Mountaineers Books Blog

Mountaineers Books Blog

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March Releases: Mud, Rocks, Blazes & Urban Trails: Sacramento

It's new release day for two very different trail-centered titles. Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail by Heather "Anish" Anderson is a memoir about her deeply internal yet highly physical journey on the 2,180 miles of Appalachian Trail. Urban Trails: Sacramento is a handy trail guidebook for hikers of all types wanting to explore the Sacramento, California area.  Read more…

Bookmarks | This Land of Snow

A passionate skier since he was a child, Anders Morley dreamed of going on a significant adventure, something bold and of his own design. And so one year in his early thirties, he decided to strap on cross-country skis to travel across Canada in the winter alone. Read more…

BeWild with Elsye "Chardonnay" Walker - Feb 11

For eight years, we've hosted the BeWild Speaker Series to bring  you stories of passion and adventure. On February 11, we're excited to host Elsye "Chardonnay" Walker, who in 2018 became the first African American woman to complete the "Triple Crown of Hiking" - trekking 7,900 miles along the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide trails. Read more…

2020 Recap: A Year in Review

The Mountaineers is an incredible community of adventurers, students, instructors, advocates, and leaders. As we close the door on 2020 and look ahead to 2021, we reflect on our core values and how they’ve guided us through the past nine months of this pandemic.  Read more…

BeWild with Bernadette McDonald - Jan 14

For eight years, we've hosted the BeWild Speaker Series to bring  you stories of passion and adventure. We're excited to kick the 2021 season off with historian, founder of the Banff Centre for Mountain Culture, and author of the new Mountaineers Books title Winter 8000, Bernadette McDonald.  Read more…

Trail Talk | Pandemic Ponderings: The significance and shortcomings of our Public Lands

The emptiness of Northeastern Washington’s Salmo-Priest Wilderness has never felt more comforting. I stand alone on a ridge gazing out over waves of emerald ridges, shadowed by processions of white puffy clouds. Soft, warm breezes whistle through silver snags, prompting boughs of bear grass to delicately sway. I haven’t encountered another human all day; out in all of that wildness before me, some of Washington’s last grizzlies still roam. I finally feel safe and relieved from the ravages of the pandemic sweeping the world outside my wilderness. Read more…

2020 Award Winners

This past year has been filled with challenges, but it hasn't been without its silver linings. During 2020 thirteen of our titles were recognized by various book award competitions, and we couldn't be more proud.  Read more…

Retro Rewind | Marge Mueller: Pioneering Illustrator and Guidebook Artist

Marge Mueller, author, co-author, book designer, mapmaker, illustrator, and lifetime member of The Mountaineers, passed away in September at the age of 84.

Many think of Mountaineers Books as synonymous with outdoor legends like Fred Beckey, Harvey Manning, Ira Spring, and others whose guidebooks were published to much acclaim and who inspired a new generation of writers and photographers. There is, however, one woman—an established Pacific Northwest author in her own right—who helped make so much of the success of their work possible. Read more…

The Arctic Refuge at 60: An Excerpt from “Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land”

This December marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and  for nearly 20 years, our conservation imprint Braided River has been publishing stunning books about this special place. These books serve as the visual foundation for advocacy campaigns to protect the Arctic from oil and gas development, climate change, and other threats. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is under imminent threat of oil and gas leasing as soon as January 2021 by the federal administration (learn more at Protect the Arctic and make your voice heard).  Read more…

BeWild Speaker Series - Introducing the 2021 Lineup

For eight years, we've hosted the BeWild Speaker Series to bring you stories of passion and adventure. We're excited to announce this year's lineup, which includes award winning authors, not your average thru-hiker, and a world class alpinist. Read more…

Three Ways to Keep Independent Publishing Local

Taking on the responsibility of Publisher at the start of a global pandemic has been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. But if our readers have taught me one thing this year, it’s that our independence and our nonprofit mission truly matters.  Read more…

An Indirect Path to Flexibility

By the time Mercedes Pollmeier arrived at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), she’d lived in Australia, China, Mauritius, and had spent considerable time in Germany with her grandma. The daughter of a German father and an Indian South African mum, Mercedes had seen a lot of the world already when a full-ride tennis scholarship brought her to the U.S. at 17. A multilingual world citizen, the starry-eyed teen had her eyes keenly set on one thing: the Olympics. Little did she know that she’d soon meet a strength coach who would forever change the course of her life. Read more…

Holiday Gift Guide - Books, Benefits, Memberships, and More

Didn't get all of your shopping done in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend rush? Not to worry, we've gathered all of the resources that you, as a Mountaineers Member, have at your disposal to give something special to those people you cherish.  Read more…

