News & Events

News & Events

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Adventure Speaker Series: Nigel Foster - Iceland by Kayak, March 6

In 1977, Nigel Foster and Geoff Hunter set off on a shoestring adventure to explore a country of just 222,000 people. Hear the story of the First Circumnavigation of Iceland by Kayak, and how such an expedition came about in those days before dry suits, cellphones, hand-held waterproof VHF radios, GPS, or the World Wide Web. That’s before the home computer, and twenty years before Google came onto the scene.  Read more…

Adventure Speaker Series: Marko Pavela, Great Northwest Climbing Road Trips - Feb 7

Join recent graduates of the Olympia Intermediate Climbing Course as they share information premier climbing destinations. The presenters will cover route recommendations, logistical considerations, and inspirational photos, so that attendees can plan their own trips to these fantastic crags. Read more…

Mount Rainier National Park Announces Timed Entry Reservations for Summer 2024

Note: The Park's timed entry FAQ webpage is the best resource with the most up to date information on how to visit Mount Rainier National Park  during summer 2024.

Last week, Mount Rainier National Park announced that many visitors will need reservations to access the park through popular entrances during peak hours this summer. From May 24 through Labor Day, most visitors entering through the Nisqually and Stevens entrances between 7am and 3pm will need to make an online or phone reservation ahead of time. Reservations will also be required at the White River entrance beginning July 3 and lasting through Labor Day.  Read more…

Olympia Banff Film Festival - March 1-3

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is back to bring the best action, environment, and adventure films to Olympia! Join us March 1-3 at the Capitol Theater to experience these films on the big screen. The playlists are different each night, so come for one night, or all three! Discount tickets are available if you purchase a ticket for multiple nights. Read more…

BeWild: Salmon, Cedar, Rock & Rain - Feb 15

The Mountaineers BeWild Speaker Series puts passion and adventure on center stage. Join us at BeWild with Salmon, Cedar, Rock & Rain: Washington's Olympic Peninsula contributors on February 15 to unlock inspiration, seek adventure, connect with nature, and work to protect the wild places we cherish. Read more…

Speak Up Now to Protect Access to Peaks and Canyons

Note, this public comment period has closed. We'll keep our community updated on future developments in this process.

For many Mountaineers students, the South Face of the Tooth in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is their first foray into the world of alpine climbing. Considering its close proximity to the Seattle area, wide ledges for belaying, and grippy holds, it’s no wonder that the South Face is a classic teaching space for our alpine programs. Unfortunately, our community’s ability to safely access critical teaching spaces like the South Face of the Tooth is in jeopardy due to recently released National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) proposals. Read more…

The New Plan to Restore Grizzly Populations in the North Cascades

Grizzly bears once roamed the old-growth forests and alpine meadows of Washington’s North Cascades, but their population has dwindled over the last 200 years due to hunting, trapping, and habitat loss. Today, a grizzly bear sighting in the North Cascades Ecosystem is extremely rare. But that rarity may change due to an ongoing effort by federal agencies to recover the grizzly population.  Read more…

Tacoma Banff Film Festival - Dec 4

The biggest film event of the year is here! Join us on December 4 at the Rialto Theater for an evening of inspiring films from the mountain world. Read more…

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour - Dec 2023, Mar 2024

The world-renowned Banff Centre's Banff Mountain Film Festival celebrates 48 years of bringing the best action, environment, and adventure films to audiences in Banff and no less than 40 countries across the globe. Join The Mountaineers to catch a showing of Banff in Tacoma, Seattle, or Olympia.  Read more…

"Journey to Infinity: Pico de Orizaba" Film Screening with Jason Hardrath and Kimber Cross - Dec 3

Winter is on its way and now is the time to slow down and see a movie! Join the Everett Climbing Committee at the Seattle Program Center on December 3 as we watch Journey to Infinity: Pico de Orizaba with one of the film's stars, Jason Hardrath. Tacoma Branch Climb Leader and North Face Athlete Development Team member Kimber Cross will lead a Q&A with Jason after the film. The event is open to anybody who would like to come. Stop in, see the film, enjoy refreshments, and get inspired! Read more…

Adventure Speaker Series: Craig Romano - Day Hiking the Central Cascades

Take a slideshow hiking tour of Washington’s breathtaking Central Cascades with award winning guidebook author, Craig Romano. Drawing from his newly released Day Hiking Central Cascades, 2nd Edition, Craig will introduce you to a diverse array of trails along the Stevens Pass US 2 corridor, the Icicle River Valley, Lake Wenatchee area, Blewett Pass, Wenatchee Foothills, lightly-hiked Entiat River Valley, and Lake Chelan area, including the remote Stehekin Valley. Read more…

Gear Grab - December 11, 2023

Have a gear wish list a mile long or some extra gear you'd like to unload? Stop by our holiday Gear Sale at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on Monday, December 11 from 6-8pm to find great gear at bargain prices. Read more…

