Foothills Branch Blog Posts

To honor the amazing resource that is the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT), Foothills Branch is sponsoring a new set of award badges, available to Mountaineers members from any branch, for hiking, backpacking or snowshoeing 50 or more miles of the PCT in Washington State on or after January 1, 2010. Read more…

This year, we'll be participating in Microsoft Nonprofit Fair on October 19.   We'll be at The Commons from 11:30am – 1:30pm raffling off outdoor books and gear, so stop by to say hello and learn more about how you can get involved with The Mountaineers. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we've believe venturing into the outdoors is an essential piece of the human experience. It's important to implement low-impact recreation skills to keep our wild places as sanctuaries for the human spirit. Read more…

There's still room in this free and informative two-hour evening seminar, designed for brand new hikers and for people who have hiked before but want an introduction to safe hiking in our major Pacific Northwest hiking areas. The seminar will help you find hikes that suit your interests and capabilities, understand common trail hazards, prepare for hikes with the right gear and clothing, and practice Leave-No-Trace and good trail etiquette so that you protecting our trails and wild places. We'll also provide useful information on permits, where to buy essential gear on a budget, and other valuable resources. Read more…

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to .... Read more…

The Photography Committee invites you to their annual Mt. Baker fall colors weekend.  Read more…

In two and a half hours you can learn what you need to know to get started as a hike or backpack leader with The Mountaineers. Then, start leading trips to share your love for wild places with our members eager to get outside. Join us August 4 to learn more. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we've believe venturing into the outdoors is an essential piece of the human experience. We go outside to wander and explore the adventurous spirit within ourselves. It's important to implement low-impact recreation skills to keep our wild places as sanctuaries for the human spirit; so our grandchildren can experience the sensation of discovering an untouched place. Read more…

The Foothills Branch has been growing at a rapid pace the past two years, and our success calls for more support to coordinate our many activities sponsored by branch volunteers. Please consider supporting our volunteers, who have provided trips for 600 activity participants so far this year (already 250 more than last fiscal year)! Read more…

I am confident that you and I have at least two things in common: 1) we both set aside time to explore the outdoors, and 2) at some point during these adventures we will both experience the discomfort of knowing we have to go number two. Even if you don't, you will inevitably be reminded of this basic human function by the sight of toilet paper discarded uncomfortably close to trails and water sources. By the amount of TP I have seen recently on Washington’s trails, it seems even the most avid outdoor enthusiasts may not know how to handle nature’s calling. Read more…

The Pacific Crest Trail (or PCT), a 2663.5-mile National Scenic Trail stretching from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington, epitomizes the ideal of physical challenge and one-of-a-kind natural resources bringing people together for a purpose larger than themselves - much like the mission of The Mountaineers. Read more…

One of the most valuable parts of the Wilderness First Aid course is the scenario practice sessions. In these scenarios, teams of students must respond to simulated backcountry emergency first aid situations. We're in need of volunteers to help with our May 9 WFA by play-acting as victims. You will get very fun and realistic accident make-up (moulage) and will be given a script for a role-play situation. Read more…

Over 545 days between July 2, 2011 and December 28, 2012, Australian adventurer Cam "Swami" Honan completed an amazing - almost superhuman - feat: through-hiking 12 of the most iconic long trails in 29 US states and 4 Canadian provinces. In the process, he set records for the most miles hiked in a calendar year (10,204 in 2012), the fastest completion of a calendar-year Triple Crown (PCT, CDT and AT in 236 days), and the most dehydrated beans consumed in an 18 month period (123.7 lbs)! Read more…

Starting in Spring 2016, The Mountaineers will be offering Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Responder Recertification courses!  Read more…

We've been hearing from many hikers and backpackers who want to learn navigation and field first aid/emergency-response skills, but aren't ready to invest the time and expense for the full Wilderness First Aid or Navigation course. Others really want to get strong and in shape for the trail season but would like some professional guidance to design a tailored conditioning program. To help, our volunteers from the Foothills branch have developed clinics tailored for hikers and backpackers from all walks of life.  Read more…

My own Mountaineers leadership story started with a search for trail companions. I was seeking a compatible group on the types of hikes and backpacks that interested me. Then, one day, I took a new arrival from China on his first hike, and I saw the joy and wonder blossom on his face when Mount Rainier emerged in all her glory behind a ridge covered with meadow wildflowers. That was it, I was hooked. Read more…

Grab your outdoor bucket list and adventure buddies to tune into a night of human-powered winter celebration, with ten edge-of-your-seat films celebrating backcountry skiing and other adventures! Read more…

We're lucky. At The Mountaineers, we've always known the value of natural places to restore our bodies and our spirits. Our outdoor playgrounds offer endless ways to explore and learn and discover and connect. Read more…

Our Pacific Northwest is seeing rapid rate of growth. We're welcoming people from all over the country who are moving here to participate in our vigorous economy and enjoy our incredible natural places and outdoor recreation opportunities. Some of our newcomers are experienced hikers but don't know our major hiking areas, permit requirements, and our unique trail hazards and gear requirements. Others haven't hiked before but want to know where to go and how to do it safely. We have a solution for both. Read more…

In September 2015, Washington resident Heather “Anish” Anderson hiked the 2,200 Appalachian Trail in 54 days, 7 hours and 48 minutes. Hiking 16-18 hours a day, she averaged 40 miles a day, setting a new fast-speed thru-hike record for FKT (fastest know time) for an ‘unsupported” hiker on the AT. Read more…

We’re bringing the spirit of outdoor adventure and mountain culture to The Mountaineers again! The World Tour features the best mountain films this year, showcasing amazing filmmaking talent from the world over to an audience that spans the globe.  Read more…

Our branch has accomplished great things this year, delivering top-notch learning opportunities, outdoor adventures and events.   Read more…

Need some new gear for winter? Come to the Seattle Program Center November 20-22, 2015 to buy some Sherpa Adventure Gear! Read more…

Experience the joy of moving through the silent winter landscape, brilliant light glinting from snow mounds piled in soft shapes all around. Get out into the mountains you love and get your favorite exercise - the trail kind! - through the winter months!   Read more…

Join One by One for the premiere of Shout Gladi Gladi at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on October 8 to learn more about the fight for maternal healthcare in Africa. Read more…

In the spring of 1990 - when the US, China, and Soviet Union were Cold War enemies and real war seemed imminent -  I organized and led the Mount Everest International Peace Climb. But there were personal reasons for the climb as well. The expedition not only focused on peace and the environment, it fostered a global mountaineering community and inspired efforts to save a young life. Read more…

In the spring of 1990 - when the US, China, and Soviet Union were Cold War enemies and real war seemed imminent -  I organized and led the Mount Everest International Peace Climb. Planned on for the 20th anniversary of the first Earth Day, we sought not only to reach the summit, but to send a message to world leaders about the state of the environment.  Read more…

Join us October  7 at the Mercer Island Library at 6:30pm for our Hike and Backpack Leader Seminar. Read more…

In the spring of 1990 - when the US, China, and Soviet Union were Cold War enemies and real war seemed imminent -  I organized and led the Mount Everest International Peace Climb. Despite language barriers, foul weather, equipment failures, and illness, our expedition of mountaineers from enemy countries reached the summit and changed the conversation from one of war to one of peace. With so much tragedy and death on Everest the past couple of years - especially  on the Tibetan side of Mt. Everest where we climbed -  I want to share why I still see Everest as a symbol of hope.  Read more…

Twenty-five years ago Cold War Enemies, united by climbing, stood together on the highest point on earth honoring world peace and the environment. Join us September 17 to celebrate this ground-breaking anniversary.  Read more…