Bellingham Mountaineers

Bellingham Mountaineers This page is dedicated to providing our local community with relevant updates and topics relating to the Bellingham Branch of The Mountaineers.

The Bellingham Branch of The Mountaineers is tucked alongside the upper craggy expanse of the North Cascades. We enjoy easy access to the peaks that drain into the Nooksack and Skagit River basins. Our branch is a small and close-knit community offering climbing courses, hiking trips, and backcountry adventures in a diverse, inclusive and supportive environment. As a smaller branch, we focus on pr

oviding robust and comprehensive climbing courses, emphasizing individualized attention, building close connections, and providing increased instructor availability and accessibility. Visit our website BellinghamMountaineers.com for more information about the Bellingham Branch! Note: This page is not the official The Mountaineers page. Not everything posted here is official Mountaineers content. Only trips, courses, and events with a mountaineers.org registration are official.

Please join us for our final Speaker event of the season! Malcolm (Mac) Bates’s will be sharing from his recently update...
05/20/2026

Please join us for our final Speaker event of the season! Malcolm (Mac) Bates’s will be sharing from his recently updated book on the unique history of the Three Fingers Lookout. You can expect an engaging evening of photos, videos, and Mac’s delightful storytelling all about this fascinating place!

Malcolm S. Bates was introduced to the Cascade Mountains by his father over seventy years ago, and in the company of his father, siblings, and friends, he has returned year after year, climbing to lonely summits, camping next to alpine lakes, and resting in verdant meadows. The mountains have informed not only his writing but his teaching as well. Bates taught in the public schools for forty-six years, and as an English teacher probably relied a bit too heavily on mountains as metaphors.

A lifelong friend of Three Fingers, Malcolm Bates has visited the lookout cabin well over twenty times, and hopes to visit at least one more time before his legs give out. Besides Three Fingers, Bates has written Cascade Voices, Conversations with Washington Mountaineers, and First Street Stories, A Mid-Century Snohomish Childhood.

Backcountry Essentials
1417 N State St. - Bellingham
Tuesday, May 26
@ 7:30 pm

More details on our page - link in bio

04/26/2026

The Bellingham Mountaineers have been busy this Spring 2026! We’re in full swing with basic mountaineering course students preparing for the yearly multi-pitch intro trip to Skaha Bluffs in Canada. This March and April they’ve learned to memorize the most important rope systems for safe vertical climbing. Applied their knowledge in our intro FUNdamentals overnight trip, and practiced safe belay and rappel communication as a team.

We hosted our first PechaKucha event integrating our local Bellingham community as the main speaker event! Keep an eye for more as we host more local PechaKucha storytelling from those in and around the mountaineering community.

THURSDAY NIGHT GEAR SWAPBellingham Mountaineers Gear Swap is scheduled for Thursday, February 19th, 6-8pm at Stemma West...
02/17/2026

THURSDAY NIGHT GEAR SWAP

Bellingham Mountaineers Gear Swap is scheduled for Thursday, February 19th, 6-8pm at Stemma West.

Gather up your lightly used gear and come join us for some swapping and socializing.
This will be a great opportunity for basic students to find things they might need for this season!

If you’ve got some older things bring it along and drop it off at the free grab table. You never know who might find it useful.

Come browse, grab a drink, and hangout. See you there!

Join us tomorrow night at Backcountry Essentials for Fletcher Jordan's presentation on the WA T200!Fletcher is an accomp...
02/10/2026

Join us tomorrow night at Backcountry Essentials for Fletcher Jordan's presentation on the WA T200!

Fletcher is an accomplished peak bagger with a resume that includes multiple Washington State lists . He finished the Bulger List in 2018 and became the youngest finisher of the WA clean T100 x P400 in 2019 at 29 years old. He was the 18th overall finisher, and still holds the record as the youngest climber to complete that list.

Last summer, Fletcher and his friend Eric Eames became the first two climbers to finish the WA Top 200 by Prominence which was updated last winter with new Lidar satellite data. Previous to 2025, there were 6 finishers, but only 3 people have finished the new list, so far.

