Northwest:

--Four snowshoers were lost on Sunday after losing the main trail in the Gold Creek Snow Park.  They contacted 911 after having left their cars 4 hours earlier, and deputies maintained contact with them to find them.  Snowmobiles were used to search the area, however on Monday these snowshoers were found in an area that was inaccessible to the snowmobiles.  They are expected to be returned safely by Monday afternoon, although 7 inches of new storm snow is making things challenging.  To read more, click here.

--A snowboarder was found face down in the snow by Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol last week, shortly after the last chair.  Ski patrol attempted to resuscitate the 15-year-old boarder, however after being unsuccessful he was taken down to the lodge and pronounced dead shortly after.  The initial autopsy shows that the cause of the young man's death was not due to injury, and he had no known previous medical complications.  The investigation continues, to read more click here.

--A climber was caught taking draws off a sport climb in Smith Rock.  The people who spotted him lectured him quite calmly about the ethics of the area and how draws left on a route were not meant for the taking.  The whole interaction was caught on camera, and has sparked numerous discussion on the forum boards about draws left on sport routes.  To see the video, click here.  To read the discussions, click here and here.

--Three men were rescued after an overnight stay on Mt. Brown in Glacier National Park.  They were found after a call/text to 911 enabled rescuers to pinpoint them.  They were able to build a shelter and fire to come through the night in excellent condition.  To read more, click here.


Sierra:

--A powerful system has pounded California and the Eastern Sierra with unprecedented December snow and rain. Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort reports that snowfall  has set a new record for the snowiest December. Some reports are stating that up to 15 feet of snow has fallen at the resort. To read more, click here and here and here.

--Another snowboard death at a Mountain High resort in Wrightwood California adds to the toll of early season fatalities.  The 2010-2011 season seems to be off to an ominous start.  To read more, click here.

Desert Southwest:

--As the snow flies and the rain falls in the Southwestern United States, some interesting things are happening.  The tiny community of Mount Charleston, about an hour outside of Las Vegas, was evacuated last week due to avalanche danger.  Mount Charleston is a world renowned sport climbing destination.  To read more, click here and here.

--A group of hikers was rescued after they lost the trail near the Tahoe Meadows off of Highway 431.  To read more, click here.

Alaska:

--Former AAI Guide and Climbing Ranger, Coley Gentzel was interviewed last week in an article about a day last season on Denali.  It appears that the perfect climbing day in 2010 was Father's Day.  A record, 54 climbers reached the summit in an absolutely perfect window.  Additionally, the article in the Anchorage Daily News, hits a number of other Alaska Range season highlights.  To read the article, click here.

Notes from All Over:

--UK climbers, Will Sim and Jon Griffith, recently completed an ascent of the east face of Patagonia's Piergiorgio.  The pair chose the route with little knowledge of it's history and almost no knowledge of the challenges in store for them.  And though the route had been completed before, they took it on as if it were a first ascent.  To read more, click here.

--Ouray Ice Park is open!  The park opened up on 12/27, after weeks of warm weather and rain destroyed much of the ice in the park, and left the standing ice too dangerous.  Park officials believe the park will remain open, and be fully functional by the time of the annual Ouray Ice Fest.  To read more, click here and here.

--Over the past year, Squaw Valley, California-based pro skier Mike Wilson, with the help of sponsors and partners, has raised and spent over a million dollars filming six episodes of what the 24-year-old calls an "action-sports-based-adventure-travel show." The pilot, now complete, will be shopped around major networks next week.  To read more, click here.


--The Banff Mountain Film World Tour is currently making its way around the United States, Canada and the rest of the world.  An interesting question has arisen around this tour. Where are the women in adventure film?  The Banff Facebook page has addressed this question, here.  And the Heli Ski company, CMH, has also addressed the issue, here.

--Certainly the weather over the holiday's was challenging for many people trying to travel.  All of the winter storms have left thousands of travelers stranded.  To read more, click here.   My advice, fly somewhere you don't mind being stranded, and blame it on the airlines/weather when your boss is calling you on Monday morning.

--A new, comprehensive report has been produced detailing the invasive species which causes Sudden Oak Death, and the general effects of it.  This disease has devastated forests in Oregon and California.  To read more, click here and here.

--Ski lifts derailed at Sugarloaf ski resort in Maine on Tuesday, injuring at least 8 people at the time of the initial report.  While the injuries appear to be minor, a spokesperson for the resort called this a "big deal."  To read more, click here.  To see a low quality cell phone camera taken from a skier stranded on the lift above, click here.