Climbing, Coronavirus and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/14/20

Northwest:

--The Bellingham Herald is reporting that, "A helicopter search and rescue team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island airlifted a 27-year-old Seattle woman off Mount Baker after she was injured in a skiing accident Saturday, May 9th." The same article reports that there was also rescue on Mt. Stuart. To read more, click here. Here is a bit more info on the Stuart incident which took place in the Cascadian couloir.

Mt. Baker on Mothers Day
Photo by Caden Martin

--The Statesman Journal is reporting that, "A sweeping permit system that would have limited hiking and camping in three of Oregon's most popular wilderness areas has been delayed until 2021. Given the complexities surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, and its impact on public lands, the U.S. Forest Service said it would begin the permit system a year from now." To read more, click here.

--Oregon Public Broadcasting is reporting that, "Some ski resorts in Oregon are preparing to reopen, but exactly when they can operate again is still up in the air. Gov. Kate Brown announced earlier this week that some outdoor recreation activities can resume. Brown is expected to issue an executive order to officially allow ski resorts to resume operations in the coming days." To read more, click here.

--KDRV is reporting that, "The actions of some careless stewards of Oregon state lands have caused the Department of Forestry to temporarily shut down dispersed camping on ODF-managed lands starting on Monday. Unlike campgrounds — which have been closed in Oregon due to the COVID-19 response — dispersed camping areas usually do not have restrooms or sites for disposal of garbage. Campers are supposed to pack out everything that the bring in, as well as properly disposing of human waste." To read more, click here.

--Highway 20 opened on Tuesday, to no fanfare. Usually, this is a big deal, as it allows access to Washington Pass. But this year the Department of Transportation kept their work to themselves. To read more, click here.

--The Chief and Murrin Park are opening in Squamish this weekend, as is Skaha. Great for Canadians, but the border remains closed to Americans. To read more, click here.

Sierra:

Here is an update on what trailheads and campgrounds in Inyo National Forest are open and closed, as of May 11th.

Desert Southwest:

--The BLM has implemented its summer fire restrictions around Red Rock Canyon.

--The Desert Sun is reporting that, "a Joshua Tree man has been arrested in connection with a fire that burned 150 acres of prized conservation land in Joshua Tree south of Highway 62 on Monday." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--CNN is reporting that, "A woman suffered burns after falling into a thermal feature at Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday, according to the park officials. Yellowstone has been closed to visitors since March 24 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The woman "illegally entered the park," the National Park Service (NPS) said in a statement." To read more, click here.

--The Hill is reporting that, "Outdoor industry companies including Patagonia, L.L. Bean, and North Face called on Congress to invest in recreation infrastructure to help with the industry's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Over 60 companies, led by the Outdoor Industry Association, wrote a letter to congressional leadership on Monday urging them to pass the Great American Outdoors Act, which would provide permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and for the maintenance backlog of federal public lands." To read more, click here.

--Here's an update as to what's open and what's not in the National Parks.

--Climbing is reporting that, "Texas Climbers Coalition (TCC) and Access Fund are pleased to announce the acquisition and permanent protection of Monster Rock outside of Austin, Texas. Monster Rock has been a popular crag for years, giving climbers relief from the heat and crowds of other central Texas crags." To read more, click here.