Fletcher will talk about the awesome nature of the list and the different corners of the cascades the pursuit will take you through, highlighting some of the tougher climbs like Nooksack Tower, Lincoln Peak, Gunsight Peak, Agnes Mountain and numerous climbs in the Pickets.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BybZV8vKg/

Join us for an informational and instructional event: GLACIER CLIMBING & CREVASSE RESCUE WITH IAN NICHOLSONJoin us for a...
01/14/2026

Join us for an informational and instructional event: GLACIER CLIMBING & CREVASSE RESCUE WITH IAN NICHOLSON

Join us for a free event with IFMGA-certified mountain guide and author Ian Nicholson to celebrate the release of his new book, Glacier Climbing & Crevasse Rescue: Essential Skills for Snow Travel. Ian will share a slideshow presentation highlighting essential skills and techniques followed by an optional hands-on demo. There will be time for audience Q&A and signed copies of Ian’s book will be available for purchase. This is a unique opportunity to learn from one of the region’s most experienced guides, connect with fellow climbers, and get your book signed.

Wednesday, January 21st at 7pm at AAI
(4041 Home Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226)

Those attending the optional hands on practice are encouraged to bring a small glacier kit like:
3-4 lockers
3-4 non lockers
1-2 120cm slings
1 short third hand prusik
Belay device
Harness
No helmet needed as we wont leave the ground
Option to bring some of the modern tools like the Petzl Tibloc or Petzl Micro Traxion or similar

A peek back at 2025 for the Bellingham Mountaineers! 🏔️ 2025 Wrapped:28 climbs lead by our branch24 basic course graduat...
12/31/2025

A peek back at 2025 for the Bellingham Mountaineers! 🏔️

2025 Wrapped:
28 climbs lead by our branch
24 basic course graduates
1 intermediate graduate
35 training hikes lead
9 intermediate field trips
2 new training offerings added (active bystander training and dry tooling clinic)

We can’t wait to see all the peaks, summits, and shared community 2026 will bring!

#2025

📸 photo cred:
Arlo Flynn
Sujay Kawale
Sean Wilson
Luke Hollister
Alicia Brittain
Sugar Kawale
Krissy Fagan
Alex Matthews
Sujay Kawale
Alicia Portillo
Mitch Harter
Alex Matthews
David Duryee
Jordan Lawerence
Jeanie Ralyea
Nicole Beyler
Taylor Hummel
Krissy Fagan
Alicia Brittain
Brian Degenhardt

GEAR SWAP!!Bellingham Mountaineers Winter Gear Swap is scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, 6-9pm at Stemma West.Mark you...
11/05/2025

GEAR SWAP!!

Bellingham Mountaineers Winter Gear Swap is scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, 6-9pm at Stemma West.

Mark your calendars, gather your unused gear, and come join us for some gear swapping and community chatting. Whether you’re looking to get rid of some older things, find a good steal, or just come browse and hangout, we hope to see you there!

Intermediate Course Applications are Open!If you’ve finished the basic course and are looking for more learning, or have...
11/02/2025

Intermediate Course Applications are Open!

If you’ve finished the basic course and are looking for more learning, or have a lot of experience and want to get more involved with the mountaineers, or work your way towards becoming a climber leader, then check out our intermediate course offerings!

Intermediate Course Informational Meeting:
When: Tuesday, November 18th
Where: @ AAI
What: A brief presentation providing an overview of the course and a Q&A session with leaders and students.

Applications:
Open thru December 15, 2025
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPraX3V25eP6N4Zq_zDcsQ1FLt2V_fEmcpA40_EQ-vQNzuRw/viewform

Thinking about applying for the 2026 Basic Course, but want more information or to see if it’s the right fit for you? We...
10/09/2025

Thinking about applying for the 2026 Basic Course, but want more information or to see if it’s the right fit for you? We’ll be hosting an evening social for you to connect with current Bellingham Mountaineers and find out more about the course offerings.

Basic Course Info Night
Monday, October 20, 2025 | 6-9pm
Stemma West - 508 Carolina St. (in the brewhouse)

For more event details visit: https://tinyurl.com/bham-basic-course-2026-info

The 2025 Fall Rendezvous is 1 week away!Tuesday, October 14th at 6pmLocation: Squalicum Boat House We can’t wait to have...
10/07/2025

The 2025 Fall Rendezvous is 1 week away!

Tuesday, October 14th at 6pm
Location: Squalicum Boat House

We can’t wait to have an evening shared with community and celebrating this year’s mountaineering accomplishments and all of our volunteers who help make it possible!

We will have some awesome door prizes and catering, so please RSVP here by Friday, October 10th: https://www.mountaineers.org/locations-lodges/bellingham-branch/events/fall-rendezvous-1

Remember brining homemade baked good will earn you an extra door prize ticket! Hope to see you there!

Address

Bellingham, WA
98225-98229

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