Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 1/25/24

Northwest:

--Pique News Magazine is reporting on a fatality at Whistler. It is not clear how the individual died. To read the piece, click here.

Early morning on Mt. Rainier

--Cascadia Daily News is reporting that, "Many visitors to Mount Rainier National Park will need reservations this summer to enter some of the park’s most popular areas. From May 24 through Labor Day, most visitors entering the Nisqually and Stevens Canyon entrances between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. will need to make an online or phone reservation ahead of time. Reservations will also be required at the White River entrance to the Sunrise corridor via state Route 410 from July 3 through Labor Day." To read more, click here.

--There's a new WI 6+ in Squamish. Read about it, here.

Desert Southwest:

--Fox 10 and others are reporting that, "Officials with the Coconino County Sheriff's Office say an investigation is underway following a deadly incident at Arizona Snowbowl. According to a statement, CCSO responded to the ski resort at around 10:56 a.m. on Jan. 22, following a report of a tree strike incident that left a person seriously injured. By the time deputies arrived at the scene, the skier was already declared dead." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The Durango Herald News is reporting that, "A 67-year-old doctor and longtime resident of Ophir died Monday in an avalanche near his hometown, which is nestled in the San Juan Mountains south of Telluride. The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office identified the person as Peter Harrelson, who for years worked as a family physician, according to multiple websites." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting on the winners of this year's Ouray Ice Festival: "The 29th annual Ouray Ice Festival just took place in Colorado’s small mountain town of Ouray with a record number of donations. The event ran for four days and included clinics, presentations and one of the biggest ice climbing competitions in the world." To read more, click here. And here's a photo compilation of the event!

Notes from All Over:

--Out There Colorado is reporting on an accident at Jackson Hole. "Wyoming's Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center took to social media to recount a scary incident that took place at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on January 20 and it's one that slopegoers around the world, including those in Colorado, can learn from. The post covered a recent incident in which a skier ducked a rope at Jackson Hole, entering closed terrain. This closed terrain was particularly dangerous, located at about 7,500 feet of elevation and featuring a lot of fresh powder stacked on a layer of weak and rotten snow measured at only about a foot deep two weeks prior. As those with experience in reading snow will know, this type of layering can be a recipe for disaster, as the lower, weaker layer can be prone to breaking at the weight of the fresh snow, resulting in an avalanche." To read more, click here.

--USA Today is reporting that, "First responders in Vermont rescued 23 skiers and snowboarders from the backcountry after they were reported missing amid a blast of arctic air that dropped temperatures into the single digits, authorities said." To read more, click here.

--Vail resorts is reporting that, "to-date skier visits were down 16.2% compared to the prior year season-to-date period." To read more, click here.

Upcoming American Alpine Institute Programs:

Denali
Climbing in Red Rock Canyon
Mountaineering in Ecuador
Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in the Sierra
Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in Ouray
Avalanche Programs in Washington

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 1/18/24

Northwest:

--A number of ice climbs have formed in Squamish over the last week.

--Gripped is reporting that, "before the current cold snap hit the Canadian Rockies with -40C temps that snapped huge pillars off ice climbs at Johnston Canyon, a new steep mixed route was climbed in Field. Found left of the famous ice climb Super Bock, Greg Barrett and Raphael Slawinski made the first ascent of Rasputin Roof." To read more, click here.

Mt. Shuksan in the North Cascades

Sierra:

--Last Wednesday there was a tragic inbounds avalanche incident that resulted in a fatality at Palisades Tahoe. It's being reported that there was a second inbounds avalanche on Thursday. To read more, click here.

--From the Los Angeles Times: "Dangling from a thin rope thousands of feet above Yosemite Valley last October, Zuko Carrasco could feel his arms tremble. A paraplegic who had lost the use of his legs eight years earlier in a bizarre accident — a trust fall gone awry — he had spent a week ascending El Capitan, the world’s most famous big wall rock climb, one tiny pull-up at a time." To read more, click here.

--Bears keep showing up at ski resorts in the Sierra.

--And it was really cold in Yosemite last week.

