Capt. Phil Harris, of 'Deadliest Catch,' dies at age 53

Phil Harris, captain of one of the crab-fishing vessels featured on the Discovery Channel series "Deadliest Catch" has died after having a stroke last month, reports our sister blog Ministry of Gossip. Harris was 53.

Harris suffered a stroke Jan. 29 while in port offloading his boat, the 128-foot Cornelia Marie.

His sons, Jake and Josh, who work as deckhands on the vessel, have released the following statement, which is posted on the Discovery Channel website:

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad -- Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

Discovery Channel also released a statement:

Discovery mourns the loss of dear friend and colleague Captain Phil Harris. He was more than someone on our television screen. Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him. We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart. We share our tremendous sadness over this loss with the millions of viewers who followed Phil's every move. We send our thoughts and prayers to Phil's sons Josh and Jake and the Cornelia Marie crew.

Fans wanting to leave condolence messages can do so on the Discovery Channel message board.

The popular television series "Deadliest Catch" follows the adventures of seven crabbing vessels and their crews during the Alaskan king crab season in the Bering Sea. A sixth season has been announced for broadcast this year.

The Aleutian Islands port of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, is the base of operations for the fishing fleet.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Capt. Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie. Credit: Discovery Channel

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Capt. Phil Harris, of 'Deadliest Catch,' suffers stroke

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Yosemite National Park roads closed temporarily

Yosemite National Park officials issued a news release this morning reporting that all roads leading into Yosemite Valley are temporarily closed.

Highways 41 (Wawona Road) and 120 (Big Oak Flat Road) into the park are closed due to snowy and icy conditions.  Additionally, Highway 140 (El Portal Road) into Yosemite Valley is closed due to fallen trees on the roadway.  Badger Pass Road and the Hetch Hetchy Road are also closed at this time.

Visitors coming into the park through the weekend are urged to use caution and to drive slowly.  All vehicles entering the park -- including those with four-wheel drive -- must carry chains, as the weather can change quickly. Additionally, visitors are also urged to be aware of the risk of falling trees while driving or walking in the park.

Assessment of all roads in Yosemite will occur throughout the day.  For 24-hour road information please call (209) 372-0200.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A view of Half Dome from Cook's Meadow in Yosemite National Park after several feet of snowfall. Credit: Victoria Mates / National Park Service

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It's official: Big bass caught in Japan ties world record held for more than 77 years

The International Game Fish Assn. has verified that a 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass caught last July has tied the all-tackle world record held for more than 77 years.

Japan's Manabu Kurita, 32, now shares the record, making his catch on July 2 at Lake Biwa, an ancient reservoir northeast of Kyoto. The fish measured 27.20 inches in length and 26.77 inches in girth. 

The top-spot had been solely held by George Perry since June 2, 1932, when he landed his record-topping bass in Montgomery Lake, near Jacksonville, Ga.

IGFA, the 70-year-old nonprofit fisheries conservation, education and record-keeping body, received Kurita’s application and documentation on Sept. 19, 2009. IGFA announced the decision at its headquarters with a live video feed carried on Bassmaster.com.

Kurita, of Aichi, Japan, was fishing using a live bluegill as bait. He cast to a bridge piling, twitched the bait a couple of times and the lunker hit. After a short, three-minute fight Kurita had the fish in his boat.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Manabu Kurita poses with 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass he caught July 2, 2009, in Japan. The fish ties the all-tackle world record set 77 years ago in Georgia, and was approved by the International Game Fish Assn. today.

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Women's Bassmaster Tour eliminated

BASS has announced the elimination of the Women's Bassmaster Tour, citing a significant drop in event participation since the women's-only circuit began in 2005.

"Despite BASS' best efforts to grow the WBT, participation levels were declining, especially heading into the 2010 season," said Tom Ricks, BASS general manager and vice president.

"This was a very tough decision and we understand the timing wasn't ideal," continued Ricks. "We are aggressively working to accommodate all WBT anglers who were registered for the 2010 season into other tournament venues they are eligible for, such as the Bassmaster Opens, if they desire to compete."

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., at an event during the 2009 Women's Bassmaster Tour. Credit: BASS Communications

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Snowboarder Kevin Pearce in critical condition after halfpipe accident

Top Olympic snowboarding hopeful Kevin Pearce is in critical condition, injured while training in Park City, Utah, for next week's Olympics qualifier at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

Pearce, 22, hit his head above one of his eyes on an icy halfpipe wall and was knocked unconscious, reports Pete Thomas on his blog.

