Bellingham Branch Blog Posts

“Don’t get distracted by the bells and buzzers you’ll hear going off in congressional offices,” warned Cheri Bustos on our first day of in-person training for Outdoor Alliance’s Grasstops Collective. Former Representative Bustos (IL-17) was referring to the sounds and lights used in Congress to summon members to votes and quorum calls; she was just the first of three speakers to prepare us for the potential disturbance to our planned meetings with members of Congress. Read more…

A collection of trip reports as golden as a larch. Read on, dear friends, for mediocre views, a failed comet sighting, wumping sea lions, our first taste of snow, a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and more.  Read more…

In 1976, a tight-knit group of climbers and outdoor enthusiasts conceived The Banff Festival of Mountaineering Films. This was a one-day gathering that became the renowned international festival it is today. 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…

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…

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…

With nearly one million copies sold, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills remains the premier guidebook for mountaineers all over the world. Join us for our two upcoming events to celebrate the release of the 10th edition of this acclaimed guidebook. 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…

A collection of trip reports to inspire your last few weeks of summer. Read on, dear friends, for a slight misadventure, brilliant beta, the perfect pair, an unnamed lake, and more plain fun.  Read more…

As a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led organization, The Mountaineers depends on the generosity, initiative, and leadership of our volunteers to steward the future of our organization. We are humbled by the service provided by Board and branch directors whose positions are confirmed by members each year. Thank you for all you do as members to elevate our mission, and for your participation in the forthcoming election process for these organization-wide leaders. Read more…

As a recreationist adventuring in the Pacific Northwest, you know how the eastern slope forests, grasslands, and shrub steppe of central Washington offer special ways to experience the outdoors through recreation. Visitors and residents alike cherish the opportunity to paddle the Tieton and Yakima rivers, climb the Royal Columns near Tieton, and hike and mountain bike trails that crisscross a unique and diverse landscape.  Read more…

The Park's public comment period is now closed. The Mountaineers submitted comments sharing feedback we received from our leaders on timed entry. Stay tuned for more opportunities to shape visitor use management at Mount Rainier National Park.

Visiting Mt. Rainier National Park has felt a little different this summer. For the first time in the park’s history, many visitors are required to purchase a timed entry reservation to enter during peak visitation hours. While the pilot reservation system ends Labor Day 2024, the long-term use of timed entry in the park hangs in the balance. Read more…

The growing impact of wildfire and smoke on Washington's lands, waters, and communities increasingly affects our outdoor experiences. With the wildfire season in full force this summer, fires continue to burn and affect communities across Washington, including in the North Cascades and in the Yakima Valley.  Read more…

Have you visited the new Denny Creek - Franklin Falls trailhead yet this summer? This popular, family-friendly destination near Snoqualmie Pass has long been overcrowded with unsafe parking behavior. Thanks to investments from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), this parking lot got a major upgrade. GAOA was passed in 2020, thanks in large part to the outdoor recreation community. The passage and implementation of the GAOA in Washington continues to be a shining example of what we can achieve when we advocate together on behalf of more than 75,000 human-powered recreationists across the state.
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The Enchantments - a treasured landscape for our community - is home to some of the most breathtaking backcountry recreation opportunities in Washington state. In the midst of all this natural beauty, though, you might stumble upon an unexpected feature: human-made dams.  Read more…

As we experience worsening impacts of the climate crisis on our lands, waters, and communities, we must do more to respond to this urgent threat. The future of our organization and the planet depend on bold climate action and climate-resilient public lands and waters. Climate action and the reduction of The Mountaineers carbon footprint are prioritized in our current strategic plan and our organizational net zero vision. Read more…

It's safe to say Mountaineers had a good time in the high alpine this July. Read on, dear friends, for super successful summits of Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Eldorado Peak, Mount Olympus, Bonanza Peak, Sahale Peak, and more.  Read more…

Represent The Mountaineers at this year's Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC). Join us to foster an environment of open dialogue and enhance our organization’s understanding of risk management practices. As a WRMC attendee, you'll acquire valuable skills in risk management, connect with fellow industry experts, share field and administrative techniques, and contribute to the establishment of standards for risk management in outdoor adventure and education. Read more…

In June, Braided River launched Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin - a stunning photography book and engagement campaign spotlighting the Columbia River watershed. The Pacific Northwest’s largest river system - called the Big River by many Indigenous nations of the West - covers a landscape the size of France, beginning in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and ending at the ocean mouth, near Astoria, Oregon.  Read more…

When it comes to building support for our advocacy priorities, there’s no substitute for recreating together with lawmakers and land managers out on public lands. Washington state’s congressional delegation is filled with champions of conservation and recreation, and Senator Patty Murray tops that list. Earlier this week, I joined partners from the Forest Service and the Wild Olympics Campaign to hike the Gray Wolf Trail on Olympic National Forest with Senator Murray, where we discussed her Wild Olympics Bill. Read more…

With recent reports of  sexual harassment and sexual assault in the broader outdoor community, we’re reminded of how much work there is to be done to reverse this troubling reality. This news has been particularly painful for the many people who have been the targets of sexual harassment and sexual assault. As a global outdoor recreation community, we can and must do better. The Mountaineers is deeply committed to keeping our community safe, both physically and emotionally. We are redoubling our efforts to protect members from sexual harassment and sexual assault.  Read more…

In June, I watched as nearly 50 drool-inducing trip reports rolled in, making the tough job of choosing just 10 even tougher. But alas, the deed had to be done. With dried drool still on the edge of my mouth, I happily offer a collection of trip reports that highlights the most tasty and delicious views of early summer. Read on, dear friends, for marmot greetings, the infamous cheese rock, a river in good flow, snake-friendly sunbathing, and directions that are occasionally diagonal.  Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we believe all people should feel belonging in the outdoors and everyone should have opportunities, knowledge, resources, and access to connect with nature. This work stems from our core belief that a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. Since our last Equity & Inclusion (E&I) Committee update, we’ve been focusing efforts and resources on continuing to lower barriers to get outdoors, providing ongoing training to our leaders, investing in the emotional safety of our participants and community, and more.  Read more…

To continue to grow a community of Mountaineers who adventure with purpose as conservation advocates, we came together virtually on June 4 to share the latest policy updates from our conservation team. As we discussed progress on our federal conservation priorities and how our members can best advocate for the outdoors, we heard your passion for protecting the Northwest’s special outdoor places and creating a better climate future for all. Our members’ dedication to and engagement in conservation drives our staff-led advocacy and encourages us to create more opportunities for our community to learn and advocate together. Read more…

Public lands and waters - the places we hike, climb, paddle, and find connection and belonging outdoors - are critical to The Mountaineers experience. Without them, the transformational opportunities and experiences our community provides would cease to exist. In our Conservation 101 blog, What Are Public Lands?, we celebrate the various types of federal public lands, but state-managed lands also play an important role in the outdoor recreation experience. Read more…

In a continued pursuit of a safe, welcoming, and inclusive culture, the Board of Directors launched a new Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault (SHSA) Prevention Advisory Committee in December 2023. This is an ad hoc advisory committee chartered to develop recommended near-term and long-term improvements to our bylaws, behavior policies, and operational procedures to address the risk of sexual harassment and/or sexual assault of our members. The committee is charged with defining and understanding the risks of sexual harassment & sexual assault within The Mountaineers, identifying ways to prevent these behaviors, and identifying ways to respond to these behaviors. Read more…