Conservation Blog

Conservation Blog

All posts

Public Input for Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan

North Cascades National Park, considered the “wild nearby” for its incredible scenery and wildlife, is also at the center of an opportunity being led by the National Park Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and U.S. Forest Service to restore a grizzly bear population. Read more…

Naturalist Speaker Series - March 12

Gone for nearly 40 years, the Western Bluebird had completely disappeared from the San Juan Islands. But local bird lovers are bringing them back. Read more…

Olympia Branch Stewardship Advocacy

Olympia Branch Members Jim French, Greg Lovelady, Ginger Sarver, Richard Geier, Carla Jonientz, Mike Riley, Regina Robinson, Curt Rosler, and John Sisco  took it upon themselves to make sure that The Mountaineers' presence was felt with our state legislators at the Big Tent Rally Day on February 24th, 2015. The Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition is an umbrella organization formed to highlight the importance of our state’s outdoor recreation sector in enhancing Washington’s economy and its reputation for healthy and active living. Our Olympia Branch volunteers "did us proud!" Read more…

Native American Sacred Sites Audit

We wanted to make sure that our Native American neighbors know we respect and care about potential concerns  with our members' outdoor activities on culturally-important locations. We reached out every tribe in our state and learned of no such conflicts.  Read more…

Celebrating Washington's Wilderness 50

It was just a year ago in late December when I accepted the position as Conservation and Responsible Recreation Manager for The Mountaineers. If someone told me then, that within my first year on the job I would be taking a lead on planning an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, I think I would have cited my lack of event-planning experience. - but thanks to event co-hosts REI and the Wilderness Society, and a creative, passionate steering committee, we made it happen on November 15th. Explore Washington’s Wilderness was a special event to celebrate the landmark conservation bill that created a way for Americans to protect wildlands for future generations.  Read more…

National Parks in Washington Propose Fee Increases

We recently met with staff from Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park about their respective proposed fee increases. National Parks across the country are considering increasing entrance fees, camping, and wilderness permit fee increases. Read more…

Weed Watchers finish up the season!

It was another successful season! Wilderness Weed Watcher volunteers plodded along trails throughout the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest’s wilderness areas this past summer in search of invasive weeds. Many invasive plants were documented along nearly a dozen trails and 50 miles of our protected lands. The discovery of these plants reemphasizes the importance of this work – we’re doing our best as responsible recreationalists to protect the places we love so much. Read more…

Ghost Bears: Studying Grizzly Bears in Washington’s North Cascades

National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and The Mountaineers are proud to present Ghost Bears: Studying Grizzly Bears in Washington’s North Cascades Ecosystem. Admission is free, but you need to secure your spot by signing up early!  Read more…

A Wilderness Trail Day

Reposted with permission from Mike & Amanda - the Access Fund Conservation Team

The Pacific Northwest is an adventurous climber’s dream. Long hikes into remote peaks and crags challenge climbers’ fitness and resolve, while towering granite peaks and spires inspire one to explore. So we were pretty psyched when we learned that we’d be heading to Darrington, Washington to work at a crag known as 3 O’clock Rock in the Boulder River Wilderness. Read more…

Explore Washington's Wilderness

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act, the landmark conservation bill that created a way for us to protect our most pristine wild lands for future generations, and learn how you can get involved with issues facing these wild places in your backyard. Read more…

Expert Team Assesses Fixed Anchors on Forbidden Peak

Written by Joe Sambataro, Northwest Regional Director for The Access Fund Read more…

Wilderness Weed Watchers in Full Swing

We're at mid-season this summer, much of the snow has melted away and that means the Wilderness Weed Watchers are hitting the trails to some of our region's most beautiful places in search of invasive weeds. We've had surveys come in from the Mount Baker, Clearwater and Henry M. Jackson wilderness areas with more on the way. Read more…

Donate Stoves and Lanterns for Residents Affected by Wildfires

The Mountaineers is collecting stoves and lanterns for those in the Methow region that have lost their homes and/or are without power due to the Carleton Fires. A significant number of people are also without running water or hot water. Read more…

Sharing the Winter Backcountry

Do you spend time outdoors during the winter? Do you backcountry or cross-country ski, snowboard, snowshoe or enjoy winter mountaineering? If your answer is yes, then you may be impacted by the new rules for Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) Travel Management. Read more…

Take Only Memories…and Noxious Weed Data

Share your views about use on Mt. Baker

Do you spend time on Mt. Baker? Skiing, climbing, hiking or taking in the views from Artist Point? Are there more people out there then when you started climbing there 10 years ago? Did you just make your first trip there? What did you think? Come share your experience as a user of the mountain. Read more…

Mountaineers support Darrington as part of National Trails Day

The Mountaineers supported the 20th Anniversary of National Trails Day on June 7 through work on the White Chuck Bench Trail. Read more…

Olympic National Forest - Road Input

Do you spend time in Olympic National Forest? Are there areas you feel are important to be able to access? Places that are harder to access because a road has been closed? Olympic National Forest is seeking input on identifying a sustainable road system – weigh in! Read more…

Destination Darrington

On March 22, a huge mudslide destroyed the small community of Steelhead Haven in Oso, which claimed dozens of lives and blocked access to the town of Darrington. Before the mudslide brought the area national attention, however, Darrington was known for two things - logging and access to amazing outdoor recreation opportunities. Read more…

Crag Kick Off Weekend!

The Crag climbing course, led by the amazing Loni Uchityl, kicked off this weekend at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center! The weekend focused on building climbing, multipitch, anchor building, and rappelling skills. Read more…

Volunteers Share Why They Serve The Mountaineers

Volunteers often spend 1-2 days a week training course participants in skills to ensure safe and responsible enjoyment of our natural world. Others also help coordinate and administer course offerings. This is the core of what defines us - The Mountaineers - as a community.  Read more…

Start of the Fire Lookout Season

The Mountaineers Everett Branch's Lookout and Trail Maintenance Crew’s 2014 season has begun! Member Bruce Wolverton describes 'opening season' at the Mt. Pilchuck lookout. Read more…

Hurricane Ridge Road Winter Access

As winter is still in full effect in most of our mountains, access for recreational opportunities in ONP continues to be a priority for many folks. Read more…

Dirt roads, clean water and national forests? Washington Watershed Restoration Initiative to the rescue!

By Marlies Wierenga, Pacific NW Conservation Manager for WildEarth Guardians and WWRI Coordinator

Passage of the Northwest Forest Plan in the mid 1990s was a turning point for conservation. Not only did spotted owls and salmon begin to have a chance at survival but the land and water they depend on were given the ability to heal. Federal, state, local, private landowners across the state stepped up to do their part and everyone lived happily ever after. Right? Read more…

Vantage Toilet Installed!

VantageToilet

It’s in!

Last year, the Washington Climbers Coalition, the American Alpine Club and The Mountaineers, with support from the Access Fund, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Spokane Mountaineers and the entire Northwest climbing community, raised $50,000 for the installation of a toilet at the Frenchman Coulee climbing area (better known as Vantage) in Central Washington. Read more…