Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/31/23

Northwest:

--Gripped is reporting that, "North Sister is a popular mountain in central Oregon that’s considered one of the hardest to climb of the Cascade volcanoes. It’s not as tall as the nearby South Sister, but it’s climbed less due to the difficulties. The standard south ridge has exposed fourth and fifth class scrambling and steep snow traverses, making it a potentially dangerous objective. Within a month this summer, two climbers died after falling down North Sister during their ascents." To read more, click here.

--There were rescues on Mt. Baker and on Mt. Stuart over the last week.

--Skaha Bluffs (a climbing area near Penticton, BC) has a unique program where folks are paid to watch the parking lot in order to deter theft. They are looking for donations to continue this program as the Skaha fall season starts. To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "The trend of businesses going cashless has increased steadily over the years. Just looking at the ski industry, names like Vail Resorts, Snowbird, Killington, Big Sky, and many more have all gone cashless. Vail Resorts, one of the biggest conglomerates in the industry, was an early adopter of this policy when it arose as part of their safety precautions for COVID-19. It appears there are no plans to change the policy anytime soon. Now Mt Hood Meadows recently announced it will be going cashless ahead of the 2023/24 season." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--Liftblog is reporting that, "three new chairlifts may be coming to Alterra’s outpost in Southern California. Under a plan unveiled today, Big Bear Mountain Resort would link neighboring Bear Mountain and Snow Summit via a series of new lifts and trails to form a cohesive mountain. The project would be remarkable given the two mountains haven’t seen a single new lift in 25 years. The two came under common ownership in 2002 and Alterra added nearby Snow Valley to the resort earlier this year. In addition to the interconnect, Big Bear also plans to add a new beginner terrain pod at Bear Mountain, expand snowmaking, construct mountain bike trails, build a zip tour and install an alpine coaster." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Unnofficial Networks is reporting that, "Lee Canyon: Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, located less than an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, has sustained major damage from the remains of Hurricane Hilary. In photos shared by the ski area and by Mt Charleston Mountain Man on X we see the extent of thes infrastructure damage to Lee Canyon. 'In light of the limited initial assessment, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the end of our summer mountain operations,' the ski area announced this afternoon. 'We understand the anticipation and excitement surrounding this season, and we will be reaching out to our mountain biking day pass and season pass holders with information as soon as possible due to this unforeseen closure. Trails, chairlifts, and essential facilities that encompass our summer offerings have borne the brunt of this unexpected occurrence,' the statement continued." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--ABC 4 Utah is reporting that, "Officials are warning hikers at Mount Timpanogos to keep an eye – and a leash – on their dogs after three were killed within three weeks while hiking. On Sunday, the Timpanogos Emergency Response Team said a third dog was killed in as many weeks over the weekend by mountain goats. The dog was reportedly off-leash and harassed a mother goat while she was with her babies. The mother mountain goat retaliated, feeling her children were threatened by the dog, and pushed the dog off a cliff." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--8KPAX is reporting from Montana that, "a climber was hoisted to safety in the Swan Mountains. Lake County Search and Rescue was recently called out to help Swan Valley Search and Rescue for a 'distressed climber stuck on the south cliff below the Swan Range glaciers,' according to a social media post." To read more, click here.

--The Idaho Statesman is reporting that, "a climber spent a 'harrowing' night trapped in a canyon after he fell and injured his arm so severely he couldn’t climb back out to safety, Wyoming officials said. The 'challenging' rescue took 24 hours in total, the Wyoming Army National Guard said in an Aug. 29 news release." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/24/23

Northwest:

--The Bulletin is reporting that, "The body of a missing climber who intended to summit the North and Middle sisters in a single day was found on Saturday by the Army National Guard, four days after disappearing in the Three Sisters Wilderness." To read more, click here.

--Campfires are currently banned on all PNW Forests and in all PNW National Parks.

The Sourdough Fire shortly before the closure of the North Cascades Highway.

--The North Cascades highway is opening and closing intermittently due to two wildfires. The first is on Sourdough Mountain. And the second is just west of Blue Lake. The Blue Lake Trailhead is commonly used to access many of the routes in the Liberty Bell massif in Washington Pass. For updates, click here.

--There are multiple Pacific Crest Trail reroutes due to fire activity in the Cascades. Click on the area for reroute info: Glacier Peak Wilderness, Stehekin to Methow Valley, Dome Peak and Blue Lakes Fire Map.

Sierra:

--Gripped is reporting that, "Yosemite National Park rangers have said that evidence of black bears climbing Yosemite’s Half Dome has been found. Half Dome is one of California’s most popular and often-climbed summits." To read more, click here.

