Northwest:
--One person has died in an avalanche near Rossland, B.C., search and rescue officials have confirmed. Officials with Rossland Search and Rescue said they were unable to recover the victim late Monday due to dangerous conditions. To read more, click here.
--There is a possibility that the extremely popular Mount Si Trailhead will be closed due to budget shortfalls. To read more, click here.
Sierra:
An Original Watercolor of John Bachar on Midnight Lightning in Yosemite--For several years Yosemite National Park has been working on a plan to address human capacity concerns in the park to prevent negative impacts to the Merced River habitat. The plan is likely to include a quota system that could unfairly target climbers and/or climbing areas that have limited to no impact on the river corridor habitat. The Access Fund is working with our partners to influence the planning process and advocate for management policies that protect the unique values associated with the Merced Wild and Scenic River, while allowing for responsible climbing and camping opportunities. There will be an opportunity for the public to review and comment on details of the plan. Stay tuned to Access Fund E-news for the opportunity to make your voice heard. To read more, click here.
Notes from All Over:
--At least four people were killed in two separate avalanche incidents Sunday in the Swiss Alps, police said. A group of skiers was hit by an avalanche shortly before midday in the Diemtig Valley about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of the capital Bern, police in Bern canton said. To read more, click here.
--Two avalanches marked the highly anticipated opening of Vail's Blue Sky Basin, Friday, January 1.A recent storm which dropped over seven inches of snow in Vail and over a foot down the road at Beaver Creek was warmly welcomed by local skiers, riders and holiday visitors, alike. It was also just enough snow to open an additional 800 acres at Vail, including most of the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. To read more, click here.
--In a related news, there were four deadly slides at U.S. ski areas last season—the most since 1982—and they highlight a grim truth: avalanches know no boundaries. To read more, click here.
--A 25-year old man narrowly escaped death when he plunged 120 feet from a frozen peak in Scottland and triggered a dramatic five-hour rescue operation. The climber was just 33 feet short of reaching the summit in sub-zero temperatures when he fell the equivalent of a 10-storey building. To read more, click here.
--Crews rescued an ice climber who fell from a frozen waterfall he was climbing Thursday evening. Other climbers who witnessed the fall called 911 and emergency dispatchers alerted rescue crews. Those who phoned the authorities had just climbed the formation, known as the Great White Icicle, and were preparing to leave the area for the day when they saw the man fall. They decided to go after the man themselves, and found him badly injured but conscious and in surprisingly good spirits. To read more, click here.
Colin Haley
--After his solo ascent to the Aguja Poincenot, American Colin Haley performed in the same style Guillaumet, climbing the Amy couloir on the East wall of the mountain. The route was opened by the French Bernard Amy e and Pierre Vidalhet in 1968 (450m., 60ยบ, V). This is the third Colin's ascent of the Guillaumet. To read more, click here.
--A year of controversy ends with a bang on Feb. 20, 2010, when visitors will be allowed to pack guns into Glacier National Park. The rule change - loaded guns have not been allowed in parks for decades - first was floated as an administrative rule change in the last days of the George W. Bush presidency, but later was challenged in court. Congress then attached the gun language to credit card legislation, which was signed by President Barack Obama on May 22. To read more, click here.
--A Supertopo Charity Auction recently raised over $1000 for the Access Fund. To read more, click here.