Colorado and Utah:

--On January 15th, SnowBrains reported that, "US-40 Berthoud Pass in Colorado remains closed today after an avalanche buried 10 cars around 11:20 am on January 14, 2024. The closure is in both directions between Robins Roost and Henderson Mine Road, just south of Winter Park. No injuries were reported, and all vehicles and passengers caught in the avalanche were safely rescued." To read more, click here.

--Traveling with ski and snowboard gear is tough. It sounds like Vail Resorts has a plan to decrease the cost of rentals for those who join the Epic Gear program. Read more.

--Aspen Daily News is reporting that, "Aspen Skiing Co. is trying to enlist its instructors to help ferret out 'underground teachers' who are leading their clients across the slopes of the four local ski areas. SkiCo Vice President of Mountain Sales and School Jonathan Ballou sent an email to instructors on Tuesday urging them to be vigilant about looking for rogue teachers and report them to a ski school 'research team.'" To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Cowboy State Daily is reporting that, "A 41-year-old Alpine man was killed Sunday morning after he was buried in a massive avalanche in Prater Canyon in the Salt River Range, midway between Alpine and Afton, Wyoming. The victim in Sunday morning’s avalanche in Prater Canyon has been identified by the Lincoln County Coroner’s Office as David Rice of Alpine. Rice moved to Alpine recently after spending years in Jackson. He opened a music store there, which he sold recently before relocating." To read more, click here.

--REI is adding ten new stores in the US in 2024. To learn where, click here.

Upcoming American Alpine Institute Programs:

Denali
Climbing in Red Rock Canyon
Mountaineering in Ecuador
Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in the Sierra
Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in Ouray
Avalanche Programs in Washington

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 1/11/24

Northwest:

--When the snow finally flew, people at Whistler were upset. Not at the snow, but at the lift lines. Read more, here.

Wolverines in Canada's Rogers Pass

--Cascadia Daily News is reporting that, "Wolverines — highly vulnerable to climate change — are among several species that are up for reclassification as endangered, threatened or sensitive in Washington state. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is actively seeking information from the public to inform species status reports for wolverine and island marble butterfly, as well as two types of bird: Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan and burrowing owl." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--There was an inbounds avalanche yesterday at Palisades Tahoe. This resulted in a fatality. Info will trickle out as an investigation takes place. To learn more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--The Denver Gazette is reporting on a friend to the Institute, Caroline Gleich. "Professional ski mountaineer and climate activist Caroline Gleich announced Monday on her Instagram account she is running for the United States Senate. The seat is currently being held by Sen. Mitt Romney, the former presidential candidate, who is vacating the seat and not looking for reelection in 2024. Gleich is looking to take the seat Romney has held since 2019." This will be a tough seat to win for a Democrat. To read more, click here.

--Summit Daily is reporting that, "The Summit County Sheriff’s Office says it has identified the snow biker involved in a hit-and-run collision on Jan. 2 that injured two visitors at Keystone Resort." To read more, click here.

--If you want to hike up Angels Landing in Zion, you need a permit obtained through a lottery. But you can walk down after climbing without one.

--Unofficial Networks reposted a tough video to watch of a person hitting a tree in A-Basin. He appears fine in the end, but it's a good reminder to wear a helmet.

--From Colorado comes the news that there is a new nonprofit, Climb Avy Aware (CAA), dedicated to avalanche safety for ice climbers. CAA’s mission is to encourage ice climbers to get educated about avalanche danger in the backcountry, and know the terrain they are climbing in. As part of that, CAA is working to rate the state's most popular climbs under the new 5-point Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) for Waterfall Ice Climbing. The ATES is a classification system for assessing and communicating the degree of avalanche exposure in a given area. ATES ratings allow climbers to make informed route choices and avoid avalanche danger on days when the avalanche forecast warrants extra caution. CAA is also recommending that climbers consider carrying companion rescue gear in avy terrain—and know how to use it.” You can check CAA out at www.climbavyaware.org.

For more information, please contact:

Dara Miles

Founder, Climb Avy Aware

A Colorado 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

713-410-5289

Notes from All Over:

--This video breaks down what they believe to be the ten most challenging ski resorts in North America. Check it out.

--Climbing is reporting on some controversy around USA Climbing's transgender athlete rules and regulations: "On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, USA Climbing released its Transgender Athlete Participation policy. The policy centers around testosterone restrictions for transgender females, wherein eligibility is contingent upon the athlete maintaining lower testosterone levels for at least 12 months preceding competition." Criticism is likely to result in some changes to this. Read more.

