Blog

As an organization that cares deeply about a healthy future for our lands, waters, and communities, we have an obligation to respond to the climate crisis by aggressively reducing our impact on the environment. The Mountaineers is committed to reducing our organizational carbon footprint, toward the ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions for our facilities and operations. Read more…

After the print edition of our magazine, we recognized the implications of using terms like “bagging” which are associated with a culture of conquest over nature. Shifting our language and recreation frameworks is an ongoing journey. Learn more about how to experience the joys of recreating mindfully at alpine lakes. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we strive to recreate mindfully and respectfully on the traditional lands of Native peoples. After the print edition of our magazine, we recognized the implications of using terms like “bagging” which are associated with a culture of conquest over nature. To honor our commitment to mindful engagement with the outdoors and the connections of Native peoples to the lands we love, we have revised the online version of this article to include ways to incorporate land acknowledgment and mindful and respectful recreation into your alpine lake visits. Read more…

With the recent release of our annual impact report, we're celebrating all that donors and volunteers made possible through The Mountaineers in 2023.  Read more…

Our volunteer leaders are a huge part of what makes the Foothills Branch one of the fastest growing branches offering a broad array of activities we all love. Each year, we honor the hard work and dedication of one Foothills volunteer by presenting them with the Branch Service Award. Read more…

With recent reports of  sexual harassment and sexual assault in the broader outdoor community, we’re reminded of how much work there is to be done to reverse this troubling reality. This news has been particularly painful for the many people who have been the targets of sexual harassment and sexual assault. As a global outdoor recreation community, we can and must do better. The Mountaineers is deeply committed to keeping our community safe, both physically and emotionally. We are redoubling our efforts to protect members from sexual harassment and sexual assault.  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…

Mountaineers staff and volunteers have been aware of gaps in our member and leadership training related to emotional safety for a number of years. Between 2020 and 2024, staff-sponsored Leadership Development Series hosted a number of evening seminars that touched on this topic. In 2023, staff in partnership with the Equity & Inclusion Committee introduced the Emotional Safety in the Outdoors eLearning course that connects the core values of The Mountaineers to these five themes:  Read more…

With the recent release of our annual impact report, we're celebrating all that donors and volunteers made possible through The Mountaineers in 2023.  Read more…

A year into our strategic plan, Adventure with Purpose, we’re making significant strides to continue improving support for our mission. To better address the needs of our volunteers who run and operate our three lodges, we are expanding resources and making dedicated financial investments. Of the many improvements taking place this season, I’m excited about a new opportunity to accelerate infrastructure improvements to revitalize Baker, Meany, and Stevens Lodges. 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…

Being outdoorsy didn’t come naturally to me. Although I’m from a small, blue-collar farming community, my parents' idea of spending time outside meant performing back-breaking work in the mid-Atlantic humidity or struggling to stay warm in Carhartt coveralls during blustery winters. In 2013, I migrated to Wyoming and met people who had different ideas of the outdoors: that it could be healing, peaceful, and most importantly, fun. Read more…

When you’re out enjoying the natural world, we hope your day job is the farthest thing from your mind. But the next time you find yourself daydreaming at work about your next trip, take a moment to find out if your employer has a workplace giving program that will match your volunteer hours and donations. Workplace giving programs are an excellent way to support The Mountaineers mission and future. By leveraging an employer match, you can multiply the impact of your donations, volunteer hours, or membership dues. Read more…

In June, I watched as nearly 50 drool-inducing trip reports rolled in, making the tough job of choosing just 10 even tougher. But alas, the deed had to be done. With dried drool still on the edge of my mouth, I happily offer a collection of trip reports that highlights the most tasty and delicious views of early summer. Read on, dear friends, for marmot greetings, the infamous cheese rock, a river in good flow, snake-friendly sunbathing, and directions that are occasionally diagonal.  Read more…

With the recent release of our annual impact report, we're celebrating all that donors and volunteers made possible through The Mountaineers in 2023.  Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we believe all people should feel belonging in the outdoors and everyone should have opportunities, knowledge, resources, and access to connect with nature. This work stems from our core belief that a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. Since our last Equity & Inclusion (E&I) Committee update, we’ve been focusing efforts and resources on continuing to lower barriers to get outdoors, providing ongoing training to our leaders, investing in the emotional safety of our participants and community, and more.  Read more…

