Blog

Whether you’re a seasoned outdoorsperson or just starting your journey with The Mountaineers, you won’t want to miss our annual Holiday Gear Grab at the Seattle Program Center on Monday, December 15 from 6-8pm. Read more…

Join The Mountaineers as we celebrate the spirit of adventure with the Banff World Tour.

The Seattle screenings will be at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle on January 14 and 15 at 7pm. The lineup of films is different each night, so join us one or both nights. All proceeds benefit The Mountaineers. Reserve your tickets today! Read more…

The Mountaineers values transparency and takes pride in celebrating our successes. Our team is continuously working on updating our website, e-learning, and automated processes to enhance the user experience for members and volunteers. In this Changelog, we capture what improvements we have made over time so you can follow along and take advantage of new features. 

To learn more about our Technology program, check out our Technology Hub! Read more…

Mountaineers members have access to a range of events, opportunities, and discounts to help give the best gifts this holiday season. Whether you're shopping for gear, experiences, or simply good deals, we've got something for everyone on your list, including yourself!  Read more…

Abigail is an active kid with a “goofy personality” who loves being outdoors and making new friends. Her mother, Rachel, works hard to provide for her, parenting alone because her family is back home overseas. Thanks to Mountaineers donors, Abigail was able to use a scholarship to attend overnight camp at Stevens Lodge this summer. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, our values of practicing low impact principles extend beyond the trails and into our daily, digital lives. This past summer, The Mountaineers partnered with a local nonprofit to responsibly rehome our old laptops. Read more…

Volunteering with the Foothills Branch means connecting with like-minded adventurers, supporting inclusive outdoor education, and helping others discover the transformative power of nature. Most of our volunteer opportunities don't require special skills or experience - we're just looking for your energy and enthusiasm! Read more…

Our Seattle Program Bookstore Sale is happening through the month of December! From guides that teach you how to read the language of trees to stories of high-alpine grit,  our bookstore is stocked with titles for readers and adventurers of all interests and skill levels. Whether you're seeking the thrill of winter peaks, the comfort of family play in the woods, the joy of discovering edible mushrooms, or simply a deeper connection with the natural world, we have a book to inspire your next step. 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…

You’ve packed your Ten Essentials, laced your hiking boots, and pulled into the trailhead ready for your next adventure - only to pause as you set the parking brake, wondering which recreation pass to display. We’ve all been there: rooting around in the glove compartment for a Discover Pass or Northwest Forest Pass, scanning the trailhead kiosk for some hint of which one we need. Read on to learn how to determine which pass to use, why recreation passes exist in the first place, and how your fees support the places where you recreate.  Read more…

Like many nonprofits, we’re navigating rapidly rising costs and economic uncertainty as we head into 2026. The good news? We have a strong foundation and an equally strong community.  Read more…

Each fall, our Annual Meeting provides an opportunity to celebrate the spirit of The Mountaineers: our volunteers, leaders, members, and donors who make everything we do possible. This year’s event included leadership updates, recognition of exceptional volunteer service, and presentations on our organizational achievements and priorities for the future. Read more…

With fall in full swing, we’re thrilled to announce that registration is open for our first-ever VIBE Outside Youth Conference! This brand-new event is created by youth, for youth, offering high school students a space to connect, learn new skills, and build confidence in exploring the outdoors safely and responsibly. The conference will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the Seattle Program Center. Read more…

The two biggest bodily traumas I’ve experienced as a sea kayaker both occurred before my kayak got into the water. Read more…

I’m not expecting anything when a box arrives at the Seattle Program Center Bookstore - no return address, no explanation. Inside are old editions of the Mountaineer annuals, the covers softened and yellowed by time. These volumes once marked the rhythm of each year in the club, part record, part reflection. Among the box of annuals is the 1975 edition. I don’t reach for it with any particular intent, but once it’s in my hands, I linger. Read more…

During our annual Awards Celebration in October, outstanding leaders were recognized for their contributions to the Olympia Branch, hiking and climbing pins were awarded, and graduating students were celebrated for their hard work and accomplishments. Read more…

Update: On Wednesday, November 12, Congress passed - and the President signed into law - a short-term funding bill to fully re-open the federal government and end the partial government shutdown. However, it will take some time for things to return to normal.

Mountaineers members have flexed their grassroots advocacy muscle in a big way this year. From rebuffing public lands sell-offs in Congress to speaking up to defend backcountry forests protected by the Roadless Rule, your constituent letters have made a difference by elevating the importance of public lands and outdoor access with lawmakers during a challenging time. Read more…

Nordic walking is a mix of walking, hiking, and cross-country skiing that can be done on the street, in the park, and most places where you travel in the open air. Nordic walking is applicable to all levels of mobility, and is especially valuable to anyone with a balance problem as well as those in good health and fitness. The movements in Nordic walking are very similar to classic Nordic skiing but the activity does not require snow or skis.  Read more…

Based on feedback from our 2025 Member Survey and input from our Advisory Council, we've redesigned our event discovery process to make Mountaineers member events easier to find and join. With events ranging from adventure speakers to film screenings to cooking workshops, there are plenty of incredible opportunities for Mountaineers to come together outside of regular courses and activities.  Read more…

Join us on Dec 3 as  Craig Romano shares his latest book: Urban Trails: Vancouver, BC. Craig is a prolific outdoors writer, having authored more than 25 books. He has hiked more than 35,000 miles in Washington State alone and is an avid ultra-runner. 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 North Sound Leadership Conference is just one month away! Read more…

A stunning mosaic of purples, magentas, yellows, and whites filled the green meadow, subtly contrasted by the darker firs behind. In the light breeze, the flowers resembled a spinning kaleidoscope. On this July day, the subalpine meadow before me was at its flowering peak. All I could do was stare across Berkeley Park and breathe in the deep, sweet aroma of life regenerating itself. Read more…

I watch the little frog at my feet, barely bigger than a thumbnail, and scoop it gently into my small hands. My sister, nearly two years younger than I am, tries to imitate me. I worry she’ll squash the baby frog she’s trying to catch. Read more…

Please join us for an in-person book club on December 9 or January 9 (or both!).  At the book club, we'll discuss what we've read and enjoy a potluck dessert.   Read more…

The Mountaineers Seattle year-round programs offer enriching, community and family-based outdoor adventures for youth of all experience levels. Whether your family is at the trailhead every weekend or just starting to explore the outdoors, there's a club for you! The season is officially underway, running through September 2026, and it's not too late to join the adventure! Read more…

As the Seattle Youth Clubs manager, it’s not often that I have a free window of time to jump in and help our other youth programs. I am usually in the thick of planning and leading trips, coordinating with campground hosts, and supporting our team of instructors and volunteers. But when I was asked by my colleague Lauren (who oversees Partner Programs) to help belay a small class of students at the Seattle Program Center, I thought, Why not? My morning was open, and being outside beats sitting in front of a computer! Read more…

The annual gold rush has come and gone... and I'm happy to report that our Mountaineers didn't miss a single second of it. Read on, dear friends, for photogenic clouds, berry snackfests, knee-deep pow, salmon-egg slime molds, yummy yellows, and a whole host of shoulder-season sagas. Read more…

Woodpeckers hopped into my life in an unexpected place. As a young boy of eight or nine, I peered impatiently through the kitchen window into the backyard, waiting for the drizzle to stop so I might escape my tame suburban home to a wilder place where I could watch more than American Robins. Read more…

The Mountaineers just wrapped up another fiscal year, and we’re excited to share about the impact we achieved together through the Mountaineers Access Program (MAP) scholarship fund. Read more…