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Introducing the New Trip Reporter Badge

At The Mountaineers, every adventure tells a story. Sharing stories through trip reports is foundational to our community’s ability to get outside. Trip reports provide valuable information for trail conditions, weather, new obstacles, route details, and more, enabling our members and leaders to plan ahead for their outings. Submitting a trip report is a simple, yet impactful way to give back to The Mountaineers community and make your voice heard. Read more…

Results: Board and Branch Elections - 2024

We're pleased to present you with the outcome of the 2024 Board & Branch Elections, and we're grateful to everyone who participated by voting and accepting a nomination. Your participation shows a deep commitment to the organization, and this year, we received over 700 votes from our membership.  Read more…

Join The Mountaineers Annual Meeting - Oct 29, 2024

Each year, we host an annual meeting for our members to learn more about the organization's state of affairs from staff and board members. Join us to celebrate 2024 fiscal year highlights, preview 2025, learn more about our strategic priorities, and have the opportunity to ask questions of our leaders. 

This year's annual meeting will take place virtually on Tuesday, October 29 from 6-7:30pm.  Read more…

Remembering Mountaineer Governor Daniel J. Evans

Last week our community received the heartbreaking news about the passing of Daniel J. Evans, lifetime member, Mountaineers Lifetime Award Recipient, and former Washington governor who left a lasting legacy. Praised as one of the most distinguished leaders in the state of Washington, Governor Evans was especially admired for his environmental ethic and accomplishments protecting public lands for the health of our communities, our economy, and our planet. Read more…

Impact Giving | What is a Culture of Philanthropy?

While The Mountaineers has proudly championed outdoor education, mindful recreation, conservation, and environmental advocacy for nearly 120 years, I often have to remind myself that we only became a 501(c)(3) 13 years ago. This was a pivotal moment because it provided a new opportunity to build partnerships with financial donors and safeguard the future of our organization. While our tax status may have changed, community remains at the heart of everything we do. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Chuck Welter

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

Reframing Risk Management in “Freedom of the Hills”

When I joined The Mountaineers nearly two and a half decades ago, I was motivated - in no small way - by the biggest criticism I had heard about the organization: "They are too safety conscious." I became a Mountaineers member shortly after a guided climb up Rainier, involving many unfamiliar skills and techniques. In my first Mountaineers course, safety was the opening topic. If you can’t be safe, you can’t have fun. That’s the heritage of The Mountaineers. Read more…

Bookmarks | Origins of "Freedom"

Excerpted from the preface to Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 10th Edition (Mountaineers Books, September 2024). Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Clara Boettcher

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

Trip Report: Advocating for Public Lands and Recreation in Washington D.C. with Outdoor Alliance - Sep 2024

Each year, The Mountaineers joins our Outdoor Alliance (OA) partners in Washington, D.C., uniting with leaders in the human-powered outdoor community to advocate together with lawmakers and land managers for shared conservation and recreation priorities. While we engage in coordinated advocacy with OA throughout the year, meeting with decision-makers in person builds support for outdoor advocacy on a larger scale. Read more…

The Making of "Freedom of the Hills"

Ten is both large and small. Ten feet into an alpine climb is just the beginning, but for a book to endure for a tenth edition, it must have enormous staying power. Of the twenty-five million books in the Library of Congress catalog, only about 1,640 are tenth editions.  Read more…

Did You Know? Hydration

In the outdoors, many factors are out of our control. We’re often at the whim of Mother Nature and to some extent, that’s the thrill of being outside. While a certain level of risk will always exist, there are variables within our control too, and it’s our job to identify and mitigate them. Hydration - the act of replenishing vital bodily fluids - is no exception. Read more…

Leadership Conference Registration Now Open

The Mountaineers North Sound Leadership Conference is a day-long conference held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the Seattle Program Center in Magnuson Park. We hope you’re able to join us for this engaging and exciting day of leadership development. All are welcome to attend! Read more…

50 Years of The Ten Essentials

In 1974, the third edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills was released and with it, a safety and packing system named The Ten Essentials. This year, we’re happily celebrating 50 years of The Ten Essentials minimizing risks outdoors. Read more…

Join the Seattle Urban Walk Committee

Looking for an opportunity to provide critical leadership and support for a committee’s vision and goals? Interested in playing a key role in ensuring the safety and quality of our urban walks? Ready to contribute to the development and training of our dedicated volunteers? Consider serving for the Seattle Urban Walk Committee. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Bianca Szyperski

