Blog

One of the telling markers of spring is the trilling of birds gradually filing our newly-cerulean skies. To humans, birdsong is a welcomed reminder of the sunny days and warm-weathered adventures ahead. To the birds, these songs are an earnest attempt to captivate a mate and charm them into the breeding season. Luckily for us, birds have remarkably good voices, and although it may seem that songbirds come out of the nest ready to serenade, baby birds undergo quite a bit of training before being awarded their solos. Read more…

Join us in the Gear Library at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on Friday April 21 from 10am-2pm for a half-day of volunteering! The Mountaineers Gear Library believes everyone should have the opportunity to get outside and aims to reduce some of the obstacles to having a safe and comfortable outdoor experience. Our gear goes through a decent amount of wear and tear over the course of a year, and we are putting a call out to the community to help restore and organize our fleet! Read more…

Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry blends art and science to celebrate this diverse yet interconnected region through natural and cultural histories, poetry, and illustrations. Read more…

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

Learning is a never-ending journey. At The Mountaineers, we continue to elevate our organization’s position in the outdoor community and enhance our own courses and activities by supporting our volunteers' skill development. Each year, The Mountaineers designates funds to the Leadership Development Fund, which allows Mountaineers leaders and instructors to attend conferences, workshops, courses, and programs led by other organizations. Read more…

Hiking has always been my refuge from the craziness of the world. I find solace and peace of mind in the wilderness. I know that the natural world can be as unforgiving as the civilized world, but I find wilderness far easier to negotiate. Perhaps it’s my illusion that when taking off for the backcountry, I need only worry about my actions and not the actions of others. In the human world there are far too many people making decisions that will affect me—and often not in a positive way. 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 Annual Gala is only eight days away but bidding in the silent auction starts TODAY! There is still time to join us virtually to access our online auction and catch all the action on April 1 during the livestream presentation. Register for a virtual ticket to ensure you receive the link to the auction and live broadcast.  Read more…

Have a gear wish list a mile long, or some extra gear you'd like to unload? Come to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center from 6-8 pm on Monday, May 22 for our upcoming Gear Grab.  Read more…

Last year, we came very close to passing a package of recreation bills called America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA). Many of you took action to urge Congress to pass this legislation because it included one of our long term policy priorities, the Simplifying Access to Outdoor Recreation Act (SOAR Act). If passed, AORA would have improved the unpredictable recreational permitting system that creates barriers for people who want to experience the outdoors through Mountaineers courses and youth programs, as well as other changes to improve outdoor recreation on public lands and waters. 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 us for a screening of Resistance Climbing, one of three Reel Rock 17 films on tour right now. In the strife-torn hills of Palestine, a diverse crew of Bedouins, dirtbags, and urban professionals embrace climbing as a much-needed respite from the burdens of the Israeli military occupation. American writer and climber Andrew Bisharat visits the West Bank to explore his own roots and the power of climbing to transform lives. Read more…

As the pandemic ebbed in 2022, five of us Mountaineers decided it was time to finally travel again. Our goal: the Ausangate Loop in Peru, a 60-mile, weeklong trek that ambles between 13,600 and 17,200 feet. We ranged in age from 43 to 68 and all identified as female-bodied. So, basically, we were five middle-aged ladies on a high-altitude adventure. Read more…

Meet Karla Munguia, a Foothills Backcountry and Frontcountry Trail Run leader, hike leader and backpack leader. Karla has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to the Foothills Branch with Super Volunteer badges in 2021 and 2022 and a Key Instructor badge in 2022. Read more…

Waking early on my first morning of a five-day climbing trip in Canada, I quickly dressed and enjoyed the wonderful breakfast offerings that Steve and his partner Ann so generously supplied. Nibbling on a toasted slice of a local bread and slowly sipping my much needed coffee, I continued to pack  everything for the day until my phone vibrated on the counter. It was go time. I stepped out into the crisp cold of a clear morning still speckled with waning stars as the surrounding peaks were beginning to glow with the first light of a new day.  Read more…

Tickets to attend the 2023 Gala in person are officially SOLD OUT but you can still join us virtually for an unforgettable evening! Virtual event registration gives you early access to our online auction and the chance to catch all the action on April 1 during the livestream presentation.  Read more…

I have never met another organization quite like this: one that is truly led by a community of volunteers at every level. Members and volunteers develop the courses, lead the trips, and even write the books that sustain our outdoor education and recreation.

