Thursday, November 30, 2023

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/30/2023

Northwest:

--Police is reporting that, "On Saturday Nov. 25, deputies from the Clackamas County (Oregon) Sheriff’s Office helped rescue a mountain climber who had fallen on Mt. Hood. The 36-year old woman from Portland was descending the popular South Side route on Mt. Hood when she slipped, fell several hundred feet, and was injured, the sheriff’s office reports." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Fox 5 is reporting that, "Nevada and other states in the Colorado River Basin continue to face a water crisis. Drought has stretched on for more than two decades and is compounded by the effects of climate change. Last year, Lake Mead dipped to an all-time low. Can human intervention make a difference? Can we get more desperately needed water from the clouds to the ground? FOX5 went on a journey seeking an answer to that question up to Mt. Potosi where a cloud seeding generator is located." To read more, click here.

A climber rappels of a route in Joshua Tree National Park.

--A former Park superintendent wrote an editorial in the Los Angeles Times about an expansion of Joshua Tree National Park and a new national monument. To read the piece, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--People is reporting that, "A 36-year-old man hit his head during a fall in Montana on Saturday and later died as a result of his injuries. Kyle Allen Rott fell and injured himself during a recreational ice climb around 3 p.m. local time on Saturday, according to a release from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office. Authorities responded to a 911 call reporting Rott’s fall, as well as a call on a GPS device near the area where he had been climbing — Grotto Falls in Hyalite Canyon, near Big Sky, Montana." To read more, click here.

--Power Sports Business is reporting that, "The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently released economic data from the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account for the year 2022, showing the largest economic impact in its history and outdoor recreation’s powerful economic impact on the U.S. economy. These new figures reveal that outdoor recreation generates $1.1 trillion in economic output (2.2% of GDP), 4.98 million jobs and comprises 3.2% of U.S. employees." To read more, click here.

--Lifestyle is reporting that research, "published in the MMR (Military Medical Research) Journal, looks into the impact of extreme exercise on immune function, shedding light on potential vulnerabilities. This investigation becomes particularly relevant in the growing popularity of rigorous fitness regimens and endurance sports. The study emphasizes that while moderate exercise is generally associated with immune system benefits, pushing the body to extremes may have the opposite effect." To read more, click here.

--A former US Marine set-up a climbing camp in the Alps for bereaved Ukrainians to help them process their grief. To read more, click here. 

--Gripped is reporting that, "in 2021, Magnus Midtbø had become the first climber to reach one million subscribers on YouTube. Now, he’s become the first climber to gain two million followers. His channel started in 2011 and now has 336,309,403 views as of today." To read more, click here.





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Thursday, November 23, 2023

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/23/2023

Note:

As it's Thanksgiving weekend, desert climbing areas can be crowded and campsites may be limited. Please be respectful of one another and consider sharing tent sites when you can.

Northwest:

--How the reintroduction of grizzly bears will affect recreation in the North Cascades.

--A Search and Rescue team in Squamish just won a land rover.

Sierra:

--The Sacramento Bee is reporting that, "a climber had plans to meet his wife at a California trailhead after descending a mountain peak, but he never made it. Instead, a hiker found Marc Rockwell-Pate’s body Nov. 12 on Mount Agassiz, a day after he was reported missing, the Inyo County Search and Rescue said in a Facebook post." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Here's a first person account of an accident at the Ultraman Wall in Red Rock Canyon last week. The accident -- lowering off the end of the rope -- resulted in a shattered ankle.

--News Channel 3 is reporting on the rescue of a hiker in Joshua Tree: "Authorities were called this afternoon to rescue an injured hiker. The incident happened a little after 3:30 p.m. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's air rescue helicopter was requested to assist park services to transport a hiker to the hospital." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Gripped is reporting that, "on Nov. 19, Boulder County Communications was notified of a climber who had taken a big fall and sustained a head injury while climbing on The Dome in Colorado’s Boulder Canyon. According to a press release from Boulder County Search and Rescue, the 39-year-old male was leading when he lost his footing and fell. While falling, some of his trad gear pulled from the route resulting in him falling approximately 30 feet before his climbing partner was able to arrest his fall. The climber sustained serious injuries during the fall and was not able to walk to the trail head." To read more, click here.

--Here's an interesting SAR piece: "A Hiker and a Terrier Climbed a Peak. The Dog Came Home 72 Days Later. Rich Moore and his dog Finney disappeared on a hike in Colorado in August. Ten weeks later, crews found the dog alive. Now, friends and family are trying to understand what happened." And here's another excellent piece on the dog.

--Lor Sabourin, a guide and therapist that has occasionally worked for AAI, recently repeated an infamous 5.14 crack in Moab. To read about it, click here.


--Gripped is reporting on a "large rockfall took place on Weeping Rock in Zion National Park earlier this week. It temporarily stopped traffic and covered a popular parking lot in a dust cloud." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "the Utah Avalanche Center has received its first skier-triggered avalanche reports of the season following a recent storm that deposited up to 19 inches of new snow in the backcountry. The avalanches, primarily composed of soft slabs of new snow or wind-drifted snow, were reported in upper elevation northerly facing terrain." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Important access news from Climbing: "Late last week, the National Park Service (NPS) and National Forest Service (NFS) released draft climbing management directives that would render all fixed anchors in wilderness illegal until each anchor can be individually reviewed by under-resourced land management agencies. The public has 60 days (from November 17) to comment on the proposals here and here. You can write your congressional representative to support the Protecting America’s Rock Climbing Act here." To read more, click here.