Pearce was airlifted to the University of Utah Hospital, where he had surgery Thursday evening to relieve fluid buildup on his brain. He remains in critical but stable condition.

Pearce, of Norwich, Vt., has been considered a favorite to make the U.S. Olympic Team. He is one of the few competitors to challenge snowboarder Shaun White, besting him at the Burton European Open in 2008 and 2009 and taking the silver medal at last winter's X Games, losing the gold medal to White by one point.

Family members have set up a Facebook page, where fans can offer their support and well wishes.

"We would like to thank everyone for their support at this time and ask that you keep Kevin in your thoughts and prayers during his recovery," his parents, Simon and Pia Pearce, said in a statement issued Friday.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Snowboarder Kevin Pearce poses for a portrait during the USOC Media Summit in Chicago last year. Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press

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Search effort for missing climbers on Mt. Hood suspended; becomes recovery mission

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office announced this afternoon that the search for two climbers that have been missing on Oregon's 11,249-foot Mt. Hood since Friday has been suspended and is now being handled as a recovery effort.

"One of the most difficult decisions I have to make as Sheriff is the decision to suspend search operations. I have consulted with all of the search-and-rescue experts at my disposal, along with the family members of Katie Nolan and Anthony Vietta, and have made the decision to suspect search operations at this time," Sheriff Craig Roberts said in a news release.

"My condolences go out to all the family and friends of Luke Gullberg, Katie Nolan and Anthony Vietti. I would like to thank all of the search-and-rescue personnel for the many hours they have spent on this search and others. Without these dedicated individuals, we could not perform difficult missions."

Avalanche danger and severe weather has kept search and rescue teams from reaching the area where  24-year-old Anthony Vietti, of Longview, Wash., and 29-year-old Katie Nolan, of Portland, Ore., are believed to be.

The climbers' families praised the efforts of search and rescue teams at a news conference today, reports Oregon Fox Television affiliate KPTV.

"They have risked their lives," David Nolan, Katie's father, said. "They have sacrificed time with their family and children. These guys have courage and valor."

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: A helicopter flies past Mt. Hood's Crater Rock on Sunday in search of two missing climbers. Credit: Don Ryan / Associated Press

Related:

Officials say chances are slim that missing Mt. Hood climbers are still alive

Severe weather may halt search for missing Mt. Hood climbers

Poor weather, avalanche danger hamper search for missing Mt. Hood climbers

Severe weather may halt search for missing Mt. Hood climbers

Whiteout conditions may prevent search and rescue crews from continuing efforts to locate two climbers missing on Oregon's Mt. Hood since Friday. Officials told Oregon Fox Television affiliate KPTV that "crews remain on standby" as the situation is being assessed almost hourly.

Authorities are still hoping that experienced climbers Anthony Vietti, 24, of Longview, Wash., and Katie Nolan, 29, of Portland, Ore., could be found alive.

Sadly, a third climber, Luke T. Gullberg, 26, of Des Moines, Wash., was found dead on Saturday. An autopsy showed that Gullberg died of hypothermia, said Clackamas County Sheriff's office spokesman Jim Strovink.

On Monday, a helicopter was able to search the summit after clouds cleared enough for the pilot and crew to examine high altitudes they were unable to scour previously, but no sign of the two climbers was seen.

Mammoth Mountain receives 60 inches of powder, will expand open terrain

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is ensured of a white Christmas after more than 60 inches of snow fell during the latest storm.

That builds the Eastern Sierra resort's base to 5 to 8 feet of packed and fresh powder and will enable crews to open Canyon Lodge and Eagle Lodge by Wednesday, and the entire mountain by Friday. The resort had been operating only 10 lifts.

Southern California resorts also benefited from the weekend storm, and are reporting base depths of up to about 30 inches.

-- Pete Thomas

 

Images captured Monday morning, courtesy of Mammoth Mountain

Poor weather, avalanche danger hamper search for missing Mt. Hood climbers

Authorities and the mountaineering community are still hopeful that two climbers missing on Oregon's 11,249-foot Mt. Hood are alive, but conditions today have been too hazardous to perform a ground search at high altitude, and a crew aboard a military helicopter, as of 1 p.m., had not located sign of the climbers, according to a spokeswoman for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities earlier today told the Associated Press they had not given up hope that experienced climbers Anthony Vietti, 24, of Longview, Wash., and Katie Nolan, 29, of Portland, Ore., could be found alive. However, time is not their ally, and neither is the weather. Avalanche danger, which is considerable today, is expected to become high on Tuesday.

