Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/28/23

Northwest:

--Climbing is reporting that, "On September 17th, a 25-year-old male climber from Alabama, whose name has not yet been released, was killed after sustaining a 130-foot fall while descending with his partners from Goat Wall, in Mazama, Washington." To read more, click here.

--Burn bans have been lifted in North Cascades National Park. To read more, click here.

--Climbing is reporting that, "Seattle’s Vertical World and Colorado-based manufacturer C3, which produces Perfect Descent auto belays, have settled in a lawsuit following a severe climbing accident that occurred on August 1, 2019. The climber, Michael Vandivere, sustained a 30-foot fall and subsequently suffered a number of severe injuries, including 12 pelvic fractures, a traumatic brain injury, lung injuries, bladder laceration, and other fractures. C3 Manufacturing has agreed to pay $5 million and Vertical World will pay an additional $1 million." To read more, click here.

--Some access thoughts concerning fall climbing in Skaha Bluffs. 

Sierra:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "It is with a heavy heart and immense respect for Dr. Robb Gaffney—a local legend in the Lake Tahoe skiing community, author of the revered book ‘Squallywood,’ and co-creator of the beloved game of G.N.A.R.—that we share the terrible news of his passing." To read more, click here.

--A party was struck by lightning on Half Dome. To read about it, click here. Please note that you should never look for shelter in a small cave during a lightning storm. The lightning current can travel through the rock, and through you.

Mt. Whitney

--An old aid route on Mt. Whitney has gone free at 5.13. To read about it, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The Center of Biological Diversity is reporting that, "The Center for Biological Diversity joined local Tribes, businesses, communities and conservation groups today to urge President Biden to establish Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. The proposal would create a 660,000-acre national monument and add 17,000 acres to Joshua Tree National Park, both located in eastern Riverside County. The stunning Chuckwalla Mountains and adjacent Mecca Hills are rich in biological diversity and home to desert tortoises, kit foxes, golden eagles and the proposed monument’s namesake chuckwallas." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--News 9 is reporting that, "According to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, around 12 p.m. on Friday, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Staff, Indiahoma Volunteer Fire Department, Cache Fire Department, Lawton Fire Department, Comanche Nation Fire Department, and Fort Sill Fire Department responded to the report of a climber who had suffered a fall near the Narrows Trail." To read more, click here.

--The Daily is reporting that, "Dick’s Sporting Goods is closing 11 of 14 of its Moosejaw stores just six months after acquiring the outdoor retailer from Walmart. The stores are scheduled to close in February 2024, including Moosejaw’s headquarters in Madison Heights, Michigan, the Detroit Free Press reported. The move is part of Dick’s strategy to focus its outdoor business around its Public Lands stores." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "Anticipation is a new 13-pitch 400-metre M6+ WI3 on Grotto Mountain above the town of Canmore in the Bow Valley. Given its location and safely protected pitches, this is sure to become a classic. Nick Baggaley and Greg Barrett established the route over several trips and completed it earlier this summer. It’s found at the back of The Sanctuary, a large canyon where the drytool crags The Playground and Alcatraz are found." To read more, click here.

--The National Parks Conservation Association has published a piece on what will happen if the government shuts down on October 1. 

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/21/2023

Northwest:

--There was a fatal rappelling accident on the Inspiration-Methow (5.9, III) route in Mazama over the weekend, but information is sparse.

--GoSkagit is reporting that, "the North Cascades National Park announced in a news release Monday that it has reopened several trails, areas and camps that had been closed by the Sourdough Fire." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting on some rare ascents of remote alpine walls in British Columbia. To read about the climbs, click here.

--Here's a piece on staying safe on the trails during hunting season.

Colorado and Utah:

--Climbing is reporting that, "A 30-year-old woman from Grand Junction, Colorado, is in critical condition after a fall and dramatic rescue which occurred on Monday, September 11, on The Great White Wall (IV 5.10d; 1,300ft) in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park." To read more, click here.

--The Deseret News is reporting that, "just months after buying into a minority ownership position of Utah’s Powder Mountain Resort, Netflix co-founder and longtime CEO Reed Hastings has ascended to majority owner of the facility by way of a new $100 million investment announced Wednesday." To read more, click here.

--The Colorado Sun is reporting that, "The federal board in charge of naming geographic places on public land voted Friday to approve Mount Blue Sky as a replacement name for Mount Evans, effective immediately." Mt. Evans was originally named for a Colorado territorial governor that was responsible for the massacre of indigenous peoples. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Gripped is reporting from a Virginia rock gym: "A climber forgot to clip into an auto-belay, climbed to the top of the route and then sat back, thinking that he was clipped in. Hector Diffut then fell to the ground and suffered serious leg injuries." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/7/23

Northwest:

--A new Grade VI, 5.9 alpine route was just put up on the periphery of Mt. Shuksan. Check it out!

