Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/30/24

American Alpine Institute Denali Updates:

--AAI Team 2 made the summit of Denali on Tuesday! They should be off the mountain today.

--Team 3 is staging at 14 camp. And Team 4 has just placed a cache above 10,000-feet.

--Read all our Denali dispatches, here!

Northwest:

--A climber in Washington's Grant County was severely injured this week, but details are sparse. Read more.

--The Bulger List is the list of 100 tallest peaks in Washington State. The youngest person to ever complete the list, 20-year-old Andrew Okerlund, will be featured in a new movie about his adventure. Not only is he the youngest person to complete the list, he's also only one of five to complete the entire list in one season. To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Fox 10 is reporting that, "A woman who reportedly fell 30–40 feet while rock climbing on Tom's Thumb in Scottsdale is in serious condition. Scottsdale Fire says crews from multiple agencies worked together on Memorial Day to rescue the 34-year-old woman, who was wearing a helmet at the time of her fall." To read more, click here.

--Some info about the new trail in Red Rock from the BLM: "The Red Rock Legacy Trail project (Legacy Trail) proposes the construction of a paved multi-use path to improve safety and recreational opportunities for non-motorized users in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA) and the surrounding area. Visitation to the RRCNCA has increased greatly in recent years, and there is a need for safer shared access for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. The proposed trail would improve safety along State Route (SR) 159 by providing an alternative to using the highway's shoulder. The route will connect approximately 20 miles of trail between the residential community of Summerlin with the Hualapai Trailhead parking lot just off SR-160, as well as provide upgrades to approximately six trailhead parking lots. The project is being delivered in five unique ‘Phases’ (see map below), with construction of Phase 1 anticipated to begin as early as 2025. The Federal Highway Administration-Central Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA-CFLHD) is the lead agency for the project, partnering with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Clark County, and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to plan, design, and implement the trail." To read more, click here.

--The Daily Indy is reporting that, "Since the passage of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) in 1998, more than $4 billion in revenue generated from Las Vegas area land sales has been directed to conservation, park improvement and wildfire prevention projects across Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin. Now, another $348 million in federal dollars is set to be allocated for additional projects, and the federal government is seeking input on where that money should go." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Fox News is reporting that, "A snowboarder who fled after allegedly plowing into an Aspen skier and leaving her crumpled in the snow before months of physical therapy, was identified using his social media presence and distinctive gear, according to a lawsuit.  Anne Cassidy, a mother of four and an 'expert skier' familiar with Aspen Mountain, said she was chatting in plain sight on her skis with a friend beside the unloading area of the Gent's Ridge Lift Feb. 24. Unbeknownst to them, a snowboarder offloading from a nearby gondola was careening toward them." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Gripped is reporting that, "climber has died after an accident in a New Hampshire climbing gym. When responders arrived, they found the injured climber, who sources say fell up to 50 feet, with 'no safety gear stopping the fall.'" To read more, click here.

--A photographer in Alaska died after being attacked by a moose that had just given birth. To read more, click here.

--KRON 4 is reporting on an incident near San Francisco: "Marin County Fire rescued a rock climber in Stinson Beach on Thursday. After falling approximately 20 feet, the fallen rock climber was hoisted back to safety by fire crews." To read more, click here.

--A blind climber finished a trad ascent of a 10d route on Devil's Tower this week. Read more.

--The Advocate is reporting that, "Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland reversed on Friday a National Park Service directive that would have barred employees from participating in LGBTQ+ Pride Month events while in uniform. The initial policy, issued on May 17, led to widespread backlash from the LGBTQ+ community." To read more, click here.

--Footwear News is reporting that, "Amer Sports, Inc. posted sales and profits ahead of its guidance on Tuesday morning, with growth largely driven by its Arc’teryx brand. The newly public Finnish company, which owns the Salomon, Arc’Teryx, Wilson, Peak Performance and Atomic brands, reported a 13 percent revenue increase in Q1 to $1.2 billion. Net income was $7 million, down from $19 million in Q1 the prior year. Diluted earnings per share was 1 cent compared to $5 cents the prior year. Adjusted gross profit margin grew 110 basis points to 54.3 percent in Q1, a jump largely driven by the technical apparel group and the high profit Arc’teryx brand." To read more, click here.

--SGB Media is reporting that, "DestiMetrics (DM) has released its season-end assessment of the Winter 2023-24 season, describing the findings as a famine-to-feast snowfall season that, coupled with stubbornly high inflation and interest rates, led to declines in winter lodging occupancy across 17 western mountain resorts in seven states for the season." To read more, click here.

--Somebody did a backflip on the summit of Everest.

--It sounds like middle-aged men are making up a large percentage of the demographic that is injured and/or killed in ski resorts. Read more.

Upcoming AAI Programs:

AAI will have a free crevasse rescue seminar this evening and a free rock rescue seminar next week, both at its headquarters in Bellingham.

