Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 3/3/22

Northwest:

--Two new alpine routes were recently sent on Vancouver Island. From Gripped: "Five climbers recently visited a remote area of Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island and climbed two new winter alpine lines on Mount Albert Edward. The peak is the sixth highest on the island at 2,093 metres." To read about the ascents, click here.

--There's a new Squamish Bouldering Guide out.

Sierra:

--The Tahoe Daily Tribune is reporting that, "as of Monday, Feb. 28, the snowpacks in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Carson and Walker basins and other areas average about 85% of normal according to Natural Resources Conservation Service Hydrologist Jeff Anderson who measured the SNOTEL site at Mount Rose Ski Tahoe which was at 86%. Other snowpacks across northern Nevada are lower and range from 64-78%." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--9 News is reporting that, "Search teams on Saturday found the body of a 27-year-old man who was caught in a small avalanche Friday near the town of Marble, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office (PCSO). The victim has been identified as Nathaniel Ethan Schmidt of Colorado Springs." Two dogs were also killed in this slide. To read more, click here.

--The Aspen Times is reporting that, "Jon Reveal, a former Aspen Skiing Co. executive who worked 55 years at various ski resorts, died unexpectedly Thursday after finishing a day at work at Tamarack Resort in Idaho. Reveal’s wife, Kim Waltrip, said an autopsy this week will determine the cause of his death. Reveal, 77, was in excellent shape and received a “clean bill of health” in a heart stress test three months ago, she said. He died after working a full day and heading to his vehicle." To read more, click here.

--2KUTV is reporting that, "An injured skier was rescued in Maybird Gulch (near Salt Lake) Saturday, officials said. Search and rescue teams were called at approximately 4:20 p.m. to assist the skier. 'Due to the remote location of the skier, rapidly losing daylight, and nature of the injuries, SAR command called in for a helicopter extraction,' officials said." To read more, click here.

--The Journal is reporting that, "A Durango man was recovering Tuesday after being caught in an avalanche Saturday in the La Plata Mountains west of Durango. Mint Henk, 37, woke up for the first time on Tuesday after the accident, said his wife, Katy Henk. In a whisper, he was able to recount the accident and ask about his family and the buddy he was skiing with, Alex Vidal, she said." To read more, click here.

--Snowbrains is reporting that, "On Thursday, February 24, six poachers trespassed onto privately-owned Eagle Point Resort property near Beaver, Utah, and skied several of the western slopes of the ski area while it was closed, according to a social media post shared by Eagle Point Resort. The southern Utah ski area called the local Sheriff, who came to investigate the scene." To read more, click here.

--Climbing is reporting that, "In Colorado, where the number of outdoor users is quickly outpacing the bandwidth of local search and rescue (SAR) teams, volunteer rescuers aren’t just unpaid—they’re spending over $1,500 of their own money each year to save other people’s lives. That’s according to a landmark new study conducted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in 2021, to investigate reports of burnout, underfunding, and legal vulnerabilities among many of the state’s 50 all-volunteer, nonprofit SAR teams." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Climbing is following the plight of some Ukrainian climbers as they brace for war. Alpinist is posting comments from both Russian and Ukrainian climbers opposing the war.

--Gripped is reporting that, "The final two ice climbing world cups of the 2021/22 season have been cancelled. The executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in a statement that they 'urge all International Sports Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.' The announcement by the IOC led to the UIAA‘s executive board’s deciding to end the season now: 'It has decided that, in the interest of the safety of all participants and to maintain the integrity of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour, the two remaining UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup events scheduled to take place in Russia between now and the end of the 2021-22 season are cancelled.'" To read more, click here.

--Two climbers were hit by an avalanche on Polar Circus (WI 5) in Alberta this week. From Gripped: "'We were climbing the second last pitch of Polar Circus when spin drifts started to get bigger,” the climbers reported. 'So we decided to turn around. When we wanted to rappel over the pencil (around 2,000 metres above sea level) an avalanche around size 2 caught us. It must have started in alpine zone. The debris was loose but due to the narrow gully above us pretty heavy.'" To read more, click here.

--Bro culture and toxic masculinity haven't gone anywhere from the climbing scene. A young woman posted a video of her bouldering while by two men make sexist comments about her skills on the rock, while explaining why they couldn't do it on TikTok this week. The incident was then covered by several media outlets.

--Climbing is reporting on a new documentary: "In October 2017, accomplished big wall climber Quinn Brett took a life-changing fall while attempting to set a new speed record of the Nose. Brett broke four ribs, punctured a lung, bruised her liver, and fractured her 12th thoracic vertebrae. She was left paralyzed from the waist down. An Accidental Life, which has been nominated for best Feature at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, starts after that: In this breathless transition in which Brett attempts to reconcile the loss of her legs and learn to move forward. It’s a deeply intimate, if at times provocative, film, a resounding expression of the human soul." To read more, click here.

--Climate change and snow making are likely to make skiing even more exclusive and more expensive. To read about it, click here.

--Somebody made an autonomous snowcat that can drop you off at the top of a run and pick you up at the bottom. Check it out.

--And finally, Snowbrains is reporting that, "Sleeping Giant Ski Area in Cody, WY will be donating 100% of their tickets sales this Saturday to Ukraine’s army." To read more, click here.