Katy Clark
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.
We’re excited to introduce our new Trip Reporter badge, celebrating community members who share their outdoor experiences through Mountaineers trip reports.
Surprise! Over 170 members have already received the 2024 Trip Reporter badge. To celebrate the new badge, everyone who wrote a trip report in fiscal year 2024 received the badge. The 2025 Trip Reporter badge will be assigned to everyone who writes three or more trip reports in the fiscal year.
What is the Trip Reporter Badge?
The Trip Reporter badge is an org-wide award badge designed to recognize and reward Mountaineers who contribute to our collective knowledge by writing three or more trip reports in one Mountaineers fiscal year (Oct 1 - Sep 30).
Trip reports are an invaluable resource to The Mountaineers community. They provide a first-hand account of trail conditions and offer tips for future trips. While many members currently enjoy writing reports, there’s always room for more stories, perspectives, and shared wisdom.
By creating the Trip Reporter badge, we aim to:
- Incentivize members to share their experiences, ensuring our trip reports archive remains dynamic and diverse.
- Enhance org-wide safety and preparedness by helping community members prepare for their trips with accurate and current trail conditions.
- Keep Routes & Places updated to reflect current, reliable information.
Photo by Tatiana Van Campenhout.
How to Earn Your Trip Reporter Badge
Earning the Trip Reporter badge is straightforward:
- Go on a trip. Whether you’re hiking, climbing, skiing, or paddling, the first step is to head outside. Your trip does not have to be with The Mountaineers, but should correspond to one of our listed Routes & Places.
- Write and submit your trip report. If your trip was with The Mountaineers, you can find the activity in your profile. Click on the activity, then click the blue Trip Reports tab. If your trip was not with The Mountaineers, you can search directly from the Routes & Places page of the website. Need tips? Check out our guide to writing a top trip report to make sure your report is informative and engaging.
- Receive your badge in the fall. At the end of the fiscal year, staff will assign the Trip Reporter badge for the corresponding year to any Mountaineer who submitted at least three trip reports between October and September.
Once awarded, your Trip Reporter badge will be displayed on your Mountaineers profile, signaling to others that you’re an active contributor to our community. Plus, your reports will serve as a lasting resource for fellow members.
So, next time you join or lead a trip, remember to take notes, snap photos, and share your journey. For more inspiration and tips on writing trip reports, check out these blog posts:
