Climbers Wear Gas Masks as Fires Close Climbing Areas
Wildfires of 2018 are wreaking havoc across North America
There are a record number of wildfires in North America, with monster blazes burning in California and B.C. and climbers should plan accordingly. Ralf Dujmovits, one of the Himalayas top climbers, was meant to visit the Mount Waddington range with Canadian Nancy Hansen this week. There are nearly 600 fires burning in B.C.
He just reported, “Our dream of climbing Mount Waddington, at least for the next 14 days, has gone up in the smoke of the many wildfires due to British Columbia declaring a state of emergency. The extended weather forecast calls for continued hot and dry conditions, with the risk of thunderstorms in some parts of the province. We hope for the sake of the thousands of people who are on evacuation alert that precipitation will come soon.”
Climbing areas across the west are too smokey for most climbers to risk the effects of heavy smoke on the lungs. Despite the nice weather, most crags that are often busy this time of year have few ropes being hung.
Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials that can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. Consider climbing indoors to avoid the smoke.
Yosemite Valley was evacuated a few weeks ago, but not before locals managed to get some photos wearing gas masks while climbing. Scroll through the photos below by Yosemite-based photographer Justin Olsen, who is currently in the Canadian Rockies.
Hopefully there will be some relief soon for the countless people, wildfire workers and residents, affected by the wildfires. For a map of the smoke visit here.
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