped with the Milky Way. Read more…

Grizzlies in the North Cascades

Like my first love, I’ll never forget my first grizzly bear encounter. It was highly emotional and intense. Short-lived too, but forever etched into my mind. But unlike my first love, I wish to continue my relationship with grizzly bears into the future. Read more…

Take a Photo Tour of the San Juans and Gulf Islands with Craig Romano

Foothills Branch brings you another fascinating photo journey with prolific traveler and guidebook author Craig Romano! Read more…

Peak Performance: Snow Prep with Triple-Rep Squats

With winter here, and snow in the mountains, your land-based training for the should include strengthening exercises for the quadriceps, particularly if your plans call for snow fun like skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing. Read more…

Optimize your conditioning for a successful season of hiking and backpacking!

Sheri Goodwin, a certified personal trainer and veteran of trekking adventures all around the Northwest and overseas, now runs a business focusing on helping others succeed in similar life-changing hiking and trekking journeys.     Read more…

Photo Contest: Tell us what the Pacific Northwest means to you and win a prize pack fit for adventure

The Mountaineers have been part of the Pacific Northwest since we were founded in 1906. We are pioneers and adventurers. 

Young and old, new and seasoned, passionate teachers and eager learners – the outdoors bring us together. The Pacific Northwest is our home. Read more…

Be a part of the Friction Slabs Project

fric·tion
/'frikSH(e)n/
The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another

slab
/slab/
A large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, or wood Read more…

Website Workshop for Activity and Course Leaders - Jan 15

This free evening workshop offers participants individualized hands-on learning for activity leaders about how to use the Mountaineers website to list activities and courses, manage rosters, and communicate with activity/course participants, and any other website skills that participants wish to learn about. Bring your laptop or tablet if you have one (you can also share someone else's or follow along with demonstrations on the screen). Read more…

How To: Extended Rappel and Updated Belay Techniques

On a scholarship from the Seattle Climbing Committee, two volunteer Mountaineers leaders attended an American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) single pitch instructor training course. As a result, they returned with techniques and methods that were presented and adopted by the Seattle Climbing Committee: (1) the extended rappel and (2) the pull, break, under, slide belay technique. Want to learn about these techniques? Read what Abby Hunt and Stef Schiller learned.... Read more…