Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/28/23

Northwest:

--Climbing is reporting that, "On September 17th, a 25-year-old male climber from Alabama, whose name has not yet been released, was killed after sustaining a 130-foot fall while descending with his partners from Goat Wall, in Mazama, Washington." To read more, click here.

--Burn bans have been lifted in North Cascades National Park. To read more, click here.

--Climbing is reporting that, "Seattle’s Vertical World and Colorado-based manufacturer C3, which produces Perfect Descent auto belays, have settled in a lawsuit following a severe climbing accident that occurred on August 1, 2019. The climber, Michael Vandivere, sustained a 30-foot fall and subsequently suffered a number of severe injuries, including 12 pelvic fractures, a traumatic brain injury, lung injuries, bladder laceration, and other fractures. C3 Manufacturing has agreed to pay $5 million and Vertical World will pay an additional $1 million." To read more, click here.

--Some access thoughts concerning fall climbing in Skaha Bluffs. 

Sierra:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "It is with a heavy heart and immense respect for Dr. Robb Gaffney—a local legend in the Lake Tahoe skiing community, author of the revered book ‘Squallywood,’ and co-creator of the beloved game of G.N.A.R.—that we share the terrible news of his passing." To read more, click here.

--A party was struck by lightning on Half Dome. To read about it, click here. Please note that you should never look for shelter in a small cave during a lightning storm. The lightning current can travel through the rock, and through you.

Mt. Whitney

--An old aid route on Mt. Whitney has gone free at 5.13. To read about it, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The Center of Biological Diversity is reporting that, "The Center for Biological Diversity joined local Tribes, businesses, communities and conservation groups today to urge President Biden to establish Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. The proposal would create a 660,000-acre national monument and add 17,000 acres to Joshua Tree National Park, both located in eastern Riverside County. The stunning Chuckwalla Mountains and adjacent Mecca Hills are rich in biological diversity and home to desert tortoises, kit foxes, golden eagles and the proposed monument’s namesake chuckwallas." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--News 9 is reporting that, "According to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, around 12 p.m. on Friday, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Staff, Indiahoma Volunteer Fire Department, Cache Fire Department, Lawton Fire Department, Comanche Nation Fire Department, and Fort Sill Fire Department responded to the report of a climber who had suffered a fall near the Narrows Trail." To read more, click here.

--The Daily is reporting that, "Dick’s Sporting Goods is closing 11 of 14 of its Moosejaw stores just six months after acquiring the outdoor retailer from Walmart. The stores are scheduled to close in February 2024, including Moosejaw’s headquarters in Madison Heights, Michigan, the Detroit Free Press reported. The move is part of Dick’s strategy to focus its outdoor business around its Public Lands stores." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "Anticipation is a new 13-pitch 400-metre M6+ WI3 on Grotto Mountain above the town of Canmore in the Bow Valley. Given its location and safely protected pitches, this is sure to become a classic. Nick Baggaley and Greg Barrett established the route over several trips and completed it earlier this summer. It’s found at the back of The Sanctuary, a large canyon where the drytool crags The Playground and Alcatraz are found." To read more, click here.

--The National Parks Conservation Association has published a piece on what will happen if the government shuts down on October 1. 

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/21/2023

Northwest:

--There was a fatal rappelling accident on the Inspiration-Methow (5.9, III) route in Mazama over the weekend, but information is sparse.

--GoSkagit is reporting that, "the North Cascades National Park announced in a news release Monday that it has reopened several trails, areas and camps that had been closed by the Sourdough Fire." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting on some rare ascents of remote alpine walls in British Columbia. To read about the climbs, click here.

--Here's a piece on staying safe on the trails during hunting season.

Colorado and Utah:

--Climbing is reporting that, "A 30-year-old woman from Grand Junction, Colorado, is in critical condition after a fall and dramatic rescue which occurred on Monday, September 11, on The Great White Wall (IV 5.10d; 1,300ft) in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park." To read more, click here.

--The Deseret News is reporting that, "just months after buying into a minority ownership position of Utah’s Powder Mountain Resort, Netflix co-founder and longtime CEO Reed Hastings has ascended to majority owner of the facility by way of a new $100 million investment announced Wednesday." To read more, click here.

--The Colorado Sun is reporting that, "The federal board in charge of naming geographic places on public land voted Friday to approve Mount Blue Sky as a replacement name for Mount Evans, effective immediately." Mt. Evans was originally named for a Colorado territorial governor that was responsible for the massacre of indigenous peoples. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Gripped is reporting from a Virginia rock gym: "A climber forgot to clip into an auto-belay, climbed to the top of the route and then sat back, thinking that he was clipped in. Hector Diffut then fell to the ground and suffered serious leg injuries." To read more, click here.

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/7/23

Northwest:

--A new Grade VI, 5.9 alpine route was just put up on the periphery of Mt. Shuksan. Check it out!

--The Bellingham Herald is reporting that, "Several Washington volcanoes are showing what appear to be swarms of minor earthquakes, a phenomenon that’s lasted for the past month or more. But a Western Washington University seismologist known for explaining the recent “Swift quake” says they might not be earthquakes at all." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

Desert Southwest:

--The Nevada Independent is reporting that, "Nevada State Parks is rolling out a reservation system for overnight visitors, as well as some day-use visitors, starting Sept. 1. Reserve Nevada, a new online reservation system, will offer reservations for day-use passes, campsites and cabins, annual permits and special events. Reservations, which include a service fee of up to $5 per transaction on top of base entry fees, are highly recommended, according to Jenny Jackson, education and information officer." To read more, click here.

--Tropical storm Hillary reeked havoc on Death Valley National Park. It could be months until the Park reopens.

Colorado and Utah:

--USA Today is reporting that, "authorities in Colorado have recovered the body of a 29-year-old man who went missing in the Rocky Mountains over the weekend. The Summit County Rescue Group recovered the body from a boulder field in Officers Gulch on Sunday, the organization said in a Facebook post." To read more, click here.

--Deer Valley is sticking to its snowboard ban as it takes over the Mayflower Resort, substantially increasing its skiable terrain. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The Daily Beast is reporting that, "officials found the body of a missing Colorado man in Glacier National Park on Friday after he went missing for several days while on a climbing trip, KRTV reported. Adam Fuselier, 32, was last heard from Tuesday, with rangers receiving notification the next morning that he was overdue from his Reynolds Mountain climb." To read more, click here.