Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/24/16

It's Thanksgiving weekend, which means that campgrounds in desert climbing areas are likely already full. If you are traveling to a desert climbing venue, it's a good idea to have a backup camping plan. And if you're already there, please try and share your site with others!

Happy Cranksgiving

from your friends at the

American Alpine Institutue!

Northwest:

--Central Oregon's News Channel 21is reporting that, "A 31-year-old Portland woman seriously injured in a 25-foot fall while climbing at Smith Rock Monday afternoon, prompting a lengthy rescue, improved to fair condition Tuesday at St. Charles Bend, officials said." To read more, click here.

--The historic climbing wall at the University of Washington is under threat. There are plans to place a building at the location of this free outdoor wall. To sign a Change.Org petition to stop this, click here.

--The Skagit Herald is reporting that, "In the Skagit River watershed — home to the most glacial ice in the United States outside of Alaska — an estimated 12.4 square miles of ice has been lost since the 1950s, according to a recent study by staff with North Cascades National Park’s Glacier Monitoring Program." To read more, click here.

--According to IFL Science, "Something weird is going on beneath one of the world’s deadliest volcanoes. Mount St. Helens, infamous for its catastrophic May 1980 eruption in Washington State, may not have an active magma source beneath it. In fact, a new Nature Communications study claims that the geology under the hood there is cold and dead." They have determined that the mountain is being fed by a magma chamber 31-miles to the east. To read more, click here.

--Highway 20 is closed for the season.

--Crystal Mountain Ski Resort is set to open on Friday.

Sierra:

--Alpinist is reporting that, "Until yesterday Adam Ondra was better known for his sport climbing and competition prowess—the 23-year-old Czech climber was the first person to send 5.15c (he has done more than thirty 5.15 climbs, more than anyone else by a long shot); he boulders V16, and he's won three World Cup gold medals and two World Championships. And now he will go down in history as the third person to free climb El Capitan's Dawn Wall (VI 5.14d), and the first to do it leading every pitch. And in less than eight days." To read more, click here.

--The Los Angeles Times is reporting that, "the number of dead trees in California’s drought-stricken forests has risen dramatically to more than 102 million in what officials described as an unparalleled ecological disaster that heightens the danger of massive wildfires and damaging erosion." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Red Rock Rendezvous will take place from March 24 to 27. This is the premire climbing event of the year. Early registration is now open. Early registration allows you to save money and while also providing you with better clinic options than when you register closer to Rendezvous! To register for the event, click here.

Colorado:

--Here's a breakdown of when Colorado ski resorts tend to open...

Notes from All Over:

--It appears the President Elect Donald Trump would like to rename Denali, back to Mt. McKinley. To read more, click here. And Alaskans vow pushback...

--The Associated Press is reporting that, "Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said that president-elect Donald Trump’s transition team hasn’t contacted her department and she doesn’t know what his policy will be on managing public lands — a contentious issue in the West that has boiled over into armed confrontation in Nevada and Oregon." To read more, click here.

--Two moose in a battle to the death were discovered frozen in an Alaskan river last week. This is pretty wierd. Check it out, here.