Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 12/15/22

Northwest:

--Cascadia Daily News is reporting that, "a male snowboarder died Saturday in a deep snow immersion incident in the Pan Dome extreme danger zone cliff area of Mount Baker Ski Area, CEO Gwyn Howat said. The Bellingham man, 44, appeared to be riding alone in the rarely frequented area, located to the north of Chair 1. He was not reported missing to the Mount Baker ski patrol, Howat said." To read more, click here.

--This situation near Stevens Pass Ski Area in Washington is unsustainable:

--To train for a trip to Indian Creek, a Squamish local found a thin roof crack on the bottom of a bridge that she climbed and re-climbed for training. Check it out.

Desert Southwest:

--KLAS is reporting that, "Fees for entering the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area just outside of Las Vegas are about to go up, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Currently, the daily entry fee for Red Rock Canyon is $15 per vehicle. As of January 1, 2023, this is going up $5 to $20 per vehicle. Other fees are also increasing in the new year." To read more, click here.

--Patch is reporting that, "Joshua Tree National Park and the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians will join forces with a co-stewardship agreement, officials reported. Tribal Chairman Darrell Mike and Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David A. Smith and are among the representatives expected to sign the agreement next month." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--KSL TV is reporting that, "Search and rescue crews on Tuesday located the body of a skier who was reported missing Monday night. 'He was found at about 8:15 (a.m.), just off of the Sensation ski run in some trees,' said Unified Police Department spokesperson Melody Cutler." To read more, click here.

--KSL TV is also reporting that, "One skier got caught and was injured in an avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon Tuesday near Tanner's Campground. Unified Police Sgt. Melody Cutler said the call came in about 2:15 p.m. from an area known as pink pine. Two skiers in their 20s, one male and one female, were skiing when an avalanche was triggered. Police said the man was caught in the avalanche but was not buried. He did, however, suffer significant injuries to his leg, ribs, shoulder and face." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "avalanche danger is high in Colorado right now. In the last 10 days, observers have reported over 400 avalanches as the snowpack has passed a tipping point. An avalanche warning has been issued by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center for the northern Front Range Mountains, including Cameron Pass and the Park Range." To read more, click here.

--In late November there were a lot of base jumpers that suffered cliff strikes near Moab. In at least one case, a climber came to the rescue of a jumper who was stuck. To read the story, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Don't hire unpermitted guides. From Backpacker: "A Missouri man who led a 31-person hike on the Buffalo National River where one participant died in a fall will face criminal penalties for acting as an unpermitted guide, a federal judge ruled this week." To read more, click here. 

--Climbing is reporting that, "Black Diamond is stepping up to match up to $80,000 in donations to Access Fund, the national non-profit advocacy organization that protects America’s climbing. Gifts made HERE will be matched through December 19." To read more about this initiative, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Glacier National Park in British Columbia, Canada, was forced to close an entire backcountry skiing area because skiers failed to stay out of avalanche mitigation areas. On December 1st, skiers entered the closed MacDonald West area. This area was closed due to avalanche mitigation concerns." To read more, click here.