--Speaking of competition climbing, several climbers are speaking out about eating disorders. They'd like the organization that oversees Olympic climbing to do something about it. To read more, click here.

--It shouldn't be that much of a surprise, but cannabis does increase the enjoyment you may feel in a workout, but doesn't increase your performance. For more, click here.

Upcoming American Alpine Institute Programs:

Denali
Climbing in Red Rock Canyon
Mountaineering in Ecuador
Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in the Sierra
Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in Ouray
Avalanche Programs in Washington

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 1/4/2024

Northwest:

--As the photo below shows, it's been a dire time in the PNW for snow. There is a fair bit of snow above 6000-feet, but most of our resorts are below that. Thankfully, there is snow in the forecast for the next several days.

Mt. Baker Ski Area on December 30th.

Desert Southwest:

--There was a very close call at FunShip Crag in Sedona last week. It appears that the anchor bolts on a line blew under bodyweight when an individual was about to be lowered. The top clip held, keeping the person from being seriously injured. For more info, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Outside is reporting on some serious changes that may be taking place at Powder Mountain: "The beloved community-minded ski area with over 8,000 acres of terrain announced that it will be moving to a hybrid business model of both public and private slopes for the 2024-2025 season. New Powder Mountain owner and Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who bought a majority share of the ski area earlier this year, shared a December 10 blog post outlining the new plan and why the 50-year-old ski area would be going down this path." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:
--We don't tend to follow much news on this blog outside North America, but we thought this was interesting. From SnowBrains: "Following the tragic avalanche in the Mont Blanc massif, France, that claimed the lives of a British mother and son on Thursday, December 28th, 2023, authorities have launched a manslaughter investigation. The police are actively searching for two backcountry skiers believed to have possibly triggered the fatal avalanche." To read more, click here.

--Looks like Moab is getting a climbing gym.

Notes from All Over:

--From the Bozeman Daily Chronicle: "Gallatin County Sheriff Search & Rescue made its first rescue of a backcountry skier this winter season this past Friday, when volunteers aided a skier out of Beehive Basin. The skier had hit a rock and injured her ankle, which left her unable to ski out of the popular backcountry skiing area northwest of Big Sky Resort, according to a press release." To read more, click here.

--A skier fell out of a chairlift in New Hampshire at the Gunstock Resort.

Upcoming American Alpine Institute Programs:

Denali

Climbing in Red Rock Canyon

Mountaineering in Ecuador 

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in the Sierra

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in Ouray

Avalanche Programs in Washington

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 12/21/2023

Northwest:

--Backpacker is reporting that, "the United States Forest Service (USFS) formalized a comprehensive plan for the Pacific Northwest Trail last week, marking the end of a multi-year process to define the trail’s future. Under the plan, officials now have guidelines through which they can manage and develop the trail, as well as rally congressional support to help establish the still largely underdeveloped trail." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--From the Sierra County Sheriff's Office: "On Saturday, December 9, 2023, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a Calpine resident who was bitten by a bear the previous night. The resident reported that on the preceding night, he had let his dog outside to go to the bathroom. The dog immediately took off, prompting him to go outside. While outside, a bear emerged from his neighbor’s yard and charged at him. Regrettably, the bear did not stop, and the Calpine resident sustained bites on his hand, wrist, and leg." To read more, click here.

--Gripped is reporting that, "if you’re planning to climb in Yosemite in 2024 during the busiest parts of the year, then you’ll need to book a reservation to enter Yosemite National Park. The National Parks Service (NPS) announced a reservation system is being introduced to counter the long wait times. 'Yosemite has been grappling with congestion − even gridlock − for decades,' says NPS. 'We want to build from the lessons learned from the last three summer of managed access. We are currently developing the Visitor Access Management Plan in order to design an approach that provides a great visitor experience while protecting Yosemite’s natural and cultural resources.'" To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

A climber on Caustic (5.11b) in Red Rock Canyon.

