Thursday, March 20, 2025

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 3/20/2025

Northwest:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "on Thursday, March 13, an avalanche on Mount Bailey near Diamond Lake, Oregon, killed Bend resident Brian Thomas Roberts, 50. Roberts was part of a cat skiing group out of Diamond Lake Resort when the avalanche occurred around 3:45 p.m. on the north/northwest side of the mountain. Despite efforts by other skiers and two nurses on the scene, Roberts succumbed to his injuries." To read more, click here.

There have been a lot of ski accidents this week.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "a skier tragically lost his life at Mt. Bachelor on March 17, 2025, after falling into a tree well and becoming trapped in deep snow. The victim, identified as 34-year-old Benjamin Shelkey of Seattle, Washington, was found unresponsive by fellow skiers who worked desperately to free him before beginning CPR." To read more, click here.

--The News Tribune is reporting on another inbounds accident: "A 74-year-old man died at a Washington ski resort after falling head-first into snow, deputies said. The man was with his brother and friend March 13 at Stevens Pass Ski Area, the King County Sheriff’s Office said in a release." To read more, click here.

--Unofficial Networks is reporting that, "Alpental, one of the two distinct mountains that make up Summit at Snoqualmie, has announced plans to close a few weekends early in order to make extra time for the replacement of the Edelweiss chairlift with a new Doppelmayr triple." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--Unofficial Networks is reporting that, "An important entry into Yosemite National Park has been cut off after a massive rockslide covered a portion of California State Route 140 in debris." To read more, click here.

--The Nevada Independent is reporting on a forest at extreme fire risk: "For years, land managers discussed developing a fuel treatment plan for the Beaver Creek Pinery, a stand of largely old-growth ponderosa pines and black oaks in Lassen National Forest’s 41,000-acre Ishi Wilderness in northeastern California. One of the largest old-growth forest stands in the region, it had never been logged and served as an important template for Northern California forest restoration efforts. But the stand was never treated. Last year, the 430,000-acre Park Fire “ripped through” the pinery." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "as the cost of day tickets and season passes continue to rise, North Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts are reporting a surge in season pass fraud, prompting the Placer County Sheriff’s Office to intervene. According to an Instagram post, the issue involves individuals using passes or lift tickets that do not belong to them, violating both resort policies and state law." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--KSNV is reporting that, "Stargazers and nature enthusiasts are invited to Red Rock Canyon for a free "star party" on Tuesday, April 22, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The event, held in the outdoor amphitheater, celebrates Earth Day and supports Red Rock Canyon's application as an Urban Night Sky Place." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--KDVR is reporting that, "A 20-year-old skier died Tuesday after crashing at Winter Park Resort, according to police. The Fraser Winter Park Police Department said the man was from Kansas and was wearing a helmet at the time of his crash." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "State Route 210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon was hit by an avalanche on Tuesday evening, trapping three vehicles and forcing the Utah Department of Transport (UDOT) to close the road. No injuries were reported, but Alta and Snowbird are under Interlodge orders until 8:45 a.m." To read more, click here.

--Climbing is running an article entitled: "New Rules at Indian Creek and What You Need to Know."

Notes from All Over:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Two backcountry skiers died in separate avalanches west of Calgary, Alberta, on Friday, March 14. The first incident occurred around 3 p.m. near Pipestone Bowl, an out-of-bounds area near Lake Louise Ski Resort, and the second incident was near Mount Black Prince in Kananaskis Country." To read more, click here.

--Gear Junkie is reporting that, "For decades, Outside Magazine has offered its readers some of the best outdoor journalism found anywhere. Many of its contributors — from Jon Krakauer and Hampton Sides to Jimmy Chin and Tommy Caldwell — have become iconic authors, photographers, and athletes. Now, some of those icons have asked for their names to be removed from the masthead of the legacy publication. They say the magazine’s parent company, Outside Inc., has abandoned “bold, spirited journalism” by laying off senior staff and discouraging investigative work or political coverage, according to a letter signed by nearly 40 writers, photographers, and editors." To read more, click here.

--RV Pro is reporting that, "The Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates and Japanese American Citizens League filed a joint lawsuit over the “unjustified mass firings of federal workers.” Campaign Legal Center is representing all four groups. Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program is co-counsel representing the Sierra Club." To read more, click here.

--The New York Times published an article called Denali will always be Denali.

--A recent study has confirmed that the Sherpa people who live high in the Himalaya have more blood plasma that the average person, which allows their body to quickly adjust to altitude. Read more, here.

--Newsweek is reporting that, "a group of South African scientists has pleaded for help, saying they are trapped in an isolated base on a cliff edge in Antarctica with a team member who has become violent. One of the team has been accused of assault and threatening violence against his colleagues, according to the South African newspaper The Sunday Times. South Africa's environment minister confirmed that an assault had taken place." To read more, click here.

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