--The Bellingham Herald is reporting that, "Several Washington volcanoes are showing what appear to be swarms of minor earthquakes, a phenomenon that’s lasted for the past month or more. But a Western Washington University seismologist known for explaining the recent “Swift quake” says they might not be earthquakes at all." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

Desert Southwest:

--The Nevada Independent is reporting that, "Nevada State Parks is rolling out a reservation system for overnight visitors, as well as some day-use visitors, starting Sept. 1. Reserve Nevada, a new online reservation system, will offer reservations for day-use passes, campsites and cabins, annual permits and special events. Reservations, which include a service fee of up to $5 per transaction on top of base entry fees, are highly recommended, according to Jenny Jackson, education and information officer." To read more, click here.

--Tropical storm Hillary reeked havoc on Death Valley National Park. It could be months until the Park reopens.

Colorado and Utah:

--USA Today is reporting that, "authorities in Colorado have recovered the body of a 29-year-old man who went missing in the Rocky Mountains over the weekend. The Summit County Rescue Group recovered the body from a boulder field in Officers Gulch on Sunday, the organization said in a Facebook post." To read more, click here.

--Deer Valley is sticking to its snowboard ban as it takes over the Mayflower Resort, substantially increasing its skiable terrain. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The Daily Beast is reporting that, "officials found the body of a missing Colorado man in Glacier National Park on Friday after he went missing for several days while on a climbing trip, KRTV reported. Adam Fuselier, 32, was last heard from Tuesday, with rangers receiving notification the next morning that he was overdue from his Reynolds Mountain climb." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/31/23

Northwest:

--Gripped is reporting that, "North Sister is a popular mountain in central Oregon that’s considered one of the hardest to climb of the Cascade volcanoes. It’s not as tall as the nearby South Sister, but it’s climbed less due to the difficulties. The standard south ridge has exposed fourth and fifth class scrambling and steep snow traverses, making it a potentially dangerous objective. Within a month this summer, two climbers died after falling down North Sister during their ascents." To read more, click here.

--There were rescues on Mt. Baker and on Mt. Stuart over the last week.

--Skaha Bluffs (a climbing area near Penticton, BC) has a unique program where folks are paid to watch the parking lot in order to deter theft. They are looking for donations to continue this program as the Skaha fall season starts. To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "The trend of businesses going cashless has increased steadily over the years. Just looking at the ski industry, names like Vail Resorts, Snowbird, Killington, Big Sky, and many more have all gone cashless. Vail Resorts, one of the biggest conglomerates in the industry, was an early adopter of this policy when it arose as part of their safety precautions for COVID-19. It appears there are no plans to change the policy anytime soon. Now Mt Hood Meadows recently announced it will be going cashless ahead of the 2023/24 season." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--Liftblog is reporting that, "three new chairlifts may be coming to Alterra’s outpost in Southern California. Under a plan unveiled today, Big Bear Mountain Resort would link neighboring Bear Mountain and Snow Summit via a series of new lifts and trails to form a cohesive mountain. The project would be remarkable given the two mountains haven’t seen a single new lift in 25 years. The two came under common ownership in 2002 and Alterra added nearby Snow Valley to the resort earlier this year. In addition to the interconnect, Big Bear also plans to add a new beginner terrain pod at Bear Mountain, expand snowmaking, construct mountain bike trails, build a zip tour and install an alpine coaster." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Unnofficial Networks is reporting that, "Lee Canyon: Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, located less than an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, has sustained major damage from the remains of Hurricane Hilary. In photos shared by the ski area and by Mt Charleston Mountain Man on X we see the extent of thes infrastructure damage to Lee Canyon. 'In light of the limited initial assessment, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the end of our summer mountain operations,' the ski area announced this afternoon. 'We understand the anticipation and excitement surrounding this season, and we will be reaching out to our mountain biking day pass and season pass holders with information as soon as possible due to this unforeseen closure. Trails, chairlifts, and essential facilities that encompass our summer offerings have borne the brunt of this unexpected occurrence,' the statement continued." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--ABC 4 Utah is reporting that, "Officials are warning hikers at Mount Timpanogos to keep an eye – and a leash – on their dogs after three were killed within three weeks while hiking. On Sunday, the Timpanogos Emergency Response Team said a third dog was killed in as many weeks over the weekend by mountain goats. The dog was reportedly off-leash and harassed a mother goat while she was with her babies. The mother mountain goat retaliated, feeling her children were threatened by the dog, and pushed the dog off a cliff." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--8KPAX is reporting from Montana that, "a climber was hoisted to safety in the Swan Mountains. Lake County Search and Rescue was recently called out to help Swan Valley Search and Rescue for a 'distressed climber stuck on the south cliff below the Swan Range glaciers,' according to a social media post." To read more, click here.

