Tacoma Branch Blog Posts

Tacoma Branch Blog Posts

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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…

Tacoma Mountaineers Open House and Special Presentation - Nov 19

Meet your fellow Mountaineers and learn how to get involved in our outdoor activities, then stay for our feature presentation by Julie Myer. Read more…

Tacoma Mountaineers Basic Climbing Course 2016

If you've dreamed of climbing the great glaciated and rocky peaks of the Northwest, this class is for you! Tacoma's Basic Climbing Course starts in February 2016. Read more…

2015 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

We’re bringing the spirit of outdoor adventure and mountain culture to The Mountaineers again! The World Tour features the best mountain films this year, showcasing amazing filmmaking talent from the world over to an audience that spans the globe.  Read more…

Renaming and revamping the Basic Navigation Course

You may have gotten a little confused lately browsing for Navigation courses on our website. The traditional "Basic Navigation" course has recently been renamed "Wilderness Navigation" by our Seattle and Tacoma branches. If you're a student or instructor trying to satisfy a Basic Navigation requirement, HAVE NO FEAR: you will still receive the same badge by taking the newly named Wilderness Navigation course. Read more…

Tacoma Branch Annual Potluck and Awards Dinner - Saturday, Oct 17, 2015

Our Annual Potluck and Awards Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, Oct 17 at 6pm. Please plan to join your fellow Mountaineers for an evening of community and fun! Read more…

10 Essential Questions: Jim Paxinos

For our member profile this week we talked to ... Read more…