Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/26/23

Northwest:

--The Mountaineers is reporting that, "on the morning of July 10, 2023, Rose Vanderhoof, 33-year Mountaineers member and avid outdoor enthusiast, became the oldest woman to summit Mt.Rainier at 78. She reached the summit with her son Chris Haugen, granddaughter Aleah Haugen, friend Mingrey Hildebrandt, and Mt. Tahoma Trails Association’s High Hut Manager Dr. Leyton Jump, who led the climb. This trip marked Rose’s ninth, and last, summit of Mt. Rainier." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--In more older folks doing cool stuff news, SnowBrains is reporting that, "93-year-old Everett Kalin achieved a remarkable milestone by summiting Half Dome in Yosemite National Park on July 18th, becoming the oldest person to do so." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--City News Service is reporting that, "Firefighters from the Riverside County Fire Department rescued a rock climber in Jurupa Valley who suffered major injuries Saturday." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "The affordable housing shortage in ski towns is widespread and has been well documented. In mountain resort towns across the country, this crisis is causing employee shortages, crippling local businesses, and threatening the soul of a ski town’s true identity and culture. Park City, UT, is no exception to this quandary. The average home costs over $2 million, and the cost of living in Summit County is 35% higher than the national average." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Gripped is reporting that, "rand Teton National Park has announced that a climber died after falling while climbing the Grand Teton. Brayden DuRee, 40, of Idaho, was climbing the Owen-Spalding when he fell around 20 metres down the section known as the Owen Chimney." To read more, click here.

--The Cody Enterprise is reporting that, "a 32-year-old Montana climber and member of the Carbon County Search and Rescue team died July 14 while climbing at the Gardner Headwall off the Beartooth Highway, according to a Park County Sheriff’s Office press release. The climber was identified as Andrew Evans of Red Lodge. Though he was wearing a protective helmet, he had been struck on his head by falling rocks that caused “life-ending injuries” before responders could reach him, the release said." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "On Saturday morning, a woman was found deceased on the Buttermilk Trail west of West Yellowstone following an apparent bear encounter. Investigators confirmed grizzly bear tracks at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing. The Custer Gallatin National Forest has issued an emergency closure of the Buttermilk area for human safety. Please avoid the area. More information will be provided as it becomes available." To read more, click here.

--Here's a post about Lady Gaga going "rock climbing" on a via ferrata.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "a snowboarding coach, David Bloch, has taken legal action against Vermont state and school officials, filing a federal lawsuit claiming his First Amendment rights were violated. Bloch was fired from his position as the founder and head coach of the snowboarding team at Woodstock Union High School after engaging in a respectful conversation about biological differences between males and females in sports." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/20/23

Northwest:

Yak Peak

--Gripped is reporting that, "on July 12, two alpine rock climbers were rescued off B.C.’s famous Yak Peak after one of the climbers took a 60-foot fall. They were on the popular Yak Check, a 12-pitch 5.10a." To read more, click here.

--Campfires outside of established fire rings are prohibited for the remainder of the summer season in the Mt. Baker-Snoqaulmie National Forest. To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "ric Carter recently traversed the Tantalus Range on B.C.’s west coast in an impressive eight hours, 59 minutes and six seconds. The sub-nine-hour traverse is the fastest known time (FKT) of the route." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--The Daily is reporting that, "On July 14, the National Park Service announced that Yosemite’s 46-mile Tioga Road had finally been cleared of snow. However, the road is unable to open due to extensive damage caused by the snow, and the delay is expected to last through July." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The National Park Service is reporting that, "The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the award of $27.5 million to the National Park Service (NPS) for the Grand Canyon National Park Shuttle Bus Fleet Replacement project in Arizona. The project includes 30 new buses, including 10 new battery electric buses and 20 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, to replace the current aging fleet and the installation of charging infrastructure to support the new electric buses. An estimated 6 million people visit the park each year and use the free shuttle buses to access destinations throughout the Grand Canyon." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--11 News is reporting that, "A rock climber was killed in an accident on a 13er Saturday morning. According to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, two climbers were making their way up Grizzly Peak D when one was fatally injured in an accident. According to an official involved in the rescue/recovery, who spoke with 11 News sister station CBS Denver, the hiker was hit by a large boulder that broke off of mountain’s northeastern ridge. The exact circumstances around the incident haven’t been released; it’s unclear if the boulder rolled on him or was part of a rockfall from higher up. CBS Denver is reporting the climber fell." To read more, click here.

A Utah Department of Transportation rendering of the new 

gondola slated to go up Little Cottonwood Canyon.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Last Wednesday, the Utah Department of Transportation approved a plan that will allow construction of the world’s longest gondola, running from the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon to the town of Alta. As one could imagine, the already prominent divisiveness within Utah’s ski and snowboard community regarding the gondola ignited like kerosene thrown on an open flame; people either love it or they hate it." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Yahoo News is reporting that, "a climber died as rescuers tried to reach him after his head was “struck by falling rocks,” according to a Wyoming sheriff’s office. Andrew Evans, 32, of Red Lodge, Montana, was stranded about 400 feet from the “Gardner Headwall on the Beartooth Highway” after becoming injured on Friday, July 14, the Park County Sheriff’s Office said in a July 18 Facebook post." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/13/23

Northwest:

Sierra:

--Fox 40 is reporting that, "According to the agency, a person was rescued by Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District on Sunday afternoon in the Sierra Nevada Mountains after falling about 30 feet and suffering significant injuries." It's not clear where this is. To read more, click here.

--Snowbrains is reporting that, "On the afternoon of July 2, three hikers were caught and carried by a wet-loose avalanche on Split Mountain near Big Pine, California. The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center reports that two of the hikers sustained mild to moderate injuries from the slide while the third sustained severe injuries before ultimately succumbing to the trauma and dying." To read more, click here.

