Impact Stories

With sadness we share that Helen Engle, a 66-year Mountaineers member and lifelong conservationist, passed away this week at the age of 93. Helen inspired us all to live a life of purpose. She will be missed by The Mountaineers and the rest of the outdoor community. Read more…

Jim Whittaker, a living legend among mountaineers worldwide, is a father, husband, environmentalist, and author. He is recognized as one the most influential climbers in American history, and is a visionary business and community leader in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. We're proud to count 'Big Jim' as a Mountaineers member, and invite you to join us in wishing him, and his twin brother Lou, a very happy 90th birthday today!   Read more…

When you donate a vehicle  you no longer need, you not only support The Mountaineers and Mountaineers Books, but you reduce your impact and your gift qualifies for a tax deduction! Most cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RVs, motorcycles, off road vehicles, heavy equipment, and other motorized vehicles are eligible, making it easy for you to support The Mountaineers in another exciting way! Read more…

As Mountaineers, we cherish the grace, power, and beauty of our natural landscapes. We strive to build a community of passionate outdoor enthusiasts, welcoming all people to share a deep connection to the outdoors. We believe that as avid outdoor recreationists, we should do all that we can to ensure that our wild places are just as awe-inspiring in 100 years as they are today. Engaging our community to connect with and protect the outdoor experience is something we can’t do alone – we need your help to make it happen. Read more…

It is no secret that volunteers are at the absolute core of The Mountaineers success. Nearly everything we do is driven by volunteer initiative and support, and it’s humbling to dive into our annual numbers and take a look at our collective impact. Read more…

Have you ever reflected on the experiences that shaped the trajectory of your life? For me, it was spending time at Snoqualmie, Meany, and Baker Lodges. Read more…

As advocates for public lands, we work hard to effect positive change on issues at the intersection of conservation and recreation. A large part of this work is creating avenues for our members - and the greater outdoor community - to take action to protect our wild places. We have a unique impact in protecting the outdoor experience. That said, public policy is complex, victories can be slow, and our public lands are chronically underfunded. Read more…

Community is the foundation of The Mountaineers. We come together to learn, grow, and enjoy incredible transformations in the outdoors. This #GivingTuesday, we ask you to support our community by donating to The Mountaineers Access Program (MAP) scholarship fund. Read more…

The Mountaineers relies on the generosity of our community to provide courses and programs that make a difference in so many lives. Last year, donors gave $65,000 in scholarships that made it possible for 492 youth and 54 adults to experience the wonders of the great outdoors - many for the first time. We have set a goal to raise $20,000 to specifically support The Mountaineers Access Program (MAP) by the end of the year, and this #GivingTuesday all donations will go directly to support MAP scholarships, because everyone should have access to the outdoors.  Read more…

Do you know we have five different types of salmon in the Pacific Northwest? This weekend, students in the Salmon Safari Mountain Workshop program learned a "handy" way to remember all of them. Read more…

It started with a phone call. Jim Whittaker, best known as the first American to summit Mt. Everest, had an idea. In 1978 'Big Jim' led the first Americans to the top of K2, and wanted to get his ’78 team back together, 40 years to the day of the summit. As a visionary leader, Jim knew the reunion would be a gathering for the ages and wanted to share the excitement with the community that supported him. Jim started climbing with us when he was fifteen, and as a lifelong Mountaineer he saw an opportunity to promote The Mountaineers, with all proceeds benefiting our nonprofit. We were honored and quick to agree. Read more…

Within five minutes of meeting Charlie and Carol Michel, it’s clear that they care very deeply about three things: sea kayaking, The Mountaineers, and our collective carbon footprint. Read more…

Thanks to support from hundreds of people and partners, we're excited to launch our new Mountaineers Gear Lending Library and leader training programs. As we seek to continue to engage future Mountaineers, expand our youth programs, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors, this resource will make the outdoors more accessible to all outdoor enthusiasts. Read more…

The Mountaineers rely on the generosity of its donors to fulfill our mission. While revenues such as book sales, course fees, and membership dues contribute greatly to our success, philanthropic donations support about 15% of our annual budget. Individuals, foundations, and companies give to The Mountaineers because they’re inspired by our deep commitment to connecting people to the transformative power of wild places. You can make the most of your donations by understanding the ins and outs of tax rules for donations to nonprofits. Read more…

Within 5 minutes of meeting Charlie and Carol Michel, it’s clear  they care very deeply about three things: sea kayaking, The Mountaineers, and our collective carbon footprint. Read more…

