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

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 10/31/24

Happy Halloween from the Guides and Staff at the American Alpine Institute!

This likely AI generated picture has been making its way around the internet. It seemed like something worth posting on Halloween.

Sierra:

--Gripped is reporting that, "this week, Tanner Wanish and Michael Vaill, who recently took the Triple Crown speed record from Brad Gobright and Jim Reynolds, have added a fourth wall to their sub-24-hour push." To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--Traffic in Red Rock Canyon will be disrupted by a marathon in Las Vegas on Sunday. Read more.

--The LAist is covering graffiti issues in Joshua Tree. Read the story, here.

Notes from All Over:

--Outside is reporting that, "the U.S. Forest Service is a federal agency that manages 193 million acres of land, an area about the size of Texas. Next year, the agency will have to manage that land without its seasonal workforce. In September, the agency announced that it would be suspending all seasonal hiring for the 2025 season, a decision that will cut about 2,400 jobs. Nearly all of those positions are field-based jobs, ranging from biologists and timber workers to trail technicians and recreation staff. In addition, the agency is freezing all external hiring for permanent positions. The only exception to the hiring freeze are the roughly 11,300 firefighters hired by the agency every year." 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

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 10/24/24

News from the American Alpine Institute:

Learn more at

www.alpineinstitute.com

Sierra:

--The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting on a tragic incident in Yosemite: "An Australian man was struck and killed by a falling tree while walking on a popular hiking trail in Yosemite National Park last week, a spokesperson for the park said Tuesday. The man, identified as Harry Partington, 22, was crushed by the tree around 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 8, on Four Mile Trail near Union Point in Yosemite Valley, according to Scott Gediman, a park spokesperson." To read more, click here.

El Capitan at Sunset

--Gripped is reporting that, "Alex Honnold has a lot of Yosemite records to his name, but one that stood out more than others was that of the Yosemite Triple Crown. This week, Tanner Wanish and Michael Vaill climbed the Triple in 17 hours and 55 minutes, faster than Honnold’s time of 19 hours." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The first reported avalanche of the season was skier triggered.

Notes from All Over:

--A 35-year-old man camping in a remote part of Montana was initially believed to have been mauled by a bear. Authorities now believe that the man was murdered. To read more, click here.

--One of the worlds tallest home climbing walls is weird, ugly, in Manhattan and for sale. Learn more.

--A senatorial hopeful from Montana says that wildland fire crews hope for bigger fires for the overtime pay. This seems like a wildly derogatory statement given how dangerous this work is. Read more.

--Snow Brains is reporting that, "the race to open for the 2024-25 ski season is over, and in a surprise twist that’s becoming something of a tradition, a small Massachusetts ski area has technically won. Every year, ski areas nationwide see who can get their snowguns running the fastest and their ski lifts running first." 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

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 10/17/24

AAI Mountain Festival, Gear Sale, Makers Market - October 19-20

• Makers Market 
• Equipment Sale
• Clinics
• $150 off avalanche courses!
• Learn more!

Northwest:

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "On August 22, 2024, POWDR Corporation announced it was selling Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, Vermont, to local pass holders, as well as three other resorts, including Mt. Bachelor, Oregon. Shortly after the announcement, a local group, now called Mount Bachelor Community Inc. (MBCI), emerged to buy the resort in Central Oregon to bring it back to local community ownership. To read more, click here.

--The Seattle Times is reporting that, "In an effort to manage overcrowding for the benefit of customers and account for visitors who are not ski area patrons, The Summit at Snoqualmie announced a new parking system this week. Under the arrangement, permits will be required between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily from Nov. 18 to April 30. Violators will receive citations." To read more, click here.

