–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:
- November 19, 2026 – Know Before You Go: Effective Use of Outdoor Electronics (7pm, Free)
- December 3, 2026 – REEL Rock Film Tour (7pm movie – $15 – Purchase Tickets)
–AAI’s Director, Jason Martin, was recently interviewed about wilderness risk management on The Sharp End Podcast. He talked about all the mountain risk management lessons he’s learned over the last 35-years. Check it out!
Northwest:
–The Oregonian is reporting that, “Sheriff’s deputies rescued a shoeless and hypothermic man from the Marion County wilderness Friday after an officer discovered his barefoot prints in the snow, officials say. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that Forest Patrol Deputy Derrick Ramseyer set on the man’s trail after he spotted the shoeless footprints in the snow near Breitenbush Lake on Friday afternoon.” To read more, click here.
–The U.S. Forest Service ordered Galena Mines LLC, whose manager was Michael Boren, now a senior Trump administration USDA official overseeing the Forest Service, to remove an unauthorized cabin from Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest and restore the site. Nearly two years later, the cabin remains, and the agency appears to have abandoned enforcement amid conflicting surveys over the boundaries of nearby private mining claims. The USDA now says enforcement must wait for an official federal survey, while questions have also emerged about Boren’s financial disclosures and potential conflicts of interest. To read more, click here.
Sierra-Nevada:
–Gripped is reporting that, “At 24, Lauren Berry freed Golden Gate on El Capitan on her first visit to the wall. Ten days on the route brought hard climbing, storms, damaged hands and a steep education in big wall life. She came away with a clearer sense of what she can do, and plenty more she wants to learn.” To read more, click here.
–Climbing is reporting that, “On October 28, 32-year-old American climber Michael Reese set a new fastest known time on Yosemite’s Half Dome, breaking an 11-year record set by the late Dean Potter. Reese climbed the 2,000-foot batholith from the Mist Trailhead to its summit in 1 hour 12 minutes 58 seconds, following Potter’s original line up Grizzly Gully and free soloing Snake Dike (5.7 R; 800ft). He broke Potter’s previous record from May 3, 2015, by about six minutes.” To read more, click here.
–SF Gate is reporting that, “California’s two senators are urging the Interior Department to restore pay for maintenance and service employees at Yosemite National Park, where wages dropped after a federal policy change took effect this year.” To read more, click here.
–Mammoth Mountain is opening today.
Desert Southwest:
–The National Parks Conservation Association is reporting that, ” a federal district court ruled late yesterday to maintain the block it put on new mining operations in the Mojave National Preserve by Dateline Resources Ltd. The preliminary injunction was granted in August to the National Parks Conservation Association, represented by Earthjustice, in National Parks Conservation Association v. Department of the Interior. Today’s ruling upholds its August decision, rejecting requests by the Department of Interior and Dateline Resources to suspend the injunction.” To read more, click here.
Colorado and Utah:
–9 News is reporting that, “A skier was partially buried in an avalanche on Oct. 25 on Mount Bross after wind-drifted snow broke loose on a steep slope. Other backcountry skiers said they were shocked by the early-season avalanche conditions in Colorado. The group was skiing near Moose Creek Bowl on the backside of Mount Bross when a slab of snow broke away and carried one person down the slope, leaving their head buried beneath the snow.” To read more, click here.
–SnowBrains is reporting that, “The Freeride World Tour will return to Snowbird, Utah, for the first time since 2014, with the Utah resort set to host one of two stops in the 2027 FWT Finals. The YETI Snowbird Pro presented by Stifel is scheduled for March 16-22, 2027, bringing the world’s top freeride skiers and snowboarders to the steep, technical terrain of Mount Baldy. The event will be co-presented by U.S. Ski & Snowboard and marks a significant step in the organization’s growing involvement in freeride competition ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut in 2030.” To read more, click here.
Notes from All Over:
–Unofficial Networks is reporting on Jay Peak Resort. “One Vermont ski resort is kicking off the 2026-27 season by giving away 750 free lift tickets, offering skiers and snowboarders a chance to hit the slopes without paying a dime during Thanksgiving weekend.” To read more, click here.