Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 1/9/20

Climate Crisis:

--Futurism is reporting that, "The wildfires currently raging in Australia have already killed more than half a billion animals and at least 20 people. And now we know that more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away from the blazes lies another potential victim: New Zealand’s glaciers." To read more, click here.

Northwest:

--The Spokesman-Review is reporting on an inbounds avalanche in Idaho: "Two skiers died and five were rescued after an avalanche swept down two inbounds ski runs on Wardner Peak at Silver Mountain Tuesday morning. While much of the search-and-rescue was completed by the afternoon, Silver Mountain Ski Patrol found an additional person buried in the avalanche later in the evening. That skier was transported to Shoshone Medical Center in an unknown condition, but the Shoshone News-Press later reported that skier died." To read more, click here.

An avalanche crown just outside Mt. Baker Ski Area last year.

Photo by Caden Martin

--Castanet is reporting that, "Two men have been killed in an avalanche in northwestern British Columbia's Tatshenshini-Alsek Park. The BC Coroners Service says the men, who were in their early 20s, were with a third man snowboarding in the area when the avalanche hit last Monday afternoon." To read more, click here.

--A BC skier is recovering after being lost for two days in the Red Mountain area. To read more, click here.

--Two teenage snowboarders lost near Nelson, BC, burned their homework to stay alive overnight, while awaiting rescue. To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--The remains of a Japanese-American internment camp prisoner were recently found near Mt. Williamson. The New York Times is reporting that, "In 1945, Giichi Matsumura left the infamous Japanese-American internment camp to paint in the Sierra Nevada and never returned." To read more, click here.

--Summit Daily is reporting that, "Many were upset in October when Northstar California Resort announced that guests would have to pay to park in the Village View lot. Two Northstar regulars were so upset they filed a lawsuit on Dec. 6 against the resort’s owner, Vail Resorts. 'I was surprised as everybody had to be in discovering, after having purchased my season ticket for Northstar that one of the main attractions was not there anymore,” said attorney Steven Kroll, 79, who filed the suit along with fellow Crystal Bay, Nev., resident Ronald Code, 77. “I believe people can change rules in advance, they can’t do it retrospectively.'" To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Two individuals got in over their heads on Epinephrine (5.9, IV) in Red Rock Canyon on New Year's Eve. The got high enough on snow covered and icy terrain that they were unable to bail and had to call a rescue. To read more, click here.

--The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting that, "a recent Facebook post about traps being used in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is drawing interest of Nevada officials, but not for the usual reasons. 'They were hidden and then covered with raw meat, this person is clearly trying to harm animals or kill coyotes,' part of the post said." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Out-There-Colorado is reporting that, "A 55-year-old skier has died following an accident at Eldora Mountain Resort on December 30. According to a Facebook post from Boulder-based Backpacker’s Pantry, the deceased was their owner and president, Rodney Smith." To read more, click here.

--A skier was killed in an accident at Alta Ski Resort on January 2nd. It appears that this was a tree-well, deep snow immersion incident. To read more, click here.

--The Times-Independent is reporting that, "In order to protect critical wildlife habitat for raptors and desert bighorn sheep, a number of climbing routes in Canyonlands and Arches national parks will close for up to six months each year, according to a statement from the National Park Service." To read more, click here.

--The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that, "Starting with the new year, permits will be required for climbing, bouldering and canyoneering at Capitol Reef, highlighting the growing popularity — and impacts — of these activities in one of Utah’s quieter national parks." To read more, click here.

--Don't go too fast in Keystone, or they'll make you take a safety class. This video was recently posted on Unofficial Networks. A snowboarder is cited by a patroller for speeding and then told he'll have to take a safety class if he wants to continue to ride Keystone. He's moving fast in the video, but is under control. It does seem a bit extreme to make him take a class without a warning.

Notes from All Over:

--Rock and Ice posted the article, Climbers We Lost in 2019, this week.

--A skier died in an accident at Whiteface Mountain in New York over the holidays. To read more, click here.

--Three skiers were caught in a large avalanche just outside the Grand-Targhee resort in Wyoming this week. A buried skier was rescued. To read more, click here.

--Climbing has been in the Olympics before, and medals have been handed out. But it wasn't indoor climbing. To read more, click here.

--A chairlift malfunctioned in Montana and dropped to the ground. Several riders then had to be rescued last week. To read more, click here.

--Bear Grylls and Alex Honnold teamed up to climb a 5.4 route, a few feet from a road, for television. This is a very dramatic video considering the route: