Climbing and Oudoor News from Here and Abroad - 12/30/10

Northwest:

--Four snowshoers were lost on Sunday after losing the main trail in the Gold Creek Snow Park.  They contacted 911 after having left their cars 4 hours earlier, and deputies maintained contact with them to find them.  Snowmobiles were used to search the area, however on Monday these snowshoers were found in an area that was inaccessible to the snowmobiles.  They are expected to be returned safely by Monday afternoon, although 7 inches of new storm snow is making things challenging.

--A snowboarder was found face down in the snow by Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol last week, shortly after the last chair.  Ski patrol attempted to resuscitate the 15-year-old boarder, however after being unsuccessful he was taken down to the lodge and pronounced dead shortly after.  The initial autopsy shows that the cause of the young man's death was not due to injury, and he had no known previous medical complications.  The investigation continues,

--A climber was caught taking draws off a sport climb in Smith Rock.  The people who spotted him lectured him quite calmly about the ethics of the area and how draws left on a route were not meant for the taking.  The whole interaction was caught on camera, and has sparked numerous discussion on the forum boards about draws left on sport routes. 

--Three men were rescued after an overnight stay on Mt. Brown in Glacier National Park.  They were found after a call/text to 911 enabled rescuers to pinpoint them.  They were able to build a shelter and fire to come through the night in excellent condition. 


Sierra:

--A powerful system has pounded California and the Eastern Sierra with unprecedented December snow and rain. Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort reports that snowfall  has set a new record for the snowiest December. Some reports are stating that up to 15 feet of snow has fallen at the resort.

--Another snowboard death at a Mountain High resort in Wrightwood California adds to the toll of early season fatalities.  The 2010-2011 season seems to be off to an ominous start. 

Desert Southwest:

--As the snow flies and the rain falls in the Southwestern United States, some interesting things are happening.  The tiny community of Mount Charleston, about an hour outside of Las Vegas, was evacuated last week due to avalanche danger.  Mount Charleston is a world renowned sport climbing destination. 

--A group of hikers was rescued after they lost the trail near the Tahoe Meadows off of Highway 431. 

Alaska:

Mount Foraker from High Camp on Denali

Photo by Jason Martin

--Former AAI Guide and Climbing Ranger, Coley Gentzel was interviewed last week in an article about a day last season on Denali.  It appears that the perfect climbing day in 2010 was Father's Day.  A record, 54 climbers reached the summit in an absolutely perfect window.  Additionally, the article in the Anchorage Daily News, hits a number of other Alaska Range season highlights

Notes from All Over:

--UK climbers, Will Sim and Jon Griffith, recently completed an ascent of the east face of Patagonia's Piergiorgio.  The pair chose the route with little knowledge of it's history and almost no knowledge of the challenges in store for them.  And though the route had been completed before, they took it on as if it were a first ascent.

--Ouray Ice Park is open!  The park opened up on 12/27, after weeks of warm weather and rain destroyed much of the ice in the park, and left the standing ice too dangerous.  Park officials believe the park will remain open, and be fully functional by the time of the annual Ouray Ice Fest.  .

--Over the past year, Squaw Valley, California-based pro skier Mike Wilson, with the help of sponsors and partners, has raised and spent over a million dollars filming six episodes of what the 24-year-old calls an "action-sports-based-adventure-travel show." The pilot, now complete, will be shopped around major networks next week.

 AAI Program Coordinator Dyan Padagas getting after it on the First Ascent of Pricks and Ticks (II+, 5.9)

Certainly women are doing amazing things in the mountains.  Why aren't there more films about them?

Photo by Jason Martin

--The Banff Mountain Film World Tour is currently making its way around the United States, Canada and the rest of the world.  An interesting question has arisen around this tour. Where are the women in adventure film?  The Banff Facebook page has addressed this question, here.  And the Heli Ski company, CMH, has also addressed the issue,

--Certainly the weather over the holiday's was challenging for many people trying to travel.  All of the winter storms have left thousands of travelers stranded.   My advice, fly somewhere you don't mind being stranded, and blame it on the airlines/weather when your boss is calling you on Monday morning.

--A new, comprehensive report has been produced detailing the invasive species which causes Sudden Oak Death, and the general effects of it.  This disease has devastated forests in Oregon and California.

--Ski lifts derailed at Sugarloaf ski resort in Maine on Tuesday, injuring at least 8 people at the time of the initial report.  While the injuries appear to be minor, a spokesperson for the resort called this a "big deal." to see a low quality cell phone camera taken from a skier stranded on the lift above, 

Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 12/16/10

Northwest:

--The American Alpine Institute International Mountain Day event was a great success on Saturday!  Over a hundred people participated in the combination of our rock rescue trainings and our avalanche awareness seminar.  The event was built around safety for locals and was put together as a benefit for the Central Asia Institute.

--A man died Saturday after falling off a ski lift in Idaho's Kelly Canyon Ski Resort. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 52-year-old Steven Edward Yount died from a massive heart attack. Yount was with two other ski patrollers doing maintenance when the incident occurred. The other ski patrollers heard a noise and looked back to see Yount on the ground. 

--It looks like we have some cougars near our home base in Bellingham. 

--For a town crawling with climbing enthusiasts, Bellingham has relatively few places for them to play during the long rainy season. Sure, there are three climbing walls here, but access to them is limited and none of the facilities is dedicated solely to climbing.  That is about to change. Greg Dotson plans to open a climbing gym in a 5,000-square-foot space across from Bellingham High School. 

--Crystal Mountain ski resort recently announced a new targeted opening date of Dec. 22 for its Mount Rainier Gondola, the first gondola ski-lift in Washington.  The resort earlier planned a grand opening of the gondola for last Friday, but installing the new equipment took longer than anticipated since construction began eight months ago. 

Sierra:

--Three rock climbers were rescued on Tuesday afternoon from El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. According to Park Spokesperson Scott Gediman, it was a two-day rescue operation.  "With the help of the Army National Guard helicopter, the CHP helicopter and our Rangers, we were able to rescue the climbers." 

Desert Southwest:

--Las Vegas police say an arrest has been made in vandalism at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Two weeks ago, visitors discovered damage to several petroglyphs. Someone spray painted over the ancient art, virtually destroying them. Police say a 17-year-old suspect has been arrested.

-- A student in the Prescott College climbing group fell more than 20 feet down a mountain face and broke her leg on Sunday, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.  The Sheriff’s Office Response Team arrived at the Granite Mountain site to rescue the woman within 30 minutes of a 10:30 a.m. call for help. 

--Erik Lambert of the American Alpine Club wrote a nice round-up on the National Climbing Management Summit in Las Vegas.  This event took place in late October.  AAI guide Scott Massey attended to represent the American Alpine Institute at the Summit.  To learn more about the event and what they accomplished, check out Erik's blog on the Summit.

--A mining company recently received approval to open Utah's first-ever strip mine for coal in the small community of Alton. Few new coal mines have opened in the West in the past ten years since most developers focus on expanding existing mines, not reaching into untouched wilderness. This new mine will be located 10 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park.

AAI Guide Ian McEleney climbs a moderate route in Joshua Tree

Photo by Jason Martin

--A new website has been developed for Joshua Tree's seventy-fifth anniversary. 

--The Access Fund is keeping tabs on a huge public lands bill that, though unlikely, could potentially pass Congress during the lame duck session. The ‘‘Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2010’’ includes provisions that would enact the controversial Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act. The Access Fund and Arizona climbing community have long worked to protect climbing in central Arizona, first through the Friends of Queen Creek and then the Queen Creek Coalition (QCC). The Southeast Arizona Land Exchange bill would destroy hundreds of existing roped climbing routes and thousands of bouldering problems by transferring US Forest Service lands to Resolution Copper Mining (RCM) for a block cave mine. 

