Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/25/22

Northwest:

Stawamus Chief in Squamish

Exasperator can be found on the far right side of the photo.

--Gripped is reporting that, "a rock climber in Squamish took a 15-metre fall off of Exasperator at the base of the Grand Wall. A helicopter was involved in the rescue. According to initial reports, the climber broke their pelvis and had other minor injuries." To read more, click here.

--There is an ongoing search and rescue operation in the Picket Range in the McMillan Spire area. This operation is being run by North Cascades National Park with volunteer mountain rescue units responding. It's been reported that there's a missing person. 

Sierra:

--Unofficial Networks is reporting that, "the story of one of the most tragic stories in ski history is making its way to the big screen. Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche Film has received rave reviews from audiences, the Audience Award from Telluride’s Moutainfilm festival, and it will soon be coming to theaters." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Karen Sahn, a guide who worked part-time for AAI over a couple of years in Las Vegas, passed away earlier this year. Climbing has produced a very nice write-up on her life. To read it, click here.

--The Sacramento Bee is reporting that, "a climber plunged dozens of feet after his equipment failed on a Colorado rock formation, deputies said. The climber was on Yellow Spur in Eldorado State Park on Saturday, Aug. 20, when he suddenly fell, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said. “The climber fell and his piece of safety equipment pulled out of the rock,” deputies said in a news release." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center’s (GNFAC) annual avalanche report was recently released. It shows Colorado to have the highest number of avalanche fatalities over the last ten years (64). Montana was ranked 2nd with 33—still six higher than the national average of 27." To read more, click here.

--Unofficial Networks is reporting on obscene season pass prices. "Aspen’s Premier Pass, which has unlimited access and no blackout dates, starts at $2,599 for adults with price increases capping out at $3,099 if purchased after December 3rd." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Park City Mountain Resort, UT, will charge for parking this winter, the resort confirmed in a statement yesterday. A reservation system will be in effect from December 12, 2022, through April 2nd, 2023, and will include $25 paid parking as well as some free parking. Incentives will be available for those carpooling or using transit." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--KZBK Bozeman is reporting that, "On August 16, a rock climber in Big Sky near Bear Basin fell 100 feet and sustained severe injuries. Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Big Sky Section, the SAR Heli Team, Big Sky Fire Department, and Life Flight responded to the call to provide assistance." To read more, click here.

--Backpacker is reporting on the hazards of selfie-taking in the mountains. "When a tourist or hiker falls from a high place or gets charged while photographing an animal, internet commenters’ knee-jerk reaction is often to blame it on clout-driven selfie-seeking. There’s some evidence that they may not be off base: Researchers in Turkey studied 159 'selfie victims' injured or killed while trying to take photos and found that 43.2% of accidents took place in nature, with cliff edges being a preferred site for selfies. One hiker who gets away with a risky selfie may lead to others doing the same, and certain hiking destinations may be seen with more acceptance than risk over time." To read more, click here.

--Unofficial Networks is reporting that, "after a challenging past couple of years, the National Ski Patrol continues to be in turmoil. Ski Area Management reports that the CEO of the National Ski Patrol, Chris Castilian(pictured above), announced his resignation after only thirteen months on the job. He has tried to enact change on a variety of issues but has been met with fierce resistance from the NSP’s Board of Directors. 

--Backpacker is reporting that, "you can no longer get your photo taken next to the world’s tallest tree—and that’s probably a good thing. Officials at California’s Redwood National Park recently closed the area surrounding Hyperion, a massive 380-foot coast redwood that is believed to be the planet’s tallest living tree. Hyperion is located deep within the park and is not accessible by a trail. Still, visitors have bushwhacked pathways through the brush to visit the trail, and the uptick in tourists has caused damage to the surrounding area and to the tree itself." To read more, click here.