"The Nose," on El Capitan

--From Gripped: "The first rope-solo of The Nose in a day was back in 1989, but few climbers have managed to accomplish the sub-24-hour ascent sans partner. The most recent solo ascent was last week." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--CBS Colorado is reporting that, "The man who wrote the book on climbing Colorado's 14ers and many other popular mountaineering guides and stories is in a hospital in Durango after a climbing accident last week. Gerry Roach is at Centura-Mercy Hospital in Durango after a 100 foot fall on an unnamed 13,200 foot peak about a dozen miles west of Silverton in San Juan County. His wife Jennifer Roach, also a noted climber and writer, posts that the 79-year-old's prognosis is good." To read more, click here.

--The Colorado Sun is reporting that, "Support for public lands and natural resource conservation in the West tends to eclipse political affiliation, with a steadily growing number of Colorado voters supporting increased federal protections, especially as climate change threatens landscapes. The annual Center for Western Priorities 'Winning the West' poll of 1,807 voters in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada show increasing support for conservation even as political affiliation fades." To read more, click here.

--Apparently there was a major rockfall event in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Alterra Mountain Company, the world’s premier mountain operating company, has announced a major terrain expansion of Deer Valley Resort that will add 3,700 acres of terrain to its world-renowned, ski-only destination located in the Wasatch Mountains in Park City, Utah. In addition, the development of a new village and portal will dramatically improve access to the resort while adding world-class lodging, dining, and retail amenities in partnership with Extell Development Company." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Gripped is reporting that, "earlier this week, four climbers died after falling at a height on Mexico’s highest mountain, Pico de Orizaba, which stands at 5,636 metres. One of the roped climbers fell, dragging the others down the south side." To read more, click here.

--The Star Tribune is reporting that, "the U.S. Forest Service is seeking to change its rules to allow carbon dioxide to be injected and permanently stored on the nation's forest lands. A draft of the rule and 60-day comment period is set for this fall. Capturing and storing carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas driving global warming, is a key part of the Biden administration plan to fight the climate crisis. Last year's historic climate bill appropriated about $12 billion in federal funding for carbon management technologies, according to the Carbon Capture Coalition, a Washington D.C.-based nonpartisan group of more than 100 businesses, including fossil fuel companies, unions, and conservation groups." To read more, click here.

--Outdoor Sportswire is reporting that, "America Outdoors, the nation’s one-stop resource for outdoor recreation providers and the industry leaders in public policy, is proud to announce a new award category that will be presented during the 2023 America Outdoors Conference, to be held December 5-8 in Phoenix, Arizona. The inaugural Innovator Award will be presented in addition to the George and Pamela Wendt Industry Achievement Award during the awards ceremony on December 7." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/10/23

Northwest:

--News Channel 21 is reporting that, "Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers had a busy weekend, first rescuing an injured hiker in the Three Sisters Wilderness on Saturday in an overnight mission involving two helicopters, and then a fallen, injured climber near Smith Rock Sunday in a five-hour effort by several agencies." To read more, click here.

--Campfires are have been banned east of the Cascade Crest.

Sierra:

--Hank the Tank, a bear with a penchant for breaking into houses has been captured near South Lake Tahoe. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--There is currently limited information, but it appears that there was a fatality in Seneca Rocks in West Virginia. For more information, click here.

--The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area posted the following on Facebook: "Solstice Canyon will be closed beginning Monday, July 31, due to the multiple beehives affecting visitor use and park services. Numerous visitor bee stings have been reported, and topography renders the affected area unavoidable.  The hives are concentrated at the main Solstice Canyon Trail, TRW Overlook Trail junction, and the education shelter structure." To read more, click here.

--The National Federation of Federal Employees posted the following, last week: "Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) is proud to announce workers at Yellowstone National Park have elected America’s first federal employee union to represent America’s first established National Park. Interpretive Park Rangers, educators, researchers, fee collectors, first responders, firefighters, and other staff working for the Department of Interior’s National Park Service are now unionized after voting in favor by over 80%." To read more, click here.

--Ski Area Management is reporting that, "After 31 years of ownership, Jay, Connie, and Betty Kemmerer have sold Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) to a group of local investors for an undisclosed amount. The Kemmerers, who purchased JHMR in 1992, said their highest priority was maintaining JHMR’s status as an independent, family-owned resort." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "despite being a hot and smoky summer in the Canadian Rockies, climbers have been busy repeating old routes and establishing new ones. First ascents have gone up on several walls, including the Stanley Headwall and on Castle Mountain." To read more, click here.