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

Third Annual Dick’s-A-Thon – Oct 19, 2024

 When asked about their favorite post-activity meal, most Mountaineers members’ responses involve a burger – a greasy and satisfying reward for a day well spent. And, as is often experienced by the laws of nature, the harder you sweat, the tastier that burger becomes. But what if you didn’t have to wait until after an activity to indulge in your favorite meal? Read more…

Conservation Currents | The Mountaineers and Outdoor Alliance

When I look back on my first three years working to grow a culture of conservation throughout The Mountaineers, one phrase remains top of mind: “conservation powered by outdoor recreation.” I can’t take credit for this catchy moniker; it’s a mantra of our partners at Outdoor Alliance (OA) – a national coalition of human-powered outdoor recreation organizations working to conserve America’s public lands and waters. As a member of OA, The Mountaineers harnesses our shared passion for the outdoors to help conserve the places we love, leading to a compelling and impactful flavor of advocacy. Read more…

Seattle Branch Seeking Chair-Elect and Branch Board of Directors Representative

Looking for an opportunity to provide leadership for your branch’s vision and goals? Interested in offering key support for the Seattle Branch’s most dedicated volunteers? Ready to assume a Board of Directors position and serve as a liaison for The Mountaineers largest branch? Consider serving as Chair-Elect or as Branch Board of Directors Representative. Read more…

Mountaineer of the Week: Sushil Kumar

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

End of Summer Gear Grab - September 10, 2024

Say goodbye to summer by unloading your extra outdoor gear or by scoring items on your fall gear wish list with our End of Summer Gear Grab. Mountaineers and members of our community can stop by The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on September 10 from 6-8pm to buy or sell their gently used outdoor gear. Read more…

Adventure Writing Workshop with Charlotte Austin - Sep 25, 2024

We're very excited to host international mountain guide and adventure writer Charlotte Austin again for an evening writing workshop. Whether you're an experienced author, part-time blogger, or curious novice, this class will give you a glimpse into the wide world of travel writing.  Read more…

When Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: How to Hike Safely During Fire Season

It was the hike that almost never was. Out of the woods, with ash-encrusted nasal passages, I wished it was the hike that wasn’t. My friends and I had planned a four-day, 48-mile backpacking loop along the remote eastern boundary of Yosemite National Park. Fires flamed all over the west from a surge of hot, dry, windy weather, but where we headed the skies were clear. A reconnaissance hike the day before revealed a moderate air quality index. There was some haze, but no taste or smell of ash. We decided to go for it. Read more…

Tying In | Fall 2024 Leadership Update

The Mountaineers has a longstanding commitment to promoting safety in the outdoors. Historically, that commitment has focused on physical safety. I was thrilled last year when we rolled out Emotional Safety in the Outdoors, a new online course designed to help leaders and instructors foster emotionally safe trip environments that ensure physically safe outcomes. Read more…

Celebrate the Launch of "Freedom of the Hills, 10th Edition"

With nearly one million copies sold, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills remains the premier guidebook for mountaineers all over the world. Join us for our two upcoming events to celebrate the release of the 10th edition of this acclaimed guidebook. Read more…

Mountaineer Magazine Fall 2024

Enjoy access to our quarterly Mountaineer magazine, keeping you up-to-date with everything our organization and community have been up to. Hear from regular contributors on topics from training exercises to trail tips, and read features from our members sharing stories from the outdoors. We encourage you to access all of our updates, stories, tips, and more in the tree free online magazine today. Read more…

Top 10 Trip Reports - August 2024

A collection of trip reports to inspire your last few weeks of summer. Read on, dear friends, for a slight misadventure, brilliant beta, the perfect pair, an unnamed lake, and more plain fun.  Read more…

Vote Now! Board & Branch Elections - 2024

As a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led organization, The Mountaineers depends on the generosity, initiative, and leadership of our volunteers to steward the future of our organization. We are humbled by the service provided by Board and branch directors whose positions are confirmed by members each year. Thank you for all you do as members to elevate our mission, and for your participation in the forthcoming election process for these organization-wide leaders. Read more…

2024-2025 Leadership Conferences: New Names and Faces

For over 100 years, The Mountaineers has enriched the outdoor community by helping thousands of people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We take pride in that legacy and want to honor our volunteer leaders who make it all possible. Read more…

Mountaineers of the Week: Jennifer Fortin, John Sisco, and Kathy Fox

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to three retiring members of the Olympia Branch Stewardship and Conservation Advisory Team (SCAT). These dedicated individuals have been instrumental in guiding The Mountaineers stewardship efforts over the past 25 years. As they step into retirement, we recognize their remarkable contributions to conservation and stewardship. Read more…