Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/21/24

Northwest:

--The storm over the weekend and into this week dumped a lot of snow in the backcountry. As such, there were some avalanche incidents. However, all involved were able to self-rescue.

--State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) has closed for the season due to avalanche risk. Read more.

Sierra:

--Expedition Portal is reporting that, "California has become the first state to ban the sale of single-use propane cylinders. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1280 into law, which mandates that all one-pound propane canisters sold in California must be refillable or reusable beginning January 1, 2028. The bill, introduced by Senator John Laird of Santa Cruz, is designed to promote sustainable outdoor recreation and alleviate the environmental impact caused by disposable propane canisters." To read more, click here.

Mt. Whitney

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Two ill-equipped hikers were rescued from Mount Whitney, California, on November 2nd after a failed summit attempt left them exhausted and stranded on the trail. The pair, who had no prior mountaineering experience, began their ascent at 6 p.m. on Friday, carrying a staggering 150 pounds of newly purchased gear and five gallons of water." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "Alex Honnold is back in Yosemite to work on free-climbing The Nose, one of the most famous rock climbs in the world. While it’s regularly aid climbed at a modest aid grade, it’s only been freed a handful of times. Honnold announced on social media that he’s been projecting the cruxes of The Nose with accomplished alpinist and big wall climber Brette Harrington." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Next week is Thanksgiving week. For many climbing areas in the southwest, it is the busiest time of the year. Please be respectful of one another, share campsites and let faster teams pass on multi-pitch routes. Also be aware that slower teams are not required to let you pass. Whomever gets to the route first has priority.

--Travel and Leisure is reporting that, "Visiting Joshua Tree National Park will soon cost more when the popular California spot raises reservation fees. Starting Dec. 1, the park will increase fees for all reservations on recreation.gov, including for campgrounds and tours. Then on Jan. 1, 2025, the National Park Service will increase the amenity fee as well as raise the fee for first-come, first-serve campgrounds, according to the National Park Service." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Outside is reporting that, "on November 14, Jenni Lowe, president of the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation (ALCF) and widow of climbing legend Alex Lowe, announced that the nonprofit she founded in his name will officially dissolve before the end of 2025. The nonprofit’s assets—including the iconic Khumbu Climbing Center—will go to the Juniper Fund, a Nepal-based charity helmed by celebrity mountaineers Melissa Arnot Reid and David Morton. Jenni Lowe first initiated the handoff process about a year ago." 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
Discounts and Special Offers

Mountain Center Events

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 11/14/24

Sierra:

--Gripped is reporting that, "German climber Lara Neumeier and Austrian climber Nemuel Fuerle have repeated El Niño via the Pineapple Express variation, an 800-metre 5.13c on El Capitan in Yosemite. Established in 1998 by Alex and Thomas Huber, El Niño is one of Yosemite’s most demanding routes. The Pineapple Express variation was added in 2018 by Sonnie Trotter, supported by Tommy Caldwell, as the first free ascent of El Niño in its entirety. The line circumnavigates eight meters of blank granite with a new three-pitch option. The variation includes the infamous La Niña pitch, which is the route’s hardest section." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--KTNV is reporting that, "A climber was rescued at Red Rock on Sunday after being knocked unconscious. The person fell while leading a climbing route, hitting their head and knocking them unconscious for roughly 20 minutes, according to LVMPD Search and Rescue." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Outside is reporting that, "on November 4, federal authorities issued misdemeanor charges against two Colorado residents for allegedly stealing historic artifacts from a roped-off area within Utah’s Canyonlands National Park this past March.The residents, identified as Roxanne McKnight, 39, and Dusty Spencer, 43, both of Pagosa Springs, allegedly entered the signed closure area around Cave Spring Cowboy Camp on March 23. According to a release from the U.S. attorney’s office in Utah, the two then 'handled and stole numerous historic artifacts.'" To read more, click here.

