Meany Lodge Blog

After lots of hard work all last fall and early this winter, we're pleased to announce two new major features have been added to our website: an online lodge reservation system and online merchandise sales. We've also made some smaller, noteworthy improvements. Read more…

A year into our strategic plan, Adventure with Purpose, we’re making significant strides to continue improving support for our mission. To better address the needs of our volunteers who run and operate our three lodges, we are expanding resources and making dedicated financial investments. Of the many improvements taking place this season, I’m excited about a new opportunity to accelerate infrastructure improvements to revitalize Baker, Meany, and Stevens Lodges. Read more…

Every weekend this winter, tens of thousands of people will flock to the Cascades to play in the snow. The mountains come alive with the bustle of snow plows, ski lifts, and resort infrastructure catering to locals and tourists alike. And if you look closely, adjacent to the hubbub at three popular recreation areas, you’ll find vibrant and warm pockets of Mountaineers community. Read more…

Our volunteers hosts at Meany Lodge are looking for several ski and snowboard instructors to join their wonderful team! Read more…

Washington’s premier ski-touring race is back again and open for registration! The Patrol Race is the oldest continuing ski race in the northwest – traversing nearly 20 miles and approximately 4,500 feet of gain and descent – taking racers from Snoqualmie Pass to Meany Lodge. With a rich history dating back to the 1930s, the Patrol Race is an experience steeped in snow, tradition, and adventure that you won’t want to miss! Read more…

Downhill ski, snowboard, and telemark lessons are now open for registration at Meany Lodge. We offer single-day lessons almost every Saturday, as well as multi-week classes (4 days total) during the winter season. Check out our Meany Lodge webpage and register for one of our ski courses!  Read more…

Among The Mountaineers properties are our three rustic lodges: Baker, Meany, and Stevens. Each nestled close to their own mountain terrain, our lodges provide a restful atmosphere after a long day outdoors. Read more…

What do Chantrelles, Morels, Lobsters, Oysters, Shaggy manes, Cauliflower, King Boletes and  Matsutake have in common? They are all wild edible mushrooms found in Northwest forests. If you would like to start gathering wild mushrooms or if you are looking for a refresher, this one evening seminar is for you. Read more…

17 miles per hour. That’s the speed of the rope tow at Meany Lodge when it’s in third gear. Touted as the fastest, longest, legally operated tow west of the Mississippi, the Meany Tow whisks skiers 500ft up an east-facing glade deep in the heart of Stampede Pass. The angle is gradual at first, but then steepens midway, creating a small gap between the rope and the slope. Regulars will tell you they routinely see small children lift off the ground, carried for a dozen or so feet before touching back down on the high side. They love it. Read more…

Dog lovers rejoice! On certain winter weekends in 2023, a dogsled team from Northwest Dogsled Adventures will replace the Sno-Cat to provide transportation to and from Meany Lodge. Read more…

The Meany Patrol Race is back for another year! Join us as we watch teams race along the historic track and celebrate their accomplishments at The Mountaineers Meany Lodge on March 19, 2022.  Read more…

We’re looking forward to getting back to a more “normal” season at Meany Lodge with overnight guests! Registration is open now. 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…

With great sadness we share the news of the passing of Patti Polinsky, a 56-year member of The Mountaineers, long-time volunteer with Meany Lodge and the Foothills Branch, ski instructor, and Global Adventures Leader. Patti passed away after a long battle with cancer on June 15, 2021. She was comfortable and surrounded by loved ones, including her husband of 45 years, Dave Claar. Read more…

For many people in our Mountaineers community, spending time at our lodges is a winter and holiday tradition. During a normal year, many of our courses begin hosting lectures and practice sessions at our program centers in the winter months. And without a pandemic our Baker, Meany, and Stevens Lodges would be serving as home base for Mountaineers members and guests for snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, lift-serviced alpine skiing, and other winter adventures.  Read more…

The Mountaineers would like to welcome you to our first annual Adventure Wellness Weekend! Sponsored by the Foothills Branch Trail Running Committee and located at Meany Lodge, the weekend hosts a multitude of activities designed to allow participants to experience nature in a new way. You can forage for wild plants to eat or grow at home, hike at night, try yoga in natural settings, and more! Read more…

Each year, The Mountaineers pair up with the Puget Sound Mycological Society to host a mushroom weekend at Meany Lodge. This special weekend offers attendees a great space to learn about foraging mushrooms in the northwest, both for in food and for other purposes. Besides a bed at the lodge, guests are treated to a wide range of mushroom treats and entrees, making this much-anticipated weekend an event not to be missed! Read more…

