Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/26/24

Northwest:

--Gear Junkie is reporting on Mt. Rainier's summit. Nearly two dozen feet of ice is gone there. Read more.

--A beautiful new line has gone up on the Squire Creek Wall in the Cascades. This 5.8+ line looks absolutely great. Read about it, here.

Sierra:

--Here's a piece from Gripped on a rockfall injury on El Cap.

Coloardo and Utah:

--Only in Utah is reporting that, "America's national parks are wonderful places to visit, but they can also be dangerous. Some visitors don't seem to realize that they're not in a theme park, and they automatically assume that every square inch of the place is hazard-free. The folks at outforia.com were curious to see how many deaths were reported at our country's national parks, so they submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the National Park Service. Then, they ranked the parks from most deaths in the last decade to least deaths. Zion National Park was near the top of the list." To read more, click here.

--ElecTrek is reporting that, "Zion National Park’s shuttle fleet has become one of the first bus fleets in the US to go all electric, and the first at a National Park. Zion National Park in Southern Utah is renowned for its colorful canyons and arches, and is one of the “mighty five” national parks in the region showing off Utah’s natural beauty." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The Idaho Statesman and others are reporting that, "A rock climber fell to his death and his partner was left stranded on a steep rock wall in Wyoming, rangers said. It happened just before 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, when the climber was rappelling the second pitch of El Cracko Diablo in Devils Tower National Monument, rangers said in a news release. The climber who fell, 21-year-old Stewart Phillip Porter from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, suffered “major injuries” and paramedics pronounced him dead when they found him around 8:40 p.m., officials said." To read more, click here.

Grand Teton Fastest Known Time Route
Click to Enlarge

--A new Fastest Known Time record for the Grand has not been accepted. Why? The runner cut a switchback and his photographers didn't have permits. To read about it, click here.

--Jasper Local is reporting that, "Charges are pending after two hikers in a closed area in Jasper National Park were air-lifted to safety by a Parks Canada rescue team. On September 10, Jasper National Park dispatchers responded to a 911 call for help by a party attempting to climb Pyramid Mountain—access trails to which are in an area closed by order of the JNP Superintendent. The hikers were not injured, just tired, Parks Canada media officers have said." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival will be taking place at the end of October in Banff National Park. The category shortlist for the book festival portion of the event was just released." To read more, click here.

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Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/19/24

Northwest:

--Out There Colorado is asking a question about Washington. "A 300-acre ski area located in the state of Washington has announced that they'll be offering a 'lifetime pass' option, which likely has slopesport enthusiasts curious if the move could inspire a greater trend around the country. Loup Loup Ski Bowl, which is located about 125 miles northeast of Seattle, has priced their new 'lifetime passes' at $6,000 a piece, available to 'anyone and everyone and [...] good as long as there is a Loup Loup Ski Bowl.'" To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--The Mountain High Ski Resort was able to limit damage from the Bridge Fire by using its snowmaking guns to keep things wet. To read about it, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--3 News is reporting that, "A Las Vegas woman is dead after she was struck by a car while walking on Red Rock Canyon Road last week, according to state authorities. The crash was reported around 7:28 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, on State Route 159 at mile marker 9, Nevada State Police said in a news release. That location is near the entrance to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area." To read more, click here.

--Outside is reporting that, "Gand Canyon National Park has endured a steady stream of fatalities since the busy season began in June. Two visitors have died in the past week, bringing the park’s current death toll to 16 in 2024. These deaths have generated a glut of coverage by mainstream news outlets, with The New York Times, Washington Post, and even NBC Nightly News covering the fatalities. The steady march of stories and reports about dead hikers, fatal falls, and accidents on rafting trips have raised public awareness of the risks associated with adventuring in the national park. It’s left many of us wondering: has something changed down there?" To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

The Delicate Arch near Moab.

