Contribute
about our communications
We aim to create a sense of community while highlighting our array of volunteer-led programs to inspire more people to get involved and get outside. We hope our blog and magazine provide a platform for members to connect with each other and the natural world.
In order to highlight the voices of our community, contributors must be members of The Mountaineers or directly connected to Mountaineers programs.
Magazine | Blog | Photography | Audio | Policy
contribute to mountaineer magazine
We publish Mountaineer magazine three times a year. Each edition highlights new stories, program updates, and insights about what’s happening in The Mountaineers and the greater outdoor community. We are always seeking personal stories from members like you about your experiences within The Mountaineers and the Pacific Northwest.
Magazine stories can range from 1-4 pages. Magazine contributors must also provide images (1MB or larger, or 1800 x 1200 PPI or larger) to accompany their story.
1 page = 500-600 words + 1 high-res photo
2 pages = 900-1,200 words + 2-4 high-res photos
3 pages = 1,600-1,800 words + 5-8 high-res photos
4 pages = 1,800-2,200 + 10 or more high-res photos
Magazine Dates
Magazine articles are often arranged several issues ahead as we need lead time to work on editing, proofing, and designing the story in layout. Please keep this timeline in mind when pitching your piece. For each edition, we feature pieces and photos that are seasonally relevant.
The magazine is published on the following dates:
- Issue 1: December 1
- Issue 2: April 1
- Issue 3: August 1
CONTRIBUTE TO THE MOUNTAINEERS BLOG
We publish 5-10 blogs per week, some of which are written by volunteers and members. Blogs are used to publicize upcoming events, find more participants for courses and trips, share tips and tricks, and highlight stories from our community.
Blogs range from 600-1,200 words. Blog contributors must also provide photos to accompany their story. Photos must be high enough in resolution that they don’t show up grainy on our website. At least one of the images submitted must be landscape-oriented to serve as the lead image of the blog.
how to submit
Contributors are generally members of The Mountaineers, or have a direct connection to our Mountaineers community or the Pacific Northwest. Blog and magazine pitches should be relevant to the Pacific Northwest, but can expand beyond that geography if the story is pertinent to Mountaineers programs.
We encourage you to be creative with your writing (your name will appear as the author for any blog post or magazine article) and to use a friendly, open voice that is not too technical.
Pitch ideas could include: transformative experiences in the outdoors, guides to local outdoor spaces, recreation tips, how-to pieces, and stories from your time with The Mountaineers.
As a nonprofit and volunteer-led organization, all content is contributed on a volunteer basis. To submit a pitch, please email communications@mountaineers.org with the following information:
- Article summary: In 3-5 sentences, what topic do you hope to explore in your article? How is it relevant to The Mountaineers, and how will it benefit our community? Does it directly tie into our mission or one of our strategic priorities?
- Estimated word count.
- Sample paragraph or two to help us become familiar with your personal style.
- High-quality photos to accompany the piece. Please note, if pitching for the magazine, images must be at least 1MB, or 1800 x 1200 PPI. If pitching for the blog, at least one image must be landscape-oriented.
Pitches should present a clear concept and should reflect familiarity with our content and tone. With over a thousand blogs published, be sure to check our archives before submitting a pitch.
If you're already a Mountaineers volunteer, you can skip this step and submit your own blog.
For writing guidance, visit our Mountaineers Publications Style Guide.
What to expect
After submitting a pitch, you can expect to hear back from us within 5-10 business days. If we choose to go forward with your piece, we will work with you on edits. Depending on the story and the publication platform, there may be a few rounds of edits before copy is finalized. Google Doc or Word Doc is preferred for submissions.
Once copy is finalized, we will transition your article to an online blog or a print layout with the images you've provided. We will send you a final proof of the webpage or magazine layout to review before publication.
You retain ownership of the content and are free to publish it elsewhere after it has appeared with The Mountaineers (using a canonical tag if posted online, or mentioning somewhere in the reprint that the article first appeared in Mountaineer magazine or on our website).
