Blog
All posts
Ready, Set, Bid! The Mountaineers 2022 Gala Online Auction is Live

The day has finally come - it’s time to start bidding! The Mountaineers 2022 Gala: Adventure with Purpose will take place on April 2 but bidding in the online auction starts TODAY. You have eight days to bid high and bid often for once-in-a-lifetime experiences! Read more…
Bad Movie Night - April 6

It's been over five years, and we are THRILLED to bring back Bad Movie Night, the premier event you didn't know you needed in your life. We hope you'll come by on April 6 to experience the magic of heckling a bad adventure movie with your new outdoor friends. Read more…
CEO Update: State of the Organization Recap - March 2022

Reflecting back on the last two years, it’s fair to say that it’s been one of the most challenging times in The Mountaineers history. I suspect that most of us will never forget those very early days when we were just starting to learn about Coronavirus and we were emphasizing the importance of hand-washing, without knowing how profoundly the pandemic would impact us. Almost exactly 2 years ago, The Mountaineers halted the majority of our operations as the world around us shut down, and we headed into an unknown and unstable landscape. Yet even in those early days, our community came together with an immediate and aggressive response to set us up for success in the future. Read more…
2022 Member & Volunteer Survey Results

In January 2022, we invited our members and volunteers to participate in our bi-annual community survey. We do this every two years to understand how perceptions and experiences change over time, and to identify areas of need and allocate resources accordingly. Read more…
Join us for a Conservation & Advocacy Town Hall - Apr 27

The Mountaineers has a long history of protecting our natural landscapes. Time and time again, small individual actions have led to big victories for Washington’s outdoors, from the formation of Olympic National Park to the recent expansion of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Today, we continue our proud legacy by educating our members on how to be thoughtful stewards, advocating for the places we explore, and inspiring the outdoor community to take action for threatened landscapes. Read more…
Trail Talk | Reemerging on the Trail

It’s been two long years now since COVID-19 emerged on the world and turned it upside-down. As we begin year three it looks like the virus won’t be going away for good, although we can all hope that it at least fades in prominence and influence. As the current wave is ebbing, I am trying to remain optimistic in the face of new potential variants. But while the pandemic has had many negative and disruptive effects, it has also been a game-changer for many of us on how we view our world, our relationship with others, and how we want to approach life moving forward. Read more…
10 Essential Questions: Kendall Walker

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…
No Man's Land Film Festival World Tour - April 14

Join The Mountaineers and the American Alpine Club to screen the No Man's Land World Tour. No Man's Land Film Festival (NMLFF) is the premier all-women adventure film festival based out of Carbondale, Colorado, and is currently touring internationally. Read more…
Meany Patrol Race Viewing – March 19

The Meany Patrol Race is back for another year! Join us as we watch teams race along the historic track and celebrate their accomplishments at The Mountaineers Meany Lodge on March 19, 2022. Read more…
2022 Gala Auction Preview: Round #2

Last week, we shared a first look at this year’s exciting auction line up. Today, we’re debuting even more packages curated specifically for our outdoor community. With over 50 auction packages to choose from at The Mountaineers 2022 Gala: Adventure with Purpose, you can try new experiences, travel to new places, and take home top-of-the-line gear! Read more…
Public Lands Win Big in State Legislative Session

The Washington State Legislature just wrapped up its 2022 session on March 10. This year legislators met for a short 60-day session to pass legislation and enact supplemental budgets for our state. Each legislative session, The Mountaineers works with other organizations to advocate for bills and funding requests that improve conservation and recreation in Washington. Read more…
The Olympic Mountain Project, Part II

Standing on the edge of the water in my camp sandals, boots and pants stowed safely inside my pack, I look longingly across the river. I wish I could teleport myself instead of wading through the bitterly-cold, swift-moving water. It’s June 2021, and the Pacific Northwest’s unseasonable heatwave is melting the snowpack, sending it rushing down the mountain river valleys in record volume. Read more…
10 Essential Questions: Conor Marshall

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

Are you ready for more time outdoors? We sure are. Just in time for spring, we're thrilled to launch our new line of Mountaineers logo merchandise, now available in our bookstore and online. Show off your love for The Mountaineers with official Mountaineers gear! Read more…
52 Ways to Nature Washington: #17 Detour to the Desert

Washington has no shortage of possible adventures waiting outside your door, and author Lauren Braden has compiled the best ones in her new book (coming June 2022), 52 Ways to Nature Washington: Your Seasonal Guide to a Wilder Year. We're giving an early sneak peek at one of the many activities included in the book, just in time for spring! Below is an excerpt from the spring section: "Detour to the Desert." Enjoy! Read more…
How the Basic Kayaking Course Opened a New World

Life was good since I retired in September of 2015 at 63 years young. In March 2015, I purchased the Mokai: a motorized kayak intended for use on rivers. The Mokai is 11’ Long 36” wide, powered by a 7hp 4-cycle Subaru engine, has an electric start, is a sit in kayak, and is rated for SK-III rapids. I bought to use in Washington rivers for fishing. Read more…
Daily Debrief

