Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/11/21

On this Veteran's Day, we should note that veteran's of World War II essentially started the ski industry in the United States. Read about it, here.

Northwest:

--The North Cascades Highway, State Route 20, closed yesterday for the winter season. It will reopen, most likely, in late April or early May.

--A brown bag full of presumably stolen climbing gear was found in Bellingham this week. If you got ripped off, click here to learn more.

Sierra:

--CNN is reporting that, "a California woman is recovering and says she feels lucky to be alive after being mauled by a black bear that broke into her Lake Tahoe cabin and rummaged through her kitchen." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The BLM is updating it's recreation management plan for Calico Basin in Red Rock Canyon: "Recognizing the need to balance high-quality visitor experience with natural resource protection in one of the region’s most popular recreation areas, the Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District announces a public comment period for the draft Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP) and Environmental Analysis (EA) for the Calico Basin area of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The public comment period is open from November 8, 2021, to December 8, 2021. The Recreation Area Management Plan will guide future development and provide management direction for recreation resources within the Calico Basin Recreation Area, located in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area northwest of Las Vegas." A zoom meeting about this will take place on November 18th. To read more, click here.

--The Southern Nevada Climbers Coalition is looking for 60 volunteers for the Red Rock Rehab stewardship events. This year the focus will be on the highly impacted area of Kraft Mountain. During November 20-21 the SNCC and Access Fund will lead projects to eliminate redundant trails, redirect current trails, install vertical mulching in compacted soil, and clean up litter. Email snclimberscoalition@gmail.com to sign up for one or both days.

Colorado and Utah:

--This ankle injury that required a rescue took place in Larimer County at a crag on Highway 14. Few details are available.

--Yahoo News is reporting that, "Human remains found in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado are believed to be those of a hiker who disappeared nearly 40 years ago during a ski trip, officials at the park said Thursday." To read more, click here.

--The Denver Post is reporting that, "All proceeds from uphill skiing sales at Winter Park Resort this year will benefit three local nonprofits. Uphill skiers at Winter Park Resort will need to pre-purchase a $25 armband that is good for the full 2021-2022 season. The funds raised from this will go toward Grand County Search and Rescue, Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment dog teams, and Friends of Berthoud Pass." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "a skier suffered a minor injury when a cornice broke off and carried him 200-feet down the slope on Tincan Ridge, AK, on Saturday." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "on Sunday morning a skier was caught and carried a short distance in a slough in The Great One couloir near Fairy Lake, MT. There were no injuries, but it could have been a worse outcome if carried farther or into rocks." To read more, click here.

--NPR is reporting that, "an 83-year-old from Alabama started walking when he retired more than a quarter-century ago — and never stopped. M.J. 'Sunny' Eberhart strode into the record books Sunday as the oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail. Eberhart, known by the trail name Nimblewill Nomad, acknowledged that despite having tens of thousands of miles under his belt, the trail was tough going at his age, leading to quite a few spills on slippery rocks." To read more, click here.

--The Access Fund is reporting that the "Access Fund and Illinois Climbers Association (ICA) are thrilled to announce the purchase and protection of the House Boulders, a new bouldering area and conservation corridor in southern Illinois." To read more, click here.

--Wyoming Public Radio is reporting that, "Wildlife biologists are proposing winter closures of some terrain in and around Grand Teton National Park. The hope is that the move would help protect the locally-endangered and isolated bighorn sheep herd in the range. But, as KHOL's Will Walkey reports, the recommendations are drawing backlash from some backcountry skiers, and stakeholders from around the region are searching for ways to compromise." To read more, click here.

--The Daily Beast is reporting that, "a mountaineering medical doctor called in a false report of hypothermia after attempting and failing to summit Denali, the tallest peak in North America, so he could be “rescued” by helicopter instead of descending on his own, according to a criminal complaint filed in Fairbanks, Alaska federal court." To read more, click here.