Foothills Branch Blog Posts

Foothills Branch Blog Posts

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Action Alert! Speak Up Against Forest Service, Park Service Firings

Last week, the new administration fired 10% of the Forest Service’s workforce, alongside thousands of employees from other public land managers, including the National Park Service. These workers do essential on-the-ground work, such as trail maintenance and cleaning facilities, that keep our public lands open, safe, and accessible. Read more…

Shape the Future of Washington’s Forests

Logging protests. Activists sleeping in the world’s tallest trees. An iconic species on the brink. This isn’t a summary of a Hollywood action flick - it’s the real world clash between loggers and environmentalists that led scientists to develop the Northwest Forest Plan. Read more…

Learning from Loss: Remembering the 2005 Sharkfin Tower Incident

In July 2005, six Mountaineers from several different branches set out to climb Sharkfin Tower in the North Cascades National Park. In what was the national park’s worst multi-fatality incident, the group experienced a series of events that resulted in three fatalities and one serious injury, plus trauma for the survivors. Read more…

Foothills Volunteer Spotlight: Becky Robbins

Meet Becky, a Foothills hike and urban walk leader, Key Instructor, Key Leader, and Super Volunteer who is passionate about helping others get outside to discover the wonders of nature. Read more…

Get to Know Erik Jensen, Foothills Branch Treasurer

Erik joined The Mountaineers in 2022 and has been serving as Foothills Branch Treasurer since 2023. In this role, Erik works with Foothills Committee Chairs and Committee Treasurers as well as Mountaineers staff to manage the overall financials for the branch, approve expenses, and prepare the annual budget. As a branch treasurer, he is also part of the Branch Treasurer Committee and The Mountaineers Finance Committee. Read more…

Take our 2025 Member & Volunteer Survey

We are excited to announce the launch of our biannual all member survey. Your responses help staff and leadership understand the needs of our community and learn where we need to prioritize resources. We are eager to check in about your experience as Mountaineers members and leaders and look toward the future together. Read more…

Top 5 Trip Reports - January 2025

Mountaineers started 2025 strong. (The bout of January sunshine sure didn't hurt.) Read on, dear friends, for a spilt pee bottle, the red-breasted sapsucker, Jupiter, dramatic contrast, and more.  Read more…

A Year in Review: Fiscal Year 2024 Recap

The Mountaineers is an incredible community of outdoor enthusiasts, students, instructors, advocates, and leaders. We are inspired by our community’s dedication to fostering connections to the outdoors. As we close the door on 2024 and continue into 2025, we reflect on the core of our mission: to connect people to the natural world and to each other. Take a look back on our collective achievements and how our strategic goals of Lead, Engage, and Advocate guided us this past fiscal year (October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024).  Read more…

What a New Congress and New Administration Mean for the Outdoors

At The Mountaineers, we believe the outdoors can be a source of healing and unity - a place where we can all come together to find joy and connection in the natural world. Despite big changes with the makeup of Congress and the administration that will have big policy implications, we believe the outdoors is a bipartisan issue. Time and time again, we’ve been able to secure wins for the outdoors no matter who is in power in the other Washington, and we’ll continue to elevate our community’s voices and values to lawmakers in 2025 and beyond. Read more…

Advocate for Public Lands and Recreation in Olympia This Legislative Session

If you've sea kayaked in Deception Pass, climbed the Royal Columns at Tieton, or hiked Blanchard Mountain, you know how important state-managed lands are for Mountaineers programs. Amid growing visitation to Washington’s state parks, wildlife areas, and Department of Natural Resources lands, state agencies need more resources to sustainably manage increased use, mitigate climate change impacts, and better protect natural and cultural resources. Read more…

Foothills Volunteer Spotlight: Sarah Hess

Meet Sarah, a Foothills hike and backpack leader, Key Instructor, Key Leader, and Super Volunteer who embraces The Mountaineers mission to help people build skills and feel comfortable outside. Read more…

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2024-25

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…

Make Conservation Part of your New Years Resolutions with our Conservation Courses

eLearning plays an important role in our community's efforts to teach and learn outdoor skills and build a shared culture of conservation. Think of our three conservation eLearning courses as the 11th essential for your outdoor experience. Low impact Recreation, Public Lands 101, and Advocacy 101 will give you the tools you need to tread lightly on the landscape, understand how different types of federal public lands are managed, and advocate to protect public lands and the outdoor experience.  Read more…

Leave No Trace in Wintertime

Are you familiar with Leave No Trace? These tips are more than just picking up trash. In fact, the seven principles of Leave No Trace offer a framework for making decisions as you recreate outside. Leave No Trace's seven principles help guide you toward choices that have a lighter impact on the outdoors.  Given how many folks are outside recreating on our shared public lands, the cumulative effect of our efforts to be good stewards can be tremendous! Read more…

Wilderness Climbing Protected in National Parks

On Wednesday, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that it’s discontinuing development of its proposal to restrict the use of fixed anchors in Wilderness. This is a huge victory for the climbing community. If enacted, the policy would have prohibited the use of new and existing bolts, slings, and pitons in Wilderness areas, upending decades of precedent and compromising safe and reliable access to iconic Washington summits like Unicorn Peak and Mt. Shuksan.  Read more…

Victory! EXPLORE Act Passes Congress

We’re excited to share that in the final days of the 118th Congress, lawmakers came together in bipartisan fashion to pass the EXPLORE Act and send it to the President’s desk to become law. The legislation is a first-of-its-kind package of bills to improve recreation and increase and enhance outdoor access on federal public lands.
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Fall Conservation Policy Update & Advocacy Workshop Recap

Note: the Take Action section  of this blog has been updated to reflect legislative developments for the EXPLORE Act and a public lands package.

To continue growing a community of Mountaineers who adventure with purpose as outdoor advocates, our conservation team connected with Advocacy 101 course graduates and other conservation-minded Mountaineers virtually on Nov 20. As more Mountaineers seek new opportunities to flex their advocacy muscle, events like these prepare us for greater collective impact. Read more…

Mountaineer Magazine Winter 2025

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…

CEO Update: 2024 Annual Meeting Recap

Each fall we host our Annual Meeting to recognize leaders across the organization and share highlights from the previous year as well as upcoming priority areas. More than anything, our Annual Meeting is a celebration of our community and all the impact made possible by the generosity and commitment of members, volunteers, and donors. Read on for a brief recap and please check out the virtual recording.  Read more…

The 10-Year Vision for the Future of Outdoor Recreation on DNR Lands

It’s safe to say that just about any recreationist can find their next adventure on Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)-managed lands. Whether you’re tackling a strenuous ascent of Mailbox Peak, honing your sport climbing skills at Exit 38, or enjoying a trail run in the Issaquah Alps, you’re recreating in areas managed by the DNR.  Read more…

Gear Grab & Meet The Mountaineers - Dec 17, 2024

Whether you’re a seasoned outdoorsperson or just starting your journey with The Mountaineers, you won’t want to miss this special crossover event: our annual Holiday Gear Grab & Meet The Mountaineers info session happening at the Seattle Program Center on Tuesday, December 17! Read more…

This is What Outdoor Advocacy Looks Like

“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…

Top 10 Trip Reports - October 2024

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…

The Many Faces of a Mountain: Sharing Importance and Meaning Behind Indigenous Place Names

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…

U.S. Forest Service Freezes Hiring Of Seasonal Workforce

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…

Get to Know Lori Heath, Foothills Secretary and Communications Chair

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 - Oct 10, 2024

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…

Top 10 Trip Reports - September 2024

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…

Introducing the New Trip Reporter Badge

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…

Results: Board and Branch Elections - 2024

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…