American Alpine Institute - Climbing Blog: Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad

Thursday, May 30, 2024

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.

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