Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 1/23/20

Climate Crisis:

--Here's how climate change is affecting outdoor adventures sports and wilderness exploration.

Northwest:

--Prolific Northwest mountaineer, artist, NPS ranger and guide, Dee Molenaar, died at the age of 101 on Sunday. As a ranger and guide, Dee climbed Mt. Rainer over 50-times. He was on the second ascent of Mt. St. Elias, and was on the third attempt to climb K2. To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "it was a tragic weekends at two B.C. ski resorts, as more inbound accidents lead to fatalities. The B.C. Coroner’s Service is investigating after a skier and a snowboarder died after becoming trapped in tree wells in separate incidents." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--KCRA 3 is reporting that, "One person was killed and one person was seriously injured in an avalanche at a Tahoe ski resort on Friday morning, authorities said. The avalanche happened around 10:15 a.m. near the Subway ski run at Alpine Meadows ski resort, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office." To read more, click here.

Carson Now is reporting that, "The man who died Saturday has been identified as 36-year-old Christopher John Nicholson of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. Nicholson was a member of the Heavenly Ski Patrol and had been working that day. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Washoe County Coroner’s Office is working to identify a cause of death, according to a DCSO news release." To read more, click here.

Yosemite's El Capitan
Photo by Krista Eytchison

--At least 200-people left Yosemite with a norovirus recently.

Desert Southwest:

--CNN is reporting that, "Skeletal remains that were found in Joshua Tree National Park last month have been identified as 51-year-old Paul Miller, a Canadian man who went missing in 2018, according to officials." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:


--Out There Colorado is reporting that, "An ice climber was killed on January 18, 2020 in Uncompahgre Gorge in Ouray County, Colorado when a block of falling ice triggered a small avalanche. Untethered at the time of the avalanche, the victim was hit and carried into a creek, where she was fully buried by snow and ice. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the victim was not climbing at the time of the accident." To read more, click here.

--The Denver Post is reporting that, "Police on Monday identified the skier who died Saturday on the slopes of Winter Park Resort as 25-year-old Francis Raymond Ermilio of Massachusetts. Ermilio was not an experienced skier and investigators believe he lost control Saturday afternoon while skiing an intermediate run and crashed into nearby trees, according to a news release from the Fraser Winter Park Police Department." To read more, click here.

--Out There Colorado is reporting that, "Backcountry skiers came to the rescue Saturday when a dog became buried under a large slab avalanche in Central Colorado." To read more, click here.

New Variation to Jah Man

Photo by Gaar Lausman

--Last week it was reported that the Moab classic Jah Man fell down. This week AAI guide Gaar Lausman and a few other locals developed three new pitches to link into the original line. To read more click here.

--The Adventure Blog is reporting that, "Colorado is home to 58 mountains that exceed 14,000 feet (4267 meters), which of course makes it one of the most mountainous states in the entire U.S. Over the years, countless climbers and hikers have made it a priority to climb each and every one of those mountains, which have entire websites dedicated to them. But recently, a Siberian husky by the name of Loki topped out on his 58th 14er as well, making him the third dog to ever accomplish that feat." To read more, click here.

--The Aspen Times is reporting that, "Former Aspen Skiing Co. executive and city Councilman Derek Johnson was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday for methodically stealing and selling more than 13,000 pairs of company-owned skis worth nearly $6 million over more than 12 years." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--John Evans, a prolific American climber, recently died at the age of 82. To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "Legendary Rockies climber Charles “Chas” Yonge, who made hundreds of first ascents in Canada and was a world renowned cave explorer, has passed away. He was in his mid-70s." To read more, click here.

--The News Tribune is reporting on something really scary: "A family hike Monday in a Southern California wilderness park turned terrifying when a mountain lion lunged at a 3-year-old boy, The Orange County Register reports. The animal bit the child on the neck and began to drag him away in the 4:15 p.m. attack at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Lake Forest The father of the family of six threw a backpack at the mountain lion, which let go of the boy and retreated into a tree with the backpack." To read more, click here.

--Independent Record is reporting that, "an Indiana man was rescued uninjured from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone last week, according to district park ranger Klint Powell. Dave Christensen, 55, of Indiana, was reported rappelling into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone around 11 a.m. on Jan. 6. He was illegally off trail and in the canyon, according to Powell." To read more, click here.

--Applications are open for the Kyle Dempster Solo Award. From Gripped: "Each year, the Kyle Dempster Solo Adventure Award will be given to an American solo adventurer embarking on a journey that embodies Kyle’s passionate spirit and love of exploration, with an emphasis on storytelling and leave no trace ethics." To read more, click here.