News & Events

Dee Molenaar and Patti Polinsky were each beloved members of The Mountaineers community who passed away shortly before or during the pandemic. Due to safety concerns, we were not able to host public memorials as we normally would to bring our community together for healing. Now that it's safe to do so, we are honored to be able to host two Celebration of Life memorials for these incredible individuals. Read more…

“The show must go on” has always been the motto of The Mountaineers Players who have been performing at the Kitsap Forest Theater since 1923. We produce shows to enrich the community by bringing stories to life in a magical outdoor setting that all ages can enjoy. We perform through all types of challenges (rain, record heat, cold, a closed Kitsap Cabin), and are thrilled to present Little Women on most weekends this summer. Come take a hike to visit our magical space and experience the wonder of outdoor theater for yourself!  Read more…

Picnics and northwest summer evenings are made for each other, and they're even even better when the picnic offers your first chance to gather in person with other Olympia Branch members in over a year.  We invite you to join us for our summer picnic on August 4.  Read more…

Each spring we gather our community to celebrate our collective achievements and support future efforts to transform lives and protect wild places. With the pandemic preventing us from gathering in person, we hosted our second (and hopefully final) virtual Gala. Read more…

When we began planning the 2021 Virtual Gala, we knew we wanted to host an outdoor awards show unlike anything we’ve ever done before. Mountaineers Books author and Guinness World Record-holding ocean rower Jordan Hanssen had a musical project that was the perfect fit. Since the pandemic began, Jordan has been inviting musicians to play in his rowboat for his newly-created  TinyBoatSessions. We asked him if he would organize a TinyBoatSession for the auction, and he found the perfect performers for the occasion: The Musical Mountaineers. Read more…

Attention bidders! We know you’ve been dueling it out on the auction website for great getaways, unique experiences, and first-class gear, but we have a surprise for you... two brand new packages, including a Corey Rich print of the Dawn Wall signed by Tommy and Kevin and a super secret chanterelle mushroom forage and feast. With over 60 packages to bid on, there’s a little something for everyone. Read more…

After weeks of pining after your potential new vacation, experience, or awesome gear featured in The Mountaineers online auction...your moment has finally come. It’s time to place your bids! Read more…

Have you been meaning to register for The Mountaineers Virtual Gala, but life keeps getting in the way? We get it, this week’s sun is so tempting!. If you’re reading this now, take a quick detour and head to our registration page. Now is your last chance to register before the online auction goes live on April 22! Read more…

We are less than a month away from The Mountaineers Annual Gala: Adventure with Purpose! While you still have time to register for your free ticket to attend the virtual Gala, it’s the last call for meal purchases from Kaspars Catering. Crusted halibut, rainbow carrot cake, specialty cocktails and hibiscus mocktails - oh my! Read more…

Family vacations, unique experiences, adventures near and far - good things are coming in 2021!

The sun is shining again in the Pacific Northwest and our community is itching to travel beyond their backyards. There is hope on the horizon for new experiences and adventure travel! And there is no better way to kickstart your plans than through The Mountaineers Annual Gala: Adventure with Purpose. With over 50 auction packages, including adventurous getaways, beautiful artwork, and awesome outdoor gear, you can feel great knowing that your next vacation or new swag benefits a cause you care about! Read more…

Adventure and travel are on the horizon! 

This past year, social distancing and virtual experiences have helped keep our community safe. While we’re not out of the woods, we’re feeling hopeful and excited about near-term experiences and opportunities to travel! And what better way to kickstart your plans than through The Mountaineers Annual Gala: Adventure with Purpose? Read more…

Join us to hear stories from Mountaineers Book Author, Triple Crown hiker, and a man who National Geographic dubbed “the dean of America’s long-distance trails," Barney Scout Mann.  Read more…

Hi, it's me - your social life! I know I haven't been around much this past year. I promise that it's not you, it's me. But, I have good news! The Mountaineers is hosting their annual fundraising gala and I am inviting you to dust off your cocktail-wear and enjoy some (virtual) time with your friends before the event streams live on Thursday, April 29. Gather your friends and look forward to some socializing at a Mountaineers Pod Social! Read more…

There’s no denying it - our community is an incredible force for good. Even in a year mired with challenges and social distancing, we found ways to come together and support one another through our shared love of wild places and the outdoor experience. Our volunteers have done a tremendous job of creatively offering opportunities for us to grow our skills through modified courses and virtual offerings, and our members continue to speak up and advocate for our big backyard. Mountaineers Books helped millions around the world seek refuge in adventure through pages in a book (and won 13 prestigious awards for their titles!) Read more…

