Get Involved With Your Branch

Visit Your Branch Page Go to mountaineers.org and click on ‘More’ in the top menu; then click ‘Locations & Lodges’ and select your branch from the dropdown options. On your branch home page, you’ll find branch news, upcoming events, contact info, and more. You can also access your branch page using the direct links listed in the branch summaries.

Browse Branch Courses & Activities To see what’s available, visit mountaineers.org and click the big green ‘Find Courses’ button or ‘Find Activities’ button. You can then narrow your search by branch using the filter options in the green column on the left. Remember, you can sign up for courses and activities offered by any branch.

Branch Events With picnics, open houses, banquets, guest speakers, and more, our branches host an array of events for you to get involved. To check out what’s next, visit mountaineers.org/events. From this page, you can select your branch calendar.

Branch eNewsletters Branch eNewsletters are a great way to stay up to date. To opt in to these emails, visit mountaineers.org/profile. Login, then scroll down and make sure the box next to ‘Branch Communications’ is checked.*

Volunteer Our branches draw on people with a range of skills and interests to power their programs. Instructors, event planners, admin help, and more are all needed. Volunteering is a great way to plug into our community. Reach out to your branch chair to get started.

Membershipmatters

*The Seattle Branch doesn't have a branch-wide eNewsletter, but several activity committees publish eNewsletters, including climbing, navigation, photography, and naturalists, and many activities have a Facebook presence. To learn more, contact the committee chairperson. To find a committee, input the committee name into our search bar at the top of our website.

SNIFF OUT member benefits

As a Mountaineers member you have access to:

Courses, clinics, and seminars to gain lifelong skills

Activities to get outside and find community

Gear Library access to help outfit your trips

Lodge access at our Baker, Meany, and Stevens lodges

20% off Mountaineers Books publications and Green Trails maps

10-70% off gear and experiences from our partners

And more!

To learn more, visit mountaineers.org/membership/benefits

Did you know that algae are one of the oldest life forms? They’ve been producing an estimated 30-50% of the Earth’s net global oxygen for the past three billion years and can be found throughout the world on snow, fresh water, salt water, and even animals. Nearly all life owes its existence to this small but mighty organism.

Many algae are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment, such as shifts in pH, nutrient levels, and temperature. Their sensitivity makes them key indicators of an ecosystem’s health, and scientists are able to monitor water quality by examining the amount of algae, as well as the various types of algae, in a given location. When there is a shift in an ecosystem — often due to some level of disturbance — algae can multiply enough to produce large patches called “blooms.” These blooms can discolor the water, deplete its oxygen, and in some cases poison the surrounding aquatic wildlife.

One cause for algal blooms is the introduction of invasive species. Invasive species are non-native species such as plants, animals, or microbes that are introduced from one ecosystem into another. By preventing the introduction of invasive species into our aquatic ecosystems, we can lessen the possibility of algal blooms and the harmful environmental consequences that come with them.

How to be a responsible recreationist this summer

As we dive into summer and find ourselves recreating in all the wonderful environments that the Pacific Northwest has