Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 10/31/19

Northwest:

--Several parcels of land near Murrin Park in Squamish are to be returned to the First Nations. Some of these parcels have a significant amount of climbing on them. To read more, click here.

--The bridge to the Big Four Ice Caves has been removed. To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--There was a fatality on Mt. Sill on October 22nd. From the Inyo County Sheriff's office:

MT. SILL (PALISADES), CA. October 22, 2019 – On October 20 (late afternoon), two hikers/mountaineers were descending the L-shaped snowfield below Mt. Sill when one slipped and tumbled approximately 300-400 feet sustaining unknown but serious injuries. His partner notified the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office through the use of a satellite communication device.

Due to the location and seriousness of the reported injuries, aerial support was requested. Sadly, the patient succumbed to his injuries prior to the arrival of the helicopter. CHP Inland Division Air Operations made an attempt to hoist the fall victim that night but was unable to land due to the high elevation (~13,200'), and gusty north winds. 

On October 21, at noon, six Inyo Search and Rescue team members were inserted about 100 feet below the location via Chinook. Team members hoisted the deceased from his location around 2:30pm, and returned to the Bishop Airport where custody was transferred to the Inyo County Coroner.

--The Los Angeles Times is reporting that, "Two hikers discovered human remains near Mt. Williamson in Inyo County this month, and according to the Sheriff’s Office, the bones may have been there for decades. Tyler Hofer and his climbing partner spotted the remains Oct. 7 beneath a boulder on the far side of the Williamson Bowl. Hofer, a dedicated climber for eight years, said he noticed something white popping out from the gray rocks. He assumed it was a bone, possibly belonging to some sort of animal. But when the two hikers moved the rocks aside, the entirety of a human skeleton, including a skull, appeared buried beneath." To read more, click here.

--The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that, "A coalition of outdoor recreation stakeholder groups has sued the U.S. Forest Service in an effort to bar e-bikes from non-motorized trails in Tahoe National Forest." To read more, click here.

--Oh yeah, and a 9-year-old just climbed El Cap!

Desert Southwest:

--It appears that someone is spray-painting dots along trails in Red Rock Canyon.

Colorado and Utah:

--The Summit Daily is reporting that, "Arapahoe Basin Ski Area will charge $30 this season for uphill access skiing and snowboarding. Season passholders will not have to pay the fee." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Rock and Ice has an In Memorium up for Steve Wunsch, who passed away Friday, October 25, at the age of 72. Steve was one of the top climbers of his era in the sixties and seventies. To read more, click here.

--Rock and Ice is reporting that, "Nirmal “Nims” Purja has set a new mark for the shortest amount of time to climb the 14 peaks in the world over 8,000 meters, accomplishing the task in a just 6 months 6 days. The 36-year-old Nepalese climber—a former Gurkha in the British military—obliterated the former record, held by Korean climber Kim Chang-Ho.  When Chang-Ho climbed his last 8,000er in May 2013, he set the record for all 14 8,000ers at 7 years 10 months 6 days. Purja managed to do it 7 years and 4 months quicker." To read more, click here.

--Snews is reporting that, "Brady Robinson will take the helm from outgoing executive director, John Sterling, to lead The Conservation Alliance. Robinson was most recently the director of strategy and development for Tompkins Conservation, creating terrestrial and marine national parks in Chile and Argentina. Before that, he led the Access Fund for 11 years." To read more, click here.

--The first reports of skier triggered avalanches are coming in from Montana. To read more, click here.

--The Trump administration would like to privatize National Park Service campgrounds. To read more, click here.

--RMO Today in Canmore is reporting that, "a hiker with an off-leash dog was injured in a defensive attack by a mamma grizzly bear last week, forcing a massive closure on the north side of the Bow Valley to protect people and wildlife." To read more, click here.

--A climber who lost his partner in Nepal has also been banned from the country for engaging in an illegal expedition. To read more, click here.