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How Accessible is Your First Aid Kit?

In the summer of 2023, hikes, urban walks, and family celebrations had me digging out the first aid kit nearly weekly. My wife Nancy and I keep our Wilderness First Aid badges current, and the seven kids and eleven grandkids provide abundant practice around our Redmond farm with stinging nettle, bites, stings, sprains, breaks, bruises, gashes, cuts, and the occasional bump on the head. Read more…

Sexual Harassment & Sexual Assault Prevention Committee Recommendations

The Mountaineers is deeply committed to being a safe and welcoming outdoor community where everyone feels valued and supported to learn new things and enjoy time outside together without the risk of bullying, harassment, or physical or emotional abuse. Safe and welcoming communities don't happen by accident. They require intentional effort and active stewardship to become and remain safe and welcoming. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Lee Zamos

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

Impact Giving | How Donations Fit into Our Financial Recipe

At The Mountaineers, members, volunteers, and donors bring our vision of Adventure with Purpose to life through giving back in ways that enable us to create positive change for our community and our environment. Each donation, membership, and volunteer hour is essential. Just as each ingredient in a recipe plays a vital role, every contribution—from earned revenue to donor support—builds something greater. Read more…

This is What Outdoor Advocacy Looks Like

“Don’t get distracted by the bells and buzzers you’ll hear going off in congressional offices,” warned Cheri Bustos on our first day of in-person training for Outdoor Alliance’s Grasstops Collective. Former Representative Bustos (IL-17) was referring to the sounds and lights used in Congress to summon members to votes and quorum calls; she was just the first of three speakers to prepare us for the potential disturbance to our planned meetings with members of Congress. Read more…

Top 10 Trip Reports - October 2024

A collection of trip reports as golden as a larch. Read on, dear friends, for mediocre views, a failed comet sighting, wumping sea lions, our first taste of snow, a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and more.  Read more…

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2024-25

In 1976, a tight-knit group of climbers and outdoor enthusiasts conceived The Banff Festival of Mountaineering Films. This was a one-day gathering that became the renowned international festival it is today. Read more…

Climbing Toward Inclusivity: Join Us for Upcoming Socials

The Mountaineers Seattle Climbing Committee is excited to host two socials in November: one for the BIPOC community and another for those who identify as women or non-binary. Read more…

Post-Trail Blues: What They Are and How to Cope

Craggy, striated spires glowed pink in the evening light as I gazed up from the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I was on a four-day backpacking trip that had been on my wish list for years. After being cooped up for most of 2020 due to the pandemic, I found myself staring in surprise at the expanse around me, so much vaster in person than on flimsy postcards. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Dixie Havlak

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

2024-2025 Olympia Adventure Speaker Series Launches in November

Mountaineers from all branches, their guests, and community members are invited to join the Olympia Mountaineers on the first Wednesday of each month from November 2024 through March  2025 for our much-loved Adventure Speaker Series! Olympia Mountaineers have hosted this amazing free event for 17 years.  Read more…

From Peaks to Peace: Embracing a Beginner’s Mindset

After 40 years of hiking, I’m still learning new things about what recreation looks like for myself and others. As an experienced health and wellness coach, part of my job is to help individuals reach their outdoor goals safely. I adjust my mentoring style based on each individual because the process to achieve a desired objective varies depending on who is learning. Read more…

The Many Faces of a Mountain: Sharing Importance and Meaning Behind Indigenous Place Names

The Mountaineers is partnering with the Sacred Lands Conservancy, an Indigenous-led nonprofit with strong ties to the Lummi Nation, to produce a series of educational pieces on the importance of mindful recreation and how we can all develop deeper connections to the histories of our natural places. Tah-Mahs Ellie Kinley is a Lhaq’temish fisherwoman who has previously served as an elected member of Lummi Nation’s Fisheries and Natural Resource Commission. She is President of the Sacred Lands Conservancy. This final blog from her, written in collaboration with SLC’s Julie Trimingham, shares about the history and meaning of Indigenous place names with a focus on two of our region’s mountains. Read more…

U.S. Forest Service Freezes Hiring Of Seasonal Workforce

The Pacific Northwest is defined by its U.S. Forest Service lands. The agency manages nearly 25 million acres of public lands in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, from the dizzying heights of Mt. Baker to the awe-inspiring Multnomah Falls. Much of the important on-the-ground management work - maintaining trails, cleaning bathrooms, and fighting wildfires - falls on the shoulders of seasonal or temporary employees.  Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Elise James

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

Upcoming Global Adventures in Winter 2025 and Beyond

Are you interested in making new friends, collecting inspiring memories, and discovering new parts of our world? Sign up for Mountaineers Global Adventures! The rewards are great, the experiences are unparalleled, and the adventure is abundant. Read more…

