Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 12/9/21

Northwest:

--Climbing has published an obituary for Jolene Unsold, a climber and former congressperson who died in November at the age of 89. It's not really possible to sum up this amazing individual here. Just go read the article about her.

--Uphill travel at Snoqualmie will require a pass this year. 

--In late November, a team put up a new mixed line in Esmerelda Peak. The line, Moonlight Serendipity (WI2 M5+ 1,200ft), connects gullies and ice smears on the northeast face of the peak. To read about the ascent and to see photos, click here.

Sierra:

--The Sierra Wave is reporting that, "the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) has hired two climbing rangers to patrol the increasingly popular climbing and bouldering areas in the Bishop area. This is the third year of the program. Climbing in the Eastern Sierra is an interagency activity, so the climbing rangers are supported by numerous partners: the  Bishop Area Climbers Coalition, Bishop Area of Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Inyo, Los Angeles Department of Power and Water, Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office and the Inyo National Forest. The rangers will be focused on the Tablelands, Happys and Sads, the Buttermilks, Pine Creek, the Gorge and Upper Gorge, and the Druids." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--ABC 4 is reporting that, "crews with the Unified Fire Department rescued a rock climber that fell at Little Cottonwood Canyon. Crews said the climber fell about 30-feet and was was located about a half a mile off the road." To read more, click here.

--Climbing is reporting that, "A climber in Clear Creek Canyon, Golden, Colorado, was hit by rockfall Saturday, December 4, and is now in the ICU in a medically-induced coma." The website has a complete recap of the accident, something we don't see often.

--A skier died after colliding with a tree at Eldora this week. This is the second fatality at the ski area in two weeks. To read more, click here.

--A Ranger was shot after pursuing a couple in Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday. The Ranger's bullet proof vest saved him. After an exchange of gunfire, the couple was subdued. One was injured. Following is a video from the incident provided by local news:

--News Channel 21 is reporting that, "One of America’s most popular national park hikes will require a permit as of 2022. Officials at Zion National Park have announced that as of April 1, 2022, visitors who want to tackle the famous Angels Landing hike, which scales a 1,488-foot tall rock formation to reveal sweeping views of the canyons below, will have to enter an online lottery to try and get a permit." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Snowbrains is reporting that, "the Mt Washington Avalanche Center reports that a slab avalanche in Left Gully in Tuckerman Ravine on Sunday carried a skier 600-feet downhill, hitting several rocks, and causing ‘bad breaks’. The solo skier was traveling uphill at the time." To read more, click here.

--Check out the winner of the Red Bull Illume outdoor adventure photography contest, here.

--The John Lauchlaun Award is a Canadian grant that awards between $5000 and $10,000 to individuals interested in expeditionary rock climbing. From Gripped: "From the beginning, the award aimed to promote the development of Canadian mountaineers at an international level and to perpetuate the bold and adventurous spirit exemplified in John Lauchlan’s mountain exploits." To read more, click here.

--NBC News is reporting that, "a treasure trove of emeralds, rubies and sapphires buried for decades on a glacier off France's Mont Blanc has finally been shared between the climber who discovered them and local authorities, eight years after they were found. The mountaineer stumbled across the precious stones in 2013. They had remained hidden in a metal box that was on board an Indian plane that crashed in the desolate landscape some 50 years earlier." To read more, click here.