--There's been a fair bit of criticism of Jared Leto's climb of the Empire State Building. Climbing's piece about the ascent does a good job of putting their finger on what was wrong with the whole endeavor. 




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Thursday, November 16, 2023

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/16/2023

Northwest:

--Avalanche Canada is reporting on a fatal avalanche accident involving ice climbers in Kananaskis Country. Details can be found, here. A news report on the incident can be found, here.

--The Mountaineers is reporting that, "with winter recreation already underway at Mount Rainier, we’re happy to share that Park staff announced this week that they anticipate providing additional road access from Longmire to Paradise for the 2023-2024 winter recreation season. Beginning Nov 15, the Park will expand winter public vehicle access to the Paradise area to five days per week, on a Thursday through Monday schedule. The annual shift to nightly closures of the Paradise gate began on Nov 8." To read more, click here.

The Lower Lump Area of the Index Town Walls

--The Washington Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund just closed on a property in Index that will secure the Lower Lump area from development for generations to come. To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "In a tragic turn of events early yesterday morning, November 9, 2023, a snowmobile accident at Palisades Tahoe in California claimed the life of Homewood resident Brian Gimbert. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed that the 34-year-old was pronounced dead at Tahoe Forest Hospital following the incident, the SF Chronicle reports. The accident occurred in an undeveloped area on the Alpine Meadows side of the resort, just south of the main lodge. According to the CHP, Gimbert’s snowmobile collided with a large rock, approximately two feet in diameter, partially concealed by snow. The impact caused the snowmobile to overturn, ultimately resting on Gimbert." To read more, click here.

--Apparently it was full-on insanity at Mammoth Mountain's opening day.

Desert Southwest:

--Arizona Game and Fish is reporting that, "a woman has died eight days after being hospitalized as the result of an apparent elk attack on her property in the Pine Lake community in the Hualapai Mountains, about 15 miles southeast of Kingman. The attack occurred on the afternoon of Oct. 26 while the woman’s husband was in Kingman. According to the husband, when he returned around 6 p.m., he found his wife on the ground in the backyard with injuries consistent with being trampled by an elk. He also observed a bucket of spilled corn nearby. There were no witnesses to the event." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The Post Independent is reporting that, "Around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Glenwood Springs Fire Department responded to a report of a climber who had fallen approximately 40 feet while on a multipitch climb called 'Mudflap Girl' on the Grizzly Creek trailhead, according to a news release from the city of Glenwood Springs." To read more, click here.

--Aspen Daily News is reporting that, "Aspen Skiing Co. workers who make on-mountain commutes are entitled to compensation for their time spent riding chairlifts, snowmobiles and snowcats to and from work, a class-action lawsuit filed this week alleges. The suit was filed by SkiCo hourly employee Craig Stout, who is challenging some of the company’s wage policies and claims the company had been recruiting employees with promised perks that went unfulfilled." To read more, click here.


Notes from All Over:

--WKRN is reporting on a rescue in Tennessee. "Clarksville first responders were called out to Queens Bluff Sunday morning to help an injured climber. According to Clarksville Fire Rescue, crews were dispatched to the scene at approximately 11:51 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12." To read more, click here.

--As the ski season starts, it's super important to remember that riding rad lines comes with big risks. This is a tough video to watch as 16-year-old Kai Jones breaks both legs after making a poor landing. We all need to remember, this could have been any one of us:






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Thursday, November 9, 2023

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/9/2023

Northwest:

--The Wenatchee World is reporting that, "The federal government’s plan to reintroduce grizzly bears into the North Cascades has received backlash from an Eastern Washington congressman. U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Yakima, in an opinion piece called the Biden administration’s plan to add the bears to an area without a grizzly sighting in more than a quarter-century 'reckless' and described public comment efforts as a 'façade.'" To read more, click here. It should be noted that AAI's position is that grizzly reintroduction can be done in a responsible and reasonable manner.

Smith Rock State Park in Oregon

--Climbing published an editorial last week entitled, "The Place Where Murder and Climbing Meet: Musings on the state of our sport after a failed mass shooting at the Smith Rock Craggin' Classic." The piece touches on both the current state of our larger world, as well as the state of our sport. The author doesn't draw many conclusions, but there's value in thinking about -- even if you disagree -- some of the things he brings up. To read the piece, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The Daily Press is reporting that, "Human skeletal remains were found in a remote area of Twentynine Palms, according to authorities. On Saturday morning, Morongo Basin sheriff’s deputies headed to Canyon and Two Mile roads, just north of Joshua Tree National Park." To read more, click here.