--The Daily is reporting that, "The new leadership team at Black Diamond Equipment continues to make progress in restructuring the brand with the goal of having a smaller, more profitable business that focuses on the highest volume and highest margin styles. Those initiatives paid off during the third quarter ended Sept. 30, with the brand’s adjusted EBITDA up 25%, while revenue dropped 19% to $49.3 million." To read more, click here.

--The Telluride Daily Planet is reporting that, "After recent storms, winter appears to have settled in around Telluride, and people are already heading out in the backcountry. Fresh snow also brings winter driving conditions and avalanche risks. During last Wednesday’s meeting, the San Miguel Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) discussed an intergovernmental agreement with Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) to help mitigate avalanches on County Road D65 near Ophir. The agreement will have CAIC offer training, education, data collection and avalanche hazard assessment for County Route 630 from CO Highway 145 to the town of Ophir." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--SnowBrains is reporting on the avalanche burial and rescue of three hikers in Alberta. To read about it, click here.

--The New York Times is reporting that, "Law enforcement officials have captured a man who was wanted for murder in rural Tennessee, ending a multistate manhunt in a bizarre case involving a suspicious emergency call, a false identity and a fake bear attack." To read more, click here.

--The following video is crazy. Climbers were on a loose multi-pitch line when they dropped a rock and it nearly hit a free soloist below. The line is at Upper Kananaskis Lake in Alberta, Canada. Check it out.

--Outdoor Gear Lab is reporting that, "As of November, thousands of REI members may no longer have access to one of the retailer’s best perks: a 365-day return window. In fact, they won’t be able to make any returns at all." To read more, click here.

--There is a voluntary recall of some Mammut Barryvox avalanche beacons. Read more.

--The Associate Press is reporting that, "Wyoming officials voted Thursday to proceed with selling a spectacular, pristine piece of state property within Grand Teton National Park to the federal government for $100 million and end decades of threats to sell it to the highest-bidding private developer." 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
Discounts and Special Offers

Mountain Center Events

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

Northwest:

--Powder is reporting that, "Earlier this month, Tamarack Resort, Idaho, announced that it had doubled its developable acreage by acquiring 500 acres of land contiguous to the resort. The land connects to 300 acres Tamarack acquired in 2019, meaning that, in total, the resort’s land real estate development holdings have expanded by 800 acres." To read more, click here.

--It looks like the road to Paradise will be closed Tuesdays through Thursdays at Mount Rainier this year. Learn more.

Desert Southwest:

--The NPS has posted an article about fire recovery in Joshua Tree National Park. To read the piece, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Climbing is reporting that, "On October 30, longtime Bay Area climber Jason William Crist, 38, was arrested in Pacifica, California, and charged with nine felonies for alleged events that took place around the state between March 2019 and October 2023. He faces 29 counts associated with sexual violence, a result of four police reports describing interactions with him in Pacifica, Presidio, Joshua Tree, and Yosemite. The felony charges include forcible rape, sexual battery, and assault. He posted bail for $500,000." There is a bit of a culture of silence in our community. It's important that if you see something, that you say something. Read more, here.

--A new book has recently been released on the 50 Classic Ice Climbs in Western Canada. Check it out.

--Microsoft Start is reporting that, "GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO) said it plans to cut about 26% of its workforce, as part of an updated restructuring plan. The wearable video camera maker in August said it intended to cut 15% of its workforce from its ending second quarter headcount of 925 full-time employees. The restructuring was expected to begin in the third quarter of this year and to be substantially complete in the fourth quarter." To read more, click here.

--SGB Media is reporting that, "Compass Diversified Inc. (CODI) reported sales grew 22.3 percent at BOA and 25.2 percent at PrimaLoft to lead the gains among its active lifestyle brands. At BOA, sales reached $45.6 million against $37.3 million a year ago. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for BOA reached $17.1 million against $13.2 million a year ago, representing a gain of 28.4 percent." To read more, click here.

--See the winners of this year's Banff Mountain Film Festival, here.

Upcoming AAI Programs:

Denali - West Buttress
Ecuador Skills Expedition
Kilimanjaro
AIARE Avalanche Level I
Rock Climbing in Red Rock Canyon
Discounts and Special Offers