Sadly, a team of mountaineers located the body of the duo's companion, Luke T. Gullberg, 26, of Des Moines, Wash., on Saturday. The excursion began Friday on the mountain's west side. The climbers were near the summit, based on photos downloaded from Gullberg's camera, which was found near his body.

Here's today's avalanche forecast for Mt. Hood from the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center:

"Temporarily decreasing snow showers should be seen Monday morning. New slab layers are most likely on lee northeast to southeast slopes. Cautious route finding and conservative decision making should be essential on Monday morning.

"A front should cause strongly increasing southwest winds, increasing moderate to heavy snow and warming Monday afternoon and night. This should build layers of increasing density and add loads to buried hoar frost or previous weakened layers. New slab layers should be most likely on northeast to southeast slopes but may be possible on other aspects such as in the Cascade passes. Natural or triggered avalanches should become likely Monday afternoon and night."

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Anthony Vietti is one of the two climbers missing on Mt. Hood in Oregon. Credit: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

Australia's Mick Fanning is crowned world surfing champion in Hawaii

Australia's Mick Fanning on Saturday was crowned world surfing champion for the second time in three years. Fanning, 28, who went into the season-ending Billabong Pipeline Masters atop the ASP World Tour standings, clinched when fellow Australian Joel Parkinson was eliminated in the third round by wild-card entry Gavin Gillette.

Parkinson, 28, who was dominant early in the season but had faltered of late, was the only surfer with a mathematical chance of catching Fanning at the competition in Hawaii.

“I’m just a bit overwhelmed right now and I don’t quite know what to say,” said Fanning, who subsequently lost his fourth-round heat to Australia's Dean Morrison. “It was hard out there. I was trying to get ready for my heat and then Gavin got that one score as I was paddling out and, I don’t know, I just sort of slowed down.”

Fanning also won the title in 2007. The Pipeline Masters, the final jewel of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, will run to completion Sunday if conditions allow.

--Pete Thomas

Photo: A jubilant Mick Fanning raises his arms in the air after winning the world surfing title.

Credit: ASP/CI/ Cestari via Getty Images

World-renowned ice climber Guy Lacelle dies in avalanche

Acclaimed ice climber Guy Lacelle was killed in an avalanche Thursday morning while participating in a competition in Montana.

The Canadian was climbing a gully in Hyalite Canyon during the Ice Breaker competition, an event taking place in conjunction with the Bozeman Ice Festival, when a team climbing above him triggered the avalanche. Lacelle's climbing partner was uninjured.

"A small pocket of snow pulled out and caught him," Doug Chabot, Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center director, told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. "It hit him and took him off the cliff, down the ice."

Lacelle, 54, died from the fall, according to Gallatin County Chief Deputy Coroner Dan Springer.

"From an avalanche perspective, it's a reminder that even small avalanches can have huge, deadly consequences," Chabot said.

Lacelle was widely regarded as one of the world’s leading ice climbers, having established and repeated many of the most extreme ice climbs in the Canadian Rockies. He competed as well as taught clinics at numerous ice festivals.

"He was a fanatical ice climber, and his death is a huge, huge loss," said John Irvine, sports marketing manager for the climbing equipment company Arc'teryx, which sponsored Lacelle.

Lacelle is survived by his wife, Marge Lachecki.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Ice climber Guy Lacelle with one of his dogs. Credit: Brian Goldstone / Arc'teryx

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Arizona hunters trapped in deep freeze are subject of massive search

A massive search is underway for 25 to 30 hunters stranded in the northern Arizona wilderness by a major snowstorm and in sub-freezing conditions.

Rescue teams from the Coconino County Sheriff's Department and other agencies have fanned out in hopes of finding the hunters, some of whom were reached by cellphone and reported to be OK. Authorities were trying to access known elk-hunting camps in an area now covered with up to 3 feet of snow.

Jim Driscol, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, told the Associated Press that priority will be to retrieve hunters who are low on food and heating fuel, and to get to them before the next storm system hits, possibly this weekend.

It has not been a good week for elk hunters in the region. In high winds Monday night, Arizona hunter Skylar Stock was killed when the top of a 70-foot pine tree fell on the tent in which he was sleeping.

-- Pete Thomas