--A 92-year-old man completed the Rim-to-Rim hike at the Grand Canyon. To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Fox 21 is reporting that, "A suspect and an officer fell approximately 30 feet into Red Rocks Canyon after a struggle, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). CSPD said around 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, an officer contacted a wanted person on a trail in Red Rocks Canyon, and the person struggled with the officer as the officer was attempting to take the person into custody." This area is not to be confused with Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas. To read more, click here.

--Gear Junkie is reporting that, "for decades, the precipitous trail through Hey Joe Canyon offered Moab off roaders an iconic experience of the area’s world-famous rock formations. But now it’s one of many classic trails closed to motorized recreation by federal officials. While some environmental groups laud the closures, opponents say they make access more difficult for everyone." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Human-triggered and natural avalanches aren’t the only kinds of slides backcountry travelers need to be aware of.The Colorado Avalanche Center shared an Instagram post on Sunday showing what appears to be the remnants of a large avalanche that was triggered by an animal in the Colorado Rockies. According to the CAIC, an avalanche report was submitted by a hunter who saw a lone pair of deer tracks entering into a slide path of an R2/D2-sized avalanche on a northeast aspect at about 11,500 feet near Redstone. The tracks did not come out the other side." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--In addition to the Smith Rock mass shooting threat, there was another lesser reported threat in the climbing community. From Climbing: "On Sunday, October 22, Touchstone’s Hollywood Boulders management were made aware that a member of the gym had suggested, in threatening text messages sent to an unnamed acquaintance, that they were 'strapped' with a weapon and 'wanted scalps.' The member went on to write 'god has spoken' to him and that he 'already has a kill order.' The recipient of the messages was then directed to 'avoid the gym for a while.'" To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) announced today that it will host its first-ever Ski In Jeans Day on Saturday, Dec. 9, in an attempt to break the world record for most people skiing and riding in jeans. JHMR will offer $25 lift tickets throughout the day to all guests, as well as $25 performance equipment rentals, $100 off group lessons, and live music to kick off the season and celebrate the most famous pants in the West. The previous world record for most skiers and riders in jeans was set at the The Remarkables Ski Area in New Zealand earlier this year, with 102 total visitors on the slopes wearing denim." To read more, click here.


Current American Alpine Institute Promotions:

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Thursday, November 2, 2023

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/2/2023

Northwest:

--Gripped is reporting that, "the Washington climbing community is mourning the death of Michal Rynkiewicz, a route developer and leading local Index climber, after an accident at the Index Town Walls. While the details of what happened haven’t been released, Rynkiewicz’s death on Oct. 20 was due to what assistant chief of operations at Sun Valley Fire, Ernie Walters, said was 'equipment failure.' Walters added that Rynkiewicz was an avid rock climber who was working toward becoming an EMT." To read more, click here.

--OPB is reporting that, "A 39-year-old rock climber is facing a slate of attempted murder charges over an alleged plot to kill random people at a Smith Rock climbing event this weekend. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office arrested Samson Zebturiah Garner on Thursday and took him to the county jail on several charges each of attempted murder of multiple victims, attempted first degree assault, attempted second degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--It's possible that a recent fatality on Mt.Whitney's Mountaineers Route was the result of lingering snow and ice from the big Sierra snow season.
































--The AAC is reporting that, "On August 2, 2023, the American Alpine Club entered into a General Agreement with the Yosemite National Park Service with the goal of supporting and promoting climbing in Yosemite Valley. This new formalized partnership is built upon a strong foundation of working together for decades—including on projects like the Yosemite Big Wall Permitting Program, Climber Coffee, sponsoring Yosemite Facelift, and the United in Yosemite festival. This opportunity will allow the AAC to assist the climbing management program at YNPS with public outreach, offer subject matter expertise on climbing stewardship matters, and identify other projects and services which could benefit the Park and climbing community—building on the long established and well-loved climbing iniatives that will continue to exist in the Park." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Mt. Charleston, a popular hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and climbing area near Las Vegas, had significant damage following a major storm two months ago. Roads and trails were seriously damaged. However, there are some things reopening. Read about it, here.

--The Sedona Red Rock News is reporting on camping in Arizona: "Over the last 30 years, as demand for camping within the 1,821,495-acre Coconino National Forest has increased, more of it has been closed to camping. Within the Red Rock Ranger District, camping is now prohibited on 15% of its total area." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Fox News is reporting that, "A climber in Utah was saved after he slipped down a cliff face and got his knee stuck in a crack for 12 hours on Friday night, officials said. The male climber, who was not publicly identified, became stuck around 8 p.m. on the Generic Crack climbing route in Indian Creek, San Juan County Search and Rescue said." To read more, click here.

--Out There Colorado is reporting that, "Perhaps one of the most impressive endurance feats that's taken place in Colorado history, Erin Ton's self-supported summer push to climb 57 'public lands' 14,000-foot Centennial State peaks between July 16 and July 30 set a record that will be hard for anyone else to top. Roughly three months after she successfully completed her push, Ton's record has now been officially confirmed and published by reputable record-tracking website 'Fastest Known Time' in a category of its own as of mid-October." To read more, click here.

--Patrollers at Eldora Ski Resort are in the process of unionizing. To read more, click here. (Paywall)

Notes from All Over:


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