History of the Spokane Mountaineers

It all began on September 19, 1915, when Miss Ora L. Maxwell and another female staffer of the Spokane Public Library talked three colleagues into chartering the Spokane Walking Club. Under President Maxwell, the club grew to 15 members, all librarians and all women. In 1916, a controversial vote allowed men to join. (Male exclusion returned with the advent of women only climbs in 1982.)

Walks, all numbered, were listed on monthly postcards. Most began at the end of a streetcar line, trains were also used, and hikes of 10+ miles were common. Hike 355, to Cheney and back in 1925, was 32 miles. The Rocks of Sharon on Tower Mountain was a favorite. By April of 1918, the numbers were up to 100. Numbering ended with Outing 2157 in November 1952.

The name was changed to the Spokane Mountaineers Club by 1921 and to the Spokane Mountaineers, Inc., in January 1935, when members incorporated "with the tradition of developing an outdoor fellowship and responsibility for preserving wilderness values of the Inland Northwest."

A 3 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch monthly bulletin replaced the postcards in 1925, with a name switch to today's Kinnikinnick (which is also the club's official flower) in 1935. Another publication, the annual Peaks and Valleys, was offered from 1959 to 1962.

Early traditions included the coffee and food of the "commissary" on outings, the athletic competitions of Field Day, the sizzling meat of the Beefsteak Hike, and the Christmas Tree Hike. An annual overnight New Year's Eve ski and snowshoe climb of Mt. Spokane began in 1934, with the brand new summit house a welcome shelter. Upper Priest Lake was the site of the first week long summer outing in 1935.

The Rocks of Sharon was the first climb (No. C-1) on May 8, 1935, and climbing became an official committee in 1937. The forerunner of today's Mountain School began with a six session climbing course in February 1939. Internationally recognized climbers John Roskelley (20 Himalayan expeditions), Chris Kopczynski, and Kim Momb later got their starts in this school. In 1980, they, plus Dr. Jim States , were the first U.S. team to put a man on top of fifth highest Makalu (27,800 feet) and the first team entirely from one city and one club to conquer a major Himalayan peak.

A Canadian glacier and creek officially bear the name "Spokane" because the first ascent of the highest peak in the Selkirks' Goat Range, Mt. Cooper at 10,135 feet was on a 1962 club climb. Mt. Worthington, near Tum Tum, was named by the club in 1936 in memory of ardent member and dentist Dr. Edison Worthington. There were several first ascents on Kokanee Glacier peaks on the 1937 summer outing; the 1956 outing bagged 7,300 foot Glory Mountain, then the last unclimbed, named peak in the Cascades. Nonclub climbs by members have garnered many new summits and routes.

Skis were used on outings in the 1920's, but popularity zoomed in 1936 with initiation of a separate winter sports schedule. As a member of the Mt. Spokane Ski Association, the club was part of the successful effort to add a public ski course to Mt. Spokane State Park in 1937. By 1937, the Mountaineers had purchased their own 40 acres on Mt. Spokane, built a 12 bed (canvas over 2 by 4's) ski shack, and cleared trails and a slalom slope. The next year, the club added a cable tow (the first of several club members would build). Lessons, races, and Winter Sports Days were standard. Today's Chalet replaced the little cabin in 1950.

Not all members were enthused about the dollars and time going into the Mt. Spokane property. Unsuccessful in an effort to call a halt, these members broke away and started the Spokane Hobnailers hiking club. This left the Mountaineers with 35 members in 1951. For comparison, membership had been 112 in 1935, and had ranged from about 80 to 150. By 1971, there were 300+ members, and at the end of 1995, the membership numbered approximately 800.

Community service and conservation are a continuing thread. In 1925, the club paid the expenses of five Campfire Girls to go to Camp Sweyolakan on Lake Coeur D' Alene. The 1933 planting of five Siberian elm trees along the "Road of Remembrance" a new double track north approach to the city was sponsored by the club. Mountaineers testified in support of the North Cascades National Park and gave money and time in the 1980's to assist in the county's acquisition of Minnehaha Rocks. Also in the 1980's, members hiked and photographed to help members Rich Landers and Ida Rowe Dolphin prepare the guidebook 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest. Sponsorship of Centennial Trail Mile 17 began with donations and the first of many cleanup "parties" in June of 1991. Contributions to the Dishman Hills Association's Tower Mountain land purchase and testimony supporting the county's preservation attempt nearby are recent efforts.

In the early days, each club "birthday" was feted with dinner, speeches, and music the forerunner of today's Annual Banquet. Multievent anniversary celebrations on the 50th and 75th years of the club's founding drew Mountaineers from across the country. That's a rich history to celebrate.

  -- Lorna Ream