Seattle Branch Blog Posts

The Photography Committee has been holding a basic photography course for many decades, changing with technology as necessary. Because of these advancements, we have made the course shorter, splitting it into two class types and focus on digital cameras. These courses are now offered three to four times each year instead of once a year. Read more…

Did you know that the Photography Committee holds monthly potlucks where members showcase their photos? It's a great way to see what other members have been doing while giving ideas of places to go to enjoy to enjoy the great outdoors. Read more…

We're excited to welcome local climber and author Blake Herrington to Washington's cadre of self-published guidebook authors! You've seen his work in Alpinist, Climbing, and Rock & Ice magazines as well as numerous websites and newspapers. And he's just completed a new guidebook, Cascades Rock: The 160 Best Multipitch & Alpine Routes in Washington  and Southern BC. Join us on March 22 as he presents his new guidebook at the Seattle Program Center.  Read more…

Join the Seattle Branch as we recognize the outstanding achievements of all of our Mountaineers volunteers. The event will feature guest speaker James Edward Mills, author of The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors. The event is open to volunteers across the entire organization and tickets are available on a first come first serve basis. Read more…

Early altimeters with 19 jewels and Swiss-made movements were price-prohibitive and thus weren’t included in either The Mountaineers navigation courses or the Ten Essentials. However, with new technology emerging, the upcoming  9th edition of Freedom of the Hills  will feature map, compass, and all of the modern tools with altimeters prominent among them. Read more…

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…

FIELD TRIP LEADER
Subject suffered 2nd degree rope burns on fingers due to losing control of assisted rappel during two-person self-rescue simulation. Location was the South Plaza climbing area at the Mountaineers Clubhouse. First Aid was cold water bath for several hours. Formal medical treatment not required/sought. Subject was able to participate fully in seminar next day wearing gloves, full recovery within one week. Read more…

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…

Our Pacific Northwest is seeing rapid rate of growth. We're welcoming people from all over the country who are moving here to participate in our vigorous economy and enjoy our incredible natural places and outdoor recreation opportunities. Some of our newcomers are experienced hikers but don't know our major hiking areas, permit requirements, and our unique trail hazards and gear requirements. Others haven't hiked before but want to know where to go and how to do it safely. We have a solution for both. Read more…

In September 2015, Washington resident Heather “Anish” Anderson hiked the 2,200 Appalachian Trail in 54 days, 7 hours and 48 minutes. Hiking 16-18 hours a day, she averaged 40 miles a day, setting a new fast-speed thru-hike record for FKT (fastest know time) for an ‘unsupported” hiker on the AT. Read more…

Meet your fellow Mountaineers and learn more about our programs and activities at this 40 minute information session, and stay after to chat with your fellow members and guests. Read more…

Thor Hanson, conservation biologist and award-winning author, will read from his latest book, Triumph of Seeds, about how seeds not only out-performed their plant rivals but changed how humans have evolved. Read more…

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…

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…

Need some new gear for winter? Come to the Seattle Program Center November 20-22, 2015 to buy some Sherpa Adventure Gear! Read more…

Each year, Mountaineers kayakers come together to attend the advanced clinics sponsored by the Seattle Kayaking Committee at Deception Pass. Staying at the Environmental Learning Center at Cornet Bay, Mountaineers paddlers attend two full days of clinics that teach skills such as advanced paddle strokes, incident management, on-the-water navigation, introduction to moving and dynamic waters, and more! Being so close to the waters of Deception Pass for an entire weekend allows time for paddlers to spend more time learning skills and to connect with each other.  Read more…

Join One by One for the premiere of Shout Gladi Gladi at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center on October 8 to learn more about the fight for maternal healthcare in Africa. Read more…

In the spring of 1990 - when the US, China, and Soviet Union were Cold War enemies and real war seemed imminent -  I organized and led the Mount Everest International Peace Climb. But there were personal reasons for the climb as well. The expedition not only focused on peace and the environment, it fostered a global mountaineering community and inspired efforts to save a young life. Read more…

In the spring of 1990 - when the US, China, and Soviet Union were Cold War enemies and real war seemed imminent -  I organized and led the Mount Everest International Peace Climb. Planned on for the 20th anniversary of the first Earth Day, we sought not only to reach the summit, but to send a message to world leaders about the state of the environment.  Read more…

Join us October  7 at the Mercer Island Library at 6:30pm for our Hike and Backpack Leader Seminar. Read more…

In the spring of 1990 - when the US, China, and Soviet Union were Cold War enemies and real war seemed imminent -  I organized and led the Mount Everest International Peace Climb. Despite language barriers, foul weather, equipment failures, and illness, our expedition of mountaineers from enemy countries reached the summit and changed the conversation from one of war to one of peace. With so much tragedy and death on Everest the past couple of years - especially  on the Tibetan side of Mt. Everest where we climbed -  I want to share why I still see Everest as a symbol of hope.  Read more…

Interested in learning how to snowshoe, kayak, or navigate in the backcountry? Want to meet some new exploration buddies? Have a gear wishlist a mile long, or have some extra gear you'd like to unload? Come to The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center from 6-8:30pm on Monday, September 21! Read more…

Twenty-five years ago Cold War Enemies, united by climbing, stood together on the highest point on earth honoring world peace and the environment. Join us September 17 to celebrate this ground-breaking anniversary.  Read more…

Admission is FREE and registering will guarantee entry at Wild Rivers Night.  Read more…

Established in 1979, Mountainfilm is dedicated to educating, inspiring and motivating audiences about environments, cultures, issues and adventures. Read more…

Ski the skiers' favorite ski areas in the world: the mega resorts of Val d'Isere France with 86 lifts and Les Arc/La Plagne, France with 145 lifts - both which guarantee snow every year! Learn more at our information session on September 20. Read more…

This past spring we hosted the fifth year of the Alpine Scrambling Intense (ASI) class teaching 17 students the basics of off-trail travel. Five years and 60 participants later we’ve learned some surprising things, including how modularization techniques could revolutionize the future of outdoor education! Read more…

"OUCH!" screamed my instructor at the rock field trip last month. A golf ball-sized piece of Mt. Erie had just bounced off the top of her helmet and she asked her students why no one had been screaming the "rock, rock, rock!" warning. In this case, however, no climbers were above her and as best as we could figure out, an empty rope had knocked it loose earlier in a climb and it finally fell after the climber was off rappel. "Thank you" to Instructor Sherrie Trecker for that perfect demonstration why you always wear your helmet at the crag - even if you're not belaying or on a rope. Because of that, one modest "ouch" was all Sherrie had to say to convey her level of surprise: no injury was caused.  Read more…

Junior Mountaineers camp  is a program for kids ages 6-13, and each week the campers learn all sorts of outdoor skills. Read more…

Navigation and other committee leaders from Everett, Foothills, Seattle and Tacoma proposed development of a coherent “navigation curriculum ladder” across all branches. The 21 navigators, climbers, scramblers, hiker/backpackers, authors, and back country ski and snowshoe  instructor/leaders met June 19/20 at Meany Lodge to chart a course for 2016 and beyond. Read more…