Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 10/12/22

Northwest:

--Here's an awesome piece on a blend of ultra-running and technical mountaineering in the North Cascades.

--Here's a piece from AAI's director about graffiti on public lands.

Sierra:

--The Reds Meadow road has been closed for the season in the Eastern Sierra. 

--Here's a list of seasonal campground closures in the Eastern Sierra.

Desert Southwest:

--A complete report has been produced on the recent deaths of two climbers at Tahquitz Rock. It appears that the fatalities were the result of the use of an old webbing anchor in descent. The webbing snapped and the pair fell. A handful of experienced climbers have died over the last few years making this mistake.

Mt. Wilson in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

--What a nightmare. We've been fighting this for over 20-years. From the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "A project to build more than 400 single-family homes on Blue Diamond Hill near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area can move forward. In a unanimous vote — and with opposition from Save Red Rock conservation advocates — the Clark County Zoning Commission voted Tuesday to permit the housing development and approved a tentative map of the project." There are more hurdles for the developer to overcome, but this is a bad sign. To read more, click here.

--Some bolting gear was stolen by -- what is believed to be -- climbers from the Story Crag at Mt. Potosi near Red Rock Canyon. To read about this, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "at a meeting on Tuesday, Vail Town Council outlined its parking rates and passes for the upcoming winter season. The town will be introducing peak days and charging more on these days, as well as rate increases across the board, including the Premier Pass, which will increase from $3,330 to $5,500—a 65% increase." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--We don't always report on fatalities outside North America, but this is a big one. Twenty-nine people were killed in a single avalanche on Monday in the Garhwal Himalaya of India. To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "Australian Daniel Heritage, 28, died while climbing near the town of Banff in Banff National Park last week. Details of the the accident, including the route and what happened, are unknown." To read more, click here.

--WCAX is reporting that, "A climber died after falling from a cliff near the Everett Dam in Clough State Park in the town of Weare, the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game says. Rescue crews were called about 4 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of an individual who had been climbing the cliff that was off the trail and was not a designated climbing area." To read more, click here.

--CNN is reporting that, "REI has quit Black Friday, forever. For the past seven years, the retailer has closed its doors on the day after Thanksgiving to give its employees a day off. The Seattle-based seller of outdoor clothing and gear said Tuesday that starting this year, every part of its business — all 178 stores, its distribution locations, call centers and headquarters — will close every year on Black Friday." To read more, click here.

--The following video is an excellent little piece on climbers of color in the Midwest:

--Congressman Ben Cline's website is reporting that, "Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA-06) and Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) led a bipartisan letter to National Park Service (NPS) Director Charles Sams requesting that NPS institutes a policy that reserves spots for active-duty military, Gold Star families, and Veterans to enter lottery systems at national parks. Currently, the NPS has a lottery system for several attractions at park units across the United States. A lottery system may only let in a set number of individuals to a portion of a national park, with slots often going quickly. The NPS already gives active-duty military, Gold Star families, and Veterans free access to national parks, but there are no spots reserved in these lottery systems for them, often resulting in them not being selected." To read more, click here.

--The New York Times did an article on one of our favorite Alaskan National Park events every year: Fat Bear Week! To read about it, click here.