Blog

Over the years, we’ve been on a long journey to protect ancient, old-growth trees in Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Our community has answered our calls to action time and time again because it understands that protecting Roadless Areas in Alaska sets a strong precedent for protecting backcountry places in Washington State and beyond. Last week, the administration finalized protections for the Tongass, securing a much-anticipated win for conservation, climate, and Indigenous communities. Read more…

As Mountaineers, we tend to think in “seasons.” Snow season, smoke season, conditioning season, and summer camp enrollment season all come to mind. But what about tax season? More and more, Mountaineers members are donating to invest in our shared community values, such as conserving our public lands or making outdoor education more accessible. Maybe your life has been enriched by being part of The Mountaineers and you have donated in support of our mission. As tax season approaches, we’re here with some FAQs about your contributions and how they may impact your filing. Read more…

April 1 will be a night to remember. Once a year, we gather together to raise funds allowing us to elevate the way our community transforms lives through outdoor education and conservation. We exchange stories, raise our glasses, and are reminded of the tremendous contributions of our community’s most inspiring individuals. Read more…

Enjoy an excerpt below from Written in the Snows, written by renowned local skiing historian Lowell Skoog and published by Mountaineers Books. In it, we read the account of the first slalom ski race in the Pacific Northwest, an event characterized by equal parts thrill and chaos. Read more…

One of the unwritten core values at The Mountaineers is safety. When we go out together, we make every effort to return safely. And, safety is about more than just physical safety. Feeling emotionally safe - to ask questions, share concerns, and show up as your full self - is a key component to physically safe outcomes. To support emotionally safe environments for our participants, we are excited to share our new Emotional Safety in the Outdoors eLearning course. Read more…

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

What are packrafts? Perhaps you have noticed the new packrafting activity and wondered what packrafts are and what they are good for. Perhaps you are thinking: I already own a pair of boots, what can a packraft do for me? Well, we plan to answer those questions with an evening event at The Mountaineers on February 15 that includes both equipment show-and-tell and stories of packrating trips. Read more…

Ten Mountaineers were fortunate to have plentiful sunshine and no winds for last February’s Global Adventure to Yellowstone National Park. We spent a week cross-country skiing in three sections of the park – Mammoth, North, and Old Faithful – which provided ample opportunities to experience the magic of winter in Yellowstone. Read more…

Olympia Hiking and Backpacking Committee Co-Chairs Carla Jonientz and Donna Krueger listened to Olympia hikers when they expressed interest in getting out, staying in shape, exercising, and socializing during the winter/early spring months. Read more…

 Have you recently sorted through your gear stash and found some things that you haven't used for a while or no longer need?  Rent a table at the Used Gear Sale and go home with some cash. Read more…