Mountaineers Books Blog

For eight years, we've hosted the BeWild Speaker Series to bring you stories of passion and adventure. We're excited to announce this year's lineup, which includes award winning authors, not your average thru-hiker, and a world class alpinist. Read more…

Taking on the responsibility of Publisher at the start of a global pandemic has been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. But if our readers have taught me one thing this year, it’s that our independence and our nonprofit mission truly matters.  Read more…

By the time Mercedes Pollmeier arrived at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), she’d lived in Australia, China, Mauritius, and had spent considerable time in Germany with her grandma. The daughter of a German father and an Indian South African mum, Mercedes had seen a lot of the world already when a full-ride tennis scholarship brought her to the U.S. at 17. A multilingual world citizen, the starry-eyed teen had her eyes keenly set on one thing: the Olympics. Little did she know that she’d soon meet a strength coach who would forever change the course of her life. Read more…

As I reflect on what I am thankful for this year, I find my thoughts more stoic and minimalist than usual. This shouldn’t be surprising: it is after all a puritanical holiday and the mental exercise itself, like a hiker stripping every unnecessary ounce from a pack, forces a consideration of what’s really essential. Read more…

In Journeys North, legendary trail angel and thru-hiker Barney Scout Mann spins a compelling tale of six hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail on their trek from Mexico to Canada. This ensemble story unfolds as these half-dozen hikers — including Barney and his wife, Sandy (Frodo) — trod north, facing a once-in-a-generation drought and early severe winter storms that test their will. In fact, only a third of all hikers who set out on the trail that year would finish. 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…

The Mountaineers Ten Essentials™ dates back to our climbing courses of the 1930s. This widely respected safety and packing system was formalized in the third edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, released in 1974. Each of the nine editions of Freedom, as it is affectionately known, was written entirely by volunteers and reflects the collective wisdom of hundreds of outdoor skills instructors. The list has always sought to answer two basic questions: Read more…

Urban Trails is one of our most popular hiking series - each book features trails from one particular area. They are equally great for people visiting a new place for the first time and long-time locals looking to get to know their area even better.  Read more…

An avid hiker, community organizer, and Mountaineers member, Louise Marshall was a passionate outdoorswoman and a key figure in Washington’s history. As a young woman I not only had the opportunity to meet Louise and hike with her, but reaped the benefits of all that she brought to the hiking community and the broader Washington outdoors community. I am excited to share with you the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that Louise experienced as a pioneer in the outdoor industry. Read more…

These six books are the last new releases of 2020! We have two new books (Snowy Owl and Great Gray Owl) from award-winning author and photographer Paul Bannick, two new additions to our popular Urban Trails series (Spokane/Coeur d'Alene and Vancouver, WA), an in-depth look at the spectacular Douglas-fir tree, and an approachable fitness book perfect for getting you through the dreary winter (24  Ways to Move More). Check them out! Read more…

For nearly 20 years, our conservation imprint Braided River has published stunning multimedia books about the wildest places in North America. In particular, the western Arctic and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have been a special focus. Award-winning books like We Are the Arctic and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land have been used by senators, grassroots groups, and Indigenous tribes to help people experience this remote corner of the world through images and stories, and be inspired to protect it. Read more…

We are so proud and excited to announce that four of our titles are 2020 Banff Mountain Book Competition finalists! Judges pored over 130 titles in seven categories and we are honored four of our books made the shortlist. Category winners will be announced in October so keep your fingers crossed!

Congratulations to all the finalists, but especially our amazing authors Bernadette McDonald, Hank Lentfer, Barney Scout Mann, and Pete Whittaker.  Read more…

Get to know nature two new ways with the Olympic Mountains Trail Guide and What Birds Eat! If you're planning on exploring the gorgeous Olympics our brand new 4th edition of the Olympic Mountains Trail Guide provides the most up-to-date information you need to hit the trails. Get a closer look at bird physiology, eating habits, and more with Kim Long's What Birds Eat.  Read more…

Join us on September 10 for a virtual BeWild event with avid mountaineer, climber of the 7-summits, and Mountaineers board president, Vik Sahney. Read more…

We are so excited to show off our latest new releases! Learn all about Northwest trees, travel across Canada on skis, dig into avalanche science and stories, and read about some of the most heartbreaking and dangerous feats in mountaineering history. Read more…

It’s always a joy to visit with someone who speaks passionately about the things they love. For Helen Cherullo, her passion is books. Helen’s love is about more than a simple bound text; it’s about imagery and place-based storytelling, and how their subsequent ripple effects move communities to act. Read more…

The high temperatures we've been having lately have us dreaming of the cooler days ahead.  Don't misunderstand, we've been trying to get the most out of summer. Gardening, swimming, running - all activities best enjoyed in warm weather. That doesn't mean we're not looking forward to winter activities and a beautiful blanket of fresh snow.   Read more…

