Blog

The Mountaineers advocacy to protect public lands and the outdoor experience transcends the places where we recreate and the courses we lead here in the Pacific Northwest. This work doesn’t happen alone; partnerships lie at the heart of our advocacy story. About nine years ago, The Mountaineers joined Outdoor Alliance (OA) - a national coalition of human-powered recreation organizations. Over the years, we’ve deepened our involvement because our community is a unique catalyst for conservation and advocacy work on a national scale. Read more…

Want to be more involved with The Mountaineers and support programs at a foundational level? Consider becoming the new Chair-Elect for the Foothills Branch. Read more…

Planning summer backpacking trips is at the top of my mind this time of year. I’m tired of the cold, dark days, and can’t wait to escape to the backcountry. In planning, I prefer to use paper maps to determine my route and study the terrain. Digital tools like Caltopo and Gaia are useful (and I love them!),  but carrying a paper map in my pack – and knowing how to use it – is a practical tool that encourages self-reliance when digital devices fail. More than that, maps give me a big-picture view of the landscape: ridgelines towering above alpine tarns, creeks tumbling into waterfalls, meadows hidden beneath sheer cliffs.  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…

Lying in the tundra miles north of the Arctic Circle, the sun shines warmly on my face. The autumn air smells fresh and crisp. If I listen closely, I can hear the distant tweet of birds and wind whistling over the fells. This is what I’ve learned to look forward to on every hike: a slow moment to rest. Read more…

On Friday, April 4, Mountaineers members and supporters from across the organization came together for a community update on the growing impacts of significant reductions to the federal land manager workforce. Our conservation team shared a deep dive on the ongoing efforts to cut federal agency staff who manage and steward our public lands, how we’re responding and helping move toward solutions, and what you can do to protect Washington’s public lands. The robust engagement we experienced online provided a strong reminder that our members are continuing to stand up together for our national parks and forests.  Read more…

I don’t know about you, but I feel that Washington’s state-managed parks and public lands are truly special and offer something for everyone. Outdoor places like Blanchard Mountain, Cape Disappointment, the Exit 38 climbing area near North Bend, and many others connect us to nature through recreation across every region of the state. Read more…

Recognizing local edible berries, flowers, greens, roots, tree parts, mushrooms, seaweeds, beach vegetables, and shellfish is a passport to a comforting sense of place. In Pacific Harvest: A Northwest Coast Foraging Guide, expert forager and longtime guide Jennifer Hahn introduces both novice and experienced foragers to the Pacific Coast’s ample and diverse edible species, while highlighting authentic Indigenous harvesting practices and amplifying profiles of Indigenous leaders in the traditional foods movement. Hahn’s coastal foraging guide offers a sustainable approach to foraging, reminding readers of what other beings also depend on our local plants and animals as food and shelter sources. 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…

This month was everything March should be: glimpses of sun to get you excited for warmer weather and just enough snow for some satisfying spring skiing. Read on, dear friends, for lunar landscapes, trolls, and churning currents! Read more…

In February 2025, we invited our members and volunteers to participate in our community survey. We do this every few years to understand how experiences change over time and identify areas of need when balancing resources. We’re pleased to share these preliminary results with our community, and look forward to deeper analysis with the staff and volunteer leaders who drive our programs and accomplish our mission in the community. Read more…

Looking for your next adventure? Enjoy a glimpse of the exciting auction items available at The Mountaineers 2025 Gala! From memorable getaways to top-notch gear packages, your bid directly supports outdoor education and conservation—helping our community build stronger connections with the natural world. Read more…

As we gear up for the summer season, many Mountaineers are pining for majestic peaks, pristine rivers, and the kind of solitude that makes you question how long it’s been since your last shower. But let’s be honest: spending time disconnected from the internet has some serious social consequences. Read more…

Our national parks and forests connect us to nature and to each other. Whether it’s a family hike near Snoqualmie Pass, a winter ski trip to Mount Rainier, or a bucket list backcountry trip in the Enchantments, Washington’s federally managed public lands lie at the heart of outdoor recreation in the Pacific Northwest. 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…

