Tacoma Branch Blog Posts
All posts
The Mountaineers Core Values
Mountaineers have been enjoying the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond for 110 years, and it's our long-term aspiration to be thriving for another 110 years. As we look toward Vision 2022 - our next strategic plan - we felt it was time to put our core values on paper. Read more…
Tacoma Summer Camp July 10-28
This July, we'll be offering three weeks of outdoor-adventure themed summer camp. Each week has a different theme, but will all include plenty of hiking, climbing, outdoor skill-development, and tons of fun and games! Read more…
10 Essential Questions: John Morton
Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to .... Read more…
10 Essential Questions: Reese & Harper Pelland
Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to .... Read more…
Tacoma Branch Awards Banquet - Dec 9
Please join us for an evening of fun, camaraderie, and festivities as we celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of our fellow Tacoma Mountaineers! This year’s Tacoma Branch Awards Banquet will be held on Friday, Dec 9, at the Tacoma Program Center. We’ll be honoring our most dedicated volunteers, awarding Peak Pins, and enjoying a special presentation by ultra-mountaineer, Gavin Woody. Read more…
How To: Implement Low-Impact Recreation Skills
At The Mountaineers, we've believe venturing into the outdoors is an essential piece of the human experience. It's important to implement low-impact recreation skills to keep our wild places as sanctuaries for the human spirit. Read more…
Meany Lodge Committee Positions Open + Snow Cat Transport
Meany Lodge is looking to fill several committee postions that will put you at the heart of one of The Mountaineers most vibrant communities. Read more…
Mountaineers Hosting LUNAFEST!
The Mountaineers is hosting the Seattle premiere of LUNAFEST, a traveling short film festival by, for, and about women on Thursday, November 3, 2016! Read more…
How To: Reduce Your Backcountry Bathroom Use Impact
At The Mountaineers, we've believe venturing into the outdoors is an essential piece of the human experience. It's important to implement low-impact recreation skills to keep our wild places as sanctuaries for the human spirit. Read more…
Community Building with Tacoma Mountaineers Youth Programs
As Mountaineers, we see the outdoors as the ultimate community center. It's a venue for young and old, new and seasoned, professional and novice to convene around a common interest. The renovated program center in Tacoma is an indoor space that proves the outdoors is not the only place Mountaineers come together. Read more…
How To: Reduce Your Backcountry Camping Impact
At The Mountaineers, we've believe venturing into the outdoors is an essential piece of the human experience. It's important to implement low-impact recreation skills to keep our wild places as sanctuaries for the human spirit. Read more…
How To: Reduce Your Backcountry Eating Impact
At The Mountaineers, we've believe venturing into the outdoors is an essential piece of the human experience. It's important to implement low-impact recreation skills to keep our wild places as sanctuaries for the human spirit. Read more…
How To: Reduce Your Backcountry Travel Impact
At The Mountaineers, we've believe venturing into the outdoors is an essential piece of the human experience. It's important to implement low-impact recreation skills to keep our wild places as sanctuaries for the human spirit. Read more…
Special Presentation: "Before the Wind" with Jim Lynch - Sept 14
The Mountaineers Tacoma Branch presents an evening with Jim Lynch, author of the book Before the Wind. Join us to meet the author and learn more about his local inspiration. Read more…
Airbnb Offers Special $200 Bonus to Mountaineers Who Host
Summer is the busiest time for travelers. In fact, 400% more people make trips to the northwest from July-October than during winter. Read more…
Be An Outdoor Ambassador: How To Implement Low-Impact Recreation Skills
At The Mountaineers, we've believe venturing into the outdoors is an essential piece of the human experience. We go outside to wander and explore the adventurous spirit within ourselves. It's important to implement low-impact recreation skills to keep our wild places as sanctuaries for the human spirit; so our grandchildren can experience the sensation of discovering an untouched place. Read more…
Our Climbing Curriculum: Tell us what you think!
Did you miss the chance to attend our Progressive Climbing Education listening sessions? Please use this survey to give us your input! Read more…
How To: Poop in the Outdoors
I am confident that you and I have at least two things in common: 1) we both set aside time to explore the outdoors, and 2) at some point during these adventures we will both experience the discomfort of knowing we have to go number two. Even if you don't, you will inevitably be reminded of this basic human function by the sight of toilet paper discarded uncomfortably close to trails and water sources. By the amount of TP I have seen recently on Washington’s trails, it seems even the most avid outdoor enthusiasts may not know how to handle nature’s calling. Read more…
Tacoma Branch Open House and BBQ - June 16
Join us on Thursday, June 16 from 6-8pm for this all branch, community, and new member gathering. We'll have a presentation for new and prospective members to learn about opportunities to get involved with The Mountaineers, with a BBQ/potluck to follow. Read more…
Wild Skills Day for Girls - May 21 & June 5
SheJumps and The Mountaineers are pleased to present Wild Skills Day again this year - a free day camp for young girls (age 6-12) to learn the skills they need for outdoor adventuring. Read more…
John Muir: From Yosemite to Mt. Rainier - April 22
Both the words and inspiration of John Muir still resonate with us today. He was an adventurer, explorer and mountaineer; but more importantly, he changed the way in which the nation thought about its wilderness. Muir championed a change in thinking that argued our most treasured natural places are not resources to be harvested, but rather refuges to be preserved and protected. He believed in the restorative power of nature and promoted that people should “get closer to nature’s heart”. Read more…
Tacoma Branch Open House and Special Presentation - April 21
Meet fellow Mountaineers and learn how to get involved in our courses and activities, then stay for our feature presentation by Tacoma Mountaineer and peak bagger, Julie Myer. Read more…
Tacoma Program Center: Rappel Sit-n-Spin-n-Sprain
A student sprained their ankle while beginning a rappel during an Intermediate Climbing Qualifier Practical Exam on January 24. The injury occurred at 1pm. Read more…
Tacoma Branch Open House and Special Presentation - March 17
Meet fellow Mountaineers and learn how to get involved in our courses and activities, then stay for our feature presentation by adventure photographer Jason Hummel. Read more…
Now Offering Wilderness First Responder Courses and Recerts
Starting in Spring 2016, The Mountaineers will be offering Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Responder Recertification courses! Read more…
Tacoma Branch Open House + Gear Grab - Feb 18
At this action-packed evening, you can check our our Gear Grab, meet fellow Mountaineers and learn how to get involved in our courses and activities, and enjoy great stories and pictures from Tacoma Mountaineer Beth Owen on her 8-day kayak adventure around the beautiful San Juan Islands. Read more…
Tacoma Branch Open House and Special Presentation - Thurs. Jan 21
This past November, Tacoma Mountaineer Carrie Kavanaugh traveled to Nepal to climb Ama Dablam, an impressive and beautiful peak that caught her eye on her first expedition to the Himalaya in 2009. Read more…
Backcountry Film Festival - Jan 7, 9, and Feb 4
Grab your outdoor bucket list and adventure buddies to tune into a night of human-powered winter celebration, with ten edge-of-your-seat films celebrating backcountry skiing and other adventures! Read more…
Banff Film Festival - A Tacoma Tradition
If we bring it, will they come? Eleven years ago, this question plagued Justin Canny, of the University of Puget Sound Outdoor Programs, and me (Jim Feltus, of The Mountaineers, Tacoma Branch). Without knowing the answer, we took a chance and brought the Banff Mountain Film Festival to Tacoma. Read more…
Thankful for you. For our community.
We're lucky. At The Mountaineers, we've always known the value of natural places to restore our bodies and our spirits. Our outdoor playgrounds offer endless ways to explore and learn and discover and connect. Read more…