People

People

All posts

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…

Mountaineer of the Week: Tim Wick

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Cece Venzon

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Steven Freygang

Each week we bring you a personal story from a member of our community. For our profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Impact Giving | Transforming Loss into Legacy: Remembering Ian Cox Through Mountaineers Scholarships

We all move through the stages of grief at different speeds, and never in the same order. Sadness tends to hit me first, followed by denial and anger. With self-care and some extra time on the trail, acceptance comes into view. In my role at The Mountaineers, I’m often the first person people talk to when sharing the news that a Mountaineers member has passed, and these conversations never get easier. On the bright side, something that is very special about this community is how fast motivation and inspiration presents itself. The spirit of adventure is forever present, even when facing serious loss. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Jeni Brink

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…

How LWCF is Helping Conserve the Central Cascades

Earlier this month, we celebrated the three-year anniversary of the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). GAOA is already making a difference on the ground for Washington’s public lands and the transformational recreation opportunities they provide. In fact, GAOA funding is powering current public lands projects in Washington like the Stevens Canyon Road improvements in Mount Rainier National Park, as well as several trail improvements in the Mountains to Sound Greenway. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Rose Slater

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

2022 Impact Report: Strengthening Our Voice as Advocates

With the recent release of our annual impact report, we're celebrating all that donors and volunteers made possible through The Mountaineers in 2022. 

For more than 100 years, The Mountaineers has connected people in the outdoors. I’ve had the honor of building relationships with Mountaineers near and far, young and old, daring, mindful, good-humored, and passionate. I’ve been a student, colleague, mentor, and team member. And in each of these roles, I have deepened my relationship to the place that is my home. In fellowship and visitation, I have put down soggy Northwest roots and learned to love more corners of this wild and amazing planet than I ever knew existed. Read more…

2022 Impact Report: Creating a Culture of Belonging

With the recent release of our annual impact report, we're celebrating all that donors and volunteers made possible through The Mountaineers in 2022. 

When I joined The Mountaineers, I didn’t expect to become so fully immersed — taking courses, instructing, leading trips, and
volunteering on committees. My climbing partners who shared adventures with me in the mountains became lasting friends off
the mountain. My outdoor community simply became my community. Read more…

Foothills Volunteer Spotlight: Matthew Shawhan

Meet Matthew Shawhan, a stewardship leader for the Foothills Branch who coordinates the branch's stewardship activities with Shadow Lake Preserve and has worked for many years with the Mountains to Sound Greenway. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Sarvinder Marwaha

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

2022 Impact Report: Innovating in Outdoor Education

With the recent release of our annual impact report, we're celebrating all that donors and volunteers made possible through The Mountaineers in 2022. 

The model of volunteer-led outdoor education at The Mountaineers is imbued with a sense of purpose that cultivates friendships, mentorships, and lifelong learning opportunities. We approach our outdoor pursuits with more than a “one and done” attitude; we build a culture that fosters collaboration between students and teachers and care for the natural world. And as our community grows out of authentic relationships, consistent values crop up across all activities: safety, respect, communication, and the joy of being outside together. Read more…

Impact Giving | Homegrown Expertise and Values-Based Publishing

As an independent nonprofit publisher, one of the goals of Mountaineers Books is to amplify the values of Mountaineers members. The editorial team has a finger on the pulse of our outdoor community and chooses projects that help bring readers to the frontlines of outdoor education. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Andy Zavada and Sheila Reynolds

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…

Impact Report for Fiscal Year 2022

We are excited to release our annual impact report in celebration of all that you made possible in fiscal year 2022. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Stephen Pollard

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Christina Black

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Impact Giving | Donors Support Leadership Development

The Mountaineers is internationally known for high-quality outdoor education and experiences, yet many people are surprised when they find out that our programs are almost entirely led by volunteers.  Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Peter Clitherow

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…

Mountaineer of the Week: Laura Murahashi

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Robert White

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Stacey Lissit

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…

Your donation builds a vibrant outdoor community

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…

Youth Outside | Climbing is for Everyone

I learned how to rock climb through The Mountaineers. Learning to climb this way is empowering because you learn for yourself how to climb safely. As a teacher at the Tacoma Science and Math Institute (SAMI), a public school housed in Point Defiance Park and Zoo, I like to take this empowering educational approach with my students, and one great thing about my school is the requirement that teachers collaborate to co-teach an interdisciplinary class in January. We are encouraged to dream big. Read more…

Donations protect the outdoor experience

Next weekend an estimated 22.6 million people will go camping across the US, and even more will get outside for the day to enjoy parks, forests, waterways, and other outdoor spaces. We love to see people enjoying the outdoors, and believe that each of us has a role in conserving the natural world—and the outdoor experiences we love—for future generations. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Erin Shannon-Starup

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Donations support volunteer-led outdoor education

Spring is an exciting time at The Mountaineers as people from all backgrounds and experience levels turn to us to seek outdoor education. Many of our most popular adult courses are underway or wrapping up. Kids in our after-school programs are finally getting some long, sunny afternoons to learn and play outside. The activity calendar is filling rapidly, and the latest guidebooks are flying off the shelves as people gear up for summer.  Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Cindy Song

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Duncan Cox

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…