Blog

The Mountaineers South Sound Leadership Conference is a day-long conference held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Tacoma Program Center. We hope you’re able to join us for this engaging and exciting day of leadership development. All are welcome to attend! Read more…

Packed with climbing, bouldering, outdoor-inspired games, and creative activities, After-School is a blast for kids who love to move, learn, and make new friends. For two hours each week, kids will climb, play, and connect with other young adventurers at our Seattle Program Center. Tuesdays are open to youth ages 6-9 and Thursdays are open to youth ages 10-13.  Read more…

Share the joys of outdoor learning and exploration from the Sound to the summits with a Mountaineers membership. 

Our year-round activities include favorites like hiking, climbing, and skiing. But did you know that Mountaineers also go bikepacking, packrafting, urban walking, and more?  Read more…

Are you familiar with Leave No Trace? These tips are more than just picking up trash. In fact, the seven principles of Leave No Trace offer a framework for making decisions as you recreate outside. Leave No Trace's seven principles help guide you toward choices that have a lighter impact on the outdoors.  Given how many folks are outside recreating on our shared public lands, the cumulative effect of our efforts to be good stewards can be tremendous! Read more…

As a climb and course leader, one experience etched in my memory is working with students who are learning to rappel for the first time.  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…

Join us on Saturday, April 26 at Fremont Studios in Seattle for The Mountaineers Annual Gala, our signature fundraising event of the year! We've set the ambitious goal of raising $650,000 this year to support our mission and programs. In-person tickets open on January 20. Come gather with us to celebrate all that we do to Adventure with Purpose in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Read more…

Crisp air circulates through your lungs. You exhale and a misty cloud hangs in the cold winter air. High in the mountains, trails turn to mud and ice as snow falls, then freezes. The sun hides behind a thick layer of dark clouds. At lower elevation, mossy soil and gentle rain offer a refreshing environment in the forest canopy. You lace up your shoes and put on your vest. It’s the perfect day for a trail run.

Trail running takes you outside, away from busy streets to the trails. Forested or mountainous, well-maintained or overgrown, nicely graveled or covered with rocks and roots… there are thousands of runnable trails in Washington state. While similar to hiking, trail running allows you to move faster, explore further, and stay active all year long. Read more…

One June day, I waited as a group of teenagers trudged up a trail outside of North Bend, carrying helmets and harnesses and complaining lightheartedly about the early summer heat. They had been practicing climbing skills for weeks at the Seattle Program Center, and now was their chance to put their skills to use in the outdoors. The steep trail, vibrant forest, real rock, and majestic view of the Cascades created an immersive experience for them to enjoy together. Supporting experiences like these is one of the reasons I love my role as a youth programs staff instructor. 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…

On Wednesday, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that it’s discontinuing development of its proposal to restrict the use of fixed anchors in Wilderness. This is a huge victory for the climbing community. If enacted, the policy would have prohibited the use of new and existing bolts, slings, and pitons in Wilderness areas, upending decades of precedent and compromising safe and reliable access to iconic Washington summits like Unicorn Peak and Mt. Shuksan.  Read more…

We’re excited to share that in the final days of the 118th Congress, lawmakers came together in bipartisan fashion to pass the EXPLORE Act and send it to the President’s desk to become law. The legislation is a first-of-its-kind package of bills to improve recreation and increase and enhance outdoor access on federal public lands.
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I never waxed my first pair of skis. I didn’t know any better. Twenty years later, they are still viable skis. But most avid skiers do wax their skis (and for good reason). With the right wax, your glide improves and the ski base is protected, allowing them to perform better, longer. There’s a saying: “Take care of your gear and it will take care of you.” But how? For me, waxing skis was intimidating. With seemingly endless options and advice, learning the process felt overwhelming as a beginner. My hope is to demystify the world of hot waxing so you can confidently prepare your skis for winter adventures. Read more…

Since the inception of our day camps, we’ve had the pleasure of seeing our programs and community grow in breadth and depth. Every season is full of camp magic, laughter, bracelet-making, outdoor adventure, and more. Historically, camp has also had an inevitably stressful registration day. In response to feedback provided by camp families, and in an attempt to make the registration process smooth for campers and staff alike, we’ll continue to use a lottery system for registration for Seattle Day Camp offerings in 2025. Read more…

