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.