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Want to get more involved with The Mountaineers and support programs at a foundational level? Consider becoming the Treasurer for the Seattle Branch. Read more…

Back in 1906, it took newly-minted Mountaineers 21 days to reach the top of Mt. Adams (known by Native peoples as Pahto), horse-travel time included. Popular peaks like Chimney Rock and Eldorado Peak had yet to be summited by Mountaineers members, and so few Washington residents could access the Olympic Mountains that they might as well have been on the other side of the country. The mountains, and the species that lived within them, were mostly a mystery to Western eyes. Read more…

Among The Mountaineers properties are our three rustic lodges: Baker, Meany, and Stevens. Each nestled close to their own mountain terrain, our lodges provide a restful atmosphere after a long day outdoors. Read more…

Do you remember a time when you craved a deeper connection with the natural world? Perhaps you found yourself in a new place or stage of life and you were inspired by someone who shared their passion, experience, and joy of the outdoors with you. Maybe it was a trip leader, role model, friend, or family member. Maybe it was an author, blogger, photographer, or trip reporter.  Read more…

Meet Erin Vagley, a Foothills Hike Leader and Qualified Youth Leader. Erin is also the Leader Development and Leader Certification Coordinator for the Foothills Hiking, Backpacking, and Urban Walks Committee. She has led hikes for the Foothills Yoga for Hikers, Backpackers, and Trail Runners course and for the GoHike course. Erin was recognized for her leadership with the Key Instructor badge in 2023. 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…

Calling all Conditioning Hiking Series (CHS) trip leaders and alumni! Join us June 21 at the Seattle Program Center to celebrate and congratulate CHS founders Kelly & Matt Cleman for their vision and dedication. Since 2005, nearly 1,000 Mountaineers have graduated CHS, earning their course badge, improving their fitness, and hiking to farther and more spectacular places than they ever thought possible. Read more…

It’s that time of year, dear friends - temperatures are rising, the snow is changing, and wildlife is coming out to play. May you find exemplary leadership, geological curiosities, and extraordinary scenery in this month’s top trip reports. Read more…

Policy Update: Thousands of Mountaineers answered our call to action, and now we're  encouraged to share that public lands sell-offs were kept out of the final Senate budget reconciliation bill. Washington's public lands are now safe from the recent threat of public lands sell-offs. Our collective advocacy made a difference. Thank you for adventuring with purpose with us.

As we shared last month, members of Congress are seeking to sell off federal public lands as a way to raise revenue, putting these lands at risk of transfer or development. Thanks in part to recent advocacy by outdoor enthusiasts, public lands sales were kept out of the final House reconciliation bill. However, this near-term win during the early stages of the congressional budgeting process was short-lived.  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 week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to.. 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…

Mount Ellinor supports a variety of habitat types with a diverse assemblage of plant communities and species, including an array of species endemic to the Olympic Mountains. Dave and Joanne Schuett-Hames are biologists with backgrounds in salmonid habitat, conservation biology, and plant ecology. They've hiked and backpacked extensively in the Olympic Mountains, and worked as volunteers with Olympic National Park as Wilderness Rangers doing surveys for the Olympic Marmot monitoring project. Their botanical interests on Mt. Ellinor include developing and maintaining plant lists for the Mt. Ellinor trail network on the WNPS website, collecting specimens for the Burke Herbarium, and assisting with the Rare Care plant monitoring program. Read more…

Growing up in Seattle, I wasn't fully aware of the human-caused impacts on our environment, nor did I understand our responsibility to give back to our shared home until an elementary school field trip taught me about the impact our stormwater systems have on local salmon populations. Picking up trash with my classmates and spray-painting stencils of salmon near storm drains around our local watershed remains imprinted in my mind, reminding me of the interconnectedness of nature and our charge to steward it. Read more…

In April, I had the honor of hosting a table at The Mountaineers Gala, a night dedicated to celebrating our shared love for the outdoors and the people who make this community what it is. My entire table was filled with women who have shaped my Mountaineers journey in ways I’ll never forget. Read more…

As a Mountaineers member, you receive free access to our quarterly Mountaineer magazine, keeping you up-to-date with everything our organization and community have been up to. Hear from regular contributors on topics from training exercises to trail tips, and read features from our members sharing stories from the outdoors. We encourage you to access all of our updates, stories, tips, and more in the tree free online magazine today. Read more…

In 2014, at the age of 24, I started running. In 2018, I competed in my first marathon. In 2019, I competed in my first ultra-marathon. Since then, I have run the San Francisco (road) marathon, six trail races at the 50-kilometer distance, five trail races at a 50-mile distance, and one 100-mile race.  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…

Over the years, we’ve been on a long journey to protect ancient, old-growth trees in Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Our community has answered our calls to action time and time again because it understands that protecting Roadless Areas in Alaska sets a strong precedent for protecting backcountry places in Washington State and beyond. Last week, the administration finalized protections for the Tongass, securing a much-anticipated win for conservation, climate, and Indigenous communities. 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 youth, nature is a realm of endless possibilities. Every summer, Mountaineers Youth Programs embrace the magic of nature with Lodge Camps, a unique outdoor experience for campers ages 9-17 held at one of our three mountain lodges. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, Lodge Camps offer immersive opportunities for adventure, personal growth, and connection to the natural world. Read more…

Join The Mountaineers this fall for an evening of inspiring and captivating outdoor films handpicked from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. Read more…

Say goodbye to summer by unloading your extra outdoor gear or by scoring items on your fall gear wish list with our End of Summer Gear Grab! You can stop by The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on September 9 from 6-8pm to buy or sell gently used outdoor gear. Read more…

Today and tomorrow mark a celebration of community and generosity across the Pacific Northwest. Will you join us and GiveBIG to get more people outside? Read more…

On May 7 & 8 thousands of Washingtonians will join GiveBIG, a regional grassroots fundraising movement to support the causes and organizations that help our community flourish. Make a GiveBIG donation to The Mountaineers to support inclusive and responsible outdoor recreation in the PNW and beyond! 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 week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to.. Read more…

At the heart of The Mountaineers Gear Library is a simple yet powerful mission: to make outdoor exploration accessible to everyone in the Pacific Northwest. The Gear Library doesn’t just lend gear, but creates opportunities for unforgettable adventures, especially for youth leaders, families, and community organizations. Read more…

This story begins in April, 2018 with a silly idea. I was moving away from my hometown of Seattle to Santa Barbara, and I wanted a good old fashioned Seattle sendoff before I went. I started thinking about the things I would miss when I moved, and one of those things was Dick’s, the classic Seattle burger chain. Dick’s is the mecca for late night food for teenagers, and post adventure eats for weekend warriors. It’s fast, cheap, and delicious.  Read more…

 A collection of trip reports with many opportunities for delight and few opportunities for dismay. Read on, dear friends, for an A-list peak, little feet in sticky sand, a very focused shuffle, and a sneaky October trip report (I know, I cheated) that reminds us of the dear and delicate work to be done in our forests.  Read more…