Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/29/2025

Northwest:

--Gripped is reporting that, "a 22-year-old Canadian woman died on Saturday after a highlining accident at Chek Canyon north of Squamish. The International Slackline Association (ISA) said the fatal fall happened after she “forgot to re-tie” her safety leash, resulting in an 80-metre fall." To read more, click here.

The common approach to Forbidden Peak is from Boston Basin.

--The Boston Basin area of the North Cascades National Park is temporarily closed due to bear activity. There is a sow with cubs in the area. Read more.

--KOMO News is reporting that, "The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is actively responding to the Second Creek Fire, located nearly eight miles north of Leavenworth." Read more, here.

--AAI's James Pierson was interviewed on KUOW/NPR about the recent tragedy in Washington Pass. You can hear his interview here.

Sierra:

--Gripped has rounded up all the high end climbing achievements from Yosemite in the last month. Check out their article, here.

--Climbing is reporting that, "on the morning of May 20, seven trans climbers and allies in Yosemite unfolded a 66’-by-35’ trans pride flag about one third of the way up El Capitan. For about two hours, the climbers opened the pink and blue flag for public display above Heart Ledges, about 1,000 feet above the ground. The flag billowed 15 to 20 feet away from the wall and did not block access to any routes." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The Colorado Springs Fire Department rescued a climber in the Garden of the Gods this week. To read about it, click here.

Alaska:

Denali 

--AAI has several teams in the Alaska Range right now. Read about them, here.

Notes from All Over:

--Rocky Mountain Outlook is reporting that, "A 34-year-old Lake Louise resident died in a skiing accident near Moraine Lake in the backcountry of Banff National Park on Tuesday morning (May 27). RCMP said Parks Canada received a call at about 7 a.m. of a female skier falling a 'considerable distance.'" To read more, click here.

--15 WMTV is reporting that, "A climber was airlifted to UW Hospital from Devils Lake State Park on Sunday after falling about 20-30 feet, the Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District reported on Monday. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resouces and other climbers helped Baraboo officials reach the individual, who was found in a remote area that was only accessible by going through the park’s steep and rocky trails." To read more, click here.

--The New York Times and others are reporting on an unprecedented ascent of Mt. Everest: "Climbing Mount Everest typically takes weeks, with most of that time spent at the foot of the mountain adjusting to the thin air. But four British men last week shrank that timeline dramatically, traveling from London to the summit and back in less than a week, according to the organizer of their expedition. They skipped the adjustment period, in part, by inhaling a secret weapon: xenon gas." To read more, click here.

Upcoming Programs:

--Outdoor Sportswire is reporting that, "following an outcry of public opposition to the idea of public-land selloffs, a massive spending bill that passed the house this morning saw proposals to sell more than 500,000 acres of public land removed from the legislation. Amidst meetings over the last few days with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, there was a flurry of outreach to legislators from the outdoor community — including more than 100,000 letters to lawmakers from Outdoor Alliance — public sentiment that was crucial to the removal of those proposals." To read more, click here.

Denali - West Buttress
Ecuador Skills Expedition
Kilimanjaro
Rock Climbing in Red Rock Canyon
Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership
Alpinism I: Introduction to Mountaineering
Mt. Baker Skills and Climb
Rescue Programs
Discounts and Special Offers
Mountain Center Events

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 5/15/2025

Northwest:

--Climbing and many others are reporting on an accident that took the lives of three people in Washington Pass. "On Saturday, May 10, three climbers were killed in a rappelling accident in Washington Pass’s Liberty Bell Group. A fourth member of the team narrowly survived the incident and is currently hospitalized." It appears that this was the result of an anchor failure involving in a piton during a rappel. Read more.

The Liberty Bell Massif: North Early Winter Spire 

is the second faint peak from the left.

--A go-fund-me has been set up for the loss of one of these climbers.

--ABC News is reporting that, "Trump administration funding cuts and a loss of federal workers who help support wildland firefighting continues to make planning for the upcoming wildfire season a challenge, according to forest and fire officials in Washington state and Oregon. The biggest issue they’re facing is a lack of communication from the federal government as the West faces “a pretty significant wildland fire season," Washington State Forester George Geissler said Thursday during a press conference hosted by Democratic Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Jeff Merkley of Oregon." To read more, click here.

