American Alpine Institute News:
–It’s time to start thinking about climbing in the Southwest. Book a trip to Red Rock Canyon or to Joshua Tree National Park.
–If you’re getting ready for snow, consider our new Ski Mountaineering and Avalanche leadership series, or even our Alaska Range Ski Mountaineering program!
AAI Mountain Center Bellingham Events:
- October 29, 2026 – Cocaine Bear Movie and Halloween Party (Costume Contest and Movie, 7pm – Free)
- November 1, 2026 – Mountain Festival – Annual Gear Sale, Maker’s Market, Mountain Education (1pm-6pm – Free)
Northwest:
–This is a wild story from Climbing: “On February 6, a 75-year-old hang glider pilot named Steve Parson crashed into a cliff near Mount Prevost, a popular take-off spot on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Minutes later, Matthew Robert Clark, a 24-year-old climber and electrician based on the Island, landed his paraglider nearby. When Clark heard about the crash on his radio, he drove up to the cliff, onsight free soloed a 50-foot chimney to reach Parson, and cut the trapped hang glider pilot out of his harness. He remained with Parson, treating his injuries, until rescuers arrived three hours later to hoist Parson into a helicopter. His climbing abilities and quick thinking likely saved Parson from three hours of additional suspension trauma.” To read more, click here.
–Gripped is reporting on two new routes established on the Stawamus Chief in Squamish! Read more.
–SnowBrains is reporting that, “The Palmer Snowfield above Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, Oregon, has all but vanished this fall. Satellite imagery shows its lower half bare weeks earlier than last year. On October 7, KGW meteorologist Rod Hill posted on Facebook that the Palmer was “nearly completely snow-free for the first time since Timberline Lodge opened.” He called it a clear sign of regional warming beyond last winter’s thin snowpack and noted the snowfield has been shrinking in late summer and early fall for decades.” To read more, click here.
–Fox 13 is reporting that, “Every autumn, larch trees turn brilliant shades of gold, creating a stunning display that lasts just a matter of days. The phenomenon has earned the nickname “Larch Madness,” with visitors flocking to the mountains hoping to catch the colors before they disappear. But all that beauty is creating a problem along Highway 20, where crowded trailheads and haphazard parking have prompted safety concerns from the Washington State Department of Transportation.” To read more, click here.
Sierra-Nevada:
–KTLA 5 is reporting that, “A missing hiker who summited a more than 13,000-foot mountain in California’s Eastern Sierra was found dead after a grueling two-day search across steep, rugged terrain that required more than 300 hours of work by 20 volunteer rescuers, with assistance from local and state agencies.” To read more, click here.
–Powder is reporting that, “With the highest base elevation of any ski resort in the Lake Tahoe Region (8,260 ft.), Mt. Rose, Nevada, is known for being the first open, and appears well on its way to take the title again in 2026. Temperatures plummeted this weekend after an unseasonably warm streak, and Mt. Rose reported that it conducted its first snowmaking session in the early morning hours of Monday, October 12, 2026.” Read more.
Desert Southwest:
–There was a partial closure on the Angel Bright Trail in Grand Canyon this week due to rockfall. See photos here.
–Speaking of the Grand Canyon, there are a lot of options on the table about what to do next. From AZ Family: “More than a year after the Dragon Bravo Fire swept through the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, the National Park Service wants the public’s help deciding what comes next.” Read more.
Colorado and Utah:
–SnowBrains is reporting that, “Utah is home to some of the best skiing in the world, but rising lift ticket prices and growing crowds are making the sport increasingly difficult for many residents to afford. Now, a grassroots effort is exploring whether a new publicly owned ski area could help address the problem. The Utah Public Ski Area Coalition (UPSAC), founded by lifelong Utah resident Clint Richins, is working to determine whether a resident-focused ski area could operate in Utah. The proposal would prioritize affordable skiing and snowboarding over luxury amenities, with the goal of making the sport more accessible to Utah families.” To read more, click here.
–The Colorado Sun is reporting that, “In the roughly 10 months since North America’s largest wildlife overpass opened across Interstate 25 between Larkspur and Monument, drivers have hit two animals, according to state wildlife managers and transportation officials — a 91% drop. The crossing system includes a 209-by-200-foot bridge, five wildlife underpasses and miles of fencing designed to funnel animals toward the crossings. Together, they give everything from 700-pound elk to tiny toads a safer way across the six lanes of highway that cuts between 39,000 acres of habitat.” To read more, click here.
Notes from All Over:
–New Hampshire Fish and Game is reporting that, “On Saturday, October 10, 2026, at approximately 12:19 p.m., New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified of an injured climber at the base of the cliffs off Stanton Mountain in Bartlett. Emily Brisbois, 28, of Gardner, MA, was injured while climbing. Brisbois was at the base of White Ledge and was struck by a falling rock.” To read more, click here.
–From Teton Gravity Research: “Ski resorts across North America are constantly looking for ways to streamline operations and enhance on-mountain safety. Ahead of the 2026/27 winter season, Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario, Canada, introduced a new addition to its high-speed Silver Bullet Express chairlift. The resort installed an automated monitoring system designed to detect unlowered safety restraint bars and identify improperly seated passengers before the chair passes the first lift tower. While lift attendants watch the loading zone, the new setup acts as an extra set of electronic eyes. The sensors do not stop or slow down the haul rope on their own. Instead, the system flags issues and alerts the lift operator, who can then slow the lift or use the loudspeaker to instruct passengers before the chair gains height.” To read more, click here.
–The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that, “A California district court has blocked the Trump administration’s planned relocation of the U.S. Forest Service’s headquarters to Salt Lake City.” To read more, click here.