--The Idaho Statesman is reporting that, "a climber spent a 'harrowing' night trapped in a canyon after he fell and injured his arm so severely he couldn’t climb back out to safety, Wyoming officials said. The 'challenging' rescue took 24 hours in total, the Wyoming Army National Guard said in an Aug. 29 news release." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/24/23

Northwest:

--The Bulletin is reporting that, "The body of a missing climber who intended to summit the North and Middle sisters in a single day was found on Saturday by the Army National Guard, four days after disappearing in the Three Sisters Wilderness." To read more, click here.

--Campfires are currently banned on all PNW Forests and in all PNW National Parks.

The Sourdough Fire shortly before the closure of the North Cascades Highway.

--The North Cascades highway is opening and closing intermittently due to two wildfires. The first is on Sourdough Mountain. And the second is just west of Blue Lake. The Blue Lake Trailhead is commonly used to access many of the routes in the Liberty Bell massif in Washington Pass. For updates, click here.

--There are multiple Pacific Crest Trail reroutes due to fire activity in the Cascades. Click on the area for reroute info: Glacier Peak Wilderness, Stehekin to Methow Valley, Dome Peak and Blue Lakes Fire Map.

Sierra:

--Gripped is reporting that, "Yosemite National Park rangers have said that evidence of black bears climbing Yosemite’s Half Dome has been found. Half Dome is one of California’s most popular and often-climbed summits." To read more, click here.

"The Nose," on El Capitan

--From Gripped: "The first rope-solo of The Nose in a day was back in 1989, but few climbers have managed to accomplish the sub-24-hour ascent sans partner. The most recent solo ascent was last week." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--CBS Colorado is reporting that, "The man who wrote the book on climbing Colorado's 14ers and many other popular mountaineering guides and stories is in a hospital in Durango after a climbing accident last week. Gerry Roach is at Centura-Mercy Hospital in Durango after a 100 foot fall on an unnamed 13,200 foot peak about a dozen miles west of Silverton in San Juan County. His wife Jennifer Roach, also a noted climber and writer, posts that the 79-year-old's prognosis is good." To read more, click here.

--The Colorado Sun is reporting that, "Support for public lands and natural resource conservation in the West tends to eclipse political affiliation, with a steadily growing number of Colorado voters supporting increased federal protections, especially as climate change threatens landscapes. The annual Center for Western Priorities 'Winning the West' poll of 1,807 voters in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada show increasing support for conservation even as political affiliation fades." To read more, click here.

--Apparently there was a major rockfall event in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Alterra Mountain Company, the world’s premier mountain operating company, has announced a major terrain expansion of Deer Valley Resort that will add 3,700 acres of terrain to its world-renowned, ski-only destination located in the Wasatch Mountains in Park City, Utah. In addition, the development of a new village and portal will dramatically improve access to the resort while adding world-class lodging, dining, and retail amenities in partnership with Extell Development Company." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Gripped is reporting that, "earlier this week, four climbers died after falling at a height on Mexico’s highest mountain, Pico de Orizaba, which stands at 5,636 metres. One of the roped climbers fell, dragging the others down the south side." To read more, click here.

--The Star Tribune is reporting that, "the U.S. Forest Service is seeking to change its rules to allow carbon dioxide to be injected and permanently stored on the nation's forest lands. A draft of the rule and 60-day comment period is set for this fall. Capturing and storing carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas driving global warming, is a key part of the Biden administration plan to fight the climate crisis. Last year's historic climate bill appropriated about $12 billion in federal funding for carbon management technologies, according to the Carbon Capture Coalition, a Washington D.C.-based nonpartisan group of more than 100 businesses, including fossil fuel companies, unions, and conservation groups." To read more, click here.

