Blog

It’s really hard to forget the sound of a bone breaking — those of you who have had it happen know what I mean. Finding ways to move past that moment can be challenging. Read more…

Join us on November 5 to hear Mike Kretzler describe his trip to Wales, where he led a crew of nine Mountaineers on a 186-mile trail. Mike will show pictures of the route, share information about the charming and comfortable lodgings along the way, and talk about how you can plan for and accomplish a trip on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Trail. Read more…

Each year, The Mountaineers and our Outdoor Alliance Washington (OA WA) partners visit Washington, D.C. to unite leaders in the human-powered outdoor community to advocate together with lawmakers and land managers for shared conservation and recreation priorities.  Read more…

The Everett Branch is seeking an interim Branch Chair to finish the last 2 years of the current 3-year leadership cycle. This is a meaningful and rewarding volunteer opportunity for someone who’s excited about supporting our broader Mountaineers community, strengthening volunteer connections, and helping the branch continue to grow and thrive. Read more…

Two days after The Mountaineers asked me to write a column on injury recovery, I suffered a stress fracture in my left foot. Although it was the most ironic injury of my life, it wasn’t the first. My medical history reads like a book: back surgery, nerve damage, chainsaw lacerations, a total hip replacement, frostbite, chronic knee effusion, and more. As a coach, I’ve guided athletes back from broken bones, tendon and ligament tears, high-altitude pulmonary edema, severe Covid, and countless niggling aches and pains. Read more…

Excerpt from "Ski Snacks: Easy, Tasty Recipes for Powder Days and Mountain Adventures" by Lily Krass Ritter and Max Ritter: Read more…

With so many emerging threats to public lands, recreation, and the climate this year, how Congress and the administration’s actions are impacting Washington’s lands and waters is constantly changing. We’re dedicated to cutting through the noise and elevating the best ways you can make an impact. Read more…

Winter darkness lies thickly outside my bedroom window as the world rests in a deep and quiet stillness. My body nestles deeper into the flannel comforter, creating a barrier against the air’s chill, when a rude chirp sounds from my cell phone alarm. I reach out one arm to hit snooze, then slip back into a dream. My phone chirps a second time. By the third, I know I have to toss aside my warm cocoon of blankets and step onto the cold, wood floor. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we believe a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. This belief is reflected in our core values and is the driving vision to foster outdoor experiences where all people feel belonging. One way we strive to do that is through affinity group activities.  Read more…

For years, the Mount Pilchuck Road - which provides access to the Heather Lake Trailhead and Mount Pilchuck - was notoriously known for its many potholes and extremely rough road. Thanks to funding from the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), visitors to the area have enjoyed a significantly repaired road since 2024, making the popular Heather Lake and Mount Pilchuck hikes accessible to more outdoor enthusiasts. This project is just one of the many ways the LRF has created a more safe and sustainable future for Washington’s public lands and the recreation experiences they provide. 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…

For over a century, the Fairfax Bridge has carried hikers, climbers, and campers into Mount Rainier National Park’s northwest corner. Now, the bridge is permanently closed, cutting off access to some of the most popular destinations in the park. Read more…

Finding comfort in the outdoors can be tricky. Not every activity is amenable to going solo and, even so, there are many reasons someone may not want to go alone. This is why finding a group where you feel belonging is important. Read more…

Each October, the Olympia Mountaineers gather to recognize graduates of all our courses and present awards to leaders who have shown exemplary service in climbing, conservation, youth outreach, scrambling, and hiking. Achievement pins and patches are presented and one Olympia Mountaineer is awarded the Branch Service Award, which recognizes their outstanding service over a multi-year period. 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…

For nearly 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected the natural resources and backcountry recreational opportunities provided by the National Forest System from road construction, logging, and other development. With this foundational conservation measure now under threat, the mantra “defend the Roadless Rule” is rallying Mountaineers and stakeholders across Washington’s outdoor community to take action in high numbers to protect old-growth forests and backcountry experiences.  Read more…

Four fire lookout cabins stand today near the four corners of Mount Rainier National Park: Shriner Peak, Gobblers Knob, Mount Fremont, and Tolmie Peak. Four other fire lookouts served the park for decades before being removed. When I started researching for my second book about fire lookout hikes and histories in the Mount Rainier region, I repeatedly read two different stories about the construction of the Park’s fire lookouts. Curious about which story was true, I investigated how some writers might have been misled. Read more…

Six months after my son was born, I was diagnosed with cancer. I was 30 years old. That first year of motherhood was one of the hardest – he was colicky, I was exhausted... It was one of the most challenging years of my life. Read more…

The August air was cool and the sky partly cloudy as my friend, Tom Martin, and I started up the Owyhigh Trail from Sunrise Road. Was I ready for this hike? It would be longer than any I’d done this summer, and with more elevation gain. We’d left one car at the Deer Creek Trailhead and planned to cross the saddle and down into the Ohanapecosh Valley. This trail was new to both of us. Read more…

Autumn-touched larches kissed by morning sun blaze against the dark shadows of the mountain. Crystal-blue skies arch over our camp as Colchuck Lake glitters through the trees. I sit in my tent hugging my knees, crying. 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…

Just imagine: the whoosh of your cross-country skis skimming over bright, perfectly groomed snow in crisp air with aqua-blue sky and dramatic Canadian Rockies views all around. Your breath makes a crystal fog (and ice on your eye lashes!) as you experience exhilarating physical challenge on some of the most gorgeous groomed cross-country ski terrain in the world. Read more…

Mountaineers members and leaders are amazing planners and researchers. We know that we not only need to check the weather before we go - we need to read recent route conditions, double check if any fires are nearby, and verify current land manager regulations. For sea and backcountry travel, we talk to friends and scour the web for GPX tracks and more detailed map resources. (I once read through three years of WTA trip reports for a remote location to see if someone mentioned a flat camping spot before packing my tent.) Read more…

With fall finally here, we’re excited to gear up for another season of Mountaineers Leadership Conferences!  For over a century, our community has been led and shaped by volunteer leaders. The Mountaineers Leadership Conferences celebrate that legacy by supporting the continued growth of current and aspiring leaders.  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.

Lawmakers in Congress failed to pass a stopgap funding bill by the end of the fiscal year deadline of September 30, resulting in a partial federal government shutdown. Read more…

We're pleased to present you with the outcome of the 2025 Board & Branch Elections, and we're grateful to everyone who participated by voting and accepting a nomination. Your participation shows a deep commitment to the organization. This year, we received nearly 1,300 votes from our membership.  Read more…

The Mountaineers is thrilled to welcome artist, climber, and adventurer Jeremy Collins to the BeWild Speaker Series for an evening unlike any other. Fresh off the release of his new graphic memoir, Eventually a Sequoia: Stories of Art, Adventure & the Wisdom of Giants, Collins is bringing his creative process to life through an immersive performance that blends visual art, storytelling, and environmental reflection. 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 Wonderland Trail is not for the faint of heart, but what happened to us on the trail would make anyone’s heart skip a beat. Read more…

Excerpted and adapted from The Outdoor Leader: Resilience, Integrity, and Adventure by Jeannette Stawski (February 2024). Published by Mountaineers Books. Reprinted with permission. Read more…