Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 1/2/20

Northwest:

--NBC News and many others are reporting that, "A man hiking in California was struck and killed this week by a giant redwood tree that fell on him. Subhradeep Dutta, 28, of Edina, Minnesota, died Tuesday after the incident in Muir Woods National Monument Park in Mill Valley, California, according to a news release from the Marin County Sheriff's Office." To read more, click here.

Mt. Hood from Timberline Lodge.

--A 16-year-old on Mt. Hood survived a 500-foot fall on Monday. To read more, click here.

--KATU 2 is reporting that, "A skier is recovering after she got lost overnight on Christmas while out skiing on Mount Bachelor, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said. Officials said 30-year-old Ashlee Gingerich, of California, walked up to the Cloudchaser ski lift at about 9 a.m. Thursday “very cold and tired, but otherwise uninjured.” She was treated at the resort by staff members." To read more, click here.

--A new ice climbing area is being developed near Lillooet. And indeed a new 5-pitch WI 5 was just sent there. To read more, click here.

--Washington's snowpack is still on the low side. It is currently similar to the 2015 drought. To read more, click here.

--Mountain Gear, the iconic gear shop that we've worked with at Red Rock Rendezvous for years, is closing its doors. It is truly a sad day for the outdoor industry. To read more, click here.

--The Pacific Crest Trail Association is reporting that, "Last summer, after 5 years of hard work, dedication and laser focus by a divergent group of partners, 10,300 acres and 17 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail were permanently protected for public use along the Trinity Divide in Northern California. Last week, the U.S. Forest Service recognized the rare and valuable partnership that made the project a success. The recipients of the “Partnership of the Year Award” include the Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Michigan-California Timber Company, The Trust for Public Land and several Forest Service employees." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--Snowbrains and several other outlets are reporting that, "pro snowboarder Jaeger Bailey took his own life on Christmas day in Mammoth, California." To read more, click here.

--In light of Jaeger's death, it's important to remember that ski towns have a higher suicide rate than other places. Here's an excellent article on the subject.

Desert Southwest:

--Human skeletal remains were found in Joshua Tree National Park on December 22nd. The remains were in place for some time and an investigation is ongoing. To read more, click here.

Graffiti scratched into the sandstone in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

--The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that graffiti within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is on the rise. To read more, click here.

--Outside is reporting that, "fter half a decade of legislative holdups, New Mexico’s White Sands National Monument has officially been designated a national park. Located 220 miles south of Albuquerque, White Sands is the largest dune field in the world and is so expansive that it can be seen from space. It was established as a national monument in 1933, and since its inception has attracted more visitors than any other National Parks Service site in New Mexico, according to a statement from the office of U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich. “This is a pretty prestigious recognition of White Sands, one of New Mexico's most remarkable natural wonders,” said Heinrich, who introduced the bill to Congress with U.S. Representative Xochitl Torres Small in March 2019." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Several skiers and snowboarders were caught in an inbounds avalanche on an open run at Copper Mountain Ski Area in mid-December. To read more, click here.

--Summit Daily is reporting that, "A 58-year-old skier had to be rescued Thursday after he got lost outside Steamboat Resort. At 1:35 p.m., Routt County Search and Rescue volunteers responded to a report of a skier who had accidentally left the resort boundary. He was stranded in the Fish Creek drainage, according to incident commander Kristia Check-Hill. It was the rescue group’s first call for service at the ski area this winter, she said." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--A skier was killed in Pennsylvania at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort after colliding with snowblowing equipment. To read more, click here.

--A 48-year-old skier was killed after colliding with a tree in Vermont this week. To read more, click here.

--The most famous couple in climbing is getting married.

--The Kathmandu Post is reporting that, "all climbers seeking a permit to climb Mount Everest will now need to disclose their full medical history, according to a set of new rules drafted by the Tourism Department. In addition to disclosing their medical history, climbers must also submit a medical report by a certified doctor in order to obtain a permit to climb mountains in Nepal, including the world’s tallest peak." To read more, click here.

--Anchorage Daily News is reporting that, "The Denali Park Road, traveled by thousands of tourists and Alaskans in the summer, could be temporarily shut down before its halfway point at the start of the 2020 season due to damage from a continuing landslide. The 92-mile route is the sole road into the park. Just under 8,000 bus trips are scheduled on the road every year to transport visitors into the park. Use of personal vehicles is usually prohibited." To read more, click here.

--Snews has the top ten outdoor industry stories of 2019. Check it out.

--Outside has produced a list of the top ten most important outdoor books of the last decade. This is worth checking out.

--America's National Parks are getting louder...

--The Hill is reporting that, "The National Park Service (NPS) has been allowing nonprofits to offer weddings, yoga and other activities that are "outside the scope" of their agreements with the government, an internal watchdog has found.  The NPS has partnered with nonprofit organizations to operate Residential Environmental Learning Centers (RELCs) to provide educational services to the public, according to an Interior Department inspector general's report dated last week." To read more, click here.

--A barefoot 30-year-old woman got within 15-feet of the top of Mt. Rushmore before descending and being arrested. To read more, click here.

--There's a Will Ferrell ski movie coming out:



--Here's a list of NPS fee free days for 2020!