--Mt. Adams is rumbling. See video below:

Desert Southwest:

--Thillist is reporting that, "If you’re looking for sweeping views of rock formations that leave you Googling how tectonic plates work, you’re in luck at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, just 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. But don't just show up expecting to take this gorgeous 13-mile drive. The Bureau of Land Management seasonally requires reservations to enter the popular area, which is well-known for its hiking, climbing, and biking spots." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--St. George News is reporting that, "a man fell approximately 200 feet while rappelling in Zion National Park Saturday night. Despite multiple lifesaving efforts by emergency personnel, the man was declared dead before he could be taken to a hospital. Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Paul told St. George News that the incident is still under investigation, but he could confirm the following details." To read more, click here.

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "With the 2024-25 ski season fast approaching, Park City Mountain Resort’s ski patrollers find themselves in a familiar and precarious position. The collective bargaining agreement between Vail Resorts and Utah’s Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) expired on April 30, leaving patrollers without a new contract as opening day looms just 50 days away."    To read more, click here.

--SGB Media is reporting that, "The owner of Zion Outfitter, a tour guide operator and rental shop near Zion National Park’s entrance, is accused of evading over $1.8 million in taxes. The company offers bike tours, guided tubing down the Virgin River and trips through the Zion Narrows slot canyons, Court documents allege 42-year-old Phyllip Hallman Heaton, of Washington, failed to report over $5.4 million in sales between 2018 and 2022 and faces five counts of evasion of assessment of income tax and five counts of fraud and false statements." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The biggest news in the mountaineering world is that Sandy Irvine's foot and boot were found on Everest. If you haven't read about this yet, check it out here.

--Gear Junkie is reporting that, "Minnesota-based footwear maker Vasque will cease all operations, the brand confirmed to GearJunkie today. A subsidiary of Red Wing Shoe Company, Vasque began making hiking-focused shoes and boots 60 years ago — a market that, at the time, was just emerging among American consumers." 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

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 9/26/24

Northwest:

--Gear Junkie is reporting on Mt. Rainier's summit. Nearly two dozen feet of ice is gone there. Read more.

--A beautiful new line has gone up on the Squire Creek Wall in the Cascades. This 5.8+ line looks absolutely great. Read about it, here.

Sierra:

--Here's a piece from Gripped on a rockfall injury on El Cap.

Coloardo and Utah:

--Only in Utah is reporting that, "America's national parks are wonderful places to visit, but they can also be dangerous. Some visitors don't seem to realize that they're not in a theme park, and they automatically assume that every square inch of the place is hazard-free. The folks at outforia.com were curious to see how many deaths were reported at our country's national parks, so they submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the National Park Service. Then, they ranked the parks from most deaths in the last decade to least deaths. Zion National Park was near the top of the list." To read more, click here.

--ElecTrek is reporting that, "Zion National Park’s shuttle fleet has become one of the first bus fleets in the US to go all electric, and the first at a National Park. Zion National Park in Southern Utah is renowned for its colorful canyons and arches, and is one of the “mighty five” national parks in the region showing off Utah’s natural beauty." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--The Idaho Statesman and others are reporting that, "A rock climber fell to his death and his partner was left stranded on a steep rock wall in Wyoming, rangers said. It happened just before 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, when the climber was rappelling the second pitch of El Cracko Diablo in Devils Tower National Monument, rangers said in a news release. The climber who fell, 21-year-old Stewart Phillip Porter from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, suffered “major injuries” and paramedics pronounced him dead when they found him around 8:40 p.m., officials said." To read more, click here.

Grand Teton Fastest Known Time Route
Click to Enlarge

--A new Fastest Known Time record for the Grand has not been accepted. Why? The runner cut a switchback and his photographers didn't have permits. To read about it, click here.

--Jasper Local is reporting that, "Charges are pending after two hikers in a closed area in Jasper National Park were air-lifted to safety by a Parks Canada rescue team. On September 10, Jasper National Park dispatchers responded to a 911 call for help by a party attempting to climb Pyramid Mountain—access trails to which are in an area closed by order of the JNP Superintendent. The hikers were not injured, just tired, Parks Canada media officers have said." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival will be taking place at the end of October in Banff National Park. The category shortlist for the book festival portion of the event was just released." 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