A Letter of Gratitude from the Publisher

As I reflect on what I am thankful for this year, I find my thoughts more stoic and minimalist than usual. This shouldn’t be surprising: it is after all a puritanical holiday and the mental exercise itself, like a hiker stripping every unnecessary ounce from a pack, forces a consideration of what’s really essential. Read more…

Bookmarks | Frodo’s Birthday: An Excerpt from Journeys North

In Journeys North, legendary trail angel and thru-hiker Barney Scout Mann spins a compelling tale of six hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail on their trek from Mexico to Canada. This ensemble story unfolds as these half-dozen hikers — including Barney and his wife, Sandy (Frodo) — trod north, facing a once-in-a-generation drought and early severe winter storms that test their will. In fact, only a third of all hikers who set out on the trail that year would finish. Read more…

5 Healthy Cookbooks for Unique Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

Thanksgiving may be a little different this year, but it's still an opportunity to recognize the positive in your life, express appreciation for family and friends, and of course cook up a meal that will live on in memory for years to come! Read more…

What Are The Ten Essentials?

The Mountaineers Ten Essentials™ dates back to our climbing courses of the 1930s. This widely respected safety and packing system was formalized in the third edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, released in 1974. Each of the nine editions of Freedom, as it is affectionately known, was written entirely by volunteers and reflects the collective wisdom of hundreds of outdoor skills instructors. The list has always sought to answer two basic questions: Read more…

Hit the (Urban) Trail with the Urban Trails Series

Urban Trails is one of our most popular hiking series - each book features trails from one particular area. They are equally great for people visiting a new place for the first time and long-time locals looking to get to know their area even better.  Read more…

Retro Rewind | Louise Marshall: Mountaineer, WTA Founder, and Pioneering Trail Advocate

An avid hiker, community organizer, and Mountaineers member, Louise Marshall was a passionate outdoorswoman and a key figure in Washington’s history. As a young woman I not only had the opportunity to meet Louise and hike with her, but reaped the benefits of all that she brought to the hiking community and the broader Washington outdoors community. I am excited to share with you the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that Louise experienced as a pioneer in the outdoor industry. Read more…

October Releases: Nature & Movement

These six books are the last new releases of 2020! We have two new books (Snowy Owl and Great Gray Owl) from award-winning author and photographer Paul Bannick, two new additions to our popular Urban Trails series (Spokane/Coeur d'Alene and Vancouver, WA), an in-depth look at the spectacular Douglas-fir tree, and an approachable fitness book perfect for getting you through the dreary winter (24  Ways to Move More). Check them out! Read more…

Why the Arctic? Braided River’s Legacy of Alaskan Arctic Impact Publishing

For nearly 20 years, our conservation imprint Braided River has published stunning multimedia books about the wildest places in North America. In particular, the western Arctic and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have been a special focus. Award-winning books like We Are the Arctic and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land have been used by senators, grassroots groups, and Indigenous tribes to help people experience this remote corner of the world through images and stories, and be inspired to protect it. Read more…

Our 2020 Banff Mountain Book Competition Finalists

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…

New Releases! What Birds Eat & Olympic Mountains Trail Guide

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 EatRead more…

BeWild with Vik Sahney - Sep 10

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…

New Releases: September 1, 2020

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…

Impact Giving | When Passion and Purpose Align

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…

Snow in the Summer

The high temperatures we've been having lately have us dreaming of the cooler days ahead.  Don't misunderstand, we've been trying to get the most out of summer. Gardening, swimming, running - all activities best enjoyed in warm weather. That doesn't mean we're not looking forward to winter activities and a beautiful blanket of fresh snow.   Read more…

Introducing “Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home”

The Mountaineers are proud to call Puget Sound home. From the towering glaciers and old growth forests of Mount Rainier to the stunning waters and diverse wildlife of the Salish Sea, our home is a special place. The natural beauty and adventure of these wild places inspires us to not only enjoy our special spaces but fight for their protection for future generations. That desire for preservation is centered within our core value of conservation. From the mountains to the sea, we are dedicated stewards of our backyard and beyond. Read more…

Three Mountaineers Books Titles are 2020 Washington State Book Award finalists!

We are excited to announce that three of our titles are 2020 Washington State Award finalists! In its 54th year, the program (formerly called the Governor's Writers Awards) recognizes outstanding books published in 2019. There are a total of 39 finalists in all eight categories. Read more…

Appalachian Trail Conservancy Books and Maps to be Distributed By Mountaineers Books

We have just announced our new distribution agreement with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). The ATC is a West Virginia-based nonprofit with the lead role in protecting and managing the Appalachian Trail and surrounding 250,000 acres of public lands in cooperation with an array of federal, state, and local agencies. Beginning August 17, we will be the exclusive distributor of ATC books and maps. Read more…