Conservation Blog

Thriving public lands that support outdoor recreation depend on stable, robust federal funding from Congress. As we look toward the next funding cycle, the public lands we know and love are at a crossroads. Over the last year and half, federal land managers like the Forest Service and Park Service have experienced multiple waves of staffing cuts. These workforce reductions - of up to 25% nationally - have significantly reduced the agencies’ ability to protect natural resources, manage sustainable outdoor access, and support local partnerships on public lands.  Read more…

You’ve packed your Ten Essentials, laced your hiking boots, and pulled into the trailhead ready for your next adventure - only to pause as you set the parking brake, wondering which recreation pass to display. We’ve all been there: rooting around in the glove compartment for a Discover Pass or Northwest Forest Pass, scanning the trailhead kiosk for some hint of which one we need. Read on to learn how to determine which pass to use, why recreation passes exist in the first place, and how your fees support the places where you recreate.  Read more…

Update: On Wednesday, November 12, Congress passed - and the President signed into law - a short-term funding bill to fully re-open the federal government and end the partial government shutdown. However, it will take some time for things to return to normal.

Mountaineers members have flexed their grassroots advocacy muscle in a big way this year. From rebuffing public lands sell-offs in Congress to speaking up to defend backcountry forests protected by the Roadless Rule, your constituent letters have made a difference by elevating the importance of public lands and outdoor access with lawmakers during a challenging time. Read more…

A stunning mosaic of purples, magentas, yellows, and whites filled the green meadow, subtly contrasted by the darker firs behind. In the light breeze, the flowers resembled a spinning kaleidoscope. On this July day, the subalpine meadow before me was at its flowering peak. All I could do was stare across Berkeley Park and breathe in the deep, sweet aroma of life regenerating itself. Read more…

Each year, The Mountaineers and our Outdoor Alliance Washington (OA WA) partners visit Washington, D.C. to unite leaders in the human-powered outdoor community to advocate together with lawmakers and land managers for shared conservation and recreation priorities.  Read more…

Fog filled the valley near the Snohomish River on this mid-October day, as if someone had draped the waterway with a white quilt. The cool air, in the high 40s, was sweet and moist on the hill above Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve. The maples and alders were beginning to color, and a few chickadees flitted and chattered in the trees.  Read more…

For years, the Mount Pilchuck Road - which provides access to the Heather Lake Trailhead and Mount Pilchuck - was notoriously known for its many potholes and extremely rough road. Thanks to funding from the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), visitors to the area have enjoyed a significantly repaired road since 2024, making the popular Heather Lake and Mount Pilchuck hikes accessible to more outdoor enthusiasts. This project is just one of the many ways the LRF has created a more safe and sustainable future for Washington’s public lands and the recreation experiences they provide. Read more…

For over a century, the Fairfax Bridge has carried hikers, climbers, and campers into Mount Rainier National Park’s northwest corner. Now, the bridge is permanently closed, cutting off access to some of the most popular destinations in the park. Read more…

With so many emerging threats to public lands, recreation, and the climate this year, how Congress and the administration’s actions are impacting Washington’s lands and waters is constantly changing. We’re dedicated to cutting through the noise and elevating the best ways you can make an impact. Read more…

For nearly 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected the natural resources and backcountry recreational opportunities provided by the National Forest System from road construction, logging, and other development. With this foundational conservation measure now under threat, the mantra “defend the Roadless Rule” is rallying Mountaineers and stakeholders across Washington’s outdoor community to take action in high numbers to protect old-growth forests and backcountry experiences.  Read more…

Update: On Wednesday, November 12, Congress passed - and the President signed into law - a short-term funding bill to fully re-open the federal government and end the partial government shutdown. However, it will take some time for things to return to normal.

Lawmakers in Congress failed to pass a stopgap funding bill by the end of the fiscal year deadline of September 30, resulting in a partial federal government shutdown. Read more…

The August air was cool and the sky partly cloudy as my friend, Tom Martin, and I started up the Owyhigh Trail from Sunrise Road. Was I ready for this hike? It would be longer than any I’d done this summer, and with more elevation gain. We’d left one car at the Deer Creek Trailhead and planned to cross the saddle and down into the Ohanapecosh Valley. This trail was new to both of us. Read more…

The Mountaineers is thrilled to welcome artist, climber, and adventurer Jeremy Collins to the BeWild Speaker Series for an evening unlike any other. Fresh off the release of his new graphic memoir, Eventually a Sequoia: Stories of Art, Adventure & the Wisdom of Giants, Collins is bringing his creative process to life through an immersive performance that blends visual art, storytelling, and environmental reflection. Read more…

For nearly 120 years, The Mountaineers has been a regional leader advocating on behalf of the natural world, and our successes would not be possible without the dedication and thoughtful advocacy of our entire community. On Thursday September 18, we gathered for An Evening of Advocacy, an annual event that highlights and invites people to support the work of our Conservation & Advocacy program.  Read more…

