Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 12/14/2023

Northwest:

--Ski is reporting on a controversial project near Mt. Shasta: "New lifts, base lodges, dining options, and other skier amenities are all welcome additions at resorts across the country, but a towering tribute to the Virgin Mary? Not so much. Mt. Shasta Ski Park, a 635-acre ski area located in Northern California at the foot of the iconic fourteener, just shared plans to build a 20-foot-high statue of the Virgin Mary at the top of Douglas Butte, which is one of the resort’s four lift-served summits." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--This video of a bear running past skiers in Heavenly has been making the rounds this week:

Colorado and Utah:

--The Daily has a report out about Vail's sales numbers: "Vail Resorts is reporting sales of its season passes are up for the 2023/2024 snow season. In its first quarter earnings report, the company said pass sales through Dec. 4 for the upcoming season increased about 4% in units and approximately 11% in dollars compared to the same period last year." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Here's a short list of the fee free days in the National Parks in 2024.

--Huffpost is reporting that, "Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced Wednesday that the National Park Service is launching an initiative with Native American tribes to tell 'a more complete story of American history' at the country’s 428 national park sites." To read more, click here.

--The New York Times released an incredible story about a camera found melted from the ice in 2020 that reopened a series of questions about the deaths of two Americans on Aconcagua in 1973. Some believe that foul play was involved. To read the story, click here.

--From Backpacker: "When Apple introduced the ability to automatically call for help via satellite in 2022, critics feared it would encourage hikers to be reckless. But a year later, one of the United States’ busiest search and rescue outfits is praising it—and other new safety tech from the company—as a 'game changer.'" To read more, click here.

Upcoming American Alpine Institute Programs:

Denali

Climbing in Red Rock Canyon

Mountaineering in Ecuador 

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in the Sierra

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in Ouray

Avalanche Programs in Washington

AIARE Avalanche Level I BONUS EQUIPMENT OPPORTUNITIES if you BOOK NOW! 

Avy Level I information

The Equipment Shop at the American Alpine Institute Information (rentals and avalanche equipment)

Pay the full tuition for one of the above listed courses by December 15th and get 20% off!