Foothills Branch Blog Posts

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…

Did you know that winter is the peak season for new members joining The Mountaineers? If you joined The Mountaineers in November and December, Hello! Welcome! We're glad you’re here! Read more…

As we close the book on another year, reflect on the many adventures Mountaineers enjoyed in 2025, including: freshies, wildflowers, freighter-wake fun, and a handful of moments we’ll never live down (we're talking about you, potholes and pee bottles). Plus plenty of Type 2 fun, a little stewardship that made the trails better for everyone, and just enough suspiciously perfect weather to keep us hooked. These 10 trip reports have the beta, photos, and details that send you straight to your calendar to start plotting. Consider this your year-end highlight reel and a subtle nudge toward your plans in 2026. Read more…

We’re Dave and Laura, six-year Mountaineers members, and we believe in the transformative power of the outdoors.  Read more…

For skiers, splitboarders, and snowshoers eager to explore the backcountry, avalanche awareness isn’t optional — it’s vital. The Mountaineers AIARE 1 course provides a structured, hands-on introduction to avalanche safety, empowering participants to make informed decisions in complex winter environments. 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.
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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…

Washington is experiencing record rainfall, and we know that some of our members are directly impacted by flooding, rising rivers, and rapidly changing conditions. To those of you navigating this right now: we’re thinking of you, and we’re holding you and your communities in our hearts. 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…

Thank you to all our Giving Tuesday donors for helping us raise more than $61,000 for the Mountaineers Access Program (MAP) scholarship fund! 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…

The daylight is waning, but The Mountaineers spirit certainly isn't! Read on, dear friends, for salmon runs, fungi, and even a rainbow that brightened our day during this dreary season. Read more…

Volunteering with the Foothills Branch means connecting with like-minded adventurers, supporting inclusive outdoor education, and helping others discover the transformative power of nature. Most of our volunteer opportunities don't require special skills or experience - we're just looking for your energy and enthusiasm! 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…

The North Sound Leadership Conference is just one month away! Read more…

The annual gold rush has come and gone... and I'm happy to report that our Mountaineers didn't miss a single second of it. Read on, dear friends, for photogenic clouds, berry snackfests, knee-deep pow, salmon-egg slime molds, yummy yellows, and a whole host of shoulder-season sagas. 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…

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…

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 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 over a decade, The Mountaineers has inspired adventures of all kinds through the BeWild Speaker Series - and this year’s lineup promises to be as unforgettable as ever. 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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Mountainfilm on Tour will return to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on Thursday, October 16, at 7pm! Founded in 1979, Mountainfilm is one of America’s longest-running documentary film festivals, dedicated to celebrating stories of indomitable spirit and inspiring audiences through film, art, and ideas. 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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August is the heart of summer, and trip reports from this month of scrambling, sea kayaking, star-gazing, and more confirm that our hearts are full. Read on for some of our favorite trip reports from this month. Read more…

Photographer and author Tommy Corey has built his career around amplifying stories of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the outdoors. As an LGBTQ+ Mexican-American creative based in Redding, California, Corey first fell in love with life outside during his thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey that sparked a wholehearted devotion to documenting the transformative power of nature.  Read more…

Mountainfilm on Tour is coming back to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center! Founded in 1979, Mountainfilm is one of America’s longest-running film festivals, inspiring audiences through stories of indomitable spirit.  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…