Most Popular Blogs

Every once in a while, I like to take a look at a photo of myself from about 15 years ago, my first trip to Glacier National Park. I look happy, not quite comfortable among all those big snowy peaks—and I’m wearing a shocking amount of cotton clothing (someone get this kid a clue!). I arrived at grad school in Montana pretty much lost, only knowing that I couldn’t do what I’d been doing with my life for the past five years, and that I wanted to learn how to write. Read more…

I grew up in the flatlands of the Central Valley of Northern California. A pretty “typical” upbringing surrounding school and team sports during the school year. My parents made a huge effort to get my brother and I into the Sierras during the summertime and expose us to the wonders and beauty of the natural world. Read more…

After every youth program, we see young Mountaineers leaving standing taller and waving goodbye to new friends. Outdoor experiences create a supportive environment for self discovery where kids are encouraged to challenge themselves and grow. Youth adventures are thrilling, complex, and social - they’re transformational, and necessary, and that’s why we’re expanding our youth serving programs with a new family-oriented program: Mini Mountaineers!  Read more…

This past month has been marked with optimism about the gradual, phased reopening process, while at the same time, our country has been engaged in a deeply-emotional and divisive conversation about racism. The Mountaineers community is often a microcosm of the world - with outdoor culture being a micro-community in the greater society - and everything that happens in the community at large impacts the people here.  Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we believe a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. We aspire to offer outdoor opportunities for ALL. In order to realize this aspiration, we must take a critical look at our internal systems and processes to identify and discuss barriers that keep The Mountaineers from being a community where all people can feel a sense of belonging and experience the outdoors.  Read more…

Over the years, I’ve lost track of how many times someone has shot me a puzzled look and asked, “why did you decide to become a fundraiser?” Read more…

In our Mountaineers climbing and alpine scrambling courses, an essential skill we are always trying to instill in our students is what I call “mountaineering judgement.” To be safe outdoors and in the mountains, one always needs to be aware of - and alert to - risk factors, changing conditions, and issues with other party members. Because of this, courses in activities like climbing, scrambling, and kayaking could just as easily be called risk management courses. Everything students learn in these courses reduces risk and makes the activity safer. Read more…

For a couple of years, Mountaineers Leader Rena Chinn has been asking me if I wanted to start a book club with her that featured adventure and outdoor books written by women and people of color (POC). We somehow never found time with our own adventuring to fit it in. When the COVID-19 shutdown happened, we felt it was the perfect time to start our club with online meetings. Read more…

The GoHike: Beginning Hiking Series, opening for registration January 25, is your gateway to breaking through the hurdles that have kept you from realizing your hiking dreams! Join a compatible, low-pressure community that lets you start from where you are. Read more…

We are so excited to show off our latest new releases! Learn all about Northwest trees, travel across Canada on skis, dig into avalanche science and stories, and read about some of the most heartbreaking and dangerous feats in mountaineering history. Read more…

Since our last organization-wide COVID-19 update, we’ve settled into a new normal of mask-wearing, smaller group and lower-risk activities, and virtual programs in place of larger, in-person gatherings. We’ve demonstrated resilience and creativity as a community, and although we know the year ahead will likely throw many challenges at us, more and more, we have confidence that The Mountaineers will survive. Here's an overview of some of the challenges we’ve overcome this summer and the plans we’re building for the coming year to ensure we continue to support our community and the mission of The Mountaineers.  Read more…

Give a Great New Cookbook like Fresh Pantry
Headed to a wedding this summer? Of course, you want to bring a gift that is meaningful, practical, fun, personal, inspiring, beautiful … and still within your budget. Read more…

The annual Recognition and Awards Banquet has been a feature of the Olympia Branch for many years. Members meet at the end of October to greet old friends, celebrate successes, learn what has been happening, and get an idea of what to look forward to in the next year.   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…