--Outdoor Sportswire is reporting that, "America Outdoors, the nation’s one-stop resource for outdoor recreation providers and the industry leaders in public policy, is proud to announce a new award category that will be presented during the 2023 America Outdoors Conference, to be held December 5-8 in Phoenix, Arizona. The inaugural Innovator Award will be presented in addition to the George and Pamela Wendt Industry Achievement Award during the awards ceremony on December 7." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/10/23

Northwest:

--News Channel 21 is reporting that, "Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers had a busy weekend, first rescuing an injured hiker in the Three Sisters Wilderness on Saturday in an overnight mission involving two helicopters, and then a fallen, injured climber near Smith Rock Sunday in a five-hour effort by several agencies." To read more, click here.

--Campfires are have been banned east of the Cascade Crest.

Sierra:

--Hank the Tank, a bear with a penchant for breaking into houses has been captured near South Lake Tahoe. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--There is currently limited information, but it appears that there was a fatality in Seneca Rocks in West Virginia. For more information, click here.

--The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area posted the following on Facebook: "Solstice Canyon will be closed beginning Monday, July 31, due to the multiple beehives affecting visitor use and park services. Numerous visitor bee stings have been reported, and topography renders the affected area unavoidable.  The hives are concentrated at the main Solstice Canyon Trail, TRW Overlook Trail junction, and the education shelter structure." To read more, click here.

--The National Federation of Federal Employees posted the following, last week: "Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) is proud to announce workers at Yellowstone National Park have elected America’s first federal employee union to represent America’s first established National Park. Interpretive Park Rangers, educators, researchers, fee collectors, first responders, firefighters, and other staff working for the Department of Interior’s National Park Service are now unionized after voting in favor by over 80%." To read more, click here.

--Ski Area Management is reporting that, "After 31 years of ownership, Jay, Connie, and Betty Kemmerer have sold Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) to a group of local investors for an undisclosed amount. The Kemmerers, who purchased JHMR in 1992, said their highest priority was maintaining JHMR’s status as an independent, family-owned resort." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "despite being a hot and smoky summer in the Canadian Rockies, climbers have been busy repeating old routes and establishing new ones. First ascents have gone up on several walls, including the Stanley Headwall and on Castle Mountain." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/26/23

Northwest:

--The Mountaineers is reporting that, "on the morning of July 10, 2023, Rose Vanderhoof, 33-year Mountaineers member and avid outdoor enthusiast, became the oldest woman to summit Mt.Rainier at 78. She reached the summit with her son Chris Haugen, granddaughter Aleah Haugen, friend Mingrey Hildebrandt, and Mt. Tahoma Trails Association’s High Hut Manager Dr. Leyton Jump, who led the climb. This trip marked Rose’s ninth, and last, summit of Mt. Rainier." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--In more older folks doing cool stuff news, SnowBrains is reporting that, "93-year-old Everett Kalin achieved a remarkable milestone by summiting Half Dome in Yosemite National Park on July 18th, becoming the oldest person to do so." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--City News Service is reporting that, "Firefighters from the Riverside County Fire Department rescued a rock climber in Jurupa Valley who suffered major injuries Saturday." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "The affordable housing shortage in ski towns is widespread and has been well documented. In mountain resort towns across the country, this crisis is causing employee shortages, crippling local businesses, and threatening the soul of a ski town’s true identity and culture. Park City, UT, is no exception to this quandary. The average home costs over $2 million, and the cost of living in Summit County is 35% higher than the national average." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Gripped is reporting that, "rand Teton National Park has announced that a climber died after falling while climbing the Grand Teton. Brayden DuRee, 40, of Idaho, was climbing the Owen-Spalding when he fell around 20 metres down the section known as the Owen Chimney." To read more, click here.

--The Cody Enterprise is reporting that, "a 32-year-old Montana climber and member of the Carbon County Search and Rescue team died July 14 while climbing at the Gardner Headwall off the Beartooth Highway, according to a Park County Sheriff’s Office press release. The climber was identified as Andrew Evans of Red Lodge. Though he was wearing a protective helmet, he had been struck on his head by falling rocks that caused “life-ending injuries” before responders could reach him, the release said." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "On Saturday morning, a woman was found deceased on the Buttermilk Trail west of West Yellowstone following an apparent bear encounter. Investigators confirmed grizzly bear tracks at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing. The Custer Gallatin National Forest has issued an emergency closure of the Buttermilk area for human safety. Please avoid the area. More information will be provided as it becomes available." To read more, click here.

--Here's a post about Lady Gaga going "rock climbing" on a via ferrata.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "a snowboarding coach, David Bloch, has taken legal action against Vermont state and school officials, filing a federal lawsuit claiming his First Amendment rights were violated. Bloch was fired from his position as the founder and head coach of the snowboarding team at Woodstock Union High School after engaging in a respectful conversation about biological differences between males and females in sports." To read more, click here.