--Outside is reporting that, "Politicians in Utah have a long history of trying to sell off your public land to benefit the oil, gas, and other extractive industries that fund their campaigns. This time they’re trying to do it with a lawsuit designed to go straight to the Supreme Court. That lawsuit argues that all Bureau of Land Management acres within the state’s borders should be transferred to Utah’s control." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--GearJunkie is reporting that, "It’s been a long time since outdoor advocacy has seen a coalition like this. More than 75 leaders in outdoor recreation will descend on Capitol Hill this week to convince U.S. lawmakers that the industry deserves more money and protection. Foremost among the group’s objectives will be shoring up support for the EXPLORE Act, which advocates call the 'first big package to deal with outdoor recreation on federal lands.'" To read more, click here.

--UnOfficial Networks is reporting that, "this week, CSC Generation Enterprise (CSC) announced that it has acquired Backcountry.com. This includes names owned under the Backcountry brand, including MotoSport, Competitive Cyclist, and Steep and Cheap. Backcountry also has nine brick-and-mortar locations. It was sold by TSG Consumer Partners, which bought Backcountry for $350 million in 2015." To read more, click here.

--A lot of people are getting sick on a trail in Hawaii. From Gear Junkie: "A rare norovirus outbreak has resulted in an extended closure of one of Kaua‘i‘s most popular hiking trails. The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks are actively investigating the incident on Kalalau Trail. Earlier this month, numerous campers in the Kalalau Section of the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park experienced vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Witnesses told Yahoo News that the symptoms were severe and consistent among everyone and that it “went from zero to 100 within minutes from the onset.” On September 5, the DOH reported that test results confirmed it was norovirus." To read more, click here.

--And finally, here's a note from pro climber Sasha DiGiulian, Protect Our Winters and an endorsement in the upcoming presidential election:

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Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/12/24

Northwest:

--KIRO 7 is reporting that, "A sport climber was rescued Saturday afternoon, after falling 40 feet at a state park in North Bend. According to Snoqualmie Fire Department and Emergency Management, the climber was 300 feet above the Deception Crags climbing area of Olallie State Park when he started to fall." To read more, click here.

--A climber was injured in a fall on Castle Rock near Leavenworth over the weekend. A technical rescue team was required to assist the climber. Read more.

--Central Oregon Daily is reporting that Bend saw a 6% drop in tourism this year. Read more.

Sierra:

--Gripped is reporting that, "while the iconic lines on the west face of El Cap lure crowds, the incredibly committing east side of the stone is rarely free climbed. Late last year, American Amity Warme, who’s one of only a few climbers pushing hard free climbs up El Cap ground-up, as opposed to top-down with fixed ropes, freed the 30-pitch El Niño 5.13b/c." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--This story from Unofficial Networks is cool: "Joshua Tree National Park and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been collaborating since 2003 to track the movements of the resident Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) using radiotelemetry." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Backpacker is reporting that, "A sheriff’s deputy trying to haze a mother bear and her cubs away from a crowd in Silverton, Colorado accidentally killed one of the animals when he shot it with a “less-lethal” beanbag round on Tuesday, sparking a fierce debate over how to manage bears in a community where encounters are common." It sounds like the person who was harassing this bear, which led to the encounter, may face charges. To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Guadalupe Mountains National Park is reporting that, "On Saturday afternoon, April 29, Guadalupe Mountains National Park was notified that a climbing party was in distress with one climber stranded and another member that had fallen off an edge and appeared to be unresponsive." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Although the ski season is still months away in North America, a 30-year-old Boston native has already accomplished an astonishing skiing record. Noah Dines has officially set the new world record for ski-touring the most human-powered vertical feet in one year. With a jaw-dropping 2,506,500 feet already under his belt and nearly four months left in the year, Dines is not done yet either." To read more, click here.

--RV Pro is reporting that, "Results for the RV Industry Association (RVIA)’s July 2024 survey of manufacturers found that total RV shipments ended the month with 24,116 units, an increase of 17.5% compared to the 20,520 units shipped in July 2023." To read more, click here.

--This is a disturbing article from Island News: "On Wednesday, the Kauai County Council discussed who should foot the bill for rescues. This includes both ocean and hiking rescues. The council talked about Bill 2910, which would allow the county attorney to screen everyone on whether they should pay for search and rescue expenses of a $1,000 or more." To read more, click here.

Upcoming AAI Programs:

Denali - West Buttress

Ecuador Skills Expedition

Kilimanjaro

AIARE Avalanche Level I

Rock Climbing in Red Rock Canyon