Outdoor adventure offers many benefits, including helping us be well-balanced, both physically and mentally. Not only do The Mountaineers rely on conserved public lands and waters for our outdoor adventures, but so do many other outdoor recreationists. Now more than ever, it’s critical that we engage with our local, state, and federal lawmakers regarding the outdoors.   Read more…

In the wintertime, we often think of slab avalanches as our main problem to contend with. However, before you know it, springtime will be upon us. Our days are already growing longer, the angle of the sun is becoming more direct, and the average temperatures in the mountains are rising.  Read more…

That’s a wrap on another successful and engaging year of Mountaineers Leadership Conferences! The Mountaineers Leadership Conferences are day-long, in-person events dedicated to thanking, inspiring, and empowering The Mountaineers current and aspiring volunteer leaders. This fiscal year we held our newly renamed North Sound Leadership Conference on December 7, 2024 at the Seattle Program Center, and our South Sound Leadership Conference on March 22, 2025 at the Tacoma Program Center. Both events were filled with inspiring learning opportunities and fun moments that we want to share with you.  Read more…

Women have been summiting mountains and taking the lead at The Mountaineers since the beginning. Of the 151 charter members of The Mountaineers in 1906, 77 were women. With such a strong legacy of women in leadership, we want to celebrate the stories of resilience and honor the challenges that some of our current Mountaineers leaders experience. 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 Mountaineers is a community of outdoor enthusiasts dedicated to protecting the natural places we love. Our conservation and advocacy efforts are crucial to this mission, ensuring that future generations can experience the beauty and wonder of the natural world. But advocacy for our natural world requires resources, and that's where your support comes in. Right now, we're working to bolster support for our publishing division Mountaineers Books, and we invite you to be a part of it. Supporting Mountaineers Books through donations and book purchases has a profound impact, extending far beyond the immediate transaction. Your generosity directly fuels our ability to resource and support vital voices that inspire action and drive conservation. Read more…

I was first introduced to the northern lights (or aurora borealis) through The Golden Compass, a fantasy book in which parallel universes abound, talking polar bears stalk the icy landscape, and the aurora dances overhead. At eight years old, talking polar bears sounded a lot more plausible than the northern lights. What do you mean the sky shimmers with vivid ribbons of red, green, and magenta? As soon as I confirmed with my parents that the aurora was, in fact, real and viewable on Earth, seeing the lights vaulted to the top of my bucket list. Read more…

The Mountaineers values transparency and takes pride in celebrating our successes. Our team is continuously working on updating our website, e-learning, and automated processes to enhance the user experience for members and volunteers. In this Changelog, we capture what improvements we have made over time so you can follow along and take advantage of new features.  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…

Maintaining access to Washington’s cherished landscapes and the recreational opportunities they support frequently requires partnership between the State and federal land managers. Drastic reductions to the federal workforce and a looming state budget deficit underscore the need for creative solutions to safe and sustainable access to Washington’s lands and waters this year and beyond. Read more…

For many youth, nature is a realm of endless possibilities. Every summer, Mountaineers Youth Programs embrace the magic of nature with Lodge Camps, a unique outdoor experience for campers ages 9-17 held at one of our three mountain lodges. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, Lodge Camps offer immersive opportunities for adventure, personal growth, and connection to the natural world. Read more…

As I clipped into my skis for the first time – the cool wind hitting my face, excitement filling my soul – I started to push forward… splat. My face met the cold ground – probably not the best start to my cross-country skiing career. Nevertheless, I got up and continued on the trail, thinking to myself that this MAC trip might be a long one. Read more…

Making a difference for conservation and recreation through advocacy can take several years. A campaign can consist of thousands of individual actions by grassroots advocates and policy experts alike who call or email lawmakers, meet with members of Congress, and testify on behalf of legislation. All these collective advocacy efforts add up to create a lasting impact through policy. Read more…

Meet Rich, a Foothills hike and naturalist leader, Key Leader, Super Volunteer, and Mountaineers Leader of the Year who loves showing people the wonders of the natural world.  Read more…

The purpose of this annual gathering is to unite branch members who share an interest in stewardship and to simultaneously build enough enthusiasm to tackle meaningful stewardship activities in our area. Read more…