Conservation Blog

Forest Service staff play a critical role in stewarding our national forests - from maintaining trails and facilities to overseeing recreation planning and responding to wildfire. The Mountaineers deeply values the expertise and dedication of these land managers, who have persevered through challenges and uncertainty over the last few years to keep the landscapes we love resilient and accessible for outdoor recreation. Read more…

Spring is in the air. Soon we’ll be paddling fresh mountain runoff, spending sun-warmed afternoons at the crag, and venturing into our favorite wildflower-clad alpine basins. As you pack away your skis and snowshoes and dust off your summer gear, you may be wondering what the season ahead will look like. Which trails remain closed after last summer's fires and did winter storms damage the road to your favorite trailhead? Read more…

Mountaineering and ecology are interconnected fields, and sustainable practices in outdoor activities are crucial as we work to protect our environment and natural spaces so future generations can enjoy them. As Mountaineers, you’re likely well versed in how to adventure responsibly, but in honor of Earth Month, here are some simple tips to help you reduce your impact on the environment and maximize your enjoyment. Read more…

The administration is working to roll back one of the most important protections for our national forests: the Roadless Rule. The Roadless Rule protects some of your favorite backcountry and old growth forests as Roadless Areas - places like Baker Lake, Washington Pass, the Mountain Loop Highway area, the Teanaway, and Olympic National Forest. Last fall, 1,300 Mountaineers joined more than 600,000 advocates across the country to oppose the Rule’s rescission, which would open up 58 million acres of national forests to increased logging and development. The next opportunity to advocate to defend our backcountry forests is likely coming in the next few weeks.  Read more…

Washington’s approximately 6.5 million acres of state parks and public lands are home to places where we hike, climb, ski, scramble, paddle, and connect to the natural world. Since early January, The Mountaineers and our partners have advocated to minimize cuts to our state lands this year. More than 700 members of our community sent nearly 2,200 messages to legislators highlighting their support for these recreation lands and the sustainable outdoor access opportunities they provide. Read more…

From scrambling craggy summits to meandering through alpine meadows, paddling glacier-fed lakes, and snowshoeing in quiet winter forests, the North Cascades offer some of the most spectacular outdoor recreation opportunities in Washington. For members of The Mountaineers, this landscape is central to how we explore, learn, and build community in the outdoors. But access to these experiences relies on safe and well-maintained infrastructure, like sturdy bridges, durable trails, functional parking areas, and smooth roads. Read more…

Looking to translate your outdoor stoke into advocacy action to protect your backcountry forest adventures? We’ve got you covered. The Roadless Rule protects some of our most treasured places to recreate, like Washington Pass and the Teanaway. Last fall, the administration began a process to fully repeal the Roadless Rule and open up 58 million acres of national forests nationally to increased logging and development.  Read more…

Washington’s state recreation areas - places like Tiger Mountain, Exit 38, and Frenchman’s Coulee - support Mountaineers programs and connect outdoor enthusiasts to nature across the state. Our ability to experience the outdoors through these state public lands relies on funding for land managers through the Washington state budget. Unfortunately, budget challenges have led to cuts to the land management agencies that manage and conserve these places.  Read more…

Watching wildlife on our outdoor adventures can be a great way to connect to and foster a  deep appreciation for the natural world. Washington’s public lands span unique ecosystems and are home to a rich diversity of wildlife species. Spotting animals like owls, eagles, bears, or mountain goats creates special memories and enhances the outdoor experience. But wildlife encounters - and even our broader presence in wildlife habitat - can pose challenges that affect a species’ ability to thrive across landscapes. Read more…

Mountaineers members play a hands-on role in protecting, restoring, and maintaining the lands and waters of our region. From the Olympic National Forest over to the North Cascades and down to Mount St. Helens, our community continues to team up with land managers and outside stewardship organizations to support the trails and recreation areas that call us outdoors.  Read more…

Last month, we received the incredible news that The Mountaineers has been awarded a $324,000 Commercial & Industrial Decarbonization Grant from Puget Sound Energy for our Seattle Program Center (SPC) building electrification project.  Read more…

After more than a year of stopgap funding measures and turmoil for federal public lands, Congress passed a full-year funding bill last week in a rare moment of bipartisan collaboration. The legislation will support land management agencies for the remainder of the fiscal year, helping the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management stabilize operations, maintain staffing, and continue to provide the outdoor recreation experiences that our community so deeply values. Read more…

As we continue to defend public lands from an onslaught of threats from Congress and the administration this year, the next few months also represent an important opportunity to advocate for Washington's state parks, trails, and recreation areas. These state-managed lands - places you know and love like Moran State Park, Tiger Mountain State Forest, and Frenchman’s Coulee climbing area - support Mountaineers programs and connect us to special human-powered outdoor experiences.
Read more…

Some years it’s hard to transition from long, sunny days and fields of flowers to the rainy season here in the PNW. Yet the shoulder season repays that loss by ushering in amazing colors in the mountains and lowlands. Read more…

In the wake of deep reductions to the federal land manager workforce and cuts to the Washington state budget over the last year, volunteer stewardship work coordinated by nonprofits is increasingly critical to maintaining thriving, well-maintained public lands. The practice of stewardship brings Mountaineers of all ages together across branches and activities to care for the places where we recreate. Robust volunteer stewardship isn’t a replacement for the agency staff who support and guide our work, but is a great way to support public lands and the dedicated professionals who care for them.
Read more…

One year ago today, January 4, 2025, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act was signed into law, culminating a decade-long advocacy campaign and securing a landmark victory for the outdoor recreation community. This package of recreation bills was passed in a collaborative, bipartisan manner with the goal of improving outdoor access on federal public lands.  Read more…

2025 was a whirlwind year for defending public lands.  Sweeping workforce reductions at federal land management agencies, along with proposals to sell off wide swaths of public lands, created an unprecedented need to raise our voice to protect the future of outdoor recreation. We’re calling on our community to support The Mountaineers with a year-end donation to help fund critical mission-driven work, like our Conservation & Advocacy program which amplifies the voice and values of members like you.  Read more…

I like to think of Roadless Areas as the silent heroes of Washington’s public lands. They don’t garner the hype of Wilderness Areas, but they form the backdrop to many of our favorite backcountry experiences. From the ancient groves of the Olympic rainforest to the snowy slopes of the Cascades, you're never too far from a Roadless Area. Recreation opportunities provided by Roadless Areas in places like Quinault Ridge, Baker Lake, and Washington Pass are not permanently protected, and need more advocates. Read more…

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is headed back to Seattle! Join The Mountaineers on January 14 and 15 as we travel to remote vistas, analyze topical environmental issues, and get up close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports. Read more…

Are you dreaming of outdoor adventures or trying to enhance your skills?  Members and non-members are invited to spend an evening learning about upcoming  courses and activities with the Olympia Branch.  Read more…

Last year, we saw an unprecedented level of threats to public lands from Congress and the administration. In response, The Mountaineers community took action in record numbers, sending thousands of advocacy letters in defense of our public lands. These messages highlighted the importance of staffing and funding for federal land managers, keeping federal public lands in public hands, and foundational conservation policies like the Roadless Rule and the National Environmental Policy Act. Read more…

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…