Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 6/20/24

American Alpine Institute Denali Updates:

Team 5 has made the summit of Denali. And Team 6 is moving up to Camp II.

Northwest:

--The News Tribune is reporting that, "A missing skier who was found deceased at Mount Rainier National Park has been identified. Karen Jackmin, 38 of University Place, died from multiple blunt-force injuries on May 18. Her manner of death is listed as an accident, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office." To read more, click here.

--The Washington State Parks has put out a survey on snowmobile use in SnoParks. To respond to the survey, click here.

--Climbing is reporting on an older incident on the Goat Wall: "On Tuesday, May 21, a group of eight climbers from Illinois and Indiana attempted to ascend a long sport climbing route on the Goat Wall in Mazama, Washington. The party started climbing at 7:30 A.M. and were still only two-thirds up the route (at the top of the seventh pitch out of 11) when the sun began to set. By the time the group called the Okanagan County Sheriff’s Office at 10:30 P.M. to initiate a rescue, it was dark." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--Climbing is reporting that, "Yosemite National Park was the site of a protest against Israeli intervention in Gaza this week. A team of four climbers hung a banner emblazoned with the words “STOP THE GENOCIDE” and the colors of the Palestinian flag on the iconic rock face of El Capitan." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The Associate Press is reporting that, "A couple hiking in the desert south of Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California was rescued after running out of water, authorities said. On Sunday, the man called 911 and reported that his girlfriend was dehydrated and weak, according to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office posted Monday on social media." To read more, click here.

Mt. Wilson in Red Rock Canyon

--The Las Vegas Sun is reporting that, "Commissioners unanimously approved an $80 million settlement to end their yearslong legal battle with developer Gypsum Resources and owner Jim Rhodes, giving Gypsum the green light to move forward on their residential project that will erect 3,500 homes near Red Rock Canyon and Blue Diamond Hill. The agreement calls for Gypsum Resources to limit its development to 3,500 homes, when they initially planned for 5,000. It is also contingent on the Bureau of Land Management agreeing to divert traffic from Scenic Route 160 to Scenic Route 159." To read more, click here.

--Backpacker is reporting that, "an outbreak of a severe gastrointestinal illness swept through the hundreds of hikers who visited Arizona’s famed Havasu Falls this week. In some cases, individual hikers and whole groups had to be airlifted out because they were too sick to walk unassisted. The cause of the outbreak is as of yet unknown." To read more, click here.

--News Channel 3 is reporting that, "Joshua Tree National Park leadership has implemented fire restrictions that began on Saturday, June 15, and will continue through October 1 due to hot, dry weather conditions and increasing fire danger." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Yahoo News is reporting that, "Two off-duty firefighters happened to be in the right place at the right time on Sunday when they witnessed a skier begin an attempt to descend a gully on South Arapahoe Peak before falling. It happened on the Skywalker Couloir. According to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, the skier was beginning the ski descent of the couloir, which is west of Nederland, when he fell and slid around 1,000-2,000 feet down the snowfield before his fall was arrested on a rock ledge." To read more, click here.

--The National Park Service is reporting that, "A ranger at Bryce Canyon National Park has died from injuries sustained after tripping and falling while on-duty. Around 11:30 p.m. on Friday, June 7, Park Ranger Tom Lorig was working with park visitors at Bryce Canyon’s annual Astronomy Festival. While directing a visitor to a shuttle bus, Ranger Lorig fell and struck his head on a large rock. Finding him unresponsive, the visitor quickly notified a nearby law enforcement ranger. National park rangers, medically-trained bystanders, and local EMS personnel cooperated to provide initial life-saving care, but were unsuccessful in reviving Ranger Lorig. He was 78 years old." To read more, click here.

--Ski is reporting that, "a decision that just came down from the Colorado Supreme Court has the potential to disrupt the state’s ski industry. The seven justices of the state’s highest court ruled 5-2 that the broad liability waivers we all sign when we purchase our lift tickets don’t hold ski resorts immune from lawsuits in all situations." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The American Alpine Club has awarded several grants, including one to former AAI Guide Chantel Astorga. Read more.

--The Associated Press is reporting that, "Shaun White is starting a season-long halfpipe league that will offer more than $1.5 million in prizes in hopes of pulling together what has long been a spread-out, confusing action-sports calendar." To read more, click here.

--Climbing's print magazine is back!

Upcoming American Alpine Institute 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