Conservation Blog

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…

In a shallow, sunlit riverbed, Ken Sund stands shin-deep over his canoe wearing a proud smile. Both hands grip a pickaxe, and two car tires rest in the canoe, their rubber edges peeling from years of subaquatic erosion. Only a few feet of space remain near the bow of the canoe, where Ken will situate himself before paddling down the river, collecting debris along the way. Read more…

One of the ways The Mountaineers advocates to protect backcountry recreation on our national forests is by defending important conservation safeguards like the Roadless Rule. Inventoried Roadless Areas protect one third of the national forest system (59 million acres, including two million acres in Washington state) from logging and development. Roadless Areas support recreational opportunities across Washington’s six national forests. For example, the Mount Baker, Lake Quinault, and Washington Pass areas offer popular opportunities to recreate in backcountry forest areas protected as Roadless. Read more…

Have you ever tried to snag a campground or parking spot near Diablo Lake or another destination in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area during a busy summer weekend? Visitation to this popular area of the North Cascades has doubled over the last 20 years, and Park Service staff recorded one million visits in 2019. As recreational use via the North Cascades Highway continues to grow, land managers need new strategies to manage recreation. Park staff are preparing to develop a robust plan and holistic approach to better manage frontcountry recreation opportunities along the Highway 20 corridor, and they want to hear from you! Read more…

The Mountaineers relies on technology to stay connected and support our mission. From using laptops to register for courses to using cell phone apps for backcountry navigation, technology plays an essential role in our daily operations. But while tech can make our lives more efficient, it also comes with environmental costs.  Read more…

As you’ve likely heard, the Forest Service has a problem. Read more…

Policy Update: We're encouraged to share that public lands sell-offs were kept out of the final Senate budget reconciliation bill. Washington's public lands are now safe from the recent threat of public lands sell-offs. We appreciate the thousands of Mountaineers that took action to oppose this harmful provision. Our collective advocacy made a difference.

Last week, I led a climb of The Tooth - my fifth trip with Mountaineers students on this classic climbing route near Snoqualmie Pass. My favorite part of being a rope leader on these trips is when my follower arrives at the top of the second pitch, looks around at the 360-degree view, and beams a giant smile when they fully realize the joy of being in Washington’s alpine environment.  Read more…

In spring 2024, we completed the Tacoma Program Center (TPC) net zero project, making The Mountaineers program center in old town Tacoma our first net zero facility. This accomplishment has become a cornerstone of our organizational efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of Mountaineers facilities and operations.
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On my way home from work in February, I gave one of my colleagues at the Forest Service a ring. A wave of federal agency workforce cuts had just been announced, and while I knew the Forest Service was impacted, I had no idea how deeply. I won’t forget my colleague’s response when I asked about the extent of the layoffs. After a long pause, they said “…we’ll only have a single person working in the Enchantments this summer.” Read more…

Policy Update: Thousands of Mountaineers answered our call to action, and now we're  encouraged to share that public lands sell-offs were kept out of the final Senate budget reconciliation bill. Washington's public lands are now safe from the recent threat of public lands sell-offs. Our collective advocacy made a difference. Thank you for adventuring with purpose with us.

As we shared last month, members of Congress are seeking to sell off federal public lands as a way to raise revenue, putting these lands at risk of transfer or development. Thanks in part to recent advocacy by outdoor enthusiasts, public lands sales were kept out of the final House reconciliation bill. However, this near-term win during the early stages of the congressional budgeting process was short-lived.  Read more…