Olympia Adventure Speaker Series 2023-2024

Mountaineers from all branches, their guests, and community members are invited to join the Olympia Mountaineers on the first Wednesday of each month from November 2023 through March  2024 for our much-loved Adventure Speaker Series! Olympia Mountaineers have hosted this amazing free event for 16 years. Join us at our evening socials featuring speakers who are guaranteed to inspire your next adventure. Read more…

Olympia Social & Awards Celebration - Oct 21

Each October, the Olympia Mountaineers gather to celebrate the work we have done, the fun we have had, and the friendships we have made during the program year. Read more…

BeWild: Graham Zimmerman, A Fine Line - Nov 9

The Mountaineers BeWild Speaker Series puts passion and adventure on center stage! Join us at BeWild with Graham Zimmerman on November 9 to unlock inspiration, seek adventure, connect with nature, and work to protect the wild places we cherish. Read more…

Join The Mountaineers Annual Meeting - Oct 25, 2023

Each year, we host an annual meeting for our members to learn more about the organization's state of affairs from staff and board members. Join us to celebrate 2023 fiscal year highlights, preview 2024, learn more about our strategic priorities, and have the opportunity to ask questions of our leaders.  Read more…

Adventure Speaker Series: Donna Kreuger - Solo Alaska

Donna Kreuger retired in January 2022 and in June 2023 left from Olympia on an 11,500-mile solo trip camping and exploring western Canada and Alaska.  Her trip took her through the Canadian Rockies, on the Stewart-Cassier Highway north up to the Dempster Highway through the Yukon and Northern Territories to the Arctic Ocean.  Read more…

Origin Story: Ian Cox Memorial Dicks-A-Thon - Oct 21, 2023

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…

Olympia Mountaineers Host Youth Booth at Nisqually Watershed Festival

The Nisqually Watershed Festival is an annual celebration of nature featuring art, discovery, science, and family fun. There are displays from local organizations, tours, an Insect Extravaganza, storytelling, salmon discussion, and more.  Learn about reptiles and bats, make a salmon lifecycle key chain, or bring a t-shirt to make a fish print.  Lunch options are available including a salmon barbeque. Read more…

Mountainfilm On Tour - Oct 12, 2023

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

Olympia Meet The Mountaineers Open House - Oct 5

Olympia Mountaineers have a lot to be proud of, and the annual Open House provides us the opportunity to showcase the wide range of activities, courses, and events that we put on so well! Read more…

No Man's Land Film Festival - September 21

Join Climbers of Color at The Mountaineers as they host a screening of No Man's Land World Tour. No Man's Land Film Festival (NMLFF) is the premier all-women adventure film festival based out of Carbondale, Colorado, and is currently touring internationally. Read more…

Gear Grab - August 28

Have a gear wish list a mile long, or some extra gear you'd like to unload? Come to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center from 6-8 pm on Monday, August 28 for our upcoming Gear Grab.  Read more…

See You Tonight! How to Stream The Mountaineers 2023 Gala

Tonight is the night! We can’t wait to welcome you as a virtual guest at the Gala this evening. The evening’s festivities will have a lasting impact on our community, with all proceeds supporting mission-driven programs and initiatives. This year we’ve set an ambitious goal of $535,000 and we need your help to make it happen! All funds raised through ticket sales, auction bids, and Raise the Paddle donations provide unrestricted funding to help make the magic of Mountaineers programs possible. Read more…

Ready, Set, Bid! The Mountaineers Auction is Live

The Mountaineers Annual Gala is only eight days away but bidding in the silent auction starts TODAY! There is still time to join us virtually to access our online auction and catch all the action on April 1 during the livestream presentation. Register for a virtual ticket to ensure you receive the link to the auction and live broadcast.  Read more…

Gear Grab - May 22

Have a gear wish list a mile long, or some extra gear you'd like to unload? Come to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center from 6-8 pm on Monday, May 22 for our upcoming Gear Grab.  Read more…

Claim your virtual seat and dream up your next adventure

Tickets to attend the 2023 Gala in person are officially SOLD OUT but you can still join us virtually for an unforgettable evening! Virtual event registration gives you early access to our online auction and the chance to catch all the action on April 1 during the livestream presentation.  Read more…

5Point Adventure Film Festival - March 9, 2023

5Point Adventure Film Festival is an adventure film festival based out of Carbondale, Colorado, and on tour internationally. 5Point Adventure Film Festival is dedicated to sharing stories of adventure that have the power to ignite positive social and environmental change in our local communities and around the globe. Their five founding principles - respect, commitment, humility, purpose, and balance - guide our curation process and festival experience. Read more…

Adventure Awaits in The Mountaineers Online Auction

Dreaming of your next big adventure? Enjoy this in-depth first look at a few of the auction items available at the 2023 Gala! Bid on the ultimate vacation, and feel great knowing that your donation will help elevate the way our community transforms lives through outdoor education and conservation.  Read more…

2022-2023 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

The world-renowned Banff Centre's Banff Mountain Film Festival celebrates its 47th year, continuing to bring the best action, environment, and adventure films to audiences in Banff and no less than 40 countries across the globe. Join The Mountaineers  to catch our last showing of Banff in Olympia on March 24-26. Read more…