With the cozy season upon us, we’re excited to load up on some good reads for the months ahead. We figured local publishing company Mountaineers Books would be the best place to peruse the options.
This independent nonprofit was launched back in 1960 by volunteers of The Mountaineers who released the world’s best-selling climbing instructional text, “Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills,” which has helped get folks out into the wilderness for decades.|
Today, Mountaineers Books publishes the works of talented authors who write across a large range of nonfiction subjects, from hiking guides and natural history books to climbing memoirs and art offerings (even a tarot deck). Here’s a taste of new and recent books by local authors that caught our eye. We also asked each author to describe their ideal day in the PNW!
Author of “Salmon, Cedar, Rock & Rain: Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.”
McNulty is a poet, essayist, and natural history writer whose books have won the Washington State Book Award and National Outdoor Book Award, among other honors.
“I live in the northeast foothills of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where I oversee a small piece of wild woodland. I’ve lived on the peninsula for over 50 years. For most of that time, I’ve been a conservation activist. I currently serve as vice president of Olympic Park Advocates, a grassroots conservation organization that focuses on Olympic National Park and the Olympic ecosystem,” said McNulty.
McNulty’s ideal PNW day: “A perfect day for me would begin with tea and toast as dawn light falls across the mountains. Packing a lunch, I’d venture out on a leisurely hike into the high country of the upper Dungeness River watershed. If it’s spring, I’ll monitor the progression of wildflowers in bloom; if summer, swim in an alpine lake, if fall, watch for salmon spawning in the Dungeness or Gray Wolf Rivers. Back home, I would sip wine on the porch with my wife as shadows lengthen across the valley.”
Author of “A Fine Line: Searching for Balance Among Mountains,” which charts his journey as a climber, husband and climate advocate.
Zimmerman is one of the most acclaimed alpinists of his generation. He holds leadership roles in various nonprofits and outdoor companies, including the American Alpine Club and Protect Our Winters.
Zimmerman’s ideal PNW day: “My ideal day in the PNW would start climbing Mount Hood with skis on my back and clipping into my bindings on the summit before skiing back to the Timberline Lodge. I would then drive back towards Bend and stop at Smith for a few hours of rock climbing. Finally, I would head back into Bend in the late afternoon to spend the evening hanging out with Shannon and our pups at one of the lovely local restaurants. And in case this sounds impossible, I assure you that we’ve done this multiple times. Living in the PNW is a good deal,” said Zimmerman.
Author of “Trees of the West: An Artist’s Guide,”along with “Mount Rainier National Park: An Artist’s Tour,” “Birds of the West: An Artist’s Guide” and more.
“I am an artist and natural history writer: my subjects are the landscapes, plants and animals that live in the West, particularly the Pacific Northwest. My books include: “Colors of the West: An Artist’s Guide to Nature’s Palette,” “Birds of the West: An Artist’s Guide,” “Mt. Rainier National Park: An Artist’s Tour” and most recently, “Trees of the West: An Artist’s Guide.” All are in print and published by Mountaineers Books. My art has been published for over 40 years by Pomegranate Communications, in the form of cards and calendars,” said Hashimoto. “I live in northeast Seattle, just above Magnuson Park. I’ve lived in Seattle since 1973,” said Hashimoto.
Hashimoto’s ideal PNW day: “My ideal Pacific Northwest day starts in the mountains—most likely in one of my two favorite national parks: North Cascades National Park, or Mt. Rainier National Park. I pack a lunch for me and my friend, Paul, to leave early and arrive in late morning for a day hike–at Rainier, I love the Skyline Trail at Paradise. On the way, I’ll see, photograph and sometimes sketch wildflowers, spectacular mountain hemlocks, and subalpine firs, perhaps Clark’s nutcracker and if I’m lucky, a marmot or two! When I get home, I look at my photos and label them, so I can easily find them later to help me create the paintings and prints I make of these special places,” Hashimoto said.
Author of “The Naturalist at Home: Projects for Discovering the Hidden World Around Us” and “Nature Obscura: A City’s Hidden Natural World.”
“My writing focuses on natural history and I’ve written two books on that topic. The Naturalist at Home: Projects for Discovering the Hidden World Around Us came out this year and my first book Nature Obscura: A City’s Hidden Natural World came out in 2020 and was a finalist for the 2021 Pacific Northwest Book Awards and the 2021 Washington State Book Awards. I’ve also written freelance for multiple publications, as well as on my own website. On the side, I’ve been writing fiction with a natural history angle and I’m also an artist and photographer,” Brenner said. “I’ve always lived in the PNW. I’ve been in Seattle since 2009, and prior to that, I lived in Eugene for a few years when I went to school. I grew up near Portland,” Brenner said.
Brenner’s ideal PNW day: “My ideal PNW day would depend on the season. During the spring and summer, it would be out at low tide, looking for nudibranchs [sea slugs] and other marine life in the tidal zone. During the autumn and winter months, my ideal day would be spent crawling around on the forest floor, looking for slime molds and lichens. When I’m not looking for something specific, my favorite way to spend a day is camping alone somewhere quiet. But honestly, any day outdoors in nature is the ideal day!” said Brenner.
JQ Gordon
Author of “Tarot for the Great Outdoors.”
“I love all the natural splendor the Pacific Northwest has to offer, as well as mystical, new age, witchy-spirituality. My most recent writing project was the most fun creative endeavor I’ve ever participated in. I had the opportunity to write a Tarot deck about the great outdoors for Mountaineers Books, with an incredibly talented artist, Sharisse Steber, who brought every image to life in a way I never could have imagined. We got to explore and share so many ways that people can enjoy the outdoors,” said Gordon. “I’m based in North East Seattle, and have lived here for 25 years! I grew up in Bellingham, went to college in Portland, then moved to Seattle. I have not managed to escape the allure of the PNW.”
Gordon’s ideal PNW day: “My ideal PNW day varies depending on the season, and truly, there are so many possibilities. In the summer, my ideal day would be taking our boat from Elliot Bay Marina over to Poulsbo, anchoring in Liberty Bay, and heading ashore to spend way too much money at Sluy’s Bakery and the Marina Market. Then return to the boat with our spoils and sample our goodies on the deck. In the winter, one of my favorite places to be is the Methow Valley, preferably on snowshoes, and let’s be honest, preferably with snacks to look forward to after a leisurely winter stroll,” said Gordon.
Explore more authors and offerings from Mountaineers Books here.
Corinne Whiting is a freelance writer for Seattle Refined. Follow more of her adventures here.