Thursday, August 21, 2025

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/21/25

Northwest:

--Bugaboo Provincial Park and the access trail have been flooded. This resulted in a helicopter rescue of over thirty climbers from the Park. It is now closed and there is no timeline for reopening. To read about it, click here.

Yak Peak

--North Shore Rescue recently completed a complicated rescue on Canada's Yak Check, a 5.10a route on Yak Peak an hour from the US border in British Columbia. To read about it, click here.

--KRCR is reporting that, "A mountain climber has been found and rescued from Mount Shasta after sustaining major injuries from a fall. On Saturday, August 16, dispatchers received a call from a climber on the Clear Creek Trail about his 50-year-old hiking partner missing, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office announced. The two were returning to their base camp successfully summitting the mountain earlier that morning, and at approximately 11,000 ft elevation, they became disoriented when they could not locate the campsite. The person who called the dispatchers was able to find the camp, but his climbing partner did not." To read more, click here.

--A couple of adventurous climbers put up a new route in the Darrington Area. They've put a route report for their line, Gardening on Salvia (5.7 A2+), on Cascadeclimbers.

Sierra:

--Climbing and many others are reporting that, "Last Tuesday, Yosemite wildlife biologist Shannon 'SJ' Joslin was called into a meeting with Danika Globokar, acting deputy superintendent of Yosemite National Park. A law enforcement ranger was also present. Dr. Joslin, who holds a PhD in genomics, soon found out why. Globokar handed them a letter, which said that the Yosemite bat expert was being terminated for 'failure to demonstrate acceptable conduct' because they had helped fly a trans pride flag on El Capitan on May 20." To read more, click here.

--Newsweek is reporting that, "Ryan Wardwell, 46, of Long Beach, California, was rescued last week after he became trapped behind a waterfall at the Seven Teacups area near the North Fork of the Kern River. The Tulare County Sheriff's Office said Wardwell was trapped for two days before being rescued on August 12. Wardwell told deputies that he had come off his rappel lines and got stuck behind the waterfall because of the extreme hydraulics of the river." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--The Desert Sun is reporting that, "If you're headed to Joshua Tree National Park at the end of August, add a little extra driving time. The heavily used west entrance from the town of Joshua Tree will be closed to inbound and outbound traffic beginning 6 a.m. Aug. 25 through 6 p.m. Aug. 29. Visitors must instead enter or exit the park via Twentynine Palms using the north entrance station, or the Cottonwood entrance at the park’s south boundary." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The Denver Post is reporting that, "Rocky Mountain National Park rangers rescued an injured climber who fell while scaling one of the national park’s mountains Sunday morning. The climber fell from the south face of Petit Grepon in Rocky Mountain National Park, injuring his lower leg, according to a news release from the park service." To read more, click here.

--Summit Daily News is reporting that, "Mountain Rescue Aspen has successfully rescued a climber on Capitol Peak after they were reported “overdue” by the other member of their party. Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch received the initial 911 call reporting the climber at approximately 6:52 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15. The reporting party, referred to as 'Climber A' in a press release, stated that after reaching the Capitol-Daly saddle, they and their partner, 'Climber B,' decided to separate. While Climber A remained behind, Climber B continued toward the summit." To read more, click here.

--It's being reported that one of Indian Creek's biggest route developers has been banned from the area for a year. Why? He's been camping there too long. Read more at Climbing.

Notes from All Over:

The Sourdough Fire on Diablo Lake in the North Cascades in 2023.

--The New York Times has published an extensive article about the use of masks in wildfire fighting. Those working in the US seldom use -- or even have access to -- masks that strain out fine particulates. The result? Many wildland firefighters are struggling with serious lung issues, including cancer. And many more have died from complications related to their firefighting work. To read the article, click here.
Posted by Jason Martin at 6:00 AM 0 comments

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/14/2025

Northwest:

--a 30-year-old from North Carolina drowned in glacier-fed Colchuck Lake under Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak last week. To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "on August 10, a solo climber was seriously injured in a fall on Mount Shasta, California’s upper Avalanche Gulch, a notoriously steep section near Redbanks at approximately 13,000 feet, according to a social post from the United States Forest Service (USFS). While descending, the man lost control during a glissade (a rapid snow slide technique) and his ice axe was ripped from his grasp. Unable to slow himself, he tumbled several hundred vertical feet, sustaining a leg fracture and multiple scrapes and lacerations, rendering him immobile." To read more, click here.

--Embarrassingly, a backcountry singer was thought to be someone screaming and was reported to a SAR team in British Columbia. To read more, click here.

--A new multi-pitch line has gone up near Hannegan Pass in the North Cascades. Check it out, here.

--The Seattle Times is reporting on the serious impacts that cuts to ranger patrols are having on the Enchantments. To read about it, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Crews are in the process of evaluating all the damage from a recent wildfire in Joshua Tree National park. To read about it, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The Aspen Times is reporting that, "At approximately 10:18 a.m. on Saturday, Pitkin County Dispatch received an emergency alert via a satellite communication device reporting that a climber had fallen an estimated 15–20 feet just north of the summit of Snowmass Mountain, according to a press release from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office. Other climbers in the area quickly rendered aid and determined the individual was unable to self-rescue due to sustained injuries." To read more, click here.

