American Alpine Institute News:
–After a successful season in Alaska, AAI is currently booking trips for the 2027 Denali (Mt. McKinley) season. Find discounts on select trips here.
–This is a good time of year to look at all of AAI’s current discounts and promotions.
Northwest:
–KEZI 9 is reporting that, “A 37-year-old experienced climber from Idaho fell to his death while attempting to solo-summit Mount Jefferson on Friday, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. LCSO officials said that Jared John Empey of Kuna, Idaho, fell down the west side of the summit near the Red Saddle before disappearing from view into the Milk Creek drainage.” To read more, click here.
–SnowBrains is reporting that, “Ski season has officially concluded at Timberline Lodge, the last ski resort open in North America for skiing and riding. With there no longer being a ski area to provide lift-served turns, ski season across the continent has officially concluded. The Oregon ski area located on Mount Hood typically runs its summer ski season into August, or on big snow years into September, but due to a slow start to the 2025-26 winter and then a historically low snowfall season, the resort has had to shut down its operations on Sunday, July 19.” To read more, click here.
–KOIN 6 is reporting that, “The controversial proposal to ban hunting and fishing in Oregon will not be on the November ballot after all. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division completed its signature verification process on Friday and determined that the petition does not contain sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot, according to an update on the initiative database.” To read more, click here.
–Vail Daily is reporting that, “Earlier this month, Silverthorne-based Tracy and Michael O’Brien, took their partnership a step further. The pair embarked on the Rainier Infinity Loop — an ultra-mountaineering challenge involving summiting Washington’s Mount Rainier twice while forming an infinity sign-shaped loop around Rainier National Park. They set the fastest known time for a mixed-gender team ever to do so.” To read more, click here.
–Gear Junkie is reporting that, “The photos from a flash flood in Idaho this week look like something from a natural disaster flick. Heavy rains created a mudslide that destroyed vehicles and left behind a campground covered in debris.” To read more, click here.
—Fires continue to rage in the North Cascades.
Sierra-Nevada:
–SF Gate is reporting that, “Andrew Ferrarone, a 33-year-old software designer and engineer in San Diego, died earlier this month after falling at a popular rock climbing area near Big Bear in Southern California.” To read more, click here.
–SF Gate is reporting that, “The Rock Fire in the Eastern Sierra has advanced into the John Muir Wilderness, officials told SFGATE by phone Thursday. The fire started on Monday between Big Pine and Independence, near Highway 395, and raced across the Owens Valley, burning through terrain thick with sagebrush and volcanic rock. It is now pushing higher into the mountains and up the Eastern Sierra escarpment. In the John Muir Wilderness, flames are scaling a steep drainage that flanks Goodale Creek to reach elevations higher than 8,000 feet. The fire is burning through rugged terrain east of the Sierra Nevada crest, Kings Canyon National Park and the Pacific Crest Trail.” To read more, click here.
–Two Karelian Bear Dogs, dogs specially bred to manage bears, have been employed in the Tahoe region to decrease negative human/bear encounters. The Nevada Independent reports that, “the dogs have become indispensable components of the department’s operations, flushing bears from urban dens, locating injured bears and hazing human-habituated bears by chasing and nipping at them as they are released back into the wild. The goal is to ensure bears can still live in places such as Tahoe that are now teeming with humans, but maintain a natural fear of interacting with people rather than focusing on the tasty food that humans leave behind.” To read more, click here.
–Unofficial Networks is reporting that, “As of July 27, the John Muir Trail “Ice Cut” (between Clark Point and the Panorama Trail junction) is OPEN following the completion of trail repairs.” To read more, click here.
Desert Southwest:
—This very unusual hotel that you can book with Marriot points just opened outside Joshua Tree National Park.
–The Arizona Republic is reporting that, “The Grand Canyon’s majestic natural beauty draws millions to the national park every year. Yet alongside its spectacular vistas and immense geological grandeur lie hazards that can quickly turn a memorable trip into a life-threatening situation. In 2026 alone, multiple deaths have occurred at the Grand Canyon stemming from different causes.” To read more, click here.
–It’s being reported that, “National Park Service (NPS) workers at Death Valley National Park have voted to join the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) Local 465, marking another major organizing victory for NPS employees in the West. Local 465 represents a diverse group of public land stewards in the agency including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Saguaro, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and now, Death Valley National Park.” To read more, click here.
Colorado and Utah:
–Colorado Public Radio is reporting that, “A teenager was killed and four other people were injured when they were struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Blue Sky Sunday afternoon. It happened around 1:20 p.m. at the summit of the mountain, according to Jenny Fulton with the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office. Someone in the area called first responders after seeing a lightning strike and hearing calls for help, Fulton said.” To read more, click here.
–Climbing is reporting that, “Three new maps created by the Outdoor Alliance with insights from Access Fund shed light on how the recent reduction of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments could impact climbers.” More than 1200 climbing routes have been stripped from the National Monument. Read more.
–Aspen Times is reporting that, “On July 16, Lizzy Schofield became A-Basin’s new patrol director and the first woman to ever hold the position. She still works with only one other direct female counterpart, assistant director Lindsay Wiebold, but for a very different reason: the patrol leadership team is made up of just two positions — the director and assistant director. For the first time in history, both those roles are held by women.” To read more, click here.
Notes from All Over:
–Montana Local 12 and others are reporting on an accident on Granite Peak: “A Montana nurse is recovering after surviving a freak hiking accident in which he was impaled by his own trekking pole while climbing the state’s highest peak.” To read more, click here.
–Gear Junkie is reporting that, “Several national parks have instituted timed-entry systems (where you reserve a day and time to enter the park), which have sparked controversy. Now, several states, including California and Florida, are implementing a similar reservation system in state parks to handle booming demand.” To read more, click here.
–A Chicago climbing gym has been ordered to pay $50 million for negligence in a child sexual abuse case. A 13-year-old boy in a climbing camp lured younger kids into the bathroom where they were abused. To read the story in Climbing, click here.
–Shop Eat Surf is reporting that, “Independent outdoor specialty retail is performing at its healthiest level since the pandemic, according to new data from Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (GOA), the trade group representing more than 100 independently owned outdoor retail businesses across over 225 locations in 45 states.” To read more, click here.
–Climbing is reporting that there was an attempt in the World Climbing Association to block the national teams from Israel, Belarus and Russia from competing. The initiative to block the countries was ultimately defeated. Read more.
–Deadline.com is reporting that, “National Geographic is greenlighting a documentary from Oscar winner James Marsh that will explore the story of the mountain climber (Aron Ralston) whose ordeal in a Utah canyon was captured in fictionalized form in 127 Hours.” To read more, click here.
–SnowBrains is reporting that, “José Flores, founder and CEO of SnowCal USA, is proposing to build California’s first indoor ski center in the Los Angeles area, with Torrance and Irvine currently under consideration as potential sites. According to Flores, both locations offer easy access from LAX while serving the broader Southern California population corridor.” To read more, click here.
–RV News is reporting that, “The National Park Foundation (NPF) has launched dedicated funding for parks and park partners to collaborate on innovative projects that will strengthen parks, expand what is possible and ensure these extraordinary places endure for generations. The inaugural cohort, announced July 22, includes 18 grants totaling more than $10 million awarded to support 21 national parks.” To read more, click here.