--My Bellingham Now is reporting that, "Mt. Baker Ski Area President and CEO Gwyn Howat announced in a video update that she’s stepping back after finishing up her 34th year at the mountain. 'As I knock on 60, the work-life balance thing starts to get pretty real,' Howat said in the video. 'So I’m going to be shifting my role here at Mount Baker and trimming back some hours so that I can spend more time with friends and family and on the water chasing waves and pursuing some of my own personal interests.'" To read more, click here.

--My Bellingham Now is reporting that, "a Whatcom Superior Court jury has found a Seattle man guilty of 2nd degree murder for killing his brother in North Cascades National Park. John Thomson was originally charged with first degree murder for shooting his brother Robert Thomson to death near Diablo Lake in August 2022." To read more, click here.

Click to Enlarge: This is a good annual warning about 

hazard in the Enchantments at Asgard Pass.

Sierra:

--SF Gate is reporting on a skier that fell down the Eastern Sierra's "Bloody Couloir," near Mammoth Lakes. Read about it here.

--There's a new Yosemite guidebook out!

--Mammoth Mountain intends to run its lifts through June.

Desert Southwest:

--The NPCA is reporting that, "in a split vote this week, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced a controversial amendment to the budget reconciliation bill that could force the disposal of thousands of acres of public land in Nevada and Utah, including those directly adjacent to Zion National Park. Rushed through without public or local community input or environmental review, this reckless proposal threatens to cut off access to public lands, remove critical protections for natural and cultural resources, and hand over public lands to state or private interests." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The Colorado Sun is reporting that, "a 32-year-old snowboarder who fell from a chairlift at Keystone ski area in December has died of his injuries. Donovan Romero, of Littleton, died May 2, according to the Summit County coroner. Romero fell from the Ruby Express chairlift Dec. 11 near the third tower. He momentarily hung from the armrest of the chairlift before falling an estimated 47 feet, according to a statement from the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board." To read more, click here.

Alaska:

--AAI's first team has made it successfully onto Denali. They are currently making their way slowly up the mountain. To read updates on their expedition, click here.

AAI Denali Team 1

--Gripped is reporting on a new route that AAI Guide Tad McRea was involved in: "over several days at the end of April, Anna Pfaff, Andres Marin and Tad McCrea made the first ascent of the south face of Mount Providence in the Alaska Range. Their new 1,000-metre route is called Journey Through the Castle of Providence and graded WI4 M5 5.10 with steep snow. It follows a direct route to the summit. The first ascent team first spotted the line in 2024 from the Thunder Glacier." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Gear Junkie is reporting that, "The REI Co-op today revealed the results of its annual election to fill seats on its board of directors, and supporters of co-op workers’ union efforts are claiming a major victory. Despite REI’s nominating and governance committee approving three candidates put forth by co-op leadership (two incumbents and one new director) and leaving two union-backed candidates off the ballot, none of REI’s nominees received enough votes to win election to the board." To read more, click here.

--Speaking of REI, Yahoo Finance is reporting that, "REI Co-op on Tuesday announced broad financial results from 2023, including a widening loss and a dip in revenues. In tandem with the release of its annual Impact Report, the outdoor retailer said it closed 2023 with $3.76 billion in net sales, which represented a 2.4 percent decrease from 2022. Net loss in 2023 was $311 million, which widened from a net loss of $164.71 million in 2022. The company said this loss was the combined result of investments in employee pay, member rewards and a $169 million non-cash valuation allowance, which REI said will be helpful when it returns to profitability." To read more, click here.

--Shop Eat Surf X Outdoors is reporting that, "The latest tariff rate reduction on products from China are a reprieve, but they’re still too high – and ongoing trade policy uncertainty is making it difficult to plan, forecast, budget and strategize for the future, according to surf and outdoor brand leaders." To read more, click here.

--KPCW is reporting that, "Preliminary data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) indicates that the 2024-25 season saw the second-highest visitation on record at U.S. ski areas.

A total of 61.5 million skier visits represents a 1.7% increase over the previous season. But according to the National Ski Areas Association, the number trails the record-setting 2022-23 season by 3.9 million visits, or just under 6%." To read more, click here.

Upcoming Programs:

Denali - West Buttress
Ecuador Skills Expedition
Kilimanjaro
Rock Climbing in Red Rock Canyon
Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership
Alpinism I: Introduction to Mountaineering
Mt. Baker Skills and Climb
Rescue Programs
Discounts and Special Offers
Mountain Center Events