Join The Mountaineers and Puget Sound Mycological Society at Meany Lodge for our annual Mushroom Weekend October 11-13! It's the perfect place to learn everything you ever wanted to know about mushrooms. Join us as we forage for local mushrooms, learn how to use fungi in and out of the kitchen, cook a variety of exciting mushroom meals, and meet others who love mushrooms just as much as you do!  Read more…

Our Meany Lodge ski instructor team is looking for new instructors of varying experience levels for the 2017-18 season. This volunteer gig comes with free lodging, PSIA training, and a community you'll have for life. Read more…

After four adventure packed days at The Mountaineers Meany Lodge, it was time for the seven campers to head home. The kids, ages 7 to 10, ran into hugs from their parents with huge grins on their faces. They instantly began to list all the fun memories they made at camp. "We went sledding, we built a snow fort, we learned to snowshoe, the lodge food was incredible..." Surprisingly, one of the loudest, most frequent, and incredibly enthusiastic proclamation was "DOING DISHES IS FUN!" Read more…

Are you a snowboarder? Do you like teaching? Do you like free lodge stays and street cred? Meany Lodge is looking for a Snowboard Instructor to lessons on specific weekends this year. Read more…

Meany lodge is the oldest of the Mountaineer's ski lodges. Situated near the meandering Yakima River, and surrounded by the lush, peaceful Wenatchee National Forest, it is a welcome respite from the chaos of cities and commercial ski areas. Its committee leadership would love to extend an invitation to all people looking to contribute to The Mountaineers through hosting at the Lodge and helping make the guest experience one of the best they will have all winter.  Read more…

As stated in  our book "The Mountaineers: A History," the oldest of the Mountaineer's ski lodges, Meany lodge, was built in 1928. The Stevens "Ski Cabin" (as it was called at the time) opened in 1948, and Baker Lodge opened in 1959. However - let's not forget our "first in the west" forest theater on the Kitsap peninsula, which was dedicated in 1926! 

Each of these properties' committee leadership would love to have the help of people looking to help maintain and enhance the locations they steward on behalf of the organization. The properties are used by our many activity leaders to help run and administer courses, by members and the public at large who want to spend a (more comfortable) night on the mountains without long commutes, as well as our Mountaineers Players and youth programs in Kitsap County! Help us maintain our longstanding presence as stewards of the outdoors, by helping with the upkeep and improvement of our properties!  Read more…

Meany Lodge is undergoing significant updates in the upcoming weeks and we need your help to get all the work done! Meany is a special place to many in our community, and these projects will significantly improve the lodge for future users. The upcoming work parties are on July 20 and July 21.   Read more…

As most experienced Meanyites know, in winter, the only fashionable motorized way into the lodge is with our Sno-Cats. Our veteran, "Tom Cat," hauls equipment and guests. "Moose" is our snow mover, used to make sure we can get to the lodge when the dumps happen. We also have two snowmobiles and an antique Dodge Power Wagon. As with all machines, they need regular repair and maintenance. If you have expertise to lend us in keeping these vehicles running well, we would love to welcome you to Meany Lodge! Read more…

Are you good with your hands? Can you take apart an engine? Can you swing a hammer or clean a kitchen? If you can say yes to any of the above (and even if you don't), sign up for Meany's fall work parties. These work parties are a very good way to meet the folks who run our Meany Lodge  and see the inner-workings of a winter full of fun.  Read more…

Built in 1938, Meany Lodge is home to a thriving ski community. We provide a family friendly atmosphere similar to the huts in Europe. Our ski school is nationally recognized, and all instructors are Mountaineers who have received formal ski instructor training. Our instructors are volunteers, who want to share their joy of skiing and help you meet your goals. Read more…

Meany Lodge will be adventure central the first weekend of August with exciting outdoor activities for all ages. Swim in a mountain lake, take a berry hike through acres of salmon berries, huckleberries, and wild strawberries, pedal alongside the reservoir, or wander the lodge property. Read more…

While tenured Meanyites know how to pack for a weekend of fun in about 3 minutes flat (hint: after unpacking, do laundry & re-pack immediately), we often see first time visitors struggle. Here’s a rule of thumb & a few specific pointers: Read more…

Two years ago, Mountaineers members revived the Patrol Race. With a rich history of misadventure and competition, racers were excited to take part in this storied tradition. We're honored to be hosting the event again this year on February 27. Read more…