Most Popular Blogs

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…

Excerpted from Photography Night Sky: A Field Guide for Shooting After Dark, by Jennifer Wu and James Martin. Read more…

To cope with the challenges of the last year, more and more people are seeking refuge in the outdoors. Access to green spaces and wild places have played a critical role in supporting the physical and emotional wellbeing of our communities during this stressful time. At The Mountaineers, it is our mission to provide educational and experiential opportunities so that youth and adults of all ages can benefit from the transformative power of spending time in nature.  Read more…

Four weeks ago we were in a much different place. Business was on track to hit our budget goals and we were getting ready to welcome 500 party-goers to our biggest fundraiser of the year. In addition to rescheduling the Gala, we have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of earned revenue by halting our programs to mitigate the public health impact of COVID-19.  Read more…

With their luxurious dark brown coats, fishers were irresistible to trappers in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. Their pelts brought a good price. By the late 20th century, none of these large members of the weasel family could be found in Washington State. Trapping and loss of their forest habitat led to their disappearance. In 1998, although fishers still could be found in neighboring states and other regions, Washington declared fishers endangered. Read more…

Seventeen Mountaineers members from our Seattle, Everett, Tacoma, and Foothills branches joined the Mountains to Sound Greenway on August 27 to help disassemble social trails around popular rock climbing crags on the Little Si Trail. The Greenway staff were impressed at the efficiency of our Mountaineers - from hiking to getting work done, they said we took four hours to accomplish what it would take a normal group to accomplish in a full eight-hour day. When Mountaineers get involved, we show up in force! Read more…

This past November, Tacoma Mountaineer Carrie Kavanaugh traveled to Nepal to climb Ama Dablam, an impressive and beautiful peak that caught her eye on her first expedition to the Himalaya in 2009. Read more…

Meet Elizabeth Nakashima, a Foothills hike and urban walk leader, as well as the Treasurer of the Foothills Backpacking and Hiking Committee. Elizabeth joined The Mountaineers to train for a hike across the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and has been with us ever since! Read more…

We’re excited to announce that a Mountaineers Books title won the Outdoor Literature category in the 2014 National Outdoor Book Awards! Read more…

K2 is the second-highest and largely considered to be the world’s most dangerous mountain. Join us to hear behind-the-scenes secrets, unforgettable adventures, and epic tales of near-misses with Jim Wickwire, a summiter on the historic 1978 team, and Steve Swenson, esteemed alpinist, author, and K2 veteran. Read more…

Reposted with permission from Mike & Amanda - the Access Fund Conservation Team

The Pacific Northwest is an adventurous climber’s dream. Long hikes into remote peaks and crags challenge climbers’ fitness and resolve, while towering granite peaks and spires inspire one to explore. So we were pretty psyched when we learned that we’d be heading to Darrington, Washington to work at a crag known as 3 O’clock Rock in the Boulder River Wilderness. Read more…