In February, we shared our Technology Update 4.5, which included improvements to rosters, smarter and more dynamic site search functionality, and the option to schedule Practice Sessions and eLearning courses. With all of our technology updates, our goal is to continue to improve the experience for our leaders and members. Leading this work moving forward, we’re thrilled to welcome our new Technology Experience Manager, Devin Lampe, to the team. Looking ahead, we’re excited about forthcoming improvements to our UserVoice Feedback forum to help you better engage with our technology priorities and 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…

Join us on July 18, 2024 to kick off the summer with great company! The Olympia Branch annual summer picnic celebrates our unique local community. The event is open to members and their families and guests.  Read more…

The alarm jolts us from our slumber at 4:45am. I unzip the tent and walk to the cliff to see a blue sky on this clear, April morning. I feel no wind. A happy scream escapes me as I run back to camp. With no time to lose, Ricardo and I stuff cereal into our mouths while dressing in our paddling clothes and drysuits. Coffee will need to wait. We have to start paddling quickly, before the wind returns. Read more…

Summer is here, and for adventurers, this means one thing: it's time to hit the trails, explore new landscapes, and create unforgettable memories in the great outdoors. Whether you're a seasoned Mountaineer, an avid hiker, or just looking to embark on your first adventure, we have the books and maps you need to prepare. During the month of July, enjoy 25% off all books and maps, and 40% off all merchandise.  Read more…

Growing up in Seattle, I wasn't fully aware of the human-caused impacts on our environment, nor did I understand our responsibility to give back to our shared home until an elementary school field trip taught me about the impact our stormwater systems have on local salmon populations. Picking up trash with my classmates and spray-painting stencils of salmon near storm drains around our local watershed remains imprinted in my mind, reminding me of the interconnectedness of nature and our charge to steward it. Read more…

On June 13, 2024, we celebrated the legacy and impact of our 50+ year members with a hosted lunch at the Seattle Program Center. We are thankful for their commitment to our outdoor community and for their steadfast support of The Mountaineers mission. 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…

I’m standing on the Ptarmigan Ridge trail – a nine-mile day hike in the North Cascades lined with lupine, sedges, and patches of blueberries – seriously questioning my sanity. We’ve been hiking for over ten hours in the hot September sun. To make this route qualify as a Conditioning Hiking Series (CHS) graduation hike, we added the Chain Lakes Loop, another six miles through lush forests and alpine lakes. Coleman Pinnacle, Mt. Baker, and Goat Lake are just some of the incredible views we’ve observed so far. Read more…

To continue to grow a community of Mountaineers who adventure with purpose as conservation advocates, we came together virtually on June 4 to share the latest policy updates from our conservation team. As we discussed progress on our federal conservation priorities and how our members can best advocate for the outdoors, we heard your passion for protecting the Northwest’s special outdoor places and creating a better climate future for all. Our members’ dedication to and engagement in conservation drives our staff-led advocacy and encourages us to create more opportunities for our community to learn and advocate together. Read more…

Looking for a deeper involvement in The Mountaineers? The Seattle Hiking Committee is holding biannual officer elections in September 2024 for fiscal years 2025-26. We're excited to share details about the open positions and encourage all interested members to self-nominate, joining the organization's legacy of volunteer leadership.  Read more…

Meet Chris Ensor, a Foothills Hike, Urban Walk, and Cross-Country Ski Leader and 2023 Super Volunteer. Chris has earned Key Leader and Super Volunteer badges every year since 2014. He earned the Foothills Branch Service Award in 2020. Read more…

The Mentored Backpack Leaders course is an exciting, new offering for the Foothills community. The main objective of the course is to provide an additional pathway for branch members pursuing the Backpack Leader badge. Read more…

Danielle Graham joined The Mountaineers in 2016. She enjoys being outside with the club in almost every activity. In addition to serving as the Foothills Safety Officer, Danielle currently leads the Foothills Women’s Scramble course and represents The Mountaineers as a member of Outdoor Alliance's Grasstops Collective, a new leadership development and advocacy training program. Past leadership roles include co-leading the Intro to the Natural World course, serving as an At-Large member of the Foothills Branch Council, and chairing the Foothills Cross Country Ski Committee. Read more…