In August, Braided River launched In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations: Conversations about Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in Nature - an Indigenous-led book and engagement campaign that draws on ancestral knowledge to further empower and inspire Indigenous-led environmental campaigns with non-Indigenous allies, partners, and supporters. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we know the critical role that federal land managers like the Forest Service play in the conservation and stewardship of our public lands. Behind each trail improvement, bridge replacement, and forest health project on your favorite national forest is the support and expertise of regional agency staff. Regional capacity, knowledge of local landscapes, relationships in forest communities, and on-the-ground experience are increasingly critical to carrying out the mission of the Forest Service - work that can look different from forest to forest.
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In building a culture of philanthropy at The Mountaineers, we’re always seeking ways to communicate clearly and concisely the importance of our mission to funders. This work requires a deep understanding of the connection between our daily efforts and long-term impact. Read more…

Over the last two months we’ve shared about the administration’s intent to roll back the Roadless Rule and how Washington’s Roadless Areas support Mountaineers adventures. Now the USDA has formally launched a federal rulemaking process to rescind Roadless protections for nearly 45 million acres of the National Forest System. Nearly two million acres of Washington’s forests would be put at risk. It’s time to take action once again in support of Roadless Areas.
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Hiking and camping at Baker Lake and Lake Kachess on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest remind me of the intrinsic value of Washington’s forests. It can be easy to take our favorite public lands for granted or assume they will always be public. Until this year, I never imagined these places and other cherished national forest areas could so quickly become at risk of being sold off to developers. Read more…

Have you ever wondered what it takes to protect the outdoor spaces you love? The Mountaineers Conservation & Advocacy program is our deliberate and strategic plan to safeguard the natural places we all cherish. Our unique, grassroots engagement model is powered by over 17,000 members, including you, and combines conservation education, stewardship, and advocacy with deep policy expertise. This community-driven approach to getting people outdoors creates strong connections to the natural world, turning our community into powerful advocates for public lands and other protected areas. Read more…

The wind whistled through whitebark pines and subalpine firs. This August Friday had been hot at Mount Rainier, but with the sun beginning to set behind the volcano, temperatures cooled rapidly at these elevations. The meadows along Sourdough Ridge glowed in the warm afternoon light. Read more…

Last week, Mountaineers conservation staff and our Outdoor Alliance Washington (OA Washington) partners enjoyed a scenic hike on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest with Representative Rick Larsen, members of his staff, and local land managers. The Congressman was eager to spend time on public lands in the North Cascades with recreation stakeholders during this year’s summer congressional district work period. These relationship-building opportunities with lawmakers and their staff represent one of the ways OA Washington is building bipartisan support for public lands and outdoor recreation initiatives in Congress. Read more…

I was 17 years old when I went on my first hike. It was miserable, painful, and downright humbling. A heavy pack, an environment of unknowns, and 43 miles to go, I thought what any naive teenager would: why am I here? By the end of that hike, I felt completely rebuilt by the mountains. Read more…

The Roadless Rule is a key conservation safeguard that protects two million acres of national forests in Washington - and more than 58 million acres nationally - from logging and development. Unfortunately, the current administration is planning to undermine Roadless protections by repealing the Roadless Rule. Read more…

The towering evergreens and moss-covered trails of the Olympic Peninsula play an important role in connecting outdoor enthusiasts from near and far to the natural world. But public lands and trails like these aren’t just critical for outdoor programs, they’re an ideal setting for relationship building efforts with policymakers and their staff, one hike at a time. Read more…

One of the ways the recreation community speaks up for the lands we love is by participating in public comment opportunities provided by federal land agencies like the Forest Service and the National Park Service. Many opportunities to weigh in on land management planning processes are required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Through the years, Mountaineers have continued to answer calls to action to participate in NEPA processes, including efforts to protect Washington’s Methow Valley from mining and how to access Mount Rainier National Park during the peak summer season.
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One of the ways we're reducing our organization's impact on the environment is by educating our community about sustainability and how we can collectively reduce our carbon footprint as Mountaineers. This includes sharing about the Carbon Footprint Reduction Committee’s work to reduce the carbon impact of Mountaineers facilities and operations, as well as steps you can take to reduce your individual carbon footprint. Read more…

In October 2024, my outdoor world shifted. My faithful canine companion injured his paw, and a hiking partner shared she’d be moving out of state, which left me scrambling to find new trail friends. Rather than retreat, I completed the necessary requirements to lead hikes for The Mountaineers and joined stewardship work parties with the Washington Trails Association (WTA). I had no idea that both paths would challenge me, teach me, and expand my relationship with the outdoors in unexpected ways. Read more…

Our community knows well the critical role that land managers play in the conservation of our shared public lands. During our annual Donor and Volunteer Block Party this spring, attendees shared their appreciation by signing six thank you cards to federal land managers. As a significantly reduced land manager workforce faces growing challenges, our support is deeply appreciated, and there's more we can do to support sustainable management of Washington’s parks and forests. Read more…

Imagine a future where the natural spaces we love are diminished, trails are restricted, and the climate is irreversibly impacted. It's not a distant nightmare; it's a very real threat we're facing right now, and it affects every single one of us who finds solace and adventure in the outdoors. Read more…