Blog

Apparently, midsummer means mosquitos, mountain goats, and a whole lot of Mountaineer spirit! Read on, dear friends, for some of the best trip reports from this July, with more alpine lakes, wildflowers, and creatures of legend than you could ask for. Read more…

Cresting the ridge after a long climb, we stand enchanted. Ahead of us stretches a gorgeous fjord. Across the way, cliffs crash into the sun-sparkled water. To the right, a valley ringed by mountains rises from the fjord’s head. To the left, the mouth of the fjord opens to the sea. Coastal clouds cast shadows that dance across the water. Read more…

Are you currently an outdoor leader, or interested in outdoor leadership but aren’t sure where to start? If so, the Leadership Development Series is for you! We curate the Leadership Development Series to help you expand and hone your outdoor leadership skills. Whether you are new to leadership in outdoor spaces, or have been leading and guiding in the wilderness for a lifetime, there are seminars for you. Read more…

Over the past few months, an increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) visits and raids on places where people work and gather has been reported across the U.S. and here in Washington State. Having a plan that defines how to respond to an ICE visit is an important way to protect the rights of The Mountaineers and our community.  Read more…

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

Imagine a future where the natural spaces we love are diminished, trails are restricted, and the climate is irreversibly impacted. It's not a distant nightmare; it's a very real threat we're facing right now, and it affects every single one of us who finds solace and adventure in the outdoors. Read more…

Last year, The Mountaineers community gave over 182,654 volunteer hours. We're grateful for each volunteer who donated their time to support our mission. Read more…

In a shallow, sunlit riverbed, Ken Sund stands shin-deep over his canoe wearing a proud smile. Both hands grip a pickaxe, and two car tires rest in the canoe, their rubber edges peeling from years of subaquatic erosion. Only a few feet of space remain near the bow of the canoe, where Ken will situate himself before paddling down the river, collecting debris along the way. Read more…

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

Ah, finally, summer has arrived and, if you’re like me, you want to spend as much time as you can exploring the outdoors in summer’s warm sun. But too much fun in the sun can cause problems beyond the occasional sun burn. I’m talking about hypernatremia and hyponatremia. Read more…

On August 14, 2018, my best friend Stephen Kornbluth and two other climbers set out to summit Dewey Peak on the Sunrise side of Mt. Rainier. During the descent, the anchor built to support their rappel down the mountain failed, and Stephen fell. Despite heroic efforts from the other climbers to provide emergency care, Stephen did not survive. Read more…

One of the ways The Mountaineers advocates to protect backcountry recreation on our national forests is by defending important conservation safeguards like the Roadless Rule. Inventoried Roadless Areas protect one third of the national forest system (59 million acres, including two million acres in Washington state) from logging and development. Roadless Areas support recreational opportunities across Washington’s six national forests. For example, the Mount Baker, Lake Quinault, and Washington Pass areas offer popular opportunities to recreate in backcountry forest areas protected as Roadless. Read more…

The Mountaineers is recruiting for the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Prevention (SHSAP) Implementation Team, a volunteer group working to prevent sexual harassment and assault and foster a Mountaineers community where all members feel safe and supported. Read more…

In recent years, The Mountaineers has expanded its risk management activity to include an increased focus on the interpersonal environment, understanding that there is a direct link between physical and emotional safety. The Mountaineers recognizes the importance of organizational culture in establishing an inclusive and welcoming environment. Read more…

The Mountaineers relies on technology to stay connected and support our mission. From using laptops to register for courses to using cell phone apps for backcountry navigation, technology plays an essential role in our daily operations. But while tech can make our lives more efficient, it also comes with environmental costs.  Read more…

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

The Mountaineers is a group of people who love the outdoors, and who share their experience freely. As a volunteer organization, we hold a unique spot in the continuum of leader-follower dynamics: on one end is the IFMGA-certified guide, goddess-like in her competence and inspiring absolute confidence by her clients; on the other side is a group of buddies stumbling around in the woods with a dog eared copy of Freedom of  the Hills. Sometimes our trips may look more like the first case, sometimes more like the latter. Let’s talk about how this affects safety. Read more…

When I started out in the bicycle industry, I was full of enthusiasm, excitement, and passion. With my head in the clouds and my heart with the stars, I didn’t know where my feet were supposed to be planted. I needed a mentor – someone who could redirect my tractor beam aspirations into a plan with a focused goal, process, and outcome. Read more…

Meet Terri, a Foothills hike and urban walk leader who is inspired to give back to the outdoor community that has provided her with so many beautiful experiences. Read more…

With over two decades of high-altitude experience, Melissa Arnot Reid has become one of the most respected voices in modern mountaineering. As the first American woman to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, Melissa’s career has been defined by resilience, leadership, and a deep commitment to learning from the mountains she calls home. Read more…

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”

- Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder Read more…

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

Have you ever tried to snag a campground or parking spot near Diablo Lake or another destination in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area during a busy summer weekend? Visitation to this popular area of the North Cascades has doubled over the last 20 years, and Park Service staff recorded one million visits in 2019. As recreational use via the North Cascades Highway continues to grow, land managers need new strategies to manage recreation. Park staff are preparing to develop a robust plan and holistic approach to better manage frontcountry recreation opportunities along the Highway 20 corridor, and they want to hear from you! Read more…

June is one of the best times of the year for trip goers, and one of the worst times of the year for us: having to choose between THIS many incredible trip reports was a veritable struggle. Read on, dear friends, for tales of heroic gear rescue, camaraderie, and the majesty of Peru! Read more…

Summer is here! We’re celebrating longer days and warmer weather with our annual Summer Book Sale from July 1-30, 2025. Stop by the Seattle Program Center to plan your next trip from our selection of best-selling guidebooks and Green Trails maps, find an adventure story to read at camp, or rep The Mountaineers on trail with Mountaineers merchandise. You can also pick up a Discover Pass or Northwest Forest Pass while you’re here.  Read more…

We’re thrilled to share our annual impact report for fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023-September 30, 2024), a celebration of all that our community of outdoor enthusiasts made possible. Read more…

Risk is inherent in all that we do as outdoor enthusiasts, and it can take various forms in different situations. Risk is also not limited to physical danger - Mountaineers activities can involve psychological and emotional risk as well as environmental risk. Read more…

As you’ve likely heard, the Forest Service has a problem. Read more…

As a former competitive tennis player and climber, I learned early on that being mentally prepared for an event is just as important as being physically prepared. When I showed up to a competition unfocused or unconfident, it reflected in my results. But when I was mentally in the zone, my performance followed suit. Read more…

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