Blog

After 40 years of hiking, I’m still learning new things about what recreation looks like for myself and others. As an experienced health and wellness coach, part of my job is to help individuals reach their outdoor goals safely. I adjust my mentoring style based on each individual because the process to achieve a desired objective varies depending on who is learning. Read more…

The Mountaineers is partnering with the Sacred Lands Conservancy, an Indigenous-led nonprofit with strong ties to the Lummi Nation, to produce a series of educational pieces on the importance of mindful recreation and how we can all develop deeper connections to the histories of our natural places. Tah-Mahs Ellie Kinley is a Lhaq’temish fisherwoman who has previously served as an elected member of Lummi Nation’s Fisheries and Natural Resource Commission. She is President of the Sacred Lands Conservancy. This final blog from her, written in collaboration with SLC’s Julie Trimingham, shares about the history and meaning of Indigenous place names with a focus on two of our region’s mountains. Read more…

The Pacific Northwest is defined by its U.S. Forest Service lands. The agency manages nearly 25 million acres of public lands in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, from the dizzying heights of Mt. Baker to the awe-inspiring Multnomah Falls. Much of the important on-the-ground management work - maintaining trails, cleaning bathrooms, and fighting wildfires - falls on the shoulders of seasonal or temporary employees.  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…

Are you interested in making new friends, collecting inspiring memories, and discovering new parts of our world? Sign up for Mountaineers Global Adventures! The rewards are great, the experiences are unparalleled, and the adventure is abundant. Read more…

The Mountaineers has a long and rich history as a regional leader advocating on behalf of the natural world, and our successes would not be possible without the dedication and thoughtful actions of our whole community. On Wednesday October 9, we gathered for An Evening of Advocacy, the annual event that highlights and invites people to support the work of our Conservation & Advocacy programs.  Read more…

Our neighbor to the north offers some fabulous wilderness experiences, from inland canoe routes to protected sea kayaking, to remote fly-in parks and boat-in preserves, to spectacular hiking trails and lengthy biking routes. Canada is surrounded by a natural beauty that is similar yet distinct from that of Washington, and infused with Indigenous cultures. This presentation will help you set your sights northward, with picture tours of Bowron Lakes, Broken Group Islands, Haida Gwaii, Tweedsmuir and Wells Gray, Callaghan ski lodge, Cape Scott, the West Coast Trail, and more! Read more…

Walking into the Salish Sea, you pee when the water hits your waist. A reflex to the cold. You take your time cleaning your goggles with spit and salt water. Stalling. Your buddies dive in, and you follow. As your head dips below the water, you hyperventilate. Another reflex; don’t panic. Your breathing quickly normalizes. You start swimming. The cold feels like little knives all over your skin. After thirty strokes, your skin is the same temperature as the water. 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…

Lori joined The Mountaineers in 2016 and has been serving as Foothills Branch Secretary and Communications Chair since 2019. As Secretary, Lori is the custodian of all Branch records. She also prepares and distributes agendas and minutes for Branch Council meetings, and serves as the Branch liaison with Mountaineers staff for annual elections. Read more…

Mountainfilm on Tour is coming back to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on Thursday, October 10 from 7-9:30pm. Founded in 1979, Mountainfilm is one of America’s longest-running film festivals, celebrating stories of indomitable spirit and inspiring audiences through film, art, and ideas. Read more…

To celebrate the launch of the 10th Edition of Mountaineers Books flagship title, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, we hosted two events – a Kickoff Party and Deep Dive – that brought together 230 members, volunteers, and staff, along with Freedom fans and contributors of the latest edition.  Read more…

As a climber, I am no stranger to fear. I used to highball boulder – meaning I would climb tall boulders where the risk of falling meant serious injury – and without fail, I’d feel fear every time, whether or not I made it all the way up. One day, I was outdoor bouldering with friends fairly new to the sport. Halfway up the boulder, I reached a tricky section. Assessing the situation against my current skill levels, I realized if I went for the next move and missed, I wouldn’t just endanger myself, but my spotters, too. The move wasn’t worth the risk. I decided to descend. Read more…

 The Mountaineers is driven by our core value of community. This means that we continually strive to ensure that all feel welcomed and supported as members of The Mountaineers. Did you know that over half the global population menstruates, and 1.1 million people worldwide will be in menopause by 2025? 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 are excited to offer two water ice climbing courses in Ouray, Colorado. These courses, Toproping Water Ice and Intro to Leading Water Ice, are taught by experienced volunteer instructors who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and skills with fellow climbers. These courses are open to members from all branches. Read more…

Each October, the Olympia Mountaineers gather to celebrate the work we have done, the fun we had, and the friendships we made during the program year. Read more…

On July 29, 1909, during The Mountaineers first organized climb of Mt. Rainier, members crafted an incredible feat of mountain engineering: a 62-person bed. Huddled on a ridgeline between the Inter and Emmons Glaciers, 62 climbers built a headboard with large rocks, then dragged and compacted soil and volcanic ash to form a mattress. If that wasn’t lavish enough, many members even had a sleeping bag. Read more…

A collection of trip reports with a little extra flavor. Read on, dear friends, for summit treats, a pretty sweet deal, raving reviews, crab cookers, and more. Read more…

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. Read more…

We're pleased to present you with the outcome of the 2024 Board & Branch Elections, and we're grateful to everyone who participated by voting and accepting a nomination. Your participation shows a deep commitment to the organization, and this year, we received over 700 votes from our membership.  Read more…

Each year, we host an annual meeting for our members to learn more about the organization's state of affairs from staff and board members. Join us to celebrate 2024 fiscal year highlights, preview 2025, learn more about our strategic priorities, and have the opportunity to ask questions of our leaders. 

This year's annual meeting will take place virtually on Tuesday, October 29 from 6-7:30pm.  Read more…

Last week our community received the heartbreaking news about the passing of Daniel J. Evans, lifetime member, Mountaineers Lifetime Award Recipient, and former Washington governor who left a lasting legacy. Praised as one of the most distinguished leaders in the state of Washington, Governor Evans was especially admired for his environmental ethic and accomplishments protecting public lands for the health of our communities, our economy, and our planet. Read more…

While The Mountaineers has proudly championed outdoor education, mindful recreation, conservation, and environmental advocacy for nearly 120 years, I often have to remind myself that we only became a 501(c)(3) 13 years ago. This was a pivotal moment because it provided a new opportunity to build partnerships with financial donors and safeguard the future of our organization. While our tax status may have changed, community remains at the heart of everything we do. 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…

When I joined The Mountaineers nearly two and a half decades ago, I was motivated - in no small way - by the biggest criticism I had heard about the organization: "They are too safety conscious." I became a Mountaineers member shortly after a guided climb up Rainier, involving many unfamiliar skills and techniques. In my first Mountaineers course, safety was the opening topic. If you can’t be safe, you can’t have fun. That’s the heritage of The Mountaineers. Read more…

Excerpted from the preface to Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 10th Edition (Mountaineers Books, September 2024). 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 year, The Mountaineers joins our Outdoor Alliance (OA) partners in Washington, D.C., uniting with leaders in the human-powered outdoor community to advocate together with lawmakers and land managers for shared conservation and recreation priorities. While we engage in coordinated advocacy with OA throughout the year, meeting with decision-makers in person builds support for outdoor advocacy on a larger scale. Read more…

Ten is both large and small. Ten feet into an alpine climb is just the beginning, but for a book to endure for a tenth edition, it must have enormous staying power. Of the twenty-five million books in the Library of Congress catalog, only about 1,640 are tenth editions.  Read more…