Birds from across six continents and all 50 United States migrate to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge annually to take advantage of the 24-hour arctic summer daylight and plentiful, rich food sources. Hundreds of thousands of birds nest on the coastal plain of Alaska during breeding season, mating and storing up fat for the long migration to southern wintering grounds.

A new environmental photography exhibit at Seattle's Burke Museum explores the phenomenon of bird migration to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a region that is environmentally crucial to the survival of over 190 bird species, yet is a hotbed for political controversy.

Featuring the photography of Subhankeer Banerjee, Paul Bannick, Michio Hoshino, Arthur Morris, Hugh Rose, Mark Wilson, and Brad Winn, Arctic Wings presents 30 large-format color photographs that capture global bird biodiversity abundantly represented in the ANWR ecosystem.

For the opening day of this exhibition, ornithologists will be on hand with a selection of Arctic birds from the Burke collection. Stephen Brown, editor of Arctic Wings, the book that inspired the exhibit, will be speaking along with Debbie Miller, Alaskan author of illustrated nature books, and Marilyn Heiman, founding director of the Boreal Songbird initiative.

Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration was organized by the Burke Museum and Braided River, the conservation imprint of The Mountaineers Books. This exhibit is the third partnership between the Burke Museum and The Mountaineers Books in two years to present nature photography exhibits that engage the public in conversations about some of the most immediate environmental crises of our time, including biodiversity, habitat protection, and global warming.

To see pictures of the wall's installation, head over to our Flickr page. You can also access this through the NFCC site, dedicated to updates and news about the move to Magnuson.

Join The Mountaineers each month for our "Adventures in Reading" book club. Visit exotic destinations, meet courageous explorers and discover long-kept secrets. Most meetings are in Seattle, with the occasional Eastside session.

On Tuesday, September 9, we kick off "Adventures in Reading" with a screening of "Storm
over Everest," a PBS film produced by David Breshears about the 1996 Everest disaster. The book discussion following the film will be about "Mountain Madness" by Robert Burkby. He tells the story of the late Scott Fischer, a local mountain guide company owner who lost his life on Everest in the 1996 tragedy. This discussion takes place at the Mountaineers Building, 300 Third Ave W, Seattle, from 7-9 p.m. and is open to all.

Visit our Adventures in Reading page for a complete list of books, meeting places and times.

- Wednesday night work parties begin at 4, followed by a BBQ at 6:30.
- Satruday work parties start at noon, with a BBQ around 5:30.

If you are interested in making your mark on the new building, please contact Gene Yore, the project manager, to let him know you're coming. This helps him plan the projects in advance. If you can't make it to a work party but still want to help, contact Gene for information on 1-person projects.

Have you ever seen the spectacular colors of the maples and the hobble bush painting the landscape of New England? If not, join us as we hike under a canopy of fall colors in the ancient Appalachian Mountains, among the oldest on Earth and once towered above the continents as the Himalayans do today. The brilliantly jeweled gold and ruby ridges of the White Mountains will be etched in your memory for ever.

The Mountaineers' Recreational Properties Division will again offer an eight-day expedition through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We will depart Oct. 5 and return Oct. 12. Since we will be hiking between the full service huts and lodges of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), you will not have to carry a sleeping bag or food except for lunch. Most trails are dotted with large rocks and may include short stretches of scrambling.

Trip preview: Sunday, June 22 at 3 p.m. in Redmond. Follow the link below for more information on this session.

For the full description of this outing, including fees and itinerary, please visit the International & North American Outings page.

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Show your support for The Mountaineers, and tell the world where your priorities lie! These shirts are available through our Seattle office so stop by and pick one up. Or give us a call at 206-284-6310 to order yours today!

Braided River books bring together some of the world's best nature photographers with thoughtful essays by well-known authors, conservationists and public figures. The books' distinctive voices are carried to a wider audience through lectures, exhibits and multi-media presentations, held in partnership with leading environmental organizations. As branches of a braided river cut new channels and then reunite, the books are conceived to weave connections between photographers and writers, environmental groups and the public.

The first book to be published under the new imprint will be The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World, due out in February 2008. This remarkable book combines wildlife photography by Steven Kazlowski with first-person accounts of his Arctic adventures and thought-provoking essays that provide a fresh perspective on the effects of climate change.

Please visit the Braided River website to find out more about this incredible new imprint and its mission. And stay tuned for special events and announcements connected with Braided River.

Keep up with developments at Magnuson Park by visiting the website of the New Facilities Construction Committee (NFCC). There you will find pictures of the current Building 67, construction updates, schedules of activities, and more!