Blog

Theresa Silveyra and Amber Chang are both accomplished climbers and mountaineers. They recently teamed up for Theresa’s #30Before30 project: an ambitious plan for Teresa to climb Wy’east (Mt. Hood) 30 times before Theresa turned 30. Amber joined Teresa for a celebratory summit number 31! Read more…

The benefits of spending time outdoors, for both kids and adults, are so numerous that they can hardly be overstated. Nature provides a break  from screens for both our eyes and minds, a place where a lot of our attention is dedicated these days. Before 2020, kids were already only spending an average of  4 -7 minutes playing outside per day. Read more…

During my spring seclusion, I was planning a summer escape to hike the final section of the Sierra High Route. As the weeks passed, I used CalTopo’s weekly hi-resolution satellite images to watch the winter white recede from monolithic iceberg, to mosquito wonderland, to High Sierra drought. It was like I was watching the polar ice caps of Mars—before I landed at the trailhead I knew I would not need axe or crampons this year. Read more…

As Mountaineers, we are committed to learning from our experiences. We examine every incident that happens on a Mountaineers trip for opportunities to improve the ways we explore and teach. Our volunteer safety committee reviews every incident report and picks a few each month to share as examples of ‘Lessons Learned’. The trip report below describes what happened on this trip, in the leader’s own words, and outlines the lessons the leader has identified. In some cases, we offer additional key learnings from the incident. Read more…

We are so proud and excited to announce that four of our titles are 2020 Banff Mountain Book Competition finalists! Judges pored over 130 titles in seven categories and we are honored four of our books made the shortlist. Category winners will be announced in October so keep your fingers crossed!

Congratulations to all the finalists, but especially our amazing authors Bernadette McDonald, Hank Lentfer, Barney Scout Mann, and Pete Whittaker.  Read more…

Get to know nature two new ways with the Olympic Mountains Trail Guide and What Birds Eat! If you're planning on exploring the gorgeous Olympics our brand new 4th edition of the Olympic Mountains Trail Guide provides the most up-to-date information you need to hit the trails. Get a closer look at bird physiology, eating habits, and more with Kim Long's What Birds Eat.  Read more…

Eighteen years after his first attempt to reach the summit of Link Sar, Steve Swenson, legendary alpinist, Mountaineers Board Director, and Mountaineers Books author, finally stood atop the notoriously technical peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram. He was joined by alpinists Mark Richey, 61; expedition leader Graham Zimmerman, 33; and Chris Wright, 36. The first ascent was groundbreaking, and we invite you to join us on April 8, 2020, to hear Steve talk about this incredible journey. Read more…

You quit your job, sublet your apartment, and sold your car. Standing on the curb at the San Diego airport, everything you know has been left behind. There’s just you and your backpack, and a dream so big you wonder again: Will it fit that five-month hole I’ve carved out of my life? You’re looking for a yellow pompom. Just like more than 6,000 others before you. Read more…

It was 4pm, and soon the light would fade - time was running out. The eleven participants on my Mountaineers trip seemed happy, but at least a dozen times someone had asked, “Are you going to find us a Rough-legged Hawk?” I was eager to ensure my students a happy trip, and hoped to catch a glimpse of this magnificent bird myself.  Read more…

As we adapt to the new normal of COVID, a face mask has become everyone’s 11^th Essential. We bring masks on every trip, and they’re required on all Mountaineers programs. We’re proud of our community for the commitment you’ve shown to recreating responsibly, and to celebrate you and your knowledge, here are your best adventure-mask-wearing tips developed this spring and summer. Read more…

On September 28-29 and October 1, The Mountaineers will be hosting a new Pop-Up Donor Center with Bloodworks Northwest. Read more…

I always wondered what it would feel like to be in snow in the middle of August. 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…

Wildfires are burning across our region and smoke is causing extremely poor air quality. Our hearts are heavy with concern for those affected by fires in Washington State and beyond. We ask our community to practice good decision-making skills, respect public land closures, and consider staying home. Here is a list of current closures and guidance from land managers (Note: this information was current as of September 11, 2020. Please check current conditions on land manager websites before venturing out.): Read more…

As Mountaineers, we are committed to learning from our experiences. We examine every incident that happens on a Mountaineers trip for opportunities to improve the ways we explore and teach. Our volunteer safety committee reviews every incident report and picks a few each month to share as examples of ‘Lessons Learned’. The trip report below describes what happened on this trip, in the leader’s own words, and outlines the lessons the leader has identified. In some cases, we offer additional key learnings from the incident. Read more…

