Craig Luebben
The South Cascade Glacier in 1928, 1979 and in 2003Photo from the Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences
--Three of the nation's most studied glaciers, including one in Washington state's remote north Cascades, are shrinking at an accelerating pace, concludes a report based on 50 years of measurements. Known as "benchmark glaciers," the South Cascade Glacier, along with the Wolverine Glacier on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula and the Gulkana Glacier in interior Alaska, have all shown a "rapid and sustained" retreat, said the report released Thursday, Aug. 6, by the Interior Department. To read more, click here.
--A 73-year-old California man was rescued Wednesday near the Pacific Crest Trail by North Bend after tumbling nearly 200 feet and being stuck for 10 hours. The man left early Tuesday on a solo day-hike along the trail near North Bend, which follows mountain ridge crests. The man fell from the trail about 10 a.m. and tumbled the roughly 200 feet, King County Sheriff's spokesman Travis DeFries said. To read more, click here.
--Two Medina, Wash., women who were missing near Lake Kachess since beginning a day hike on Wednesday afternoon have walked out to the trailhead on their own on Thursday afternoon. The two women in their sixties were on a day hike with two other women when they became separated from them. To read more, click here.
The Stehekin Area in North Cascades National Park and in the Lake Chelan Recreation Area--The fate of upper Stehekin Valley Road now rests with Congress. Sections of the 10-mile stretch of road that meanders next to the Stehekin River were destroyed in a 2003 flood, eliminating any possibility of vehicle access into the upper portions of Stephen Mather Wilderness and North Cascades National Park. Due to wilderness area restrictions, the road has not been reopened. The only way to fix the road and reopen it to vehicular traffic is by an act of Congress. To read more, click here.
--When the national scenic trails system was created four decades ago, the goal was to build a walking path across the United States. That goal has come closer to reality with President Obama's signing of a bill creating the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail and two others. They are the first such trails designated in 26 years. To read more, click here.
Sierra:
--After a successful first winter season, Horizon Air is expanding air service to the Mammoth Mountain resort for the upcoming snow season. In addition to adding a second daily nonstop from Los Angeles, Horizon will offer new daily nonstop service from San Jose and Reno and direct (same-plane, one-stop) service from Seattle and Portland. The Mammoth Mountain resort area is just 15 minutes from Mammoth Lakes Yosemite airport. To read more, click here.
--A 7-year-old boy who got separated from his family during a camping trip is safe after spending a chilly night alone in California's Sierra Nevada wilderness. Tuolumne County Sheriff's Sgt. A.J. Ford says Brian Hill of Modesto was rescued uninjured Sunday morning. He had been playing with his father Saturday afternoon at their campground near Pinecrest Lake when he went missing. To read more, click here.
--Monday in the Glass Mountains between Benton and Crowley Lake, a wide variety of law enforcement officers eradicated over 16,000 marijuana plants from one location high in the rugged terrain. To read more, click here.
Notes from All Over:
Riccardo Cassin--The mountaineering legend, Riccardo Cassin, passed away on Thursday night. Cassin celebrated his 100th birthday on January 2nd. Cassin was responsible for numerous bold first ascents, among the most famous are the North Face of Cima Ovest di Lavaredo, the Walker Spur on Grandess Jorasses, and the Cassin Ridge on Denali. The ascent of this last route in 1961 was so well respected that President Kennedy sent the alpinist his congratulations. There are many great obituaries on the internet for the man right now. Following are some of our favorites: PlanetMountain.com,
--The New York Times printed an interesting question last week on their Blog entitled Green Inc. They asked what areas you would like to see turned into National Parks. To read the Blog, click here.
--Sciencedaily.com published an interesting article on lightning strikes. An ER physician explains how to avoid a lightning strike and what to do if someone is struck. An estimated 200 people die each year in the U.S. after being struck by lightning. An extremely brief but intense hit delivers more than 10 million volts and is fatal in about 30 percent of cases. Recent lightning strikes in Newark resulted in one death and three injuries. To read more, click here.
--A climber recently broke an Omega Pacific Link Cam when he took a leader fall on Kunza Korner (5.10c) at Smith Rock State Park. The incident is being investigated. If you own any Link Cams, please click here.
--Located over 12 000 kilometers from the Alps, the Kerguelen Islands are home to the largest French glacier, the Cook ice cap (which had an area of around 500 km2 in 1963). By combining historical information with recent satellite data, the glaciologists at the Laboratory for Space Studies in Geophysics and Oceanography (Université Paul Sabatier / CNRS / CNES / IRD) have observed increasingly rapid shrinkage of the ice. To read more, click here.
