Thursday, July 10, 2025

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 7/10/2025

Northwest:

--North Cascades National Park is reporting that, "campfires or the ignition of wood, briquettes, or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans and barbeque grills, are banned in all portions of North Cascades National Park Service Complex, which includes North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. This ban includes all National Park Service lands and campgrounds along State Route 20 as well as Hozomeen and the entire Stehekin Valley. Pressurized or bottled liquid fuel stoves, grills, or lanterns are allowed. Devices must have an on/off switch or valve that can immediately extinguish the flame." To read more, click here.

--Cascadia Daily News is reporting that, "Dwindling snowpack and glaciers in the mountains are changing when — and with what intensity — water flows through the watersheds of Whatcom and Skagit counties.  Experts around the counties recognize that without preparation, this could one day threaten some residents’ water supply, especially in summer." To read more, click here.



--AAI will be hosting a movie night with a showing of Cliffhanger on July 17th in Bellingham. Games at 7 with the movie starting at 7:30pm. Learn more.

--The Public Shelter at Camp Muir (10,080 ft) will be closed for maintenance and improvements from July 7 through September 30, 2025. The shelter will remain available for emergency use only during this time. If you're planning an overnight trip to Camp Muir, bring a tent and plan to camp.

--Mt. Hood will have lift served skiing through August 20th. Read more, here.

Sierra:

--Gripped is reporting that, "an 18-year-old Yosemite Hospitality employee from Frisco, Texas, named Grant Cline, tragically died in June in a rock climbing accident in Yosemite National Park, as reported by the Mariposa Gazette. Cline, a recent graduate of Centennial High School where he was active in theater and law programs, fell at or around Royal Arches. Search and rescue teams assisted in recovering his body." To read more, click here.

--The LA Times is reporting on a complicated rescue: "A solo female climber was nearing the remote summit of California’s second-tallest mountain last week when she fell, injuring her leg so badly the bone was sticking through her skin. What’s more, she lost her backpack. So, in a span of seconds, she went from nearing a personal triumph to finding herself alone and severely injured on a isolated and unforgiving mountainside with no food, water or extra clothing." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

Mt. Wilson in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

--105.9 Coyote Country is reporting that, "Construction on Red Rock Legacy Trail, a project the community has worked on for nearly two decades to enhance safety and improve access for cyclists and outdoor users in the Red Rock Canyon area, kicked off on July 1. The project has been a long time coming, pushed by the local community and residents like Heather Fisher, the president of Save Red Rock. Fisher was inspired to be more active in improving safety in the Red Rock Canyon area when she lost a friend to a cycling accident in the same area." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:


--Climbing is reporting that, "On June 29, at the well-known Tennessee climbing gym Memphis Rox, 25-year-old climber and gym employee Jarmond Johnson lost his life in a shooting. According to information released to Climbing by the Memphis Police Department, an argument around 4 p.m. that day escalated into a shooting at the gym. A second person involved, Dejuan Taylor, also lost his life. Memphis Police reported that one victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition, and another was pronounced dead on scene." To read more, click here.

--The Charlotte Observer is reporting that, "A man rappelling in North Carolina’s rugged Linville Gorge died at the base of a popular waterfall, according to searchers. It happened around 1:15 p.m. Sunday, July 6, at Steele Creek Falls in Pisgah National Forest, Burke County Emergency Services said in a July 8 news release." To read more, click here.

--25 News is reporting that, "A rock climber was flown to the hospital with possible life-threatening injuries after falling 60 feet on Mount Washington. According to New Hampshire Fish and Game, just after 1 P.M., they recieved a report from a group of hikers who say they witnessed a man fall around 60 feet in the vicinity of Pinnacle Buttress." To read more, click here.

--The Inertia is reporting that, "on July 3, Donald Trump signed an executive order that called on Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to raise prices for anyone who doesn’t live in the US. It will affect all national parks that require fees for entrance and recreation." To read more, click here.

--A second article covers some other disturbing aspects of the new Executive Order. From San Francisco Gate: "Thursday’s order also revokes a 2017 memorandum signed by President Barack Obama that promoted diversity and inclusion efforts across federally managed public lands. The memorandum was aimed at increasing the diversity of workforces throughout national parks, national forests and other public lands, and also developing plans to enhance accessibility to public lands for diverse populations. Thursday’s executive order gives no explanation as to why the memorandum was revoked, though the Trump administration has made efforts to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts from nearly all aspects of the federal government since the president was sworn in in January." To read more, click here.

--Here's an interesting piece on pooping in the outdoors...!