--The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Yosemite may bring back the park entry reservation system in 2024. To read more, click here (paywall).

--SnowBrains is reporting that as of right now, there is no opening date for Tioga Pass. "Caltrans recently gave updates on clearing 9,943′ Tioga Pass in California and is still unable to estimate an opening date. The opening of the popular route through Yosemite National Park’s high country has been delayed due to historic snowfall during the winter." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that, "a Clark County judge ruled Wednesday that certain county employees must preserve private text messages related to developer Jim Rhodes’ long-stalled housing project near Red Rock Canyon. The scope of messages preserved will be 'narrowly tailored' to staffers in the comprehensive planning and air quality management departments and will only include communications related to the Gypsum Resources LLC proposed development on Blue Diamond Hill, District Judge Joanna Kishner said in a morning hearing. Rhodes and the county have been locked in a years-long legal dispute in which the developer alleges that Commissioner Justin Jones and county employees conspired to railroad his project and that the county subsequently destroyed evidence." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "a new Hollywood horror film called The Sound will star Alex Honnold, Brette Harrington and Adrian Ballinger, along with actor William Fichtner. The movie was written and is being directed by Brendan Devane, known for his work on The Canyonlands. The Sound, which is currently being filmed in Nevada, is described on IMBD as, 'A group of climbers embarks on a dangerous climb that has been off-limits for years. What initially begins as an audacious expedition transforms into a battle for survival against a force that toys with them.'" To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The National Park Service is reporting that, "on Sunday, July 9, 2023, a 26-year-old female from Boulder, Colorado died after an approximate 500-foot-fall while free-solo climbing on the Four Aces of Blitzen Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park. Blitzen Ridge is located on Ypsilon Mountain on the east side of the park." To read more, click here.

--A second free-solo climber had an accident in the Flatirons. From the Daily Camera: "A 22-year-old climber fell approximately 100 feet Monday evening while free soloing the Direct East Face Route of the First Flatiron, a Boulder County Sheriff news release said. At approximately 6:30 p.m. Monday, a Boulder resident was near the top of the route when they fell and slid down the face, landing on a ledge, the release said. Due to the fall, the climber had serious injuries and was unable to move." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--All the campsites are booked everywhere. How should I find a site? A great article from Outside.

--A helicopter pilot received two citations after illegally landing on the shore of Jackson Lake inside the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park. Each citation is a class B misdemeanor. To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/6/2023

Northwest:

--ABC News is reporting that, "The body of the third and final climber killed last winter in an avalanche on Washington’s Colchuck Peak has been recovered, officials said. A hiker on Thursday found the body of Yun Park, a 66-year-old man from Palisades Park, New Jersey, and reported it to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. A helicopter rescue team recovered the body Friday." To read more, click here.

--A climber on Crescent Spire in the Bugaboos was rescued over the weekend from being trapped under a boulder. To read more, click here.

--The Seattle Times is reporting that, "The road to Artist Point reopened for the summer Wednesday morning, giving drivers access to the popular and scenic location in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, about three hours northeast of Seattle." To read more, click here.

--There is a bear near Cascade Pass that is becoming a problem after getting into human food. To read about it, click here.

Sierra:

--There were a lot of skiers on the slopes still using lift service over 4th of July in the Sierra. To read more, click here.

El Capitan in Yosemite

--Gripped is reporting that, " a big-wall rock climbing management plan that was tested over the last two years in Yosemite National Park will now be the law of the land. Yosemite Superintendent Cicely Muldoon formaled the park’s new wilderness climbing permit program, which will regulate overnight climbs on Half Dome, El Capitan and other peaks. Climbers must obtain special permits before beginning their climb, and there are no quotas. The system is meant to keep Yosemite rangers informed as to where climbers are, to encourage climbers to remove their fixed ropes and to carry out their waste. Almost 3,500 climbers got permits during the two year pilot program." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--An individual suffered a fatal bear attack near Prescott, AZ. To read more, click here.

--The Deseret Sun is reporting that, "After years of attempts to protect the western Joshua tree with designation under the state or federal Endangered Species Act, the iconic and gangly high desert plant finally will receive permanent protections through a less-typical route: a trailer bill passed as part of the state’s budget." To read more, click here.

--3 News is reporting that, "Nevada state lawmakers unanimously agreed to send $1.2 million over the next two years to continue—and expand—a statewide cloud seeding project. Last fall, Save Red Rock and the Desert Research Institute (DRI) launched a campaign to privately fund and operate a cloud seed generator in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Yahoo Finance is reporting that, "James Crown, a 70-year-old businessman from the billionaire Crown family, died in a driving accident on his birthday, according to authorities. Mr Crown, whose family owns the Aspen Skiing Company, was driving at the Aspen Motorsports Park in Woody Creek, Colorado, when he collided with an impact barrier, according to the Pitkin County Coroner's Office." To read more, click here.

--Denver 7 is reporting that, "The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission is honoring a Golden man for saving the life of a skier who almost died after he became stuck hanging from a ski lift at Arapahoe Basin ski area in 2017." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The Daily Outdoor Retailer is reporting that, "participation in outdoor activities has grown for the eighth consecutive year, and since the COVID-19 pandemic, the outdoor industry is up 14.5 million total participants. Last year, 3.8 million more people participated in the outdoors compared to 2021." To read more, click here.

--CNN and many others are reporting that, "National Geographic, the iconic yellow framed magazine that has chronicled the natural world for more than 100 years, laid off its last remaining staff writers this week, multiple departing staffers said. It was unclear how many staffers were cut during the latest round of layoffs at the magazine, but the move comes as parent company Walt Disney Co. has slashed thousands of staffers across its divisions this year." To read more, click here.