For eight years, we've hosted the BeWild Speaker Series to bring  you stories of passion and adventure. On February 11, we're excited to host Elsye "Chardonnay" Walker, who in 2018 became the first African American woman to complete the "Triple Crown of Hiking" - trekking 7,900 miles along the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide trails. Read more…

We're back! The Foothills Backpacking Committee's Backpackers' Pajama Parties helped many of us stay sane during the early days of quarantine, and many of you have told us you want more. We're happy to announce our 2021 lineup, sure to keep you entertained while we wait for the summer season to arrive. Read more…

For eight years, we've hosted the BeWild Speaker Series to bring  you stories of passion and adventure. We're excited to kick the 2021 season off with historian, founder of the Banff Centre for Mountain Culture, and author of the new Mountaineers Books title Winter 8000, Bernadette McDonald.  Read more…

2020 was a difficult year for our Mountaineers programs. With 2021 just a few weeks away, Olympia leaders are developing hybrid courses and tailoring activities to ensure the COVID-19 safety of all participants. Join us on January 7, 2021 to learn about new and exciting way of providing outdoor education and look forward to welcoming new members. Read more…

For eight years, we've hosted the BeWild Speaker Series to bring you stories of passion and adventure. We're excited to announce this year's lineup, which includes award winning authors, not your average thru-hiker, and a world class alpinist. Read more…

Fluff  your couch cushions, grab some snacks, and make sure you have good internet connection, because the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is going virtual this year, and we have your exclusive access!  Read more…

Interested in learning scrambling, winter travel, or other basic skills? Look no further than the upcoming Olympia Scrambling Course, Winter Travel Course, and clinics in avalanche safety, outdoor preparation, and more. Read more…

The Pacific Northwest, especially the Puget Sound Area, is famous for its natural beauty and abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Our combination of mountains, ocean, islands, rivers, and forests is unique, and has given rise over the decades to a vibrant outdoor scene that includes not just an enthusiastic community of individual adventurers, but a rich ecosystem of outdoor clubs, gear manufactures and shops, outfitters, guiding services, authors, publishers, WTA, NWAC, and of course The Mountaineers. Among the most amazing, yet least understood, contributors are the region's all volunteer Search and Rescue organizations. Read more…

Join Jennifer Hull, author of Shook: An Earthquake, a Legendary Mountain Guide, and Everest's Deadliest Day, and mountain guide Dave Hahn for a virtual event to benefit the Juniper Fund, Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation, and The Mountaineers. Read more…

On September 28-29 and October 1, The Mountaineers will be hosting a new Pop-Up Donor Center with Bloodworks Northwest. Read more…

The annual Recognition and Awards Banquet has been a feature of the Olympia Branch for many years. Members meet at the end of October to greet old friends, celebrate successes, learn what has been happening, and get an idea of what to look forward to in the next year.   Read more…

Join us on September 10 for a virtual BeWild event with avid mountaineer, climber of the 7-summits, and Mountaineers board president, Vik Sahney. Read more…

Each year, we host an annual meeting for our members to share a retroactive tour of our last fiscal year. Learn about our state of affairs from our board members and staff, hear about Governance Committee and Board nominations for At-Large Directors, and have the opportunity to ask questions of our leaders. Per our bylaws, the Annual Meeting also allows The Mountaineers Membership to make At-Large Director nominations from the floor for the 2020 election season. Join us virtually on September 15, 2020. Read more…

In previous years, it has been our tradition to gather our community each spring to celebrate our achievements and support future efforts to transform lives and protect wild places at our annual fundraising gala. This year, however, was a little different.  Read more…

Join The Mountaineers to view some of the world's best outdoor films largely created by women and featuring female athletes! Films this year include the story of a refugee that finds a home in the climbing community, a marine biologist dedicated to protecting our planet, a pair of singletrack shredders that use pizza to bridge differences, and much more.  Read more…

For a couple of years, Mountaineers Leader Rena Chinn has been asking me if I wanted to start a book club with her that featured adventure and outdoor books written by women and people of color (POC). We somehow never found time with our own adventuring to fit it in. When the COVID-19 shutdown happened, we felt it was the perfect time to start our club with online meetings. Read more…