The last two years have been a challenge for us all. We have shared the emotional roller coaster of lockdowns, public land closures, and losses big and small. Yet, this crucible has also created space for self-reflection, realignment of values, and tremendous growth. Read more…
10 Essential Questions: Andrea Shadrach

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…
Mountaineer Magazine Spring 2022

As a Mountaineers member, you receive free access to our quarterly Mountaineer magazine, keeping you up-to-date with everything our organization and community have been up to. Hear from regular contributors on topics from training exercises to trail tips, and read features from our members sharing stories from the outdoors. We encourage you to access all of our updates, stories, tips, and more in the tree free online magazine today. Read more…
Film Screening: The Last Mountain - Mar 10

Join The Mountaineers for a screening of The Last Mountain, which tells the unforgettable story of climber Tom Ballard, 30, who disappeared on Nanga Parbat in 2019 – 24 years after his mother, legendary alpinist Alison Hargreaves, famously perished on K2. Read more…
Equity & Inclusion Update: New Committee Members + Town Hall April 12, 2022

Nearly five years ago, The Mountaineers announced our new equity and inclusion programs, including our Equity & Inclusion committee. This work stems from our core belief that a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. We're grateful to all in our community who have been engaging and supportive, and we're excited to introduce you to our new committee members. Read more…
Impact Giving | Our Most Valuable Resource: How Donations Support Volunteers

On any given weekend, you can find hundreds of people enjoying local parks, forests, waterways, and more under the leadership of a Mountaineers volunteer. Last year, we had an average of 11 Mountaineers activities every day. 2,300 volunteers donated more than 200,000 hours of service in 2021 to connect people with safe and meaningful outdoor experiences. The Mountaineers has an administrative staff of just 25 people to support programs; this kind of impact simply would not be possible without our extensive network of volunteer leaders, instructors, lodge hosts, and committee members. Read more…
Top 10 Trip Reports - February 2022

February is a month of anticipation. Although we are still in the heart of winter, the days are beginning to get longer and we are often surprised by blooming flowers and brief opportunities for short-sleeved hikes. I was even able to ride my bike to work on a couple days this month, enjoying the aroma of jasmine lining the Burke Gilman (I will admit my hands were frozen solid by the time I arrived at the Seattle Program Center). Read more…
You're invited to The Mountaineers 2022 Gala

At our in-person Gala, spend a night out on the town celebrating your Mountaineers community and raising funds for our shared outdoor experience. Enjoy a reception, dinner, and auction, and hear from the evening’s very special guests: Rick Ridgeway and Dianne Roberts. Guests will also take home camp-themed giveaways and enjoy a few fun surprises. We hope you’ll join us! Read more…
Stewardship is a Year-Round Calling for Members of the Olympia Branch

Stewardship is a key component of maintaining the health and vitality of our trail systems. The Olympia Branch is known for its robust stewardship program, supporting trail work across the lower Puget Sound region and into the peninsula. However, the work isn't just completed in the sunnier months - winter is a busy time for these volunteers as well. Learn about what the Olympia Conservation Committee has been up to this season, and how you can help. Read more…
Youth Outside | Counselors in Training

I was the kid at camp struggling with homesickness and cowering from the spiders that visited my bunk. I had friends attend the same camp year after year, become counselors in training (CITs) during high school, and then return to those camps in college as staff. I never understood their connection to camp until I met the CITs at our Mountaineers summer camps. Over the nine weeks of day camp that ran during the summer of 2021, we had nineteen teenagers join us at our Seattle Program Center to help create camp magic. Read more…
Leader Spotlight: Peter Tran

For our Leader Spotlight this month we talked to Peter Tran, current Climbing Chair with the Foothills Branch. Peter is the 2021 Mountaineers Service Award recipient and favors the chipotle breakfast burrito from Safeway as his go-to trail snack. Read more…
Mountaineers Programming and the Coronavirus

On February 28, 2020, the Center for Disease Control announced the likelihood that coronavirus (COVID-19) would spread in US communities. Since then, The Mountaineers has been carefully tracking the recommendations of public health agencies, and our hearts go out to those who have been affected. The health and safety of our community is our top priority and we will diligently implement recommended actions while doing everything we can to sustain our mission and operations. We will continue to update this blog as the situation develops. Read more…
How We’re Reducing Our Carbon Footprint: Ebikes

The Mountaineers made a commitment to reduce our organization’s carbon footprint as part of Vision 2022. In the Carbon Footprint Reduction Committee’s last blog post, we introduced you to carbon offsets. In this blog, we talk about the benefits of ebikes. Read more…
5 Purple Native Flowers for Northwest Gardens

Finding the right plants for your garden can be difficult. Local garden stores sell a large variety of plants, but many of them are not native to the area. This can mean a lot of money is wasted on beautiful plants that can't survive our Pacific Northwest seasons. Read more…