Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 10/6/16

Northwest:

--The Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council announces its annual fundraising slideshow at Backcountry Essentials (214 West Holly Street, Bellingham, WA) with Washington-based photographer and ski mountaineer Jason Hummel. The slideshow will take place on October 7th at 7:30pm.

Ashima Shiraishi and Kai Lightner examine a climbing problem 

in the Reel Rock Film Festival.

--The Reel Rock Film Festival will take place tonight at Western Washington University. To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--The Yosemite Climbing Rangers have posted an accident report concerning a fatality that took place on the East Ledges descent of El Capitan. To read the report, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The BLM is doing the best that it can to undermine historic racism in the area. They have renamed a trail that used to have a racist name. But it took just a few days for vandals to steal the trailhead's new sign. To read more, click here.

--Spooky - haunted Joshua Tree campsite?

--Speaking of Joshua Tree National Park, there's actually an asteroid named after it.

Colorado:

--A 61-year-old man was killed in a climbing accident on Longs Peak this week. It appears that the individual slipped on ice in "The Narrows" section of the Keyhole Route. To read more, click here.

--Aspen Daily News is reporting, "Friends and family of missing New Mexico climber David Cook are asking for help in pouring over thousands of images of the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak taken during the official search, which was suspended on Thursday, hoping that someone will notice something that will bring the efforts to a conclusion." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Canadian climber Anna Smith passed away unexpectedly on an expedition to the Indian Himalaya. The 31-year old complained of headaches prior to going to bed at advanced basecamp near 15,000-feet. The woman did not wake up the next morning. An autopsy will be performed in India. To read more, click here.

--A hiker in Montana was attacked twice by a grizzly bear. After surviving the attack Todd Orr decided that the best thing to do next was to videotape himself covered in blood. To read the story and to see the graphic video he made, click here.

--If you haven't signed the Land and Conservation Fund Coalition letter, you should consider signing it. This legislation created in 1965 requires that a percentage of royalties from oil and gas drilling be used to preserve natural areas. Unfortunately, Congress often breaks it's promise to the American people and sends the funds to other places. If you'd like to see those funds used for what they were intended for, click here to sign a petition.

--Is you're local chairlift a deathtrap?