2024 An Evening of Advocacy Recap

The Mountaineers has a long and rich history as a regional leader advocating on behalf of the natural world, and our successes would not be possible without the dedication and thoughtful actions of our whole community. On Wednesday October 9, we gathered for An Evening of Advocacy, the annual event that highlights and invites people to support the work of our Conservation & Advocacy programs.  Read more…

Adventure Speaker Series: Dixie Havlak - Adventures in Canada

Our neighbor to the north offers some fabulous wilderness experiences, from inland canoe routes to protected sea kayaking, to remote fly-in parks and boat-in preserves, to spectacular hiking trails and lengthy biking routes. Canada is surrounded by a natural beauty that is similar yet distinct from that of Washington, and infused with Indigenous cultures. This presentation will help you set your sights northward, with picture tours of Bowron Lakes, Broken Group Islands, Haida Gwaii, Tweedsmuir and Wells Gray, Callaghan ski lodge, Cape Scott, the West Coast Trail, and more! Read more…

Open Water Swimming 101

Walking into the Salish Sea, you pee when the water hits your waist. A reflex to the cold. You take your time cleaning your goggles with spit and salt water. Stalling. Your buddies dive in, and you follow. As your head dips below the water, you hyperventilate. Another reflex; don’t panic. Your breathing quickly normalizes. You start swimming. The cold feels like little knives all over your skin. After thirty strokes, your skin is the same temperature as the water. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Zuzana Regan

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

Get to Know Lori Heath, Foothills Secretary and Communications Chair

Lori joined The Mountaineers in 2016 and has been serving as Foothills Branch Secretary and Communications Chair since 2019. As Secretary, Lori is the custodian of all Branch records. She also prepares and distributes agendas and minutes for Branch Council meetings, and serves as the Branch liaison with Mountaineers staff for annual elections. Read more…

Mountainfilm on Tour - Oct 10, 2024

Mountainfilm on Tour is coming back to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on Thursday, October 10 from 7-9:30pm. Founded in 1979, Mountainfilm is one of America’s longest-running film festivals, celebrating stories of indomitable spirit and inspiring audiences through film, art, and ideas. Read more…

Freedom10 is Launched

To celebrate the launch of the 10th Edition of Mountaineers Books flagship title, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, we hosted two events – a Kickoff Party and Deep Dive – that brought together 230 members, volunteers, and staff, along with Freedom fans and contributors of the latest edition.  Read more…

Peak Performance | Confronting Fear and Building Confidence in Climbing

As a climber, I am no stranger to fear. I used to highball boulder – meaning I would climb tall boulders where the risk of falling meant serious injury – and without fail, I’d feel fear every time, whether or not I made it all the way up. One day, I was outdoor bouldering with friends fairly new to the sport. Halfway up the boulder, I reached a tricky section. Assessing the situation against my current skill levels, I realized if I went for the next move and missed, I wouldn’t just endanger myself, but my spotters, too. The move wasn’t worth the risk. I decided to descend. Read more…

Your Body and the Outdoors: Menstruation and Menopause – A Leadership Development Subseries

 The Mountaineers is driven by our core value of community. This means that we continually strive to ensure that all feel welcomed and supported as members of The Mountaineers. Did you know that over half the global population menstruates, and 1.1 million people worldwide will be in menopause by 2025? Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Rowland O’Flaherty

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

New Water Ice Climbing Courses in Ouray, Colorado - January 2025

The Mountaineers are excited to offer two water ice climbing courses in Ouray, Colorado. These courses, Toproping Water Ice and Intro to Leading Water Ice, are taught by experienced volunteer instructors who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and skills with fellow climbers. These courses are open to members from all branches. Read more…

Olympia Branch Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony - Oct 12, 2024

Each October, the Olympia Mountaineers gather to celebrate the work we have done, the fun we had, and the friendships we made during the program year. Read more…

Retro Rewind | Celebrating 125 Years of Mount Rainier National Park

On July 29, 1909, during The Mountaineers first organized climb of Mt. Rainier, members crafted an incredible feat of mountain engineering: a 62-person bed. Huddled on a ridgeline between the Inter and Emmons Glaciers, 62 climbers built a headboard with large rocks, then dragged and compacted soil and volcanic ash to form a mattress. If that wasn’t lavish enough, many members even had a sleeping bag. Read more…

Top 10 Trip Reports - September 2024

A collection of trip reports with a little extra flavor. Read on, dear friends, for summit treats, a pretty sweet deal, raving reviews, crab cookers, and more. Read more…