Mountaineering in Ecuador
Kilimanjaro Expedition
Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership
Alpinism I: Introduction to Mountaineering
Glacier Skills and Crevasse Rescue
Mt. Baker Skills and Climb
Mt. Shuksan Skills and Climb
Mt. Whitney Skills and Climb
Alpine Rock Climbing

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/23/24

AAI Denali Updates:

--Team 1 is on their way down from high camp. Team 2 just made it to camp 3 at 14,200-feet. And Team 3 is officially on the glacier and beginning their climb! Learn more at our expedition blog.

Northwest:

--Action News Now is reporting that, "a climber died while suffering a medical emergency on Mount Shasta this past Friday, the sheriff’s office said. The sheriff’s office said on Friday at 7 p.m., dispatch received a Garmin InReach emergency notification at 9,500 feet up Avalanche Gulch. A 49-year-old climber who was later identified as David Lopez, 49, of Campbell, collapsed and became unresponsive while approaching Lake Helen with his climbing partner." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--Gripped is reporting that, "last week Alex Honnold was MCing a bouldering world cup event in Salt Lake City and this week he’s back in Yosemite. And unlike some climbers who choose not to talk about their free-soloing, Honnold is often quick to share about his most recent rope-less climbs. 'I’m back in the Valley!!' Honnold said on Instagram. 'I had a fun first day soloing the East Buttress of Middle Cathedral and then the East Buttress of El Cap. I heard someone call it the half pipe because you climb the two sides of the Valley across from each other.'" To read more, click here.

El Capitan at Sunset

--Gripped is reporting that, "American big wall climber Brant Hysell, the man behind the Gravity Labs YouTube channel, rope-soloed Salathé Wall on El Capitan on May 11 in 19 hours and 57 minutes. The previous fastest time was by Cheyene Lempe in 2013 at 20 hours and six minutes." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The NPCA is reporting that, "the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and local leaders recently joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to discuss a proposal to expand Joshua Tree National Park and establish Chuckwalla National Monument." To read more, click here.

--Here are some updates on Mt. Charleston access for the summer 2024 season.

--Is Las Vegas the adventure sport capitol of the United States. Some think so...

Colorado and Utah:

--KSL.com is reporting that, "Police have identified the man found dead near Snowbird after not returning from skiing Sunday as 60-year-old Charles Esposito of Layton. Police initially received a call about an overdue skier about 10:30 p.m. Sunday and began a search of the area. Officers arrived to find the man's vehicle in the Snowbird parking lot and determined his phone was near the Gadzoom lift, according to a statement from Unified police." To read more, click here.

--Fox 31 is reporting that, "A climber was flown to a hospital after falling approximately 60 feet from a cliff near Loveland on Saturday, according to the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The National Park Service is reporting that, "on Monday, May 20, Denali National Park and Preserve mountaineering rangers located a deceased climber at an elevation of 17,000 feet on the West Buttress route on Denali. On Sunday, rangers were contacted by a concerned family member that had not heard from a climber for several days. The climber had been regularly checking in with family via an InReach communication device during their attempted solo climb of Denali." To read more, click here.

--It appears that mosquitos are moving to higher altitudes due to anthropogenic climate change. Read more.

--Outside is reporting that, "a pair of bills that would have allowed Hawaii’s government to charge for rescues of hikers who venture onto closed trails has died in the state legislature. Senate Bill 2543 and House Bill 2174 were the latest in a series of proposals that sought to hold scofflaw adventurers financially responsible for their own rescues. The text of the House version cited both increased spending on rescue operations and the danger to first responders as motivations for the bill, and expressed hope that the new legislation would act as a deterrent for hikers considering venturing onto closed trails or terrain. Both bills died in the Senate, with a companion bill that would have established a 'hike safe' card whose purchase would have funded SAR operations failing as well." To read more, click here.

Upcoming AAI Programs:

Mountaineering in Ecuador
Kilimanjaro Expedition
Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership
Alpinism I: Introduction to Mountaineering
Glacier Skills and Crevasse Rescue
Mt. Baker Skills and Climb
Mt. Shuksan Skills and Climb
Mt. Whitney Skills and Climb
Alpine Rock Climbing

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/9/2024

Northwest:

--Yahoo is reporting that, "a Washington state man who was trying to summit Mount Rainier this week collapsed and died near the top of the mountain in the national park, officials said." To read more, click here.

--A new line has been climbed on Mt. Hood. A two-pitch WI4/M4 line was completed in late April in the Black Spider area. To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--Gripped is reporting that, "a popular trail in Yosemite is closed for the foreseeable future due to a large rockfall that took place this spring. The John Muir Trail took an astonishing 46 years to build and was opened in 1938." To read more, click here.

--The closest ski resort to Los Angeles is for sale. 

