Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/10/22

Northwest:

--The Mountain Loop Highway closed for the season this week, and the North Cascades Highway will stay closed for the winter after the recent storm.

--AAI's director has written an editorial about prescribed burns.

Desert Southwest:

--The streak of car break-ins is continuing at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the areas adjacent to it. To read about it, click here.

--Several climbers got together to do a climbers cleanup of Joshua Tree last week. Check it out.

Colorado and Utah:

The Flatirons are right outside Boulder, Colorado.

Many people free solo lines on these features.

--Gripped is reporting that, "a rock climber survived after falling around 30 metres from a route on the Second Flatiron in Boulder, Colorado, this week. At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Boulder County Communications Center got a call about a 48-year-old who fell and was seriously injured, the Boulder County Sheriff’s office said. He was not using a rope." To read more, click here.

--From the Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center: "Since November 3, there have been 41 avalanches recorded throughout Colorado. 11 of those were human triggered. The majority of these are being triggered on northerly aspects. Be alert of cracking and collapsing in the snowpack, and pay attention to how far the cracks shoot away from the tips of your skis, snowmobiles, or feet." To read more, click here.

--Snowbrains is reporting that, "A Colorado backcountry skier had a close call after triggering an avalanche that carried him 1,000 feet down a gully according to a Colorado Avalanche Information Center report. The incident, involving two skiers, occurred on Greg Mace Peak, south of Ashcroft, on October 27th. Skier one descended first, skiing a short chute that fed into a larger one beneath. Immediate signs of instability were seen, with multiple cracks in the storm slab on top. Skier one descended carefully to a safe zone about halfway down the couloir and stood behind a large rock outcropping. Skier one alerted skier two of the conditions and told skier two to make a large ski cut across the larger adjacent slope." To read more, click here.

--Water rights for the Ouray Ice Park are a little more secure today. As the ice in the park is "farmed" from pipes, a consistent water supply is essential. But as water becomes an increasingly scarce commodity in some regions, there was fear that the Ice Park could become victim to cuts. Read about it, here.

Notes from All Over:

--A former director for the National Park Service, believes that the NPS would be better situated if it were completely detached from the Department of the Interior. To read about it, click here.

--Veterans and Gold Star Families are now eligible for a free lifetime pass to the National Parks. To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "Andrew Slootweg and Derrick Van Es have made the first ascent of a two-pitch WI4 just west of the town of Banff. Overall, it’s been a slow start to the ice climbing season in the Canadian Rockies, a range known for having routes formed by mid-October. The new ice line is near Sunshine Ski Resort and can be accessed from the parking lot for the skiing." To read more, click here.

--Here's a breakdown of the winners of the Banff Mountain Film Festival.

--And finally, here are some of the coolest photos you will ever see. This photographer got several exceptional photos of a snow leopard in the Himalaya.