Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 2/15/24

Northwest:

--The low snowpack in the PNW this year could have an impact on both hydropower and drinking water. Read more.

Sierra:

--NBC News is reporting that, "A professional rock climber known in the California climbing community was convicted Tuesday of sexually assaulting a woman in Yosemite National Park in 2016, federal prosecutors said. A jury convicted Charles Barrett, 38, of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California said." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting on rockfall closures in Yosemite: "Travel along the popular trail between Happy Isles and the Vernal Fall Footbridge is closed 'until further notice,' park officials have announced. Park authorities said, 'Hikers should follow posted detour signs from the Happy Isles shuttle stop (No. 16) to the stock trail behind the Happy Isles Art & Nature Center.'" To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--KSNV is reporting that, "The Bureau of Land Management announced on Thursday that a new $41 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will go toward ecosystem restoration. Part of that funding will go toward the Lost Creek boardwalk in Red Rock Canyon." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--KSL is reporting that, "A man who was critically injured after he skied off a cliff Monday in backcountry terrain near Snowbasin Resort has died. The resort's ski patrol responded to a report of an unresponsive guest and, upon investigation, discovered the skier had left resort boundaries to access out-of-bound terrain, a statement from Snowbasin Resort says. While in the 'extreme' backcountry terrain, the skier had an accident and re-entered resort boundaries, Snowbasin said." To read more, click here.

--Aspen Times is reporting that, "A backcountry skier was caught, buried, and killed in an avalanche near Crested Butte on Saturday, Feb. 10, according to a preliminary report from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "a solo skier was caught, carried, partially buried, and injured in an avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Sunday, February 11, that threw him 1,500 feet over cliffs in terrain that would almost certainly be dubbed as ‘unsurvivable’. Another ski tourer in a nearby party put himself in harm’s way to go rescue the injured skier, where then a rescue helicopter was dispatched." To read more, click here.

--Ski is reporting that, "Whether you know it or not, when you purchase a season pass or a lift ticket at a ski resort in the United States, you’re entering into a legal contract that essentially releases the ski area from responsibility in all but the most negligent of accidents. A case heading to Colorado’s highest court next week will attempt to hold one of the state’s resorts liable for what it says was a very preventable outcome that left a teenager paralyzed from the waist down." To read more, click here.

--A parcel of private land was recently sold to a private land trust on the edge of Zion National Park, making the Park bigger. Read more.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Snowboarder Jake Canter, 20, has been suspended by the U.S. National Team after being arrested on domestic abuse charges. The arrest happened last month during the Winter X Games held in Aspen, Colorado." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Adirondack Explorer is reporting on an individual that died of cardiac arrest: "Well-regarded ice climber Jay W. Harrison of Thurman, dubbed the “mayor of Crane Mountain,” died earlier this month in the area of the Warren County peak, which he conquered numerous times." To read more, click here.

--A speed climber forgot to clip into his autobelay and took a fifty-foot fall. The climber is expected to make a full recovery. Read more.

--Candide Thovex dropped this insanity the other day:

--Footwear News is reporting that, "VF Corporation on Tuesday announced that it would carry out a “strategic review” of its brand portfolio, following another disappointing quarter for the shoe and apparel company. Now insiders are speculating that Timberland could be a likely contender for divestiture." To read more, click here.

--The Daily is reporting that, "in Q4 of 2023, sales of the Sorel brand declined 19% to $116 million. Columbia Sportswear Co. CEO Tim Boyle said shifting consumer trends coupled with weather impacted demand and led to the weak sell through." To read more, click here.

--Outdoor Sportswire is reporting that, "the Winter Sports Sustainability Network (WSN), managed by Peak 63 and the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI), in collaboration with Snowsports Industries America (SIA) are proud to announce the establishment of a transformative Climate Pact, bringing together prominent ski, snowboard, binding, and boot brands from Europe and the United States in a unified commitment to accelerate climate action within the winter sports industry." To read more, click here.

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