Calling all multi-sport enthusiasts and off-the-beaten-path international travelers! Join us for a presentation with Marko Pavela on the active travel and adventure tourism day trip opportunities available throughout the Cetina River valley in the inland southern part of Croatia. The presentation will include options for climbing, rafting, via ferrata, and more. Read more…

Trying to find the right gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life? This holiday season, give experiences with the gift of a Mountaineers membership!  Read more…

Growing up backpacking with my family in the Cascades and Olympics, I was introduced to our magnificent Northwest forests at a young age. Those summer trips where I collected pinecones and roasted s’mores over the campfire fostered my love for recreating in these iconic landscapes. These days, trail running and backcountry skiing through the same forests remind me why I was called to conservation work and the role the recreation community can play in protecting our lands and waters through outdoor advocacy. 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…

Note: the Take Action section  of this blog has been updated to reflect legislative developments for the EXPLORE Act and a public lands package.

To continue growing a community of Mountaineers who adventure with purpose as outdoor advocates, our conservation team connected with Advocacy 101 course graduates and other conservation-minded Mountaineers virtually on Nov 20. As more Mountaineers seek new opportunities to flex their advocacy muscle, events like these prepare us for greater collective impact. Read more…

One special evening earlier this year, I found myself in a moment of transcendent wonderment. I was at Bruni’s Snow Bowl Hut, surrounded by warm air, majestic views of Tahoma, and the soft hues of a setting sun. My three-year-old gleefully devoured his first s’more with sticky hands and my one-year-old watched the campfire’s sparks with wide-eyed wonder. My husband’s hand in mine, and the laughter of our friends and their children, rounded out a precious and poignant experience. Read more…

I like to joke that I was born with skis on my feet. The product of two skiers raising a child in Montana, I’ve always loved winter (the colder the better). And, as someone who grew up watching Captain Planet and was raised on the idea of reduce > reuse > recycle, I enjoy finding multiple uses for my treasured outdoor gear. In the spirit of reuse, I’m delighted to offer a list of ideas to help you upcycle your old winter equipment. 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…

Thank you to everyone who made a Giving Tuesday donation. We kicked off the giving season this week by smashing our Giving Tuesday goal. 94 members made donations of all sizes to provide scholarships for youth and adults to access Mountaineers programs. Read more…

The Mountaineers values transparency and takes pride in celebrating our successes. Our team is continuously working on updating our website, e-learning, and automated processes to enhance the user experience for members and volunteers. In this Changelog, we capture what improvements we have made over time so you can follow along and take advantage of new features.  Read more…

I recently escaped to the mountains on two separate occasions to seek solace. The first was November 7 when the nation awaited election results. The second was five days after a bomb cyclone left more than 600,000 people in Western Washington without electricity. Despite the contrast in challenging conditions, both outings brought opportunities for growth, joy, and peace. I hope some of the suggestions in this blog will supply you with tips for cultivating a joyful mindset when facing unusual circumstances. Read more…

Looking back on my 15 years as a member and volunteer with The Mountaineers, I can’t help but think about the fulfillment I’ve gained from being part of this amazing community. From leading trips and courses to serving as an activity leader and Board member, the journey has been incredibly rewarding. As a volunteer leader, I’ve enjoyed researching routes and trip reports, doing the planning, and then getting out with old and new friends. Yet, with the growing popularity of outdoor recreation, we’re also facing new challenges, particularly when it comes to navigating the complicated permitting process required to access many of our cherished public lands. Read more…

Let’s break down these numbers.  Read more…

Today is Giving Tuesday, and we are dedicating today to refilling our Mountaineers Access Program (MAP) scholarship fund. Will you make a special donation today to help people in our community access the outdoors? Read more…

Hundreds of people were able to participate more deeply in our community in 2024 because the financial barrier was lowered by our Mountaineers Access Program. This donor-funded program is made possible through the generosity of our outdoor community.  Read more…

The Mountaineers is a vibrant community, encompassing everyone from skilled alpinists summiting the world’s highest peaks to adults learning new skills to youth discovering the natural world’s wonders for the very first time. This vibrancy is made possible through our commitment to fostering a culture of equity and belonging, which drives us to reduce barriers and create welcoming spaces for all regardless of age, background, ability, or interest. We envision a future where every individual who wants to find inspiration, community, and a sense of belonging in the outdoors can have that opportunity at The Mountaineers. Read more…