As a community, we have always sought to share the outdoor experience with others and protect the places that we love; and as a 501(c)(3), we can leverage philanthropic donations to have an even greater impact. Read more…

Unlike a traditional field guide, Cascadia Field Guide blends art and science to celebrate our diverse region through cultural histories, poetry, and artwork depicting many of the plants and animals who call Cascadia home. Bringing together a wide spectrum of writers and artists, Cascadia Field Guide invites readers to explore their relationship to the region from a whole new perspective. Read more…

5Point Adventure Film Festival is an adventure film festival based out of Carbondale, Colorado, and on tour internationally. 5Point Adventure Film Festival is dedicated to sharing stories of adventure that have the power to ignite positive social and environmental change in our local communities and around the globe. Their five founding principles - respect, commitment, humility, purpose, and balance - guide our curation process and festival experience. Read more…

Venturing into nature during winter can be challenging if you don’t know where to start. The cold and snow require more technical gear to keep you safe and warm in such low temperatures. But there are ways you can get outside, even if you are short on experience or gear. If you are curious about exploring Washington in winter but don’t know where you should go, check out one of Washington’s Sno-parks!  Read more…

Our last strategic Plan, Vision 2022, provided an important foundation for us as leaders in innovative outdoor education, striving to engage future generations in advocacy, adventure, education, volunteerism, and community. Vision 2022 was community-centric and articulated strategic priorities that were bold and interconnected. Strongly supported by our community through a year-long, multi-level engagement process, Vision 2022 also put a stake in the ground for our goal of becoming a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. Read more…

Dreaming of your next big adventure? Enjoy this in-depth first look at a few of the auction items available at the 2023 Gala! Bid on the ultimate vacation, and feel great knowing that your donation will help elevate the way our community transforms lives through outdoor education and conservation.  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 world-renowned Banff Centre's Banff Mountain Film Festival celebrates its 47th year, continuing to bring the best action, environment, and adventure films to audiences in Banff and no less than 40 countries across the globe. Join The Mountaineers  to catch our last showing of Banff in Olympia on March 24-26. Read more…

As a Mountaineers member, you receive free 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…

For 10 years, The Mountaineers has come together at the Gala to celebrate and honor the remarkable achievements of our community. One such achievement gained historical recognition when, in 1963, Mountaineers member Jim Whittaker made a groundbreaking climb. Challenging the odds, he became the first American to reach Everest’s 29,028-foot summit. He was only 34. The success of that climb, made possible thanks to the tireless work of the Sherpa supporters, launched Jim into the upper echelon of the climbing world. He has worked tirelessly since to give back to the outdoor community, including leading the first-ever Everest cleanup efforts. Read more…

Happy February Mountaineers! As the weather gets warmer and we shed the winter blues, we look to February as the month of change and the beginning of those summer feels!  Read more…

 At The Mountaineers, leadership plays an integral part in every facet of our organization. We have a wide variety of leaders in many different roles - from Branch Treasurer, to Qualified Youth Leader, to Committee Chair. The term "leader" also specifically refers to a volunteer who has been vetted by an activity committee to lead a Mountaineers activity. These trips leaders have fulfilled the technical and interpersonal skill requirements included in our Club-wide Activity Standards. By leading hundreds of trips each month, trip leaders play a fundamental role within our organization.  Read more…

It seemed important two years ago to better know Seattle’s Central District (CD). After leading more than 50 Urban Night Walks (then known as “Night Hikes”) on Seattle Stairway Walks (2013) routes, a keener feel for the CD was in order. Nothing beats walking a neighborhood and soaking in the casual interactions with people and places. Active navigation with many turns sharpens attention to landmarks and the shape of the land. Read more…

Growing up, my family had an off-grid cabin in the woods off Mountain Loop Highway. When my folks bought it, a faded wooden sign hung above the door that read “Scotty’s Castle.” The name stuck. Scotty’s Castle was an unassuming wood-frame cabin with no electricity or running water, but despite its lack of amenities, winter was my favorite time of year to visit the cabin. When the door creaked open to let us in, it would be so cold inside we could see our breath. We’d start a fire, light the gas lamps, and sweep out a few dead mice before unpacking. Read more…