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.