The Mountaineers
September 28, 2019, was National Public Lands Day - a newly-minted state holiday in Washington, through the unanimously-passed House Bill 1449, which we were proud to support. This day offered outdoor enthusiasts and members of The Mountaineers fee-free access to our federal public lands, and in the spirit of the day some spent their time giving back to the places they love.
The Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley is located just outside of North Bend, where incredible landscapes offer recreation opportunities for everyone. With the 1.5-mile Oxbow Trail, the ADA-accessible Brown Camp picnic area and trail, and the soon-to-be-opened Garfield Ledges Trail, lots of opportunities abound to explore.
Members of our Foothills Branch, led by Russ Levy, volunteered on the Nature Trail in the Middle Fork, teaming up with Mountains to Sound Greenway, Seattle Outdoor Adventurer's Meetup, Washington Trails Association, a local boy scout troop, and many other invested volunteers.
As a celebration of the work and commitment of these volunteers, REI hosted a Cheers for Volunteers event, offering free t-shirts, locally-brewed beer in special take-home glasses, and lunch to those who spent their day in dedication to our public lands.
Advocacy and conservation are two of our core values at The Mountaineers, and we are proud that our membership dedicate themselves so fully to the protection and health of our public lands. Volunteer-driven stewardship events like these add up to more than 14,000 hours annually within our membership, and are invaluable to our wild spaces. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers for your hard work and passion for our public lands!
Get involved
If you're hoping to become involved in our conservation and stewardship efforts, we have plenty of opportunities to jump right in:
- Sign up for one of our upcoming stewardship activities
- Stay updated on current issues affecting public lands
- Learn more about our education, stewardship, and conservation efforts
