Oregon鈥檚 Clackamas County听is a thickly timbered, 1,879-square-mile outdoor-recreation paradise. It鈥檚 home to 11,249-foot Mount听Hood, a sprawling river system, several wilderness areas, a national forest, and more than 61 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. Around 10,000 people attempt to climb Mount听Hood every year, and millions more play in the woods and waterways听surrounding the peak.听

For years, the Clackamas County Sheriff鈥檚 Office (CCSO) has relied on three volunteer search and rescue teams to keep all those people safe: (PMR), (PNWSAR), and . These groups have 100 years of combined institutional history, plus nearly 400 highly trained volunteers who are on call听24/7. They are considered the best of the best by their fellow national and international search and rescue (SAR) communities, serve at no cost to taxpayers, and operate in conjunction with the sheriff鈥檚 office like听most other SAR teams around听the country. But recently, the CCSO听announced a plan to replace all of them with its own volunteer program听and informed current SAR volunteers from PMR, PNWSAR, and Mountain Wave that they would stop receiving mission callouts within 18 months. (A fourth听group, Northern Oregon Regional SAR, also operates in Clackamas County, but is considerably smaller than PMR, PNWSAR, and Mountain Wave.)

鈥淢ount Hood is the gateway to mountaineering in North America and the second most climbed mountain in the world,鈥� says local big-mountain skier Matthias Giraud. 鈥淲ith the crowds come both experts and the completely inexperienced and unprepared. It鈥檚 a fickle mountain, and without the experience and expertise of the existing teams, it would turn into a graveyard.鈥�

So why the sudden change?

鈥淭he formation of a single, unified search-and-rescue program for Clackamas County comes in the wake of recent litigation, at the recommendation of Clackamas County counsel, and following a comprehensive study that鈥檚 now available for听,鈥� read a February 19 from the office of Sheriff Craig Roberts.听

The litigation referenced听is a lawsuit filed in 2018 by the family of听John Jenkins, who died after a 600-foot fall on Mount听Hood in 2017. A PMR ground team reached Jenkins within minutes of the accident, but he succumbed to his injuries as a rescue helicopter brought him on board.听

Jenkins鈥檚 family sought $10 million in damages听and faulted the CCSO听and Clackamas County 911 for communication errors that they said contributed to a more than four-hour delay in the deployment of the rescue helicopter. (The sheriff and the county have disputed the family鈥檚 version of events.)听The case was settled out of court for $25,000. The settlement also required that Clackamas County pay an additional $5,000 to PMR in honor of John Jenkins.听

鈥淭he lawsuit was never about the money,鈥� says Robert Jenkins, John鈥檚 father. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want this to happen to someone else. The fault was not in search and rescue.听The fault was in the sheriff鈥檚 office and their internal protocol for handling 911 calls.鈥� Robert Jenkins donated the money from the settlement to SAR groups in the Pacific Northwest.听The settlement also stipulated that the CCSO upgrade its training for internal emergency personnel, such as the staff who answer 911 calls.

Since the settlement rewarded PMR for its听efforts, Sheriff Roberts鈥檚 decision to disband the current SAR structure didn鈥檛 seem to add up. 鈥淵ou have to wonder if there鈥檚 vindication听at听play,鈥� says Allan Brettman, who covered for The听Oregonian.听

Further, the 鈥渃omprehensive study鈥� the sheriff鈥檚 office relied on to make its decision was in no way comprehensive. It focused on only two of the 36 counties in Oregon鈥擠eschutes and Multnomah鈥攁nd a program in Mono Lake, California, and, according to many search and rescue experts,听failed to analyze how SAR programs in those places actually work. There鈥檚 also no sign that the study鈥檚 author,听a retired Clackamas County undersheriff, consulted with local experts who know the county鈥檚 terrain, environment, and needs.听

鈥淧MR is one of the top technical rescue teams in the country,鈥� says Art Fortini, president of the . 鈥淟osing such a resource would be a major loss to the mountain rescue community. If you are going to replace them with a new team that is less experienced, I expect it to have a negative impact on patient outcomes. And how that is supposed to reduce lawsuits is a mystery to me.鈥�

Public outcry against the CCSO鈥檚 decision to dismantle its traditional volunteer teams was swift and widespread. In SAR corners of the internet, #savePMR听started trending. The听Oregonian ran an 听arguing that 鈥渨hile Roberts has the power to make such a dramatic change, he has yet to articulate a rational argument for it,鈥� and that 鈥渉is proposal to replace the existing arrangement with his own search-and-rescue team 鈥� seems more about enforcing administrative directives than promoting safety.鈥�

Then, on February 25, a Hood River man named Cory Johnston died after a fall on Mount听Hood. The volunteer team from PMR听had once again been able to reach the victim within minutes of the accident. A day after the tragedy, Sheriff Rogers met with members of PMR鈥攁 meeting that the search and rescue outfit听had been trying to schedule for months.听

A joint statement ensued from the sheriff鈥檚 office and PMR, relaying that 鈥渁fter a productive discussion this morning, we鈥檙e excited to announce a mutual agreement in principle on general terms for a closer relationship between Portland Mountain Rescue and the Clackamas County Sheriff鈥檚 Office. We all believe this arrangement will improve safety on the mountain.鈥澨�

There is little doubt that public uproar over the issue, combined with the timing of Johnston鈥檚 death, caused Sheriff Roberts to rethink his position, at least with PMR. The other groups still hope that he will reconsider bringing all SAR operations in-house. Diana Worthen, president of PNWSAR, said that representatives from her organization met with the sheriff in early March. 鈥淭he discussion is far from over, and a resolution still feels very far off, despite the press release about the 鈥榤utual agreement in principle鈥櫶齱ith PMR,鈥� says Worthen. 鈥淭hey have no actual agreement, just a goodwill handshake so far, and they鈥檝e unfortunately excluded PNWSAR and the other teams from discussions. But I am very pleased to see CCSO鈥檚 leadership showing an interest in discussing solutions, and I am hopeful for a positive outcome for SAR in Clackamas County.鈥澨�

A spokesperson for the sheriff鈥檚 office said that the public outrage had been a result of a 鈥渕isunderstanding鈥� by the media. The spokesperson declined to comment further,听but听Sheriff Roberts released a statement听in early April that听reads,听鈥淲e鈥檙e still working with our search volunteers听and will in the immediate future through this transition. We of course understand the concerns of the volunteer teams. Their invaluable contributions have saved countless lives on the mountain and in other SAR scenarios. We also