Photo: Caden Martin

--The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting on the strong numbers for outdoor recreation coming out of Las Vegas: "From rock climbing and hiking to skiing and ATV riding, outdoor recreation in Nevada contributed roughly $6.1 billion to the state’s economy in 2022, a 25.3 percent increase from the previous year, according to estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. That’s beyond any bump outdoor activity saw during the pandemic as Strip resorts shuttered and people moved outside for recreation." To read more, click here.

Colorado and Utah:

--Ski Magazine is reporting that, "Many ski areas have issued a statement that acknowledges that their booming businesses operate on stolen lands—then everyone gets on with their day. Colorado’s Winter Park Resort is taking that acknowledgment one step further. This year, the Front Range ski area, which operates on the ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute tribes, has launched a permanent art installation and a new snow stake designed by Indigenous artists. In addition, the resort is adding Arapaho language translations to their trail signs this season and installing historical markers that share the history of the land prior to 1940, the year the ski area opened." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--NBC Montana is reporting that, "The Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue rescued a ice climber on Saturday in Hyalite Canyon that had fallen about 40 feet and sustained a back injury." To read more, click here.

--A goat triggered an inbounds avalanche at Big Sky. According to Unofficial Networks, "this goat was carried the full length of the avalanche, over a distance of 1,000 feet and through rocky terrain. Remarkably, it emerged from this perilous journey unscathed.

--The hard reality of ski bumming in the mid-2020s.

--The North Face and VF Brands have succumbed to a cyber attack, which is making it difficult for them to fulfill orders. To read more, click here.

--HuffPost is reporting that, "The U.S. Forest Service, an agency with a long history of prioritizing timber production, has taken a first step toward protecting the nation’s most ancient forests from logging. The agency on Tuesday announced a proposal to amend management plans for all 128 national forests and grasslands across the country to better conserve carbon-rich 'old-growth' forests, typically defined as those at least 150 years old and largely undisturbed by human activity." To read more, click here.

--Ski is reporting that, "While the Utah and California mountains get pummeled by winter storms, East Coast ski resorts continue to endure warm temperatures, rain, and a downright sad lack of snow. It’s gotten so bad in part of Vermont that Mad River Glen has ceased lift operations this week." To read more, click here.

Upcoming American Alpine Institute Programs:

Denali

Climbing in Red Rock Canyon

Mountaineering in Ecuador 

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in the Sierra

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in Ouray

Avalanche Programs in Washington

AIARE Avalanche Level I BONUS EQUIPMENT OPPORTUNITIES if you BOOK NOW! 

Avy Level I information

The Equipment Shop at the American Alpine Institute Information (rentals and avalanche equipment)

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 12/14/2023

Northwest:

--Ski is reporting on a controversial project near Mt. Shasta: "New lifts, base lodges, dining options, and other skier amenities are all welcome additions at resorts across the country, but a towering tribute to the Virgin Mary? Not so much. Mt. Shasta Ski Park, a 635-acre ski area located in Northern California at the foot of the iconic fourteener, just shared plans to build a 20-foot-high statue of the Virgin Mary at the top of Douglas Butte, which is one of the resort’s four lift-served summits." To read more, click here.

Sierra:

--This video of a bear running past skiers in Heavenly has been making the rounds this week:

Colorado and Utah:

--The Daily has a report out about Vail's sales numbers: "Vail Resorts is reporting sales of its season passes are up for the 2023/2024 snow season. In its first quarter earnings report, the company said pass sales through Dec. 4 for the upcoming season increased about 4% in units and approximately 11% in dollars compared to the same period last year." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--Here's a short list of the fee free days in the National Parks in 2024.

--Huffpost is reporting that, "Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced Wednesday that the National Park Service is launching an initiative with Native American tribes to tell 'a more complete story of American history' at the country’s 428 national park sites." To read more, click here.

--The New York Times released an incredible story about a camera found melted from the ice in 2020 that reopened a series of questions about the deaths of two Americans on Aconcagua in 1973. Some believe that foul play was involved. To read the story, click here.

--From Backpacker: "When Apple introduced the ability to automatically call for help via satellite in 2022, critics feared it would encourage hikers to be reckless. But a year later, one of the United States’ busiest search and rescue outfits is praising it—and other new safety tech from the company—as a 'game changer.'" To read more, click here.

