Blog

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Have you ever tried to snag a campground or parking spot near Diablo Lake or another destination in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area during a busy summer weekend? Visitation to this popular area of the North Cascades has doubled over the last 20 years, and Park Service staff recorded one million visits in 2019. As recreational use via the North Cascades Highway continues to grow, land managers need new strategies to manage recreation. Park staff are preparing to develop a robust plan and holistic approach to better manage frontcountry recreation opportunities along the Highway 20 corridor, and they want to hear from you! Read more…

June is one of the best times of the year for trip goers, and one of the worst times of the year for us: having to choose between THIS many incredible trip reports was a veritable struggle. Read on, dear friends, for tales of heroic gear rescue, camaraderie, and the majesty of Peru! Read more…

Summer is here! We’re celebrating longer days and warmer weather with our annual Summer Book Sale from July 1-30, 2025. Stop by the Seattle Program Center to plan your next trip from our selection of best-selling guidebooks and Green Trails maps, find an adventure story to read at camp, or rep The Mountaineers on trail with Mountaineers merchandise. You can also pick up a Discover Pass or Northwest Forest Pass while you’re here.  Read more…

We’re thrilled to share our annual impact report for fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023-September 30, 2024), a celebration of all that our community of outdoor enthusiasts made possible. Read more…

Risk is inherent in all that we do as outdoor enthusiasts, and it can take various forms in different situations. Risk is also not limited to physical danger - Mountaineers activities can involve psychological and emotional risk as well as environmental risk. Read more…

As you’ve likely heard, the Forest Service has a problem. Read more…

As a former competitive tennis player and climber, I learned early on that being mentally prepared for an event is just as important as being physically prepared. When I showed up to a competition unfocused or unconfident, it reflected in my results. But when I was mentally in the zone, my performance followed suit. 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 for an unforgettable evening with world-renowned mountaineer, guide, and author Melissa Arnot Reid as part of our BeWild Speaker Series. In this special event, Melissa will share stories from her newly released memoir, ENOUGH, a raw and powerful reflection on her life both on and off the world’s tallest peaks. Read more…

Policy Update: We're encouraged to share that public lands sell-offs were kept out of the final Senate budget reconciliation bill. Washington's public lands are now safe from the recent threat of public lands sell-offs. We appreciate the thousands of Mountaineers that took action to oppose this harmful provision. Our collective advocacy made a difference.

Last week, I led a climb of The Tooth - my fifth trip with Mountaineers students on this classic climbing route near Snoqualmie Pass. My favorite part of being a rope leader on these trips is when my follower arrives at the top of the second pitch, looks around at the 360-degree view, and beams a giant smile when they fully realize the joy of being in Washington’s alpine environment.  Read more…

The folded rock feels like sandpaper. My index finger traces the miniature ridges, trying to sense the organisms that formed them. Some hundred and fifty million years ago, billions of Radiolaria skeletons floated to the ocean floor. The pressure from the ocean’s depth compressed and crunched the skeletons into a ribbon chert (a form of sedimentary rock). Then the chert moved, through continental drift, from Baja California to northern Washington, where the ocean crust uplifted and folded to form the landscape where I’ve come today: Rosario Head. Read more…

Our Introduction to Flatwater Packrafting course is a basic introductory course that teaches you how to safely and proficiently packraft on lakes and slow rivers, as well as how to backpack with your packraft.  The course begins September 3, 2025 and is suitable for anyone who desires an introduction to packrafting equipment, gear, and paddling skills in a fun and supportive environment. 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…

Since its founding in 2018, The Mountaineers Equity & Inclusion Committee has played an important advisory role in helping the organization identify barriers to participation and explore ways to make our community more welcoming and accessible. This group of volunteers and staff partners has guided our organization in identifying and addressing barriers to participation, offering tools for inclusive leadership, and supporting efforts that make our community more welcoming. As our understanding of equity has grown, so too has our language, and with it, a renewed commitment to fostering true belonging. Read more…