Here at the Seattle Program Center, we look forward to the start of summer and are busily preparing ourselves for the hive to once again be buzzing with activity from our younger Mountaineers members. For eight weeks we will have around 65 students per week participating in Mountaineers Summer Camp. During this time, students will get a chance to climb, sail, kayak, explore the local parks around Seattle, and participate in two separate overnight camping trips. After the successful trip to Mount Rainier last summer, we have added a second overnight up to our lodge at Mount Baker. Read more…

More than four hundred Mountaineers members, friends, and family will not soon forget the evening of April 14, 2018. The 2018 Mountaineers Gala, our single most important fundraising event of the year, brought our community together in celebration of all the things that make it so very special. Read more…

Since 2011, the Seattle Foundation has been supporting local nonprofits through #GiveBIG, a one-day online giving campaign. Each year it brings together nonprofits across the Pacific Northwest to ignite powerful, rewarding philanthropy in order to build a stronger, more vibrant community for all. Read more…

Outdoor experiences with The Mountaineers are transformative. We are explorers who seek adventure and challenge. We teach skills and inspire new generations of adventurers, building community and creating lifelong memories. New leaders are forged on windswept ridges and in deep, forested valleys. We come home with a passion to share and a resolution to protect wild places - the places we love. Our outdoor experiences are imbued with commitment and conviction. In short: we adventure with purpose.  Read more…

Outdoor experiences with The Mountaineers are transformative. We are explorers who seek adventure and challenge. We teach skills and inspire new generations of adventurers, building community and creating life-long memories. New leaders are forged on windswept ridges and in deep forested valleys. We come home with a passion to share and a resolution to protect wild places - the places we love. Our outdoor experiences are imbued with commitment and conviction.  Read more…

On Sunday, January 21, a group of 30 donors and volunteers gathered at the Seattle Program Center to celebrate the long overdue completion of the Friction Slabs project. The idea was born in 2012. Plans were drawn and funds were raised, however the process became much more of a lift than anyone could have anticipated. Fast forward six years, and we have (as far as we can tell) the only fabricated friction slab training structure in existence!  Read more…

We're thrilled to announce we've received two grants to help us use the power of the outdoor experience to transform the lives of underserved teen girls. The North Face Explore Fund awarded a $9,000 grant to our Mountain Workshops partnership with Young Women Empowered (Y-WE), and Sports 4 Life awarded a $5,000 grant to fund indoor and outdoor climbing activities for both Y-WE and Beacon Interagency's Climbing Challenge Series. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we know the power of nature to restore our souls and inspire our spirits. We're proud of the service of our active-duty and veteran members and their efforts to preserve our own Freedom of the Hills for future generations. To celebrate Veteran's Day, we highlight a Mountaineer whose dedication helps our club and our country. Read more…

The Mountaineers lost a good friend and great person when Ben Miller passed away on June 12, 2017, following a 2+ year battle with brain cancer. Read more…

If you were one of hundreds of Mountaineers who woke up early on Wednesday to join us for our second annual fundraising breakfast, Thank You! This early morning adventure to downtown Seattle brought hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts together to celebrate and champion our public lands. The messages shared inspired us with renewed commitment to protect our wild places. As our CEO Tom Vogl said: Read more…

We love Workplace Giving programs as an extra way to support The Mountaineers. They give you an easy way to double the impact of your volunteer time, membership dues, and charitable donations with an employer match! Read more…

We end every staff meeting by sharing what we call "mission moments." These inspiring stories of when we get to witness our mission in action reflect the positive impact of our work on the outdoor community and bring us the warm fuzzies inside. As staff, we find these reminders invigorating, helping us understand the broad reach of our mission to help people get outside. Read more…

For GiveBIG, you helped us raise over $18,000, exceeding our $10,000 match goal. In total, we raised over $28,000, making this our most successful GiveBIG yet! Read more…

GiveBIG is May 10 – the day when nonprofits in Seattle and across the Pacific Northwest rally together to fundraise for important efforts that make living in this amazing place so special. Once again, we’re excited to participate. Last year, we raised over $14,000 from our generous donors. This year, we’re doubling our goal to raise $30k! Will you help us get there? Read more…

Giving back is what Mountaineers do best. In my nearly six years at The Mountaineers I can’t remember a day when I haven't experienced or observed an act of giving time, talent, or treasure from a member. Each of these moments warms my heart and brings a smile to my face. One act stands above nearly all for me – a generous major gift from Jim Lea. Read more…