--Unofficial Networks is reporting that, "The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the agency helped rescue an injured skier at St. Mary’s Glacier, a semi-permanent snowfield located in Arapaho National Forest, on Monday, August 11th." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Solitude Mountain Resort is eyeing a November 14 opening day, kicking off a 100-day countdown to the 2025-26 ski season. Despite the sweltering summer heat in the Salt Lake Valley with temperatures currently hovering around 100ºF, the Big Cottonwood Canyon resort is already turning its focus toward early winter." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Former professional snowboarder and two-time U.S. Open champion Rahm Klampert has been indicted on multiple federal drug trafficking and firearms charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced. A federal grand jury returned the indictment July 31, accusing Klampert, 45, of Hartford, Vermont, of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. Prosecutors say the charges stem from a June 20 search of his home and personal training business, Rahm’s Results, where investigators reported finding about 1.1 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, and 75 grams of fentanyl." That's a lot of drugs. To read more, click here.

A youth climber at a USA Climbing event.

--Climbing just published a piece on why USA Climbing elected to ban trans women climbers from competition. Read it here.
Posted by Jason Martin at 6:00 AM 0 comments

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 8/7/2025

Northwest:

--A Pacific Northwest Climber made his way over dozens of mountains in a 175-mile trek from Baker to Glacier Peak. Check it out.

Dragontail and Colchuck Peak 
in the Stuart Range of Washington State.

--A new big route was put up on Dragontail Peak this week. At 5.11+, New Dark Ages took two summers and several trips to complete. See a description here.

Sierra:

--As a community, we really need to be wary of the glorification of free soloing. We are not against it, but we worry about people, especially very young people, who make the decision to free solo and then don't come back. This is a complicated topic and one that should continue to be discussed in our community. Read this piece about an 18-year-old soloist who we lost in Yosemite...

--A new free climbing (as in the act of free climbing) guidebook for Yosemite is set to hit stores soon. Check out this article about the book.

Desert Southwest:

--LAist is reporting that, "Crews at Joshua Tree National Park have begun to survey damages to its namesake plant in the wake of the latest wildfire that has burned more about 200 acres in an area known as a "refuge" of sorts for the tree. As of Saturday afternoon, the Eureka Fire is at 40% contained, according to fire authorities." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The Denver Post is reporting that, "A climber died Tuesday after falling from a mountainous route in Summit County, stranding two others, according to the sheriff’s office. The three-person climbing group was scaling the “Hasta la Vista Amichi” route near Officers Gulch at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, north of Copper Mountain on Interstate 70, according to a news release from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. That’s when one of them fell." To read more, click here.

--The Boulder County Sheriff's Office reported that, "On July 30 at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Boulder County Communications Center received a phone call reporting a fallen climber in Eldorado Canyon State Park near the climbing area of the Red Garden Wall and Yellow Spur. The person who called dispatch said they heard what sounded to be a person in pain from a nearby location. They found a climber who had fallen and needed assistance." To read more, click here.

--The Solitude Ski Patrol Union (SSPU) announced this week that it secured and approved an “industry-leading” contract with Solitude Mountain Resort after eight months of negotiations that spanned two winters. A social media post from the SSPU says the contract earned 100 percent approval from its bargaining unit, which marks a major milestone for the first ski patrol to unionize under Alterra ownership. The Colorado-based conglomerate purchased Solitude in 2018 and currently owns 12 North American resorts, including Palisades Tahoe, Steamboat, Mammoth Mountain, and others." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--5 WDTV is reporting on an accident in West Virginia: "Crews performed a helicopter rescue on Saturday after a rock climber fell off of Seneca Rocks. A rescue team from Pendleton County was dispatched around 2:20 p.m. to a remote area of Seneca Rocks, where a rock climber fell and was injured, according to The Maryland State Police Aviation Command." To read more, click here.

--10 WBNS in Columbus, Ohio is reporting that, "A rescue unfolded Tuesday afternoon at Quarry Trails Metro Park after a climber became stranded nearly 100 feet above the water on a natural rock wall. Park officials say the woman was participating in a guided climbing program when she froze near a rope bridge on the wall and was unable to move either up or down." To read more, click here.

--Buckrail is reporting that, " A mountain climber was rescued from the Grand Teton last week after becoming injured, according to the Jenny Lake Rangers. At about 3:15 p.m. on July 31, the Jenny Lake Rangers were contacted to assist a climber with a broken ankle on the Upper Exum Ridge, estimated to be 13,100 feet in elevation, the agency posted to Instagram. The rescue mission was complicated by severe thunderstorms, and by the fact that the Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter was 'unavailable for a mechanical issue,' the post reads." To read more, click here.

--Teton Gravity Research is reporting that, "The U.S. ski industry logged 61.5 million skier visits during the 2024–25 winter season, according to data released by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). That’s a 1.7% increase over the previous season and marks the second-highest total since the NSAA began tracking skier visits back in 1978." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Montana is dealing with the aftermath of a rainstorm that struck the evening of July 29, triggering small landslides and deep erosion across the mountain. While no injuries or major infrastructure damage have been reported, the resort is urging visitors to use caution due to unstable terrain that could still give way to rockslides." To read more, click here.
Posted by Jason Martin at 6:00 AM 0 comments
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