Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 2/4/2021

Northwest:

--KDRV 12 is reporting that, "Search and rescue teams successfully tracked down a cross-country skier who became lost in the Mt. Ashland area on Saturday evening, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office received a report of the missing skier just before 5:45 p.m. on Saturday. The cross-country skier was reportedly dressed for the weather, and was last seen on the Pacific Crest Trail near Grouse Shelter about two hours prior." To read more, click here.

Natural avalanches pummeled the Baker Backcountry on Monday.

Video by Kyle Dungan

--Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest lost a lot of firefighting equipment to thieves recently: "The United States Forest Service is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying suspects involved with the theft of wildland firefighting equipment from the Koma Kulshan Guard Station near Concrete Washington; the home base of the Baker River Hotshot Crew. During the weekend of December 18th - 21st, 2020, multiple suspects broke into the Forest Service’s Hotshot Compound stealing an estimated $45,000 or more of vital firefighting equipment." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--The Daily News is reporting that a 54-year-old skier was killed at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort when he was "buried upside down." This is likely a tree-well immersion incident, but they note that the accident is being investigated. To read more, click here.

--An individual survived being lost in a massive Sierra snowstorm for a week, last week. Check it out.

Desert Southwest:

--From Death Valley National Park: "A canyoneer died in an accident in Death Valley National Park on Saturday, January 30. Justin Ibershoff (38) of Los Angeles, was descending a technical route down Deimos Canyon with six friends. The group was very experienced, and most members of the party had descended this canyon several times before. The incident occurred while Mr. Ibershoff was descending a steep, rocky slope to the top of the third rappel anchor. He apparently stepped on a rock that moved, triggering a rockslide that swept him past two companions and over the edge of the 95-foot-tall dry fall." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Three skiers were killed after an avalanche swept four people down a slope near Silverton on Monday. Vail Daily is reporting that, "The four men, part of a larger group of backcountry skiers, triggered a large avalanche between the towns of Silverton and Ophir while traveling in an area known locally as “The Nose” around the Middle Fork of Mineral Creek." To read more, click here.

--CNN is reporting that, " skier died after being buried by an avalanche Saturday in the backcountry of Summit County, Utah. Kurt Damschroder, 57, of Park City, Utah, was killed after he was caught in the avalanche, Summit County Sheriff Justin Martinez said in a tweet Sunday." To read more, click here.

--Snow Brains is reporting that, "a Colorado Search and Rescue Team has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to replace the $10,300 worth of equipment they had stolen before Christmas. The Rampart Search and Rescue had equipment and belongings stolen after a thief broke into their storage unit early on December 14, 2020, on Huron Street in Northglenn, CO." To read more, click here.

--A ski resort closed since 2001 is slated to reopen in Colorado next year. The Cuchara Ski Resort on eastern slope of the Sangre de Cristo range, operated from 1981 to 2000. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--East Idaho News is reporting on multiple avalanche burials in the Tetons: "Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received an emergency call at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday about several skiers involved in an avalanche in the Olive Oil area located in south east Grand Teton National Park. Park rangers and Teton County Search and Rescue members jointly responded. Four skiers were skiing the east face of Olive Oil when one of the skiers triggered an avalanche. All the skiers were caught in the slide, estimated to be 40-feet wide and 2-3 feet deep. One of the skiers was able to dial 911 and reach Teton Interagency Dispatch Center to ask for help and provide location information." To read more, click here.

--A new crime drama will take place in the National Parks. From Variety: "ABC has given a pilot order to the drama “National Parks,” which hails from Kevin Costner. The project was first announced as being in development at ABC in Dec. 2019.  Anthony Hemingway is now attached to executive produce and direct the pilot via Anthony Hemingway Productions." To read more, click here.

--Two Indian climbers have been banned from Nepal and from climbing Mt. Everest after lying about reaching the summit of the mountain. To read about it, click here.

--Snow Brains is reporting that, "last Saturday, January 30th, two men who had spent the day skiing at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Maryland got into an altercation about who was a better skier, causing a fight to break out. Paz Argueta, 28, has now been arrested for aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief." To read more, click here.