--A hiker was severely injured after a falling tree struck him on Sunday in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Just East of Baker late, on the Anderson and Watson Lakes Trail, a tree cut loose from above and came careening down towards the group of hikers. Three hikers were able to get out of the way of the falling log, but the forth hid behind another tree for cover. The falling log crashed into the tree he hid behind, shattering into pieces and knocking both tress into the man, breaking ribs and cracking his pelvis. Mount Baker back country and climbing rangers were first on the scene. You can read more by clicking here.
--The search continues for a missing hiker in the Mount Cashmere area of Leavenworth. The man was hiking alone on July 6th when he did not return home. Although Chelan County has scaled back the search for him, the family is not giving up hope. If you would like to volunteer to help with the search, call 667-6848. To read more, click here
Sierra:
Well educated and much loved climber Chris Chan fell to her death on July 9th while descending Eichorn Pinnacle in Yosemite National Park. A graduate at Standford University, she already had degrees in engineering and bio-mechanical sciences. Chan was on the descent when she fell and disappeared from sight. A helicopter and rescue workers found her deceased 300 feet below. To read more, click here and here.
Desert Southwest:
--A man was found dead, below Moran Point in the Grand Canyon on Monday, July 11th. The reason for the fall is unknown, however it appears fell 250 feet to his death. The man's vehicle was found empty, which prompted the search by the helicopter crew who spotted the body. The unidentified individual was flown to Coconino County Medical Examiner's office for an autopsy. To read more, click here.
Alaska:
--A 25-year-old solo climber from Pennsylvania was evacuated from the 14,200-foot camp on Mt. McKinley on July 7 after his erratic behavior and alarming statements revealed signs of mental illness with a likelihood of causing serious harm to himself or others. To read more, click here.
--The National Park Service may be charging the solo climber above for the cost of his removal from Mount McKinley. A small controversy has arisen over the reasons behind the Park Service removing the individual. Some claim the Park Service was operating outside of its juristiction, while others are commending those involved for their decisions. To ream more, click here.
--Filmmakers are coming to Alaska for a Discovery Channel series about Alaska bush pilots "and the hard-working men and women that rely on them" this fall, according to recent casting fliers from a California-based production company. To read more, click here.
--An off-duty Denali ranger saved a 12-year old's life on June 28th. Tucker Chenoweth was having dinner with his fiance in Talkeetna when the young boy was showing signs of distress. Tucker determined the boy had food lodged in his throat and performed the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food. The boy's family showed their appreciate by buying Tucker and his group a few rounds of beer. To read more, click here.
Himalaya:
--Sabin Basnyat made history this year when he piloted the highest ever helicopter rescue mission, airlifting three sick and exhausted Spanish climbers to safety from Nepal's Mount Annapurna. The dramatic and daring rescue, almost 7,000 metres (23,000 feet) up on one of the world's tallest and most dangerous mountains, pushed high-altitude helicopter flight to its limits -- and probably saved the climbers' lives. It was possible thanks to a new service run jointly by local helicopter company Fishtail Air and Switzerland's Air Zermatt, which has been rescuing climbers in the Alps for four decades. To read more, click here.
--A disturbing piece of information recently came out about Alison Hargreaves, a climber who died on K2 in 1995. Her biographer claims that her interest in high altitude climbing may have been spurred on by an abusive husband. Hagreaves was a celebrated climber who might have been the first woman to summit all 14 eight thousand meter peaks had she not died in a viscous Himalayan storm. To read more, click here.
Notes from All Over:
--Ithaca Police have identified the man who died following a fall in Six Mile Creek gorge near Ithaca NY Thursday as Anthony P. Brooks of Ithaca. Brooks, 29, fell while climbing the north wall of Six Mile Creek gorge and died after being taken to Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca Police officials said.Witnesses estimated Brooks had climbed about 100 feet up the wall when he fell at 1:22 p.m. Thursday. The incident occurred near first dam, about 100 yards north of the Giles Street Bridge, Ithaca Police and fire officials said. To read more, click here.
--Two climbers were banned from Bon Echo Provincial Park in Ontario for refusing to wear their helmets while climbing. It appears that park personal asked the climbers to wear their helmets and when they refused, the argument became heated. The rangers ultimately banned the climbers from the park for a year. To read more, click here.--The state of Wyoming is considering selling 2 square miles of Grand Teton National Park for $125 million. This is Wyoming's bold attempt to grab the Department of the Interior's attention -- and it appears to be working. For ten years, officials from the state have attempted to trade their tiny strip of the park in return for other land, minerals and mineral royalties. To read more, click here.
--Jason Kruk and Jon Walsh climbed a new line on Mount Robson's (12,988') famous Emperor Face on June 20th. Robson is the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies and the Emperor Face is one of the most well known features in all of Canada. To read more about this ascent, please click here.
--"The Obama Administration is seeking the public’s advice on how the federal government can better connect Americans with the outdoors and better protect natural landscapes." To read more of a letter from the Access Fund about the White House initiative on America's Great Outdoors (AGO) click here.