Notes from All Over:

--Sad news in the search for a Mt. Baldy hiker missing since Saturday, December 4th. A body believed to be that of Michelle Yu, 49,  was found last Thursday by search crews. .

--Milt McAuley, the father of hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains whose guidebooks and guided hikes popularized the trails that cut through Los Angeles backcountry, has died. He was 89.  McAuley, who continued hiking until 3 years ago, died this week of natural causes at his home in Canoga Park.

--Officials at Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire, said a teenager from Massachusetts died Sunday after a skiing accident.  Cannon Mountain's manager said Thomas Nester, of Wakefield, Massachusetts was skiing with a friend on the mountain's Zoomer Lift Line trail when the accident happened around 10:15 a.m. Sunday.


--Black Diamond has issued a voluntary recall of a limited portion of Avalung packs. According to a company press relase, the intake tubing may crack under cold temperatures.  The recall pertains to a limited manufacturing run of Black Diamond AvaLung Packs sold in 2010, which can be identified by a PO number and model combination presented on the following website: www.BlackDiamondEquipment.com/AvaLungRecall Any Avalung within the production run should be immediately returned to Black Diamond for inspection and/or replacement. 

--Two skiers and their dog were caught in an avalanche in Montana's Tobacco Roots over the weekend. All three survived the incident. 


--On Sunday the flatlands of Minnesota saw unusual avalanche activity.  The preceding video shows the collapse of the Minneapolis Metrodome's inflatable roof.  Tons of what looks like powder tears a hole through the ceiling and pours into the center of the football stadium.  Needless to say, the day's game was postponed.

--Mick Fowler was elected President of the UK's Alpine Club following what is thought to be the first contested election to the prestigious post in the Club's 153-year history.  The clear favorite of AC members, in both an opinion poll and a ballot held at the club's AGM in London, Fowler is expected to devote his three years as president to attracting more active alpinists into the AC. Fowler exemplifies the style of exploratory mountaineering championed by the Alpine Club, and having as its public face a climber who is still pushing the boat out on big mountain routes can only be of benefit to the club's image.

--Interior Department and Wyoming state officials have agreed to a $107 million deal that could permanently protect 1,405 acres of state school parcels in Grand Teton National Park, Governor Dave Freudenthal announced late last week. Freudenthal made the announcement after the state Board of Land Commissioners voted 4-0 for a plan to sell the four parcels to the Park Service one at a time between January 5, 2012 and January 5, 2015. The deal is still subject to approval by the Wyoming Legislature, and the U.S. Congress must come up with the funding.

--Russian Valery Rozov braved temperatures as low as minus 30C to climb a mountain in Antarctica, and then jumped off the top of it.  The climber and base jumper from Moscow wanted to leap from the peak of Ulvetanna mountain in the Drygalski Mountains in Queen Maud Land.  Almost 9843 feet above sea level, the summit of the mountain named Wolf's Peak in Norwegian looked a daunting task for any mountaineer, let alone one intending to plunge down the sheer face of rock using a wingsuit before deploying a parachute. 

--Canadian researchers are in the process of developing a camera that could help the detection of avalanches. The infra-red camera has been developed by researchers at the University of Calgary in Canada and it detects temperature changes in the snow pack.

--An important new product is making its way around the internet.  These new Tevas are perfect for the outdoors woman who needs to not only make it happen in the mountains, but in high society.

Yangshuo Climbing Festival 2010

China's third annual Yangshuo Climbing Festival, sponsored by The North Face and Black Diamond, took place on Yangshuo's world-class limestone with more than 550 climbers from 17 countries in attendance. The week included clinics taught by Yuji Hirayama, Sam Elias, Emily Harrington, and Liu Yongbang, plus informative slide shows, a climbing treasure hunt, climbing videos, music, food, beer, and socializing. The twin goals of the Yangshuo Climbing Festival are to promote a sense of community among climbers throughout China in a fun, friendly, and casual atmosphere and to support the sustainable development of rock climbing in the Yangshuo area China.