Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 3/1/18

Northwest:

--Two teenage snowshoers were killed by an avalanche near Snoqualmie Pass over the weekend, and a 32-year-old snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche near Stampede Pass. Avalanche conditions in the Pacific Northwest have been severe over the last several days. It is not recommended that people travel in the backcountry when avalanche danger is high. Be sure to check the avalanche forecast before making backcountry trips in the winter.

--A skier died near Kelowna, BC after falling into a tree well on Monday. To read more, click here.

The "Baker Backcountry" from the

Mt. Baker Ski Area

--The Bellingham Herald is reporting that, "A Seattle backcountry expert is lucky to be alive after members of Bellingham Mountain Rescue found him in a remote area of the Mount Baker wilderness Sunday. Dave Drulard, 46, had been missing for 21 hours when he was found about noon Sunday near Barometer Mountain by two members of a Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council search and rescue team who coincidentally were training nearby." To read more, click here.

--The Canadian version of REI, Mountain Equipment Co-op -- or MEC -- is thinking about the National Rifle Association. BikeBiz is reporting that they are discussing, "bike and outdoor brands owned by gun-and-ammo company Vista Outdoor. The brands – such as Giro, Bell and Camelbak – are being boycotted by some consumers thanks to Vista's support of the US National Rifle Association." The article was updated and notes that no decision has yet been made. To read more, click here.

--The Adventure-Journal has more on Vista Outdoor.

Desert Southwest:

--The Sun is reporting that, "Joshua Tree National Park, a place of otherworldly rock formations, unique plants and iridescent wildflowers, smashed yet another attendance record last year in luring twice as many tourists as visited just four years earlier. The popular desert wilderness park drew 2,853,619 visitors in 2017, a jump of nearly 340,000 from the year before, when a record also was set, federal officials said. As recently as 2013, total attendance was about 1.4 million." To read more, click here.

--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.

Colorado:

--A skier was killed after hitting a tree at Keystone Ski Resort on Sunday. To read more, click here.

--A 47-year-old snowboarder was killed in the Telluride backcountry over the weekend. It appears that he may have hit a rock in the shallow snowpack while traveling at a high rate of speed. To read more, click here.

--Ski resorts are not doing too well this year. Anthropogenic climate change is having a significant impact and could cost the winter industry one billion dollars. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--A snowboarder was killed in an avalanche in Alaska on Monday on Dude Mountain near Ketchikan. To read more, click here.

--A Canadian man was killed in a skiing accident at Camelback Mountain in Pennsylvania. To read more, click here.

--A climber suffered a 100-foot fall near Jackson last week. Though he fell 100-feet, the climber will survive. To read more, click here.

--WCAX 3 is reporting that, "New Hampshire Fish and Game says an ice climber was injured when he fell while climbing on Mount Willard in Crawford Notch. Officers and rescue crews responded at about 2:30 p.m. Friday after receiving a report that 64-year-old Tom Boydston, of Center Conway, New Hampshire, had suffered multiple injuries in a fall of about 20 feet." To read more, click here.

--In the Snow is reporting that, "the number of ski areas in China has passed 700 according to the new edition of the China Ski Industry White Book. The 2017 edition of the Annual Report by Chinese ski industry expert Benny Wu puts the total number of ski areas in the country at the end of last year at 703, an increase of 56 on a year previously.  At least 50 more ski areas are reported to be under construction. China’s ski industry is by far the fastest growing in the world, with support right up to china’s president encouraging hundreds of millions of Chinese to try wintersports ahead of the country hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics." To read more, click here.