Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/27/21

Northwest:

--A climber was killed after slipping on steep snow on The Brothers in the Olympic mountains on Sunday. To read more, click here.

--The East Baker Lake Trail has been closed due to some unusual interactions with a cougar. From the Forest Service: "The reports were of minimal response by the cougar in breaking off interaction

after efforts by hikers with shouts and arm waving to discourage the cougar from remaining in the area." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--The National Park Service is reporting that, "A high-elevation search and rescue operation ended happily on Sunday when ground searchers successfully located missing hiker Edward Lee Alderman in the vicinity of Timberline Lake, several miles west of the summit of Mount Whitney. Mr. Alderman is reported to be alert, despite injuries, fatigue, and exposure to sub-freezing temperatures. Mr. Alderman was reported missing on Friday, after failing to return from his hike to the summit of Mount Whitney on Thursday, May 20. Helicopters searched the area from the air on Saturday, and ground searchers were deployed on Sunday, once a late-season winter storm cleared the area." To read more, click here.

--Tioga Pass should open today.

Colorado and Utah:

--There were two incidents in the Wasatch outside Salt Lake over the weekend. The first was the unfortunate death of a hiker on Mt. Superior. And the second, was the rescue of a pair of climbers on Mt. Olympus. To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "David Lesh has been denied having two criminal charges dropped for alleged illegal activity on national forest lands by a Federal judge. The former pro-skier will still face trial. The charges are that Lesh operated a snowmobile in a closed Keystone ski area and that he used forest lands to promote his clothing brand without the required permit. The ruling judge has set a trial date for July 22-23, 2021." To read more, click here.

Alaska:

--A 31-year-old climber suffered a major fall from Denali Pass on Denali on Monday. The climber was recovered and is in critical condition. To read more, click here.

--An individual suffered a mauling from a brown bear in Northeast Alaska last week. Though he survived, he was left with significant injuries. To read about it, click here.

Mt. Foraker from Denali

--Follow AAI's climbs in Alaska at our Dispatches Blog.

Notes from All Over:

--HV1 is reporting that, "On Saturday, May 22 at approximately 3.30 p.m. state police from the Highland barracks responded to the Mohonk Preserve (New York) in the vicinity of Undercliff Trail for a report of a male with a head injury. New Paltz EMS and Mohonk Preserve Rangers were on the scene when troopers arrived. EMS were attempting life-saving measures. Initial investigation revealed that Evrim Cabuk, 31 from Brooklyn, was retrieving a piece of hiking equipment when he lost his footing and fell approximately 20 feet striking his head on a rock. Fellow hikers immediately began first aid and contacted 911." To read more, click here.

--New Hampshire Fish and Game is reporting that, "On May 23, 2021, at 1:23 p.m., Mountain Rescue Service, Bartlett-Jackson Ambulance, North Conway Fire-Rescue, Bartlett Fire Department and New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers responded to a report of an injured climber in Bartlett on the Cathedral Ledge. Sheri Li, 27, of Baltimore, MD, was lead climbing Airation Buttress on Cathedral Ledge when she fell approximately 40 feet sustaining multiple injuries. Mountain Rescue Service extracted her from her location and she was then carried in a litter to an awaiting ambulance. Li was transported to Memorial Hospital in North Conway for evaluation and treatment." To read more, click here.

--Does a stump hidden by newly fallen snow fall into the "inherent risks" column inside a ski resort? A Wyoming judge says, "yes." To read about it, click here.

--Outside has published an interesting article on the need for more campsites throughout the country. To read the piece, click here.

--On a related note, it sounds like consumer demand for camping equipment is at an all time high...