Thursday, June 22, 2023

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 6/22/23

Northwest:

--Fox News is reporting that, "Search crews on Mount Rainier have found and recovered the body of a man matching the description of an 80-year-old solo climber reported missing last week, Mount Rainier National Park officials said. Dawes Eddy of Spokane, Washington, embarked on a solo climb on May 30 and was last seen that night heading up hill on an area of the 14,441-foot mountain known as Cathedral Gap, Park officials said Tuesday in a statement." To read more, click here.

Mt. Adams

--KIMA news is reporting that, "U.S. Army soldiers based out of the Yakima Training Center (YTC) rescued a climber from Mount Adams on Wednesday. Soldiers say the mission started when a climber was injured and her partner sent a message to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office (YCSO)." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "Alex Honnold is at it again, this time in the Cascade Mountains of Washington where he and Scott Bennett linked six classic granite spires in a 15-hour day. Together, they climbed Tooth and Claw 5.12- on Lexington, the East Face 5.10 of the Minuteman, Freedom or Death into the Liberty Cracks 5.12 on Liberty Bell, North Face on Concord, West Face 5.10 on North Early Winter Spire, and finally the seven-pitch The Passenger 5.11+ on South Early Winter Spire. The Passenger is considered the Astroman of Washington." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center is reporting on an avalanche fatality on June 14th: "On June 14th, 2023, a party of 2 was caught, carried, and one skier was killed in a wet avalanche on the north face of Mt Hurd, about 1.5 miles south of South Lake in the Bishop area. The avalanche released above the party as they were ascending the slope. As the avalanche ran downhill skier 1 was carried over a cliff band and both parties were partially buried. After freeing themselves skier 2 was able to extract skier 1 and initiate search and rescue. Tragically, despite the heroic efforts of their partner, skier 1 succumbed to injuries sustained during the avalanche. Initial reports suggest this was a naturally occurring loose wet avalanche D2 in size. ESAC staff will be conducting a site investigation in the coming days and a full report is forthcoming. We at ESAC extend our sincere condolences to the friends and family of the deceased and to all of those affected by this tragedy." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The Nevada Independent is reporting that, "Gypsum Resources, the company seeking permission to build higher-density housing on land near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, is suing Clark County in state court weeks after a federal judge dismissed similar claims in a decades-long property dispute. In May, U.S. District Court Judge Gloria Navarro dismissed the company’s claims that its federal rights had been violated during Clark County’s consideration of Gypsum’s various applications seeking to build homes on the land at a higher density than it was originally zoned for." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--11 News is reporting that, "Two climbers are safe thanks to the efforts of two search and rescue teams. Crews from Saguache and Custer counties were alerted shortly after midnight Monday that four climbers were struggling to get down Crestone Needle. Two members of the group managed to get themselves down to their camp at South Colony Lakes, but the others became separated and found themselves stranded on the mountain." To read more, click here.

--Huffpost is reporting that, "Zion National Park’s first Pride was everything its organizers set out to make it: A vibrant celebration of queer life set to the serene backdrop of Southern Utah’s red and green canyons and a powerful act of resistance. The event was hosted on June 15 by the Gays of National Parks, an organization that honors and protects the relationship between LGBTQ+ people and various parks. The celebration included performances and a parade, during which attendees volunteered to clean up the park." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The Daily Interlake is reporting from Montana that, "a rafting guide was injured in a bear attack early Wednesday morning while camping on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. According to state wildlife officials, the bear encounter occurred at approximately 6 a.m., near Nyack on the southwest side of Glacier National Park. The victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Logan Health in Whitefish." To read more, click here.

Complex features on Denali.

--The final two American Alpine Institute expeditions on Denali made the summit over the last two weeks. Congrats to all that made it!

--The Calidonian Record is reporting that, "a federal court jury in Burlington needed about a half hour before rejecting injury claims made by a New York City area skier against Jay Peak Inc. Dr. Michael Rosen of Woodmere, N.Y., maintained the destination resort was at fault when he fell on his first ski run of the day on Jan. 18, 2020. He said he was seriously injured during the fall on the Deer Run Trail due to an unmarked hole, the lawsuit claimed." To read more, click here.

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