Photography
Blog and magazine contributors are expected to provide images (and image captions) to accompany their stories. When applicable, please provide images that demonstrate good wilderness ethics and show proper safety equipment (such as helmets on climbs and life vests for sea kayaking). If you did not take the photos, please ensure that the photographer has given permission for their photos to be used in Mountaineers communications.
Donate your photos to the mountaineers
We rely on talented photographers to make our Mountaineers communications shine. If you would like to donate your photos to our photo library, please reach out to communications@mountaineers.org. When you donate, you will be given your own personalized upload link. Should any of your photos be used in Mountaineers communications, you will be given photo credit and retain full ownership of your images to use elsewhere.
Mountaineer Audio Project: Contributor Information
At The Mountaineers, we believe great stories should be accessible to as many people as possible. Audio versions of our content allow members and readers to engage with our articles and blog posts in new ways—whether they’re commuting, recreating outdoors, managing screen fatigue, or relying on audio formats for accessibility.
At this time, Mountaineers staff does not have the capacity or professional recording equipment needed to consistently produce high-quality, human-narrated audio. Rather than delay or limit access, we’ve chosen a thoughtful and transparent approach: using AI-generated voices to bring written content to life in audio form. The content itself remains entirely original—written by our contributors.
Only the voice narration is AI-generated. This approach allows us to expand reach, improve accessibility, and responsibly pilot new technology while staying aligned with our values.
How the Audio Project Works
Selected articles from Mountaineer magazine and posts from our blog may be converted into audio files that are published on a host listening platform such as Soundcloud, as well as our website.
Contributors have a choice in how their article is voiced:
- Your own AI-generated voice, created from a short sample you provide
- A narrator voice selected by The Mountaineers
Our Policy on Using AI Voices
We are committed to using AI responsibly, transparently, and with contributor consent.
- AI is used only for voice narration—not for writing or editing content
- Contributors choose whether their own voice is used
- Voice models are created solely for this project and use
- All AI-generated audio includes a non-audible neural watermark to prevent misuse or impersonation
- Audio quality is preserved while ensuring clear identification of synthetic voice content
If you choose to use your own AI-generated voice, you will receive:
- Simple recording instructions
- A waiver clearly outlining usage, protections, and limitations
Environmental Impact & Technology Use
We recognize that emerging technologies—including AI—have environmental impacts. As part of our commitment to responsible technology use, we actively assess and reduce the carbon footprint of our digital infrastructure.
If you’d like to learn more, we encourage you to read this post:
How we’re reducing our carbon footprint in technology use
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I have to participate in the audio project?
- No. Participation is optional. If you prefer that your previous contribution not be converted to audio, simply let us know. Going forward, we will plan to make audio versions available for most of our content.
- Where will the audio versions be available?
- Audio files will be published on The Mountaineers website and may also appear on other listening platforms to help reach a broader audience.
- What voice options do I have?
- You may choose between an AI-generated version of your own voice or a narrator voice selected by The Mountaineers.
- How is an AI version of my voice created?
- If you opt in, we’ll provide instructions to record a short voice sample. That sample is used only to generate audio for this project.
- How is my voice protected?
- All AI-generated audio includes a non-audible neural watermark that helps verify the audio as synthetic and prevents unauthorized reuse. This watermark does not affect sound quality.
- Will I be able to review the audio before it's published?
- Yes. Upon request, we’re happy to share a preview before the audio goes live.
- Is there additional compensation for audio use?
- No additional compensation is provided, but audio versions help your work reach a wider, more accessible audience.
- Can I opt out later?
- Yes. If you change your mind, contact us and we’ll remove the audio version.
- Who can I contact with questions?
- Please reach out to skyem@mountaineers.org with any questions or to indicate your voice preference.
Thank You
We’re deeply grateful for the voices, stories, and expertise our contributors share with The Mountaineers community. This project is one more way we’re working to ensure those stories can be experienced by as many people as possible—responsibly, transparently, and with respect for your work.