Tacoma Branch Blog Posts

Summer is arriving at Mount Rainier National Park, and with it comes a season of change - and challenge. As the iconic peak draws crowds from across the country, Park officials are rolling out new visitor access policies, temporarily closing roads and campgrounds, and navigating staffing shortages. If you’re planning to explore Rainier’s natural beauty this summer, some extra preparation will go a long way. Here’s what you need to know before you hit the trail. Read more…

Most outdoor experiences on public lands and waters begin on trail or at a trailhead. Trails serve as pathways and connectors to the special parks and recreation areas where we teach and learn outdoor skills, engage with the natural world, and make memories with our community. On the first Saturday of June each year, outdoor enthusiasts from across the country come together to celebrate National Trails Day - sharing time outdoors together and giving back to lands that make our adventures possible through on-the-ground stewardship.  Read more…

It’s that time of year, dear friends - temperatures are rising, the snow is changing, and wildlife is coming out to play. May you find exemplary leadership, geological curiosities, and extraordinary scenery in this month’s top trip reports. Read more…

We’re excited to once again be calling for nominations for individuals to join our Board of Directors, and this year we are also seeking individuals to join as part of our branch leadership. Our open nominations process is rooted in our core values and ensures we bring forward an excellent and diverse slate of candidates to be elected by membership. Nominations are due by June 22, 2025. Read more…

 For more than 25 years, Christopher Van Tilburg has served as a volunteer with the Hood River Crag Rats – the nation’s oldest all-volunteer mountain rescue organization based on the slopes of Mount Hood, Oregon. As the Crag Rats recently marked their 100th anniversary, Van Tilburg turned a reflective eye to the team’s remarkable legacy in his newly released Mountaineers Books title, Crisis on Mount Hood. Read more…

Throughout the Pacific Northwest, recreationists are facing a new reality: wildfires are impacting outdoor recreation more than ever before. From smoky skies to long-term trail closures, fire season is no longer an occasional disruption, but a defining part of the summer outdoor experience. Read more…

Bursting blossoms, migratory birds, and majestic mountain views have put a spring in everyone’s step this April. Read on, dear friends, for a warm welcome to the spring season in this month’s top trip reports. Read more…

Update: We were glad to see public lands sales stripped out of the final version of the reconciliation bill that passed the House. Support from the outdoor community and efforts by Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and the congressional Public Lands Caucus were instrumental in securing this near-term win. Unfortunately, other harmful public lands provisions were left in the final House bill, and public lands sales could crop up again as the Senate considers the reconciliation package in the coming months.

As a lover of public lands, it can be disheartening to read the news lately. Recent actions by Congress and the administration represent a mounting threat to our shared lands and waters - places where we find connection to the natural world. The largely partisan support for these harmful policies - which include public lands sell-offs - is built on the short-sighted premise that public lands are solely items on a balance sheet to be leveraged for financial gain through privatization and development. Read more…

For over a decade, The Mountaineers has inspired adventures of all kinds through the BeWild Speaker Series - and this year’s lineup promises to be as unforgettable as ever. Read more…

Earlier this week, one of our longtime landscape protection priorities, the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, was reintroduced in the 119th Congress by two members of the Washington delegation. Senator Patty Murray continues to champion this effort in the Senate and freshman Rep. Emily Randall (WA-06) has reintroduced the Wild Olympics bill in the House. The bill protects key recreation areas of the Olympic National Forest through the designation of new Wilderness and the Peninsula’s first-ever Wild and Scenic rivers.  Read more…

Whether you’re a seasoned outdoorsperson or just beginning your journey with The Mountaineers, you won’t want to miss our Spring Gear Grab. Read more…

When we go outside together, we not only increase our connection to each other, but also to the natural world. This is why, at our core, Mountaineers are not just learners and adventurers, but also advocates and conservationists. We fall in love with places and then do our utmost to conserve that experience for others. Read more…

At The Mountaineers, we believe adventure means more than simply reaching a summit objective or snapping a photo at the perfect viewpoint. It’s about how we show up with curiosity, care, and a sense of responsibility—about connecting more deeply with nature, with one another, and with something bigger than ourselves.  Read more…

Spring is a busy time of year at The Mountaineers, and this year that feels especially true. The need to connect people with each other and the natural world has never been greater. Read more…

The Mountaineers advocacy to protect public lands and the outdoor experience transcends the places where we recreate and the courses we lead here in the Pacific Northwest. This work doesn’t happen alone; partnerships lie at the heart of our advocacy story. About nine years ago, The Mountaineers joined Outdoor Alliance (OA) - a national coalition of human-powered recreation organizations. Over the years, we’ve deepened our involvement because our community is a unique catalyst for conservation and advocacy work on a national scale. Read more…

I don’t know about you, but I feel that Washington’s state-managed parks and public lands are truly special and offer something for everyone. Outdoor places like Blanchard Mountain, Cape Disappointment, the Exit 38 climbing area near North Bend, and many others connect us to nature through recreation across every region of the state. Read more…

This month was everything March should be: glimpses of sun to get you excited for warmer weather and just enough snow for some satisfying spring skiing. Read on, dear friends, for lunar landscapes, trolls, and churning currents! Read more…

In February 2025, we invited our members and volunteers to participate in our community survey. We do this every few years to understand how experiences change over time and identify areas of need when balancing resources. We’re pleased to share these preliminary results with our community, and look forward to deeper analysis with the staff and volunteer leaders who drive our programs and accomplish our mission in the community. Read more…

Maintaining access to Washington’s cherished landscapes and the recreational opportunities they support frequently requires partnership between the State and federal land managers. Drastic reductions to the federal workforce and a looming state budget deficit underscore the need for creative solutions to safe and sustainable access to Washington’s lands and waters this year and beyond. Read more…

Since the new administration took office, they’ve adopted a “flood-the-zone” approach to policy. That means mass firings of federal employees, including ten percent of the Forest Service’s workforce, and a surge of executive orders (written directives signed by the President) that put our public lands and climate at risk.  Read more…

Are you curious what secrets lie beyond the shore of Washington? Do you want to paddle around islands, explore hidden nature preserves, marvel at coastal features, and enjoy urban paddling experiences? Then Basic Sea Kayaking is the perfect course for you!

Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, this course offers both foundational training and opportunities to advance your sea kayaking abilities. You'll learn in a supportive and friendly team environment, where everyone is encouraged to grow together. Read more…

We had a fairly frosty February, and it definitely shows in this month’s adventures. Read on, dear friends, for snowy sculptures, deer to the rescue, and well-stocked toilet paper! Read more…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…