--A 33-year-old New York woman has died while making her first climb of Mount Shasta in Northern California. The woman was climbing the Avalanche Gulch route on Friday and were at approximately 11,300 feet when one person slipped and pulled the rest of the team down. The group fell approximately 600 feet before coming to a rest. Team members administered CPR to the woman and engaged a personal locator unit. To read more, click here.
A hiker inspects the remains of the burned-out shelter in Monte Cristo.--A small shelter for hikers in Monte Cristo has been burned to the ground. Though it is possible that the fire was an accident, arson and vandalism is strongly suspected. Hikers visiting the area must now bring tents. If you have any information about the fire, please contact the Darrington Ranger District office at 360-436-1155 or email the relevant fact to them at: rhuffman@fs.fed.us. To hear what people are saying about this, click here. To read about Monte Cristo, click here.
Sierra:
--Due to rockfall danger a portion of Curry Village in Yosemite has been closed. Park officials said 233 cabins will close permanently, or about one-third of the lodging units available in the area to park visitors. About half of the 618 cabins have been off-limits since a rockfall on the historic complex in early October. To read more, click here.
--A brand new backcountry ski guidebook is set to arrive in the Sierra. To pre-order a copy, click here.
Alps:
--Michel Vaucher, arguably the most famous and most active mountaineer in Switzerland during the late 1950s and 1960s, died on November 17th. He was 71. Vaucher is well-known for early fast forays into the mountains. In 1957 he made a four and a half hour ropeless solo ascent of the South Ridge of the Aiguille Noire de Peuterey (Mt Blanc) and then the following year he made the first ascent of the now classic East Face of the Petit Clocher de Portalet (with Italo Gamboni, who has also just died). To read more, click here.
--The UIAA is pursuing disciplinary proceedings against French Ski Mountaineering athlete Patrick Blanc, who tested positive after the 2008 Patrouille des Glaciers, the long distance teams’ world championship. The Patrouille des Glaciers is a grueling race from Zermatt to Verbier. The race is characterized by its length, its high average altitude and the profile of its itinerary. Participating demands mountaineering expertise and exceptional physical stamina. To read more, click here.
--Linda McMillan, the new president of the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission, brings with her broad experience from representation of climbers in environmental projects. McMillan, who comes from the United States, was elected at the UIAA General Assembly in Iran in October. She is the UIAA delegate from the American Alpine Club (AAC) and has held various positions in the AAC including Vice President from 2000-2003. She has been a member of the UIAA Access and Conservation Commission in addition to the Mountain Protection Commission. To read more, click here.
Notes from All Over:
--In a new study, a Mountain Guide working on his masters in kinesiology at the University of Calgary found that young, well-educated males who make approximately $10,000 more a year than their less well-educated counterparts tend to be involved in more avalanches. This flies in the face of the idea that hot-doggers and ski bums bear the brunt of the avalanche fatalities. To read more, click here.
--Another new study indicates that hikers may be having a detrimental impact on carnivorous animals. The report indicates that even a quiet stroll in the park can dramatically change natural ecosystems. These findings could have important implications for land management policies throughout the United States. To read more, click here.
Heidi Wirtz