The Mountaineers are proud to call Puget Sound home. From the towering glaciers and old growth forests of Mount Rainier to the stunning waters and diverse wildlife of the Salish Sea, our home is a special place. The natural beauty and adventure of these wild places inspires us to not only enjoy our special spaces but fight for their protection for future generations. That desire for preservation is centered within our core value of conservation. From the mountains to the sea, we are dedicated stewards of our backyard and beyond. Read more…

We are excited to announce that three of our titles are 2020 Washington State Award finalists! In its 54th year, the program (formerly called the Governor's Writers Awards) recognizes outstanding books published in 2019. There are a total of 39 finalists in all eight categories. Read more…

We have just announced our new distribution agreement with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). The ATC is a West Virginia-based nonprofit with the lead role in protecting and managing the Appalachian Trail and surrounding 250,000 acres of public lands in cooperation with an array of federal, state, and local agencies. Beginning August 17, we will be the exclusive distributor of ATC books and maps. Read more…

Eighteen years after his first attempt to reach the summit of Link Sar, Steve Swenson, legendary alpinist, Mountaineers Board Director, Mountaineers Books author, and past president of the American Alpine Club, finally stood atop the notoriously technical peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram. He was joined by alpinists Mark Richey, 61; expedition leader Graham Zimmerman, 33; and Chris Wright, 36. “The climbers succeeded because they were persistent, used their 126 years of combined climbing experience, and understood what partnership meant,” and for this they are being awarded the prestigious 2020 Piolet d’Or. Read more…

Over the past sixty years, Mountaineers Books has built something incredible. Beginning with a single book, written and produced by volunteers, we have grown into a world-leading outdoors publisher with over 650 titles in print and nearly 17 million books sold since 1960. Today we sell books in print, online, and on-demand, around the world and in a dozen languages. Mountaineers Books are nearly as well traveled as Mountaineers members. Read more…

For your final auction surprises we’re adding two more items to round out our 50+ packages. One will appeal to mountaineering history buffs, and the other will call to anyone who could use a two-night getaway in the woods (but why not win both and read your new book at the cabin!). Read more…

What fun is an online auction without a few surprises? To stoke the fundraising fire, here are two incredible new packages we’ve added for your bidding pleasure (and don’t forget to view the other 50+ packages already in play). Read more…

By now you know that The Mountaineers rescheduled virtual gala is happening on July 23. But, do you know why?

To be completely honest, part of the reason is because we already secured 50+ amazing auction packages and they’re just waiting to get into your hands! This year has provided a lot of lemons and everyone is trying their best to make lemonade. We hope that taking home new gear, artwork, or a unique experience while supporting a great cause will bring a little joy to your life. Read more…

For the last five weeks we have been revealing auction sneak peeks and teasers, all in the hopes of getting you prepared for this moment - our online auction is now open for bidding! With over fifty packages available you’ll surely find something that piques your interest, from a Joshua Tree Getaway to a first edition copy of Freedom of the Hills. Read more…

As you saw last week, we have something exciting up our sleeves for our Virtual Gala on July 23 regarding outdoor celebrities and their advice for weathering a pandemic. You now know that the evening will include former keynote speakers Jimmy Chin and Lynn Hill, and fourteen soon-to-be-revealed remarkable guests! Visit our gala website to see the latest celebrities added to the list (and be sure to either pre-register for the online auction or sign up for the free virtual event to keep up with gala news)! Read more…

Hiking guidebooks and I go back a long time, long before I first set out with a notebook, pen, and camera to craft my own. In the early 1980s, after years as a road cycling fanatic (and fanatic I was, having biked across North America three times before my twenty-first birthday) I discovered the world of trails. A handful of hiking guidebooks helped me discover so many trails near and far: the AMC White Mountain Guide, 50 hikes in the White Mountains, and GMC’s Long Trail Guide, soon followed by many others. Read more…

We’ve got something very exciting in store for you at our July 23 virtual Gala. It’ll be an uplifting reminder that, even in the middle of a pandemic, outdoor celebrities are just like us. As a little teaser, we can say that you’ll be hearing from many of our special guests from previous galas (including Jimmy Chin and Lynn Hill!). Want to hear how athletes entertain their kids during quarantine, or where our authors plan to travel as soon as they can? Tune in on July 23 to find out! Read more…

Popularized by Alastair Humphreys, a micro-adventure is "an adventure that is short, simple, local, cheap – yet still fun, exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding. " As summer arrives, many of us want to maximize our time outside. But it’s not always easy to get out after work or on a busy weekend. Fortunately, opportunities for outdoor exploration are right outside your door. Join us as we take a look at a few of the micro-adventures you can take any day of the week. Read more…