Northwest:
–The Squamish Chief and others are reporting on the death of well known climber, Will Stanhope: “A professional climber who died after a fall while climbing on the Stawamus Chief is being remembered as a man who lived with passion and courage. Will Stanhope died after falling while climbing a route called Rutabega, a two pitch 5.11a trad route on the right side of the grand wall at the base of the Stawamus Chief.” In the early 2000s, an AAI guide seriously broke his ankle on this route. To read more Will’s passing, click here. More from Gripped, here.
–Powder is reporting that, “Deschutes County Search and Rescue and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to two hikers who called for help on Wednesday, April 24, 2026. The hikers were two males in their 20s, one of whom was starting to experience a medical issue and mild hypothermia. The hikers had driven from the Philomath area, west of Corvallis, Oregon, to hike South Sister in the Three Sisters Wilderness. They parked at the Dutchman’s Flat Sno-Park, across from the base of Mt. Bachelor. The two were reportedly on their way back down when they called for help.” To read more, click here.
–Gripped is reporting that, “American climber Connor Herson made the first ascent of Drifter’s Escape (proposed 5.15a/9a+) on the Stawamus Chief in Squamish on July 14, 2025. The climb represented the culmination of two seasons working the route. If confirmed, the grade would make Drifter’s Escape the hardest traditional rock climbs in the world.” To read more, click here.
–There is a fair bit of damage to Highway 20, North Cascades Highway. The snow is clear from the road, but the damage remains to be cleaned up. At this juncture, it’s not clear how long it will take to open the road. Read more here.
Sierra-Nevada:
–The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that, “Bernard “Bernie” Rosow, a famous backcountry skier and longtime employee of Mammoth Mountain resort, died suddenly from an apparent heart attack Thursday during a skiing trip. Rosow, 45, collapsed while climbing Bloody Mountain around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the Mono County Sheriff’s Office. He and others with him were heading toward the summit ridge at about 11,400 feet.” To read more, click here.
–Climbing is reporting that, “The South Lake Tahoe climbing community is mourning after a local teen, Noah Sebastian Ortega Wiley, fell to his death in a climbing accident. Wiley died on April 9 while toproping at 90 Foot Wall, a granite crag on Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay. He was 15 years old.” To read more, click here.
–People is reporting that, “A climber who fell 500 feet down the side of a mountain in California was rescued after surviving freezing conditions”overnight. California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Inland Division Air Operations recently confirmed that officials had responded to reports that a climber had fallen in the area of Mount Baxter, located within the Sierra Nevada mountains.” To read more, click here.
–The Sierra-Nevada Ally has a nice piece out this week on wolf and human encounters in Northern California. Read it here.
Desert Southwest:
–Gripped is reporting that, “Another lawsuit has been filed in the fight for Oak Flat, which is described as “the Sistine Chapel of Apache religion” and home to thousands of world-class climbs. The ongoing case is a major fight for Indigenous peoples, environmentalists and climbers. It pertains to sacred Native American land, conservation and climbing access. At the moment, it seems hundreds of boulder problems may be lost, but roped access appears to be mostly preserved.” To read more, click here.
Colorado and Utah:
–Out There Colorado is reporting that, “A backcountry skier was rescued from a Colorado wilderness area this weekend. According to the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call was received at about 12:18 p.m. on April 25 related to a backcountry skier who had been injured and immobilized in the James Peak Wilderness Area. Search and rescue teams quickly deployed, with the sheriff’s office utilizing a drone to work to locate the injured skier.” To read more, click here.
–Outside is reporting that, “for the past few years, visitors have had to plan ahead if they wanted to behold Delicate Arch or one of the estimated 2,000 other curvatores of stone found at Arches National Park during peak season. But a couple months ago, on February 18, Arches announced the end of its requirement to purchase an advanced timed entry ticket. The timed entry requirement first came into effect in spring 2022, so it’s been four years since you’ve been able to roll up to Arches and enter on demand.” To read more, click here.
–Drones were a central part of a rescue in Eldorado State Park on April 12th. Learn more.
Notes from All Over:
–SnowBrains is reporting that, “The parents of a five-year-old boy who fell from a ski lift at Blue Knob All Seasons Resort in Pennsylvania in March are now facing felony charges of endangering the welfare of a child. Micah Porter, 34, and Maya Porter, 37, of State College, were arraigned Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Tonya Osman. Both were released on unsecured bail, set at $50,000 for Micah and $30,000 for Maya.” To read more, click here.
–California intends to expand its state park system dramatically. From Gear Junkie: “The plan adds three new state parks in the state’s Central Valley, an area close to Fresno. The first, Feather River Park, covers about 2,000 acres and would provide ample recreation and boating opportunities on its namesake river.” To read more, click here.
–Vail Resorts saw a 14.9% decrease in skier visits this year. The theory is that this is due to the incredibly dry winter. Read more.
–The Travel is reporting that, “On April 27, President Trump quietly withdrew his nomination of Scott Socha as director of the National Park Service (NPS). The nomination was first announced on February 11 and was met with quick backlash from travelers and conservationists who questioned his ability to lead the agency. The White House did not give a reason for the withdrawal. Instead, the change was made during a routine notice to the Senate. Socha’s withdrawal brought an immediate sigh of relief among conservation groups, who feared that Socha’s lack of government experience and focus on privatization would threaten the national parks rather than strengthen them.” To read more, click here.