Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 1/18/24

Northwest:

--A number of ice climbs have formed in Squamish over the last week.

--Gripped is reporting that, "before the current cold snap hit the Canadian Rockies with -40C temps that snapped huge pillars off ice climbs at Johnston Canyon, a new steep mixed route was climbed in Field. Found left of the famous ice climb Super Bock, Greg Barrett and Raphael Slawinski made the first ascent of Rasputin Roof." To read more, click here.

Mt. Shuksan in the North Cascades

Sierra:

--Last Wednesday there was a tragic inbounds avalanche incident that resulted in a fatality at Palisades Tahoe. It's being reported that there was a second inbounds avalanche on Thursday. To read more, click here.

--From the Los Angeles Times: "Dangling from a thin rope thousands of feet above Yosemite Valley last October, Zuko Carrasco could feel his arms tremble. A paraplegic who had lost the use of his legs eight years earlier in a bizarre accident — a trust fall gone awry — he had spent a week ascending El Capitan, the world’s most famous big wall rock climb, one tiny pull-up at a time." To read more, click here.

--Bears keep showing up at ski resorts in the Sierra.

--And it was really cold in Yosemite last week.

Colorado and Utah:

--On January 15th, SnowBrains reported that, "US-40 Berthoud Pass in Colorado remains closed today after an avalanche buried 10 cars around 11:20 am on January 14, 2024. The closure is in both directions between Robins Roost and Henderson Mine Road, just south of Winter Park. No injuries were reported, and all vehicles and passengers caught in the avalanche were safely rescued." To read more, click here.

--Traveling with ski and snowboard gear is tough. It sounds like Vail Resorts has a plan to decrease the cost of rentals for those who join the Epic Gear program. Read more.

--Aspen Daily News is reporting that, "Aspen Skiing Co. is trying to enlist its instructors to help ferret out 'underground teachers' who are leading their clients across the slopes of the four local ski areas. SkiCo Vice President of Mountain Sales and School Jonathan Ballou sent an email to instructors on Tuesday urging them to be vigilant about looking for rogue teachers and report them to a ski school 'research team.'" To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Cowboy State Daily is reporting that, "A 41-year-old Alpine man was killed Sunday morning after he was buried in a massive avalanche in Prater Canyon in the Salt River Range, midway between Alpine and Afton, Wyoming. The victim in Sunday morning’s avalanche in Prater Canyon has been identified by the Lincoln County Coroner’s Office as David Rice of Alpine. Rice moved to Alpine recently after spending years in Jackson. He opened a music store there, which he sold recently before relocating." To read more, click here.

--REI is adding ten new stores in the US in 2024. To learn where, 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