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 The Mountaineers and Puget Sound Mycological Society at Meany Lodge for our annual Mushroom Weekend October 11-13! It's the perfect place to learn everything you ever wanted to know about mushrooms. Join us as we forage for local mushrooms, learn how to use fungi in and out of the kitchen, cook a variety of exciting mushroom meals, and meet others who love mushrooms just as much as you do!  Read more…

Fjallraven, a new outdoor clothing and gear brand in the Northwest, and Canoe Ridge Vineyard, a Seattle-based winery, are anxious to meet Mountaineers, show you what they offer, and give you a big discount - all while you learn about Seattle parks that you've probably never heard of. Read more…

On Wednesday, REI Co-op leadership partnered with The Mountaineers to celebrate the 25th anniversary of REI's Seattle Flagship store and support conservation and advocacy efforts led by The Mountaineers. Attendees gathered on the outdoor terrace to enjoy handmade tamales from Frelard Tamales, freshly baked cookies from Bell’s Cookie Co., and local beer and wine from Georgetown Brewery and Tinte Cellars. After nearly two years of virtual-only connections, it felt great to finally gather in-person in support of our wild places. Thank you to those who came out and joined the celebrations! 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…

Thanksgiving may be a little different this year, but it's still an opportunity to recognize the positive in your life, express appreciation for family and friends, and of course cook up a meal that will live on in memory for years to come! Read more…

As sometimes happens on trips, successive events combine to leave participants mentally exhausted, and small mistakes can become serious. Though all the scramblers on this trip were relieved to get down unscathed with tales for their families, sometimes group members in these kinds of situations might want to think about turning the party around before circumstances become dire. Read more…

The Mountaineers, Mountaineers Books, and adidas outdoor are pleased to present the 2016 BeWild Speaker Series, putting passion and adventure at center stage! This year, we're presenting adventurers who've achieved great things and overcome huge challenges through the outdoors. Come to any one of these talks - or all four - and we guarantee you'll leave inspired to seek adventure, connect with nature, and work to protect the wild places we cherish. Read more…

Wildfires are burning across our region and smoke is causing extremely poor air quality in some counties. Our hearts are heavy with concern for those affected by fires in Washington State and beyond. We ask our community to practice good decision-making skills and respect public land closures when getting outside this summer. 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…

The following is an excerpt from My Old Man and the Mountain, by Leif Whittaker. The Seattle Times called Leif's memoir "an entertaining coming-of-age yarn from a likable, talented diarist."  Rock & Ice  said it was "engaging and humorous." The American Alpine Institute found it to be "a beautiful piece of writing, funny and sad, insightful, and engaging." 

The book is just out in the paperback edition. See what you think. Read more…

The complex landscape of permitting rules and regulations can be difficult to navigate as a Mountaineers leader. To help make things clearer, we've created a series of pages describing the various permit processes pertaining to Mountaineers activities, all organized by land manager. Read more…

Each year, we host an annual meeting for our members to share a retroactive tour of our last fiscal year. Learn about our state of affairs from our board members and staff, hear about Governance Committee and Board nominations for At-Large Directors, and have the opportunity to ask questions of our leaders. Per our bylaws, the Annual Meeting also allows members of The Mountaineers to make At-Large Director nominations from the floor for the 2021 election season. We held the session virtually on September 14, 2021, and you can watch the recording here. Read more…

Join us October  7 at the Mercer Island Library at 6:30pm for our Hike and Backpack Leader Seminar. Read more…

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Mountaineers relies on both philanthropic support and the dedication of our volunteers to help us deliver on our mission and get people outside. When you take advantage of your employer’s Workplace Giving Program, you maximize the impact of your volunteer hours, charitable donations and membership dues and can double, sometimes triple your impact!  Read more…

“The show must go on” has always been the motto of The Mountaineers Players who have been performing at the Kitsap Forest Theater since 1923. We produce shows to enrich the community by bringing stories to life in a magical outdoor setting that all ages can enjoy. We perform through all types of challenges (rain, record heat, cold, a closed Kitsap Cabin), and are thrilled to present Little Women on most weekends this summer. Come take a hike to visit our magical space and experience the wonder of outdoor theater for yourself!  Read more…