Upcoming American Alpine Institute Programs:

Denali

Climbing in Red Rock Canyon

Mountaineering in Ecuador 

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in the Sierra

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in Ouray

Avalanche Programs in Washington

AIARE Avalanche Level I BONUS EQUIPMENT OPPORTUNITIES if you BOOK NOW! 

Avy Level I information

The Equipment Shop at the American Alpine Institute Information (rentals and avalanche equipment)

Pay the full tuition for one of the above listed courses by December 15th and get 20% off!

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 12/7/ 2023

Sierra:

--Climbing is reporting on an older accident and what led to it: "Climber Whitney Clark suffered a 30-foot groundfall in Sequoia National Park on October 8, after a sling jammed into her lone progress capture device—a Petzl Micro Traxion—while she was ascending a fixed line. After tackling the 16-mile approach to Angel Wings on October 6, Clark and partner Luka Krajnc fixed the initial pitches of their objective, the 17-pitch ultra classic Valkyrie (IV 5.11+; 2,200ft), the following day. On the morning of October 8, Krajnc climbed the route’s first pitch, a 70-degree slab, top rope soloing with a GriGri. Clark followed him, using a Micro Traxion as her only ascension device." To read more, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--On November 29th, the House introduced the EXPLORE bill which combines several key pieces of outdoor legislation into one bill. This includes things like the SOAR Act which will make permitting easier for outdoor recreation companies, and the Protect America's Rock Climbing Act, that will ensure fixed anchors remain a legitimate use in Wilderness. To read more about the legislation, click here. 

--Pro climber Sasha DiGiulian testified before congress about the EXPLORE Act. 

--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Vail Resorts is facing a lawsuit over the death of Scott Lewis, a zipline guide at Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont. The lawsuit, which involves four other companies, alleges equipment failure and safety negligence." To read more, click here.

--In other snow related lawsuit news, Nike sent a cease and desist to Skiman LLC because the logo looks too similar to their Jordan logo. Seems kinda legit. Read more.

--Climbing is reporting that, "The Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC) and Access Fund are thrilled to announce the purchase and protection of the iconic Citadel Boulders in Alabama. The acquisition, which includes 58 acres of undeveloped land surrounding an incredible boulder field, was more than two decades in the making, and it marks another landmark victory for climbing and conservation in the Southeast." To read more, click here.

--Politico is warning that a portion of the Grand Teton National Park might be sold. "The Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments figures it could raise millions of dollars for public schools just by selling one big chunk of trust land: 640-acres inside the eastern border of Grand Teton National Park. Reflecting prices in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the nation, the director of the state office on Friday recommended selling the land in a public auction for no less than $80 million, or $125,000 an acre. Many believe the plot would fetch an even larger price if the State Board of Land Commissioners approves the recommendation this week." To read more, click here.

--The Happiness Function is reporting that, "seven out of ten people who camp in the U.S. and Canada are planning to witness this spring’s anticipated celestial event dubbed the ‘Great North American Eclipse’ on a camping trip, and 18% have already booked their spots, according to Kampgrounds of America (KOA). The latest data from KOA reports a 13% increase in campers interested in witnessing the solar eclipse firsthand since their last poll in August 2023, indicating that people are getting increasingly excited about the event. It will be the last solar eclipse until 2044." To read more, click here.

--The Guardian is reporting on a little-known program that uses cyanide mechanisms to essentially explode on predators in order to kill them. "A campaign to end the use of so-called “cyanide bombs” within the United States has received a major boost after the country’s largest public land management agency banned the poison devices on hundreds of millions of acres across the nation. The move builds on decisions by states such as Oregon to fully or partially prohibit the use of cyanide bombs, also known as M-44s, within their jurisdictions. The US Department of Agriculture uses these devices to kill predators and other wildlife." To read more, click here.

--If you're Canadian and you're looking for expedition funding, click here.

Upcoming American Alpine Institute Programs:

Denali

Climbing in Red Rock Canyon

Mountaineering in Ecuador 

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in the Sierra

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing in Ouray

Avalanche Programs in Washington

AIARE Avalanche Level I BONUS EQUIPMENT OPPORTUNITIES if you BOOK NOW! 

Avy Level I information

The Equipment Shop at the American Alpine Institute Information (rentals and avalanche equipment)

Pay the full tuition for one of the above listed courses by December 15th and get 20% off!