Sailing

When I was little my parents enrolled me in summer sailing camp. My mother told me it was a necessary life skill that would be useful later on, but I was skeptical. Next thing I knew I was on a small boat with three other kids, floating into the middle of Lake Washington. We were packed in shoulder to shoulder, our red regulation life jackets up to our ears, my stomach bobbing up and down in tandem with the waves. We looked at each other with the same expression. “You guys know how to do this, right?” None of us did. Read more…

During the first student training sail of the 2023 Seattle Mountaineers Sailing Course, an orca decided to put on a show just north of Shilshole Bay Marina. The orca performed a “spy hop” to check out its surroundings. Students were thrilled! Read more…

In continuation of our article "Belationships, Packmances, and Nature-Loves" from our spring 2022 edition, we thought it fitting for summer to showcase two stories from Mountaineers sailors who met their partners on the open water. After all, what’s more romantic than the Salish Sea? Read more…

The Mountaineers Ten Essentials™ dates back to our climbing courses of the 1930s. This widely respected safety and packing system was formalized in the third edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, released in 1974. Each of the nine editions of Freedom, as it is affectionately known, was written entirely by volunteers and reflects the collective wisdom of hundreds of outdoor skills instructors. The list has always sought to answer two basic questions: Read more…

Let’s go sailing! The Mountaineers sailing program is gearing up for another fantastic year of day sails, raft-ups, overnights, and racing. Offered once a year, our sailing course is your chance to develop a skill-set that allows you to explore our local waterways. Ready for a change of scenery? You’ll experience the thrill of the wind in your face as the boat glides through the water, a calm of a downwind sail surrounded by an orange sunset, and so much more. Read more…

 On a boat it's imperative to know your whereabouts – failure might lead to anything from mild embarrassment (“What do you mean this is Jones Island, not James Island?”) to the danger of running aground on a lee shore by wind and tide.Those of us who sail the Salish Sea only rarely run out of sight of land, but it does happen, most commonly when running into fog or sailing at night. Join us for Marine Coastal Navigation, studying the art and science of navigating within sight of land. Read more…

I have to say, Mountaineers seem to be an excited bunch when the weather gets nice. With summer on the horizon, the number of trip reports you posted in May went WAY up. These reports have been wonderful, and it looks like it's bound to be a good summer for The Mountaineers community. This month, we have six climbs, one scramble, two hikes, and one sailing report to highlight from our favorite trip reports. Read more…

As the Seattle Sailing Committee prepares to dive into sailing season, we invite you partake in one of our most popular events of the year: a sail upon the schooner Adventuress, a local gem of a vessel that travels the Salish Sea educating young and old alike about local environmental issues, sailing technique, and history! Register below and keep reading to get the inside scoop of what a sail on the 'good ship' Adventuress is like. Read more…

A little more dirt and a little less snow are filling the pages of our trip reports now that we're well into spring. You all promptly stepped into your hiking boots this month too, it would seem. But regardless of the trails clearing up, I still see plenty of rain jackets! Hooray for indecisive weather and unreliable forecasts through the next month or two! Read more…

Join our Mountaineers skippers for a raft-up party potluck and sail out of Port Madison on March 23. Then, sign up for a sailing course to learn how to sail this spring and enjoy free sailing all summer long! Read more…

The wind was unreliable and moody that day. It was a typical Pacific Northwest early April morning: overcast and chilly but with a crisp tinge of salt in the air. My wife, Michelle, and I were at Shilshole Marina, just west of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, to take part in the Blakely Rock Benefit Race (sponsored by Sloop Tavern Yacht Club). We had both just finished the Mountaineers sailing class, but, here we were, about to partake in a major sailing event. Read more…

Picking the best 10 trip reports from an entire month of Mountaineers activities and courses isn't easy. Especially when that month is July. Mountaineers are out adventuring, and seemingly, only pause between trips when it's time to report on them.  Read more…

Join our Mountaineers skippers for a raft-up party potluck and sail out of Port Madison on March 18. Then, sign up for a sailing course to learn how to sail this spring and enjoy free sailing all summer long! Read more…

The Mountaineers 'Vision 2022' Strategic Plan calls for us to invest in being “innovative leaders in outdoor education.” This means we need to respond to growing needs and address new century challenges in ways that are different from traditional  outdoor education. This includes investment in our volunteers – the greatest source of innovation and a priceless resource that is uniquely Mountaineers. We call this new approach "Progressive Outdoor Education."  Read more…

As Mountaineers, many of us have spent the majority of our days roaming the hills, but haven't spent enough time on the waters of Puget Sound! On Sunday September 24, you're invited to try sailing without any prior experience, at just $45 for our members ($50 general public)! You can't find an experience like this anywhere else. Read more…

As Mountaineers, many of us have spent the majority of our days roaming the hills, but haven't spent enough time on the waters of Puget Sound!

On Sunday June 11, you're invited to try sailing without any prior experience, at just $45 for our members! You can't find an experience like this anywhere else. Read more…

Spring has sprung and it's time to get out on the water. Join The Mountaineers for our sailing kick-off event March 26. Then sign up for one of our two sailing course and attend free sailing trips with The Mountaineers for LIFE! Read more…

As Mountaineers, many of us have spent the majority of our days roaming the hills, but haven't spent enough time on the waters of Puget Sound!

On Saturday September 17, you're invited to try sailing without any prior experience, at just $45 for our members! You can't find an experience like this anywhere else. Read more…

The Mountaineers Tacoma Branch presents an evening with Jim Lynch, author of the book Before the Wind. Join us to meet the author and learn more about his local inspiration. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we've believe venturing into the outdoors is an essential piece of the human experience. We go outside to wander and explore the adventurous spirit within ourselves. It's important to implement low-impact recreation skills to keep our wild places as sanctuaries for the human spirit; so our grandchildren can experience the sensation of discovering an untouched place. Read more…

Spring has sprung and it's time to get out on the water. Join The Mountaineers for our sailing kick-off event March 26. Then sign up for one of our two sailing course and attend free sailing trips with The Mountaineers for LIFE! Read more…

Hey, Ho! Sailing, here we go! Read more…

The bow rose and fell. At times the water hit against the fiberglass hull to make a low thud noise then frothed and hissed like soda bubbles as it dispersed in white foam around us. Read more…

Spring has sprung and it's time to get out on the water. Join The Mountaineers for their first sailing kick-off event March 14. Six boats will sail to Port Madison and raft-up together for an on-the-water potluck. We will return to the dock by 6pm. This is an introduction to sailing event. No sailing experience necessary. Read more…