Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/25/24

Northwest:

--The Idaho Statesman is reporting that, "A missing 36-year-old rock climber was found dead days after he fell hundreds of feet from a jagged mountain in northern Idaho, rescuers said. Christian Kreiger, of Samuels, was reported missing at about 6:40 p.m. July 12 from the Harrison Peak area, the Boundary County Emergency Management said in a July 17 Facebook post." To read more, click here.

A hiker with a broken leg being rescued near Artist Point in Washington State 

by Bellingham Mountain Rescue, Summit to Sound and Glacier Fire.

--Updated information on the two fires that are seriously impacting recreation in the North Cascades can be found on this facebook page.

Sierra:

--It appears that marmots are trying to get into car engines in the Sierra. People are literally wrapping their cars in tarps to keep them out. Read more.

--Gripped is reporting that, "electric vehicle maker Rivian has just opened its first charging rest stop, and it’s called the Rivian Yosemite Charging Outpost. It has a small library, restrooms, a lounge, coffee and more. Anyone can use the lounge, but only Rivian owners can charge their vehicles there." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

Colorado and Utah:

--The Aspen Times is reporting that, "On Saturday afternoon at approximately 12:48, a climber texted the 911 operator at the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center, stating they were “trapped” but uninjured, according to a Pitkin County press release. The GPS coordinates placed the climber well off the standard climbing route — heading toward the central couloir of North Maroon Peak. A nearby, uninvolved person heard the climber yelling for help and activated their Garmin device to alert emergency personnel." To read more, click here.

--Former AAI Guide and Colorado resident Brendan Cusick and friends Pat Morrissey, Scott Forman and Pete Durson rowed across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii over the course of 41-days. To read about the adventure, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Alaska Public Media is reporting that, "a sightseeing plane with nine people on board lost power and was forced to land near a glacier in Denali National Park Friday." To read more, click here.

--Climbing is reporting that, "Access Fund is pleased to announce a brand new round of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Grantees. This grant is designed to promote and actuate JEDI principles related to access and stewardship within climbing and remove barriers to participation. Awardees will undertake projects that address physical, social, and cultural barriers to sustainable climbing access with an emphasis on work that incorporates elements of education or advocacy around sustainable access, conservation, and stewardship." To read more, click here.

--Patagonia gave ninety staff members only three days to decide if they wanted to move to keep their jobs. This is a headline. I can't get into the story due to a paywall. See it here.

--The long term goal is for ice climbing to be in the Olympics. And the 2034 Olympics will be in Salt Lake City. Read about it, here.

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

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/18/24

News from the American Alpine Institute:

--AAI will be having a "flash sale" and gear demo at 7pm on Wednesday, July 24th. At this in-person sale, discounts will be announced at 7pm. Bring cash for used guide gear. Check it out at our headquarters in Bellingham at 4041 Home Road.

Northwest:

From Inciweb

--There is a Red Flag warning in the Pacific Northwest this weekend. And the Pioneer Fire on Lake Chelan is continuing to grow. This may ultimately have an impact on area recreation. See Inciweb for updates.

Sierra:

--Gripped is reporting that, "this spring, the Yosemite Climbing Association built a Climber’s Credo in response to the fixed anchor concerns that have made headlines throughout the US. Their website says, 'At a time when there are pressures to impose a nationwide fixed anchor prohibition in designated Wilderness, we have the power to come together as a community and embrace a set of shared ethics and values. What was true in 1972 is still true today: ‘We believe the only way to ensure the climbing experience for ourselves and future generations is to preserve (1) the vertical wilderness, and (2) the adventure inherent in the experience.’” To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "earlier this year, Brant Hysell rope-soloed Salathé Wall on El Capitan in 19 hours and 57 minutes. The previous fastest time was by Cheyene Lempe in 2013 at 20 hours and six minutes. Shortly after his ascent, Alex Honnold climbed it solo in 11 hours and 19 minutes." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Climbing is hiring a new Editor and Chief.

Notes from All Over:

--Mass Live is reporting on an accident in Massachusetts: "The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office has identified the climber killed in a fall at Leominster State Forest last week as 69-year-old Lunenburg resident Robert Conroy." To read more, click here.

--A sign of a weak market for the outdoor industry? From RV Travel: "Despite the RV manufacturing industry’s “cautiously optimistic” spin, there’s no magic in RV retail sales. Put simply, sales of new RVs are down across the board as RV consumers walk away from new rigs." To read more, click here.

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

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/11/24

Northwest:

--Gripped is reporting that, "he Squamish RCMP have said that the bodies of three climbers who went missing at the start of June have been recovered. In a statement, BJ Chute, the manager of Squamish Search and Rescue, said the recovery operation took place in the Atwell Peak area near Mount Garibaldi. RCMP did not release the names of the climbers, saying their families have requested privacy. The climbers were last seen on May 31 in terrain described as “really complex and remote” by Squamish Search and Rescue member Christy Allan." To read more, click here.

--The Statesman Journal is reporting that, "A climber was rescued via helicopter from the high elevations of North Sister on Saturday, according to Lane County Search and Rescue. The climber "likely had several broken bones and was on an exposed scree slide taking rockfall," a news release said. North Sister is considered the most challenging and technical to climb of the trio of volcanoes in Central Oregon." To read more, click here.

--King Five is reporting that, "high temperatures across Washington will contribute to fire danger, elevate temperatures in streams and have an impact on wildlife, but they won't likely play a major role in melting snowpack because so much of it is already gone by this time of year." To read more, click here.

This is a photo of the 2023 Sourdough Fire in the North Cascades.

The fire was triggered by a lightning strike.

--The Seattle Times had a similar article this week: "As temperatures soar across Washington this week, so too will the risk of wildfire, state officials say. The hot weather (expected to hit triple digits in some places), ongoing drought and heavy gusts of wind form the three pillars of what is expected to be “near record” wildfire danger, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center’s Monday morning briefing." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--There were two distinct rescue incidents in Zion last week, but the wording of the emergency messages was incredibly similar. For a time, rangers thought they were the same incident. Read more.

--Like many other national parks, it looks like Zion is moving to a reservation system.

Notes from All Over:

--Outside is reporting on an incident in Yellowstone: "Visitors to Yellowstone National Park over the Independence Day weekend were rocked by news of a fatal shootout that occurred within park boundaries on the morning of July 4. That afternoon, the NPS published a press release about the incident: rangers responding to an emergency call had exchanged gunfire with an unidentified man at Canyon Village, one of the park’s busiest destinations." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "a study published in Nature Communications has reported that the Juneau Icefield is losing 50,000 gallons (190,000 litres) of water per second. The 3,900-square-kilometre icefield is composed of 1,000 glaciers on the border of Alaska and B.C." To read more, click here.

--Inside the Games is reporting that, "It is now official. This Wednesday, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Executive Board ratified the proposal to add Para Climbing to the LA 2028 sports programme. This is the first time a sport has been added to the Paralympic programme by an Organising Committee. It will join the 22 sports already included." To read more, click here.

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