Desert Southwest:

Mt. Wilson in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

--The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that, "the $100 million-plus Red Rock Legacy Trail project received $1 million in federal funding to push the project toward becoming a reality. During a news conference on State Route 159 on Friday, Rep. Susan Lee, Andrew Bennett, director of the Clark County Office of Traffic Safety, and Nevada Department of Transportation spokesman Justin Hopkins were on hand during a ceremonial check presentation." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Outside is reporting that, "the Biden administration announced today that it is expanding two national monuments in California: the San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain, bringing nearly 120,000 additional acres under federal protection." To read more, click here.

--An incident and accident reporting system in Canada was recently shut down due to liability concerns. To read more, click here.

--The Kathmandu Post is reporting that, "For the first time, high-altitude guides will face some competition on Everest… from drones. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, which hosts the 8,848.86 metre-tall Everest, is piloting heavy lifter drones that will bring back garbage from the mighty mountain. Though officials say that cargo drones will fly on Everest to bring garbage, its success, however, may affect the livelihood of high altitude support staff who navigate the dangerous Khumbu Icefall with tonnes of loads on their backs." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "the IFSC has banned a climber for the presence of Stanozolol metabolites, saying, 'The IFSC have received an official communication from the International Testing Agency (ITA), delegated by the IFSC as anti-doping service provider, about a rule violation in accordance with Article 8.3.3 of the IFSC Anti-Doping Rules committed by Iranian climber Reza Kolasangian.'" To read more, click here.

--KOMO News and others are reporting that, "a part-time ski instructor's death has been ruled a homicide after a collision with another skier, according to reports. The Teton County Sheriff's Office issued a statement on Facebook, noting that two skiers collided on Rendezvous Trail at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village on April 14. Authorities asked anyone who witnessed the collision to contact a detective." To read more, click here.

Upcoming AAI Programs:

Mountaineering in Ecuador
Kilimanjaro Expedition
Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership
Alpinism I: Introduction to Mountaineering
Glacier Skills and Crevasse Rescue
Mt. Baker Skills and Climb
Mt. Shuksan Skills and Climb
Mt. Whitney Skills and Climb
Alpine Rock Climbing

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/2/24

Northwest:

--Yahoo News is reporting that, "An avalanche injured two climbers on Mount Shasta in Northern California, requiring rescuers to be airlifted to their assistance, sheriff’s officials reported. A climber called 911 at 12:21 p.m. Saturday, April 27, to report he and his climbing partner had been injured by an avalanche at 12,200 feet up the mountain, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said in an April 29 news release." To read more, click here.

--A climber was rescued off of Cutthroat Peak last week with a broken leg. The team was trying to make an ascent of the rarely climbed Cauthorn-Wilson ice route. To read more, click here.

--It appears that a skier was seriously injured in a collision with another skier on Mt. Bachelor last week. Read more.

The Torment-Forbidden Traverse in North Cascades National Park.

--North Cascades National Park announced that the long awaited decision on the reintroduction to grizzly bears is complete: "The National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have announced a decision to actively restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades of Washington, where the animals once roamed. Grizzly bears occupied the North Cascades region for thousands of years as a key part of the ecosystem, distributing native plant seeds and keeping other wildlife populations in balance. Populations declined primarily due to direct killing by humans. The last confirmed sighting of a grizzly bear in the U.S. portion of the North Cascades ecosystem was in 1996." To read more, click here.

--My Northwest is reporting that, "Following a tumultuous year that included layoffs and operations restructuring, REI announced it lost $311 million in 2023. The Seattle-founded outdoor equipment retailer reported its revenue was $3.76 billion, down 2.4% from the previous year." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--There was a significant accident in the Alaska range last week when a pair fell on Mt. Johnson. One individual died at the scene and the other was evacuated. To read more, click here.

--The BLM has announced a rule that puts outdoor recreation on equal footing with other public lands issues, such as extraction. To read more, click here.

--It appears that REI is leaving its unique footwear brand.

--A grizzly bear scared a skier at Lake Louise last week. Video.

--Climbing is reporting that, "David Letterman joined Alex Honnold at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City last Thursday for an interview in front of a live audience, discussing “scaling new heights, chasing your dreams, and never looking down.” But first, before all the tired metaphors, the two toproped at Movement Climbing + Fitness in Gowanus. Honnold offered up pointers while Letterman played up the awkward nature of checking someone’s knot (yes, David, we all have crotches) and ate M&Ms from a chalk bag. At 77, Letterman proved he’s as spritely as ever." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "British alpinist Tom Livingstone and Slovenian partner Gašper Pintar have made the first ascent of a route on the south face of Mount Dickey (2,909 m) in Alaska’s Ruth Gorge. It took them four days and they’ve yet to grade it but named it The Great Wall. Livingstone called their trip 'a great Alaskan adventure.'" To read more, click here.

Upcoming AAI Programs:

Mountaineering in Ecuador
Kilimanjaro Expedition
Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership
Alpinism I: Introduction to Mountaineering
Glacier Skills and Crevasse Rescue
Mt. Baker Skills and Climb
Mt. Shuksan Skills and Climb
Mt. Whitney Skills and Climb
Alpine Rock Climbing