Climbing and News from Here and Abroad - 1/11/18

Northwest:

--The Surrey Now Leader is reporting that, "An avalanche near Fernie, which RCMP say was triggered by a group of backcountry skiers, has claimed the life of a 36-year-old Alberta man. RCMP say Elk Valley RCMP and Fernie Search and Rescue recovered the body of of the skier who was caught in an avalanche on Monday, Jan. 8. RCMP and Search and Rescue were notified of the fatal avalanche at about 6 pm Jan. 8, in the Lizard Mountain range east of Fernie Monday afternoon." To read more, click here.

--CBC News is reporting that, "North Shore Rescue says an injured skier has been safely taken to hospital after breaking his leg in an avalanche. Rescue crews were called to Mount Seymour Provincial Park (in British Columbia) to assist the skier Tuesday afternoon." To read more, click here.

--Forbes is reporting that, "since New Years Day Mount St. Helens has experienced 40 earthquakes within its vicinity as aftershocks continue every few hours. The most powerful earthquake was a magnitude 3.9 that occurred around midnight west coast time about 5 miles from Mount St. Helens and 23 miles from the town of Morton." To read more, click here.

--Some people believe that what looks like a natural phenomenon on a stratovolcano located on Mt. Adams is actually a multi-dimensional door that aliens use to...do something... And they think a pile of rocks is an alien... There's video! Check it out below. But note that we climbers are likely the aliens that these guys see all the time. Headlamps and illegal night snowmobilers going in and out of shadows in the dark are likely what started the UFO fascination with Mt. Adams.



--And there's a new seven-pitch mixed climb near Whistler. Read about it, here.

Sierra:

--Should there be a Starbucks in the Yosemite's food court? People are not happy about this proposal and there's currently a petition with 12,000 signatures that is trying to keep the coffee shop from opening in the National Park. To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The annual Red Rock Rendezvous is slated to take place in Las Vegas from March 16-19, 2018. This is one of the biggest climbing festivals in the country...and one of the most fun. The American Alpine Institute works with Mountain Gear to put on the festival every year and many AAI guides will be on hand for both instruction, as well as for hanging out at the evening parties. You might also consider booking a guide before or after the program, or even participating in an additional climbing class. To read more, click here.

--Huffpo is reporting that, "For the second time in as many months, the House Committee on Natural Resources has taken a public swing at Patagonia. This time it’s after the outdoor retailer turned down an invitation to testify before the legislative body about its opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle national monuments." To read more, click here.

Colorado:

--The Daily Sentinel is reporting that, "A 20-year-old Grand Junction woman died Thursday night at St. Mary's Hospital after falling "from a significant height" while at an indoor recreation park, Grand Junction police said." It appears that this wasn't a rock gym, but instead, a rock wall in a amusement-style park. To read more, click here.

--The Winter Park Ski Resort is installing digital screens on several of their chairlift restraining bars. These table-style screens will provide information on runs, lift wait times, and other items that skiers might like to know. To read more, click here.

--Colorado is having a hard time with illegal campers on public lands that trash the area. This dynamic is not exclusive to the state. But one of the responses to the situation is. Read more, here.

Notes from All Over:

--Rock and Ice has published a tribute to climbers lost in 2017. To read it, click here.

--The Bomb Cyclone was good news for ice climbing on the East Coast! Read more, here.

--Alpinist is reporting that, "The American Alpine Club has announced the recipients of its 2018 Climbing Awards, given annually to distinguish individuals for their service, leadership and accomplishments. This year's honorees include John Roskelley, Alex Honnold, Ellen Lapham, Margo Hayes and Sally Jewell." To read more, click here.

--And finally, a Basque climber is trying to summit Mt. Everest this winter without oxygen. If he succeeds, he will be only the second person to complete an oxygenless ascent int the winter. To read more, click here.