Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/15/22

Northwest:

--Unofficial Networks is reporting that, "the 2020-21 season was a record-breaking winter for Idaho ski resorts. Ski Idaho announced that 2.15 million guests shredded at the ski resorts in the state, beating the prior record of 1.88 million people that was set in the 2018-19 season. It also achieved the fifth most skier visits per capita in the United States, only getting beaten out by New Hampshire, Utah, Colorado, and Vermont." To read more, click here.

---KOMO News is reporting that, "the Bolt Creek fire, which began early Saturday morning, is now 5% contained as of Wednesday – an increase from 2% on Monday. Officials say the fire, burning between Index and Skykomish along US 2, has burned through about 9,440 acres. Conditions have calmed and lower winds and higher humidity has slowed the blaze." To read more, click here.

--If you haven't seen this video from some hikers that probably should have checked where the fires were before going out, take a look below. Clearly, this pair should have put some more time into fire research before their trip, but after that, they did about as well as anyone could when they became surrounded by fire:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "In a report put out by the Central Oregon Daily News, Mount Bachelor Ski Resort in Bend, Oregon is planning to sell daily lift tickets for the 22/23 Winter Season at two different price points based on its guest’s willingness to sign a liability release. The news broke after an important email was sent to the resort’s season pass holders by Mount Bachelor GM and President John McLeod. Though the exact prices were not laid out on in the email, McLeod had informed recipients that the current pricing model will change and is linked to the release of liability. Lower-priced tickets will be available to those who sign the resort’s standard liability release and higher-priced tickets will allow users to skip the release of liability." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--The Sierra Wave is reporting that, "the Inyo National Forest is pleased to announce that Sarah Clawson, District Ranger on the Prescott National Forest, will serve as Acting Forest Supervisor on the Inyo National Forest for the next four months beginning September 12, 2022. During this time, Lesley Yen will be serving as Acting Forest Supervisor on the Coconino National Forest." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Fox 31 is reporting that, "the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office says a Boulder woman died after falling from a popular rock climbing area north of Mount Spalding. The fall happened on Tuesday around 9:50 a.m. near the Black Wall climbing area. The sheriff’s office, Alpine Rescue Team, and Flight For Life Colorado arrived to help the injured climber." To read more, click here.

--Climbing is reporting that, "One climber was killed on Capitol Peak (14,137 feet) outside Aspen, Colorado, last week, while the mountain was the scene of other accidents—Mountain Rescue Aspen was called out to the Capitol valley four times in nearly as many days." To read more, click here.

--Unnoffical Networks is reporting that, "back in November, a famous ski instructor got into a collision while skiing at Eldora, causing him to die. Since then, the snowboarder who crashed into the skier escaped criminal charges but still faces class two petty charges, resulting in a maximum fine of $1000. The Denver Gazette reports that the legal trial over the death of Ronald Lemaster has been delayed for the third time. Ronald LeMaster was a famous ski instructor based in Colorado. If you’re into reading books about skiing, you’ll recognize some of his work: Ultimate Skiing, The Essential Guide to Skiing, and the Skiers Edge." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The New York Times is reporting that, "A half century after founding the outdoor apparel maker Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, the eccentric rock climber who became a reluctant billionaire with his unconventional spin on capitalism, has given the company away. Rather than selling the company or taking it public, Mr. Chouinard, his wife and two adult children have transferred their ownership of Patagonia, valued at about $3 billion, to a specially designed trust and a nonprofit organization. They were created to preserve the company’s independence and ensure that all of its profits — some $100 million a year — are used to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land around the globe." To read more, click here.

--The Hill is reporting that, "the Interior Department announced Thursday that it has completed the removal of a slur for Native American women from federal place names after announcing a review in November. In the announcement, the department said the federal Board on Geographic Names has voted on replacement names for more than 600 places that included the slur “squaw.” The department also issued a full map of places where names were replaced." To read more, click here.

--Snowbrains is reporting that, "on August 9, 2022, two individuals pleaded guilty to Reckless Conduct Charges in the 2nd Circuit Court–District Division–Littleton Courthouse. Jason Feierstin, 22, of Lowell, MA, and Dylan Stahley, 25, of Windsor, NH, both entered guilty pleas in exchange for each receiving a violation-level Reckless Conduct conviction and a $200 fine, plus a $48 penalty assessment. The criminal charges resulted from a rescue that occurred on June 11, 2022. The rescue involved Conservation Officers from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Law Enforcement Division as well as volunteers from the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team and New England K9 Drone Unit." To read more, click here.

--The Boardman-Tasker Mountain Literature finalists have been announced.