Foothills Branch Blog Posts

"Planned very well, with nicely groomed trails, and clear direction of what to expect," remarked one participant of last year's Methow Winter Trails weekend, when asked about her favorite part of the Mazama trails ski trip. A Sun Mountain trip skier the next day responded, "The weather, the company, and that the leader selected the trails that most fit the group's abilities." Join us this year to explore the Methow and to find your own favorite part! Read more…

You'll see a lot of deals this Cyber Monday - sweet new gear, high-tech gadgets, and plenty of thingamabobs to fill your garage. However, we’re here to offer you something a little different – a way to connect with the outdoors all year round. Mountaineers members share a community built around our collective love for the mountains and waters of the northwest, and our desire to protect them.  Read more…

It is a sad moment in the history of The Mountaineers. With a heavy heart, we learned that the foundation we created more than 50 years ago has filed a lawsuit against The Mountaineers. We want to explain the events that led to this and share our plan to defend our beloved organization and the wishes of our donors. Read more…

Foothills is the fastest-growing branch in The Mountaineers, and it's thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of our many wonderful volunteers. Without you, we wouldn't be able to hold the many courses, activities, and events that we offer. For that we would like to thank and recognize a group of volunteers that recently made a difference in the lives of our students and helped us get outside!  Read more…

We’re pleased to announce the results of the 2019 Foothills Branch Council election and would like to thank everyone who voted in the election. We are so excited to welcome these new leaders as we approach 2020! The newly elected Foothills Branch Council members are: Read more…

Love for our public lands and waters is the heart of our Mountaineers community, and we work to protect these landscapes and make them accessible to everyone. We encourage you to join us and many other outdoor enthusiasts across the country in signing the pledge to protect national public lands and waters. Read more…

Perhaps you remember us sharing information about the Roadless Rule previously – it’s an important (and lesser-known) tool that protects wild landscapes on US Forest Service lands. As outdoor enthusiasts, we know our community cares about both conservation and recreation, and the Roadless Rule is vitally important for both. Right now the Forest Service wants to hear what you think about their proposal to exempt the Tongass National Forest in Alaska from the Roadless Rule. Read more…

Bellevue Arts Museum currently is hosting a thought-provoking exhibit titled "Hidden in Plain Sight" by Seattle-based artist Maria Phillips.  Intrigued by the idea of "art from trash", I went on an urban adventure to check it out. Read more…

Since 2015, REI has closed its stores on Black Friday, paying their employees to #OptOutside instead. At The Mountaineers, we couldn't love the idea more. Our employees have always enjoyed the day after Thanksgiving as a vacation day, and two paid stewardship days each year to take care of their favorite places to play. We believe going outside is not just good for your health - but good for your soul.  Read more…

Many hikers in Washington state have encountered – to their dismay – the prickly spines of devil's club, Oplopanax horridus, a shrub which grows in abundance in the Pacific Northwest as well as near Lake Superior. While the origins of the name of this bane of bushwhackers seem quite obvious given its notorious thorns, Washington state is home to many more "devils". In honor of Halloween, here is a sampling of the "Devils" in our state, from north to south. Read more…