People

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…

For our member profile this week we spoke to Tommy Cafcas, a cyclist, mountaineer, and hiker who signed up for our Basic Climbing Course with a friend and discovered just how fun it can be to practice tying knots in a frigid shower while fully dressed. Read more…

For our member profile this week, we take a different approach and introduce you to Katherine Hollis, our conservation and recreation manager. Learn about why she became interested in conservation, and what excites her most about working with The Mountaineers. Read more…

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…

For our member profile this week we spoke to Sue Ritter, a rock climber and route setter at Warehouse Rockgym, nordic skier, hiker, photographer, and Dental Hygienist, about why she joined The Mountaineers and her favorite Mountaineers memory. Read more…

For our member profile this week we spoke to Erik Swanson, a bsnowshoer, hiker, scrambler, and electrical engineer, on why he's inspired by his fellow Mountaineers.  Read more…

On behalf of The Mountaineers, I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to one of our longest standing and most distinguished members: Wolf Bauer - pioneer, first-ascensionist, champion skier, sea kayak course and boat innovator, founder of Seattle Mountain Rescue Council, and esteemed conservationist.  Read more…

For our member profile this week we spoke to Susan Myers, a birder, hiker, backpacker, and photographer, about who inspires her and why she gets outside with The Mountaineers. Read more…

For our member profile this month we spoke to Jan Deveny, a climber, skier, hiker, and retired Polic Chief, about why he joined The Mountaineers and how the community here has inspired him to give back.  Read more…

Everything accomplished by The Mountaineers as an organization can be credited to the efforts of our volunteers. Our courses, trips, youth programs, and advocacy efforts are fueled by the passion of people who are engaged because they want to be, not because they receive financial motivation. Each year we host a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner to recognize these tireless individuals. Find out which volunteers were honored this year with the Branch Service awards and the organization-wide Leader of the Year and Mountaineers Service Award (there are other awards at the branch level that are not highlighted here but which show how our community can embrace those that contribute to it - at the bottom of this blog, we'd love to hear how different committees and branches choose to thank and recognize their other volunteers).  Read more…

For our member profile this month we spoke to Vik Sahney, a mountaineer, climber, skier, and VP of Strategy at REI, about who inspires him and why he volunteers with The Mountaineers. Read more…

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…

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…

For our member profile this month we spoke to Loni Uchytil, a climber, skier, and dental hygenist about who inspires her and why she volunteers with The Mountaineers. Read more…

For our member profile this month we spoke to Patrick Mullaney, a climber, skier, and Land Use Attorney about who inspires him and why he volunteers with The Mountaineers. Read more…

We're teaming up with AmazonSmile to support the mission of The Mountaineers - to get more people outside enjoying the lands and waters of our beautiful Pacific Northwest. Read more…

With great sadness we share the news of the passing of Lisa Berntsen, a beloved member of The Mountaineers community - a Mountaineer, Tacoma branch member, volunteer leader, and board member. Read more…

Members join our community for all sort of reasons. Some folks simply want to support our mission to get more people outside. Others are passionate about our commitment to bring outdoor experiences to young people through our youth programs. And many more join to learn specific skills or increase competencies to better enjoy their outdoor pursuits. Read more…

Ballots have been cast and the results are in! Your new at large board members are: Read more…

For our member profile this month we spoke with Isabel Suhr, a graduate of our MAC (Mountaineers Adventure Club), about who inspires her and why she volunteers.  Read more…

Those of us who work in the nonprofit sector believe what we do for a living supports a mission to make a difference in the world. In the nine years I’ve spent working in development for nonprofits, I’ve come to appreciate that it’s actually partnerships with donors that truly advance an organization’s vision to make the world a better place. Read more…

In the three years I’ve been with The Mountaineers, I’ve discovered our members live long and rich lives.  Read more…

Debbie Wick joined The Mountaineers in January 1984 and has been involved with us ever since, officially joining our Member Services team in 2001. After 14-years of dedicated service to our members, Debbie has decided to live more of her life in the great out-of-doors. She’s not yet ready to use the “r word” – retirement – but instead is choosing to see this as an extended vacation. Her last day with us was Friday, September 12. Read more…

Have you lost something lately? We all know the feeling, and it's the worst. Post about lost items in your Trip Reports on our Routes & Places so the next people heading to the area will know to keep an eye out. If you're heading to the Olympics soon, please consider this request from an outdoor adventurer in the Midwest.  Read more…

The need for the Ten Essentials is not apparent until something goes wrong. Maybe you're surprised by darkness, weather, or a slow partner, or an injury slows or prevents travel. Whatever happens, the lack of an Essential can result in death.  Read more…

It's been nearly a month since we launched our new website, and we remain incredibly energized by the community's support of our new home and the positive impact this will have on our organization. Read more…

The Mountaineers has hundreds of volunteers who make our programs possible, and thanks to super volunteers like Chris Chapin and Deling Ren, who both work for Microsoft, their volunteerism is going even further in the form of  cash donations to The Mountaineers from Microsoft's matching gift program. Read more…

The summer that I was three years old, my family went backpacking for three days, hiking three miles a day. At four years old, it was four days, four miles. You get the idea. This was part of my parents’ system for introducing us to the outdoors. Read more…