In spring 2024, we completed the Tacoma Program Center (TPC) net zero project, making The Mountaineers program center in old town Tacoma our first net zero facility. This accomplishment has become a cornerstone of our organizational efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of Mountaineers facilities and operations.
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On my way home from work in February, I gave one of my colleagues at the Forest Service a ring. A wave of federal agency workforce cuts had just been announced, and while I knew the Forest Service was impacted, I had no idea how deeply. I won’t forget my colleague’s response when I asked about the extent of the layoffs. After a long pause, they said “…we’ll only have a single person working in the Enchantments this summer.” Read more…

Policy Update: Thousands of Mountaineers answered our call to action, and now we're  encouraged to share that public lands sell-offs were kept out of the final Senate budget reconciliation bill. Washington's public lands are now safe from the recent threat of public lands sell-offs. Our collective advocacy made a difference. Thank you for adventuring with purpose with us.

As we shared last month, members of Congress are seeking to sell off federal public lands as a way to raise revenue, putting these lands at risk of transfer or development. Thanks in part to recent advocacy by outdoor enthusiasts, public lands sales were kept out of the final House reconciliation bill. However, this near-term win during the early stages of the congressional budgeting process was short-lived.  Read more…

Congratulations! Our spring fundraising campaign wrapped up last week and we’re delighted to share that 311 members took action with a gift this season, raising a total of $69,735 for The Mountaineers. 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…

Summer is arriving at Mount Rainier National Park, and with it comes a season of change - and challenge. As the iconic peak draws crowds from across the country, Park officials are rolling out new visitor access policies, temporarily closing roads and campgrounds, and navigating staffing shortages. If you’re planning to explore Rainier’s natural beauty this summer, some extra preparation will go a long way. Here’s what you need to know before you hit the trail. Read more…

In April, I had the honor of hosting a table at The Mountaineers Gala, a night dedicated to celebrating our shared love for the outdoors and the people who make this community what it is. My entire table was filled with women who have shaped my Mountaineers journey in ways I’ll never forget. Read more…

The Foothills Cross-Country Skiing Committee has a new Chair! We’d like to thank the outgoing Chair John Gilbert for his service to the branch, and welcome the new Chair Birgit Grimlund. Please read Birgit’s warm introduction. Read more…

On June 5, 2025, The Mountaineers was delighted to host our annual 50+ Year Member Luncheon, a cherished tradition dedicated to celebrating the remarkable individuals who have shaped our community for over 50 years. The Seattle Program Center was filled with warmth, laughter, and a profound sense of shared history as we honored some of our foundational members. 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…

Most outdoor experiences on public lands and waters begin on trail or at a trailhead. Trails serve as pathways and connectors to the special parks and recreation areas where we teach and learn outdoor skills, engage with the natural world, and make memories with our community. On the first Saturday of June each year, outdoor enthusiasts from across the country come together to celebrate National Trails Day - sharing time outdoors together and giving back to lands that make our adventures possible through on-the-ground stewardship.  Read more…

The annual End of Summer Picnic (formerly known as the annual Summer Picnic) has always been a time to celebrate our unique local community by getting together to exchange stories of our summer Mountaineers adventures and talk about plans for the coming year. Read more…

Our volunteer leaders are a huge part of what makes the Olympia Branch an inspiring, fun, and impactful community.  Each year, we honor the hard work and dedication of one Olympia volunteer by presenting them with the Branch Service Award. Read more…

Enjoy access to our quarterly Mountaineer magazine, keeping you up-to-date with everything our organization and community have been up to. Hear from regular contributors on topics from training exercises to trail tips, and read features from our members sharing stories from the outdoors. We encourage you to access all of our updates, stories, tips, and more in the tree free online magazine today. Read more…

It’s that time of year, dear friends - temperatures are rising, the snow is changing, and wildlife is coming out to play. May you find exemplary leadership, geological curiosities, and extraordinary scenery in this month’s top trip reports. Read more…