Mt. Rainier’s Yakima Park, aka Sunrise, is the highest drive-able point in the national park at 6,400 ft. Sunrise is second to Paradise when it comes to popularity, but Sunrise offers a drier, sunnier climate, impressive views, and plenty of opportunity for adventure. Read more…

National Public Lands Day is an important day to celebrate. Established in 1994, it is the largest single-day volunteer effort generated around preserving and connecting with nature. It not only celebrates the connection of people to green spaces, but it also encourages and inspires environmental stewardship. While we adjust to our “new normal,” it’s important that we continue to support our public lands and waters. Demands on land and water are a continual threat to the spaces we cherish and value. Read more…

Meet Foothills Volunteer Kim Frasher. Kim initially jumped into volunteering as a way to give back after joining The Mountaineers, and has now been leading activities for over 12 years. Kim places a priority on supportive group dynamics and loves Bavarian Spicy Landjaegers and a good huckleberry milkshake.  Read more…

Nature journals are often recommended as a great way to get in touch with the outdoors and become more intentional with your time outside. Which begs the question: what is a nature journal, and how do you start one? Read more…

As youth throughout our community head back to school remotely this fall, The Mountaineers are excited to offer in-person after-school programs in Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma. Join us one afternoon a week throughout the fall for some screen-free fun and the chance to socialize, climb, and learn in a small group environment! Read more…

As summer comes to an end, many of us are focused on how to enjoy the last of the sunshine while staying socially distant. At The Mountaineers, we're gearing up for a new season of youth programming to keep our young members outside and engaged! Registration opens this month. Don't miss your chance to sign your kids up for a year of learning and exploration.   Read more…

The annual Recognition and Awards Banquet has been a feature of the Olympia Branch for many years. Members meet at the end of October to greet old friends, celebrate successes, learn what has been happening, and get an idea of what to look forward to in the next year.   Read more…

Since our last organization-wide COVID-19 update, we’ve settled into a new normal of mask-wearing, smaller group and lower-risk activities, and virtual programs in place of larger, in-person gatherings. We’ve demonstrated resilience and creativity as a community, and although we know the year ahead will likely throw many challenges at us, more and more, we have confidence that The Mountaineers will survive. Here's an overview of some of the challenges we’ve overcome this summer and the plans we’re building for the coming year to ensure we continue to support our community and the mission of The Mountaineers.  Read more…

Join us on September 10 for a virtual BeWild event with avid mountaineer, climber of the 7-summits, and Mountaineers board president, Vik Sahney. Read more…

We are so excited to show off our latest new releases! Learn all about Northwest trees, travel across Canada on skis, dig into avalanche science and stories, and read about some of the most heartbreaking and dangerous feats in mountaineering history. Read more…

It’s always a joy to visit with someone who speaks passionately about the things they love. For Helen Cherullo, her passion is books. Helen’s love is about more than a simple bound text; it’s about imagery and place-based storytelling, and how their subsequent ripple effects move communities to act. Read more…

Mount Rainier has always been a special place. I was born in Yakima over 70 years ago and saw the mountain from the eastside before my family moved to Buckley when I was very young. From Buckley, I had an unobstructed view of her every day she was visible. Even when she was hiding, it was always comforting to know she was there. I remember my father using the lenticular cloud cap on the summit to predict the weather during the summer haying season. My parents were avid Mountaineers and hikers, having hiked the length of the Wonderland Trail together and earned their Snoqualmie Second Ten Peak Pins. They instilled in me a love and respect for nature from a young age.  Read more…

For our Leader Spotlight this month we talked to Bruce Durham, a volunteer leader with the Tacoma Branch who has ramped-up his paddling during the pandemic. He eventually hopes to lead a series of day trips - 22 of them! - originating at Budd Inlet near Olympia, paddling north through Puget Sound to the Straight of Juan de Fuca, then going west out to Cape Flattery and around to Hobuck Beach. It  will be a 229nm adventure. Read more…

The American Alpine Club, Appalachian Mountain Club, Colorado Mountain Club, Mazamas, and The Mountaineers join with those speaking out and taking action against racist, sexist, and otherwise derogatory route names, and we welcome the conversation about how best to move forward as a community.  Read more…

If the COVID-19 pandemic has brought one consistency to our lives, it is uncertainty. Leadership Development is a central component of The Mountaineers strategic plan, and over the past six years, we've grown our leadership development programming at a near-exponential rate. And while the pandemic doesn't change our commitment to this priority, it does impact our approach. We're excited to announce some big changes coming for the 2020-2021 season, and we look forward to connecting with you as a part of our reimagined programming. Read more…