People

All posts

Your Giving Tuesday Gift Doubled on Nov 27 & 28

When members like you give to support scholarships, you are saying that finances should not be a barrier to connecting with the natural world. The outdoors is for everyone, and scholarships can help lower one barrier to finding joy and belonging outside. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Chris Swarthout

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

How the Great American Outdoors Act is Making a Difference for Washington’s Public Lands

Washington state has it all when it comes to outdoor recreation opportunities: an idyllic coastline, jagged peaks, and golden larches. But unfortunately, eroded trails, ancient bathrooms, washed out roads, and other challenges can prevent outdoor enthusiasts from experiencing the restorative power of our public lands.  Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Ireland Kress

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

Investing in Solutions to Permit and Access Challenges

Picture this: you’re a small instructional group (SIG) leader for the Basic Alpine Climbing course with The Mountaineers. You've planned out all of your weeknight rope-tying and anchor-building clinics, and now you're excited to challenge your students with their first field trip on real rock. But all of your favorite teaching crags are already booked, The Mountaineers is out of permit days, and you can't find a location to run a trip. You may be the latest Mountaineer impacted by Washington’s cumbersome and inflexible public lands permitting systems. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Priya Sinha

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

Branch Support Donation Program Continues in FY2024

While unrestricted giving is critical to grow our mission impact across all program areas, some members seek to leverage donations to strengthen the community within their local Branch. One of our strategic goals is to deepen our culture of giving back by providing new opportunities to contribute.  Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Donna Hahn

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

Impact Giving | Your Donations Go Farther in FY2024

The Mountaineers strategic plan and vision, Adventure with Purpose, is shaped by the wisdom and passion of our volunteer-led community. We believe the impact of our adventures can extend beyond our own personal enjoyment. We’re working toward a future where all people can confidently enjoy the natural world and are inspired to protect it. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Shelly Dearmon

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

Gear Grab - December 11, 2023

Have a gear wish list a mile long or some extra gear you'd like to unload? Stop by our holiday Gear Sale at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on Monday, December 11 from 6-8pm to find great gear at bargain prices. Read more…

The Mountaineers Equity & Inclusion Leader Toolkit: Fostering Belonging in the Outdoors

The outdoors has always been a source of inspiration and rejuvenation. It presents an opportunity to forge deep connections with nature, push our boundaries, and craft lasting memories. At The Mountaineers, we believe all people should have equitable access to the outdoors and the transformative benefits it provides. Through our volunteer-led programs, we strive to empower our members and foster a culture of belonging by providing outdoor skills education to individuals from all backgrounds. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Serophina Ouyoumjian

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

Trip Report: Outdoor Alliance Washington Advocates for Public Lands and Recreation in D.C. - Oct 2023

Outdoor advocacy can take many forms: from virtual meetings and policy letters, to events with members of Congress. These individual advocacy actions build momentum over time to address challenges facing our public lands, climate, and outdoor recreation. Read more…

The Leadership Conference is Back - 2023/24

For over 100 years, The Mountaineers has enriched the outdoor community by helping thousands of people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We take pride in that legacy, and want to honor our volunteer leaders who make it all possible! Read more…

Walking the Walk: Action Beyond Land Acknowledgement

Mountaineers programs occur on the traditional lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest Indian tribes. As we continue to grow our practice of land acknowledgment, we must also honor the histories, stories, and wisdom of the Indigenous peoples who have been living here since time immemorial. We’re partnering with Sacred Lands Conservancy, an Indigenous-led non-profit with strong ties to the Lummi Nation, to produce a series of educational pieces on the importance of mindful recreation and how we can develop deeper connections to the histories of our natural places. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Ben Witten

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

Impact Giving | More than Breakfast and a Bunk

Every weekend this winter, tens of thousands of people will flock to the Cascades to play in the snow. The mountains come alive with the bustle of snow plows, ski lifts, and resort infrastructure catering to locals and tourists alike. And if you look closely, adjacent to the hubbub at three popular recreation areas, you’ll find vibrant and warm pockets of Mountaineers community. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Emma Agosta

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 of the Week: Henry and Ada Bergvall

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

Origin Story: Ian Cox Memorial Dicks-A-Thon - Oct 21, 2023

This story begins in April, 2018 with a silly idea. I was moving away from my hometown of Seattle to Santa Barbara, and I wanted a good old fashioned Seattle sendoff before I went. I started thinking about the things I would miss when I moved, and one of those things was Dick’s, the classic Seattle burger chain. Dick’s is the mecca for late night food for teenagers, and post adventure eats for weekend warriors. It’s fast, cheap, and delicious.  Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Tim Wick

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 of the Week: Cece Venzon

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 of the Week: Steven Freygang

Each week we bring you a personal story from a member of our community. For our profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Impact Giving | Transforming Loss into Legacy: Remembering Ian Cox Through Mountaineers Scholarships

We all move through the stages of grief at different speeds, and never in the same order. Sadness tends to hit me first, followed by denial and anger. With self-care and some extra time on the trail, acceptance comes into view. In my role at The Mountaineers, I’m often the first person people talk to when sharing the news that a Mountaineers member has passed, and these conversations never get easier. On the bright side, something that is very special about this community is how fast motivation and inspiration presents itself. The spirit of adventure is forever present, even when facing serious loss. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Jeni Brink

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…

How LWCF is Helping Conserve the Central Cascades

Earlier this month, we celebrated the three-year anniversary of the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). GAOA is already making a difference on the ground for Washington’s public lands and the transformational recreation opportunities they provide. In fact, GAOA funding is powering current public lands projects in Washington like the Stevens Canyon Road improvements in Mount Rainier National Park, as well as several trail improvements in the Mountains to Sound Greenway. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Rose Slater

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

2022 Impact Report: Strengthening Our Voice as Advocates

With the recent release of our annual impact report, we're celebrating all that donors and volunteers made possible through The Mountaineers in 2022. 

For more than 100 years, The Mountaineers has connected people in the outdoors. I’ve had the honor of building relationships with Mountaineers near and far, young and old, daring, mindful, good-humored, and passionate. I’ve been a student, colleague, mentor, and team member. And in each of these roles, I have deepened my relationship to the place that is my home. In fellowship and visitation, I have put down soggy Northwest roots and learned to love more corners of this wild and amazing planet than I ever knew existed. Read more…

2022 Impact Report: Creating a Culture of Belonging

With the recent release of our annual impact report, we're celebrating all that donors and volunteers made possible through The Mountaineers in 2022. 

When I joined The Mountaineers, I didn’t expect to become so fully immersed — taking courses, instructing, leading trips, and
volunteering on committees. My climbing partners who shared adventures with me in the mountains became lasting friends off
the mountain. My outdoor community simply became my community. Read more…