--A diver is missing and presumed dead after a scuba diving accident off Orcas Island. Authorities told news agencies that Michael Scherner, 40, disappeared on August 12 while scuba diving with a friend. Michael was well known in the climbing community. He recently moved to Bellingham from Utah where he frequently climbed in Little Cottonwood, Bells Canyon, the Needles district of the Canyonlands and in Provo Canyon. Michael was involved in the construction of climbing gyms in both Utah and Colorado. To read more about the scuba diving accident, please click here.
--An experienced Portland outdoorsman went to great efforts last week to save his injured climbing partner, quickly hiking over three glaciers to get help in a feat that amazed a park ranger. Rodney Sofich and Chad Anderson, both 36-year-old Portlanders, were climbing the Dorado Needle in North Cascades National Park southeast of Bellingham, Wash., on Monday when the accident happened. To read more, click here.
The cougar that has been harassing mountain bikers in Leavenworth has been shot.--Oregon Live has recently published a story about a dentist who suffered a serious fall on Mount Hood a few months ago and how his recovery is going. To read the story, click here.
--U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) recently applauded passage of the Hoh Indian Tribe Safe Homelands Act, in the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. The bill would transfer approximately 37 acres of land owned by the National Park Service to the Hoh Tribe, and would take into trust land the Tribe has purchased, or been given. To read more, click here.
Sierra:
--Inyo Search and Rescue has been busy this summer. In this last week the SAR team responded to two calls for serious cases of altitude sickness, one of which was fatal, and helped find a group reported overdue floating on the river. To read more, click here.
--A dead chipmunk has tested positive for plague in the Lake Mary area of Mammoth Lakes. he dead chipmunk was found near cabins in the Upper Falls tract. Debra Hein, Acting Safety Officer for the Forest Service, said that Mono County Health will post signs to keep the public informed. Health workers will do some surveillance next week to determine any further steps. To read more, click here.
--On August 20, a ranger in Yosemite National Park, along with National Park Service Agents, eradicated 4,735 marijuana plants found growing in the park. There have been a number of high profile "pot farms" found in the Sierra this season. To read more, click here.
Notes from All Over:
Mount Wilson in Red Rock Canyon at Dawn
--There are plans to raise fees for those who wish to climb and camp in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area just outside of Las Vegas. Public meetings to accept comments will be scheduled, and comments also are being collected by e-mail (redrockbp@blm.gov), fax (702-515-5023) or mail (BLM Southern Nevada District Office, Attn: Mark Tanaka-Sanders, 4701 N. Torrey Pines, Las Vegas, NV 89130). Comments may also be delivered to the Red Rock Visitor Center or the Red Rock Campground. The deadline for comments is Nov. 16. To read more, click here.
--The San Francisco Chronicle ran an op ed this week arguing that National Park fees should go up at parks throughout the country. To read the article and to comment on it, click here.
