Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/8/22

Northwest:

--We usually don't report much on accidents that don't involve mountain travel, but we thought this one would be important to highlight as it's a risk we all take every time we're in a tent. A man was killed by a falling tree in his tent in Olympic National Forest last week. To read more, click here.

--There was a rockfall event in Squamish on Tuesday. From the Squamish Access Society: "Rockfall went all the way to the road - Mamquam-and will be closed from Shlanay trail to the dyke exit - RCMP on site - will continue to be closed for another hour or so (2pm). Climbers should avoid climbing at New Delhi as rocks took out trail most likely but also dangerous overhead hazards and trees on approach." To read more, follow Squamish Access Society on Facebook.

--Gripped is reporting that, "Yak Peak is a well-known granite dome with an unmistakable west-facing slab northwest of the Coquihalla Pass on Highway 5. There are a few classic climbs up to 17 pitches, including Yak Check 5.9, Yak Crack 5.9, Reality Check 5.10+ and CardiYak Rhythm 5.11b. According to Chris Kucey, 'This peak has seen three or four big rockfalls on a different aspects within the last two months.' The latest was a rockfall that affected pitches six and seven." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--From Yosemite National Park: "In 2023, Yosemite National Park will transition from the Wilderness Climbing Permit Pilot Program (in place in 2021 and 2022) to a long-term solution to address wilderness stewardship through management of overnight climbing on Yosemite’s big walls and other rock formations." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--There's currently a movement to seed clouds above Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas. The idea is to bring in more rain on the drought-stricken landscape. To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

Cody Bradford

----It is with a heavy heart that we have to report the passing of the guide and climbing influencer, Cody Bradford. Cody was well-known in both the guiding and the social media worlds as a thoughtful climbing educator who loved sharing his knowledge with the world. To read more, click here.

--CBS News is reporting that, "A climber died on Saturday after falling about 900 feet from below the summit of Colorado's Capitol Peak, which is among the nation's tallest mountains and considered one of the state's most difficult to scale, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office." To read more, click here. 

--The Sacramento Bee is reporting that, "The body of a climber was found on a “very steep, rocky slope” after he texted a friend to pick him up, Utah officials said. Thomas James Rawe, 45, was on his way down from climbing at American Fork Canyon when he texted a friend to pick him up in 45 minutes at a “Forest Service fee booth near the mouth” of the canyon on Saturday, Sept. 3, according to a news release from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has been working on a solution to the traffic that plagues Little Cottonwood Canyon for some time now. On August 31, they officially announced they prefer a gondola as the top choice to achieve that goal, saying the gondola meets the 'need and provides the highest travel reliability for the public.' The recommendation came after a thoughtful environmental impact study (EIS) that considered both the gondola and an enhanced bus system." This eight mile gondola will be the world's longest. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Ubiquitous cell service in the mountains is coming, thanks to Elon Musk. From Explorer's Web: "The billionaire founder of SpaceX announced a new partnership with T-Mobile this week that will leverage the power of his Starlink satellites. Together, the two companies will offer a cell service plan that seeks to reach the most remote corners of the United States." To read more, click here.

--Outside is reporting that, "Yellowstone National Park has taken a step to distance itself from its painful past. On Thursday, the National Park Service officially changed the name of a 10,551-foot peak east of Yellowstone Lake to First Peoples Mountain, after research showed that the man it was previously named for participated in atrocities against Native Americans. The name change was confirmed following a unanimous 15–0 vote by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names." To read more, click here.

--Gear Junkie is reporting that, "Climbing’s rapid growth means sport climbing anchors can get worn down more quickly. A joint effort by Petzl and climbing groups aim to improve safety — for all. Petzl will work with two climbing nonprofits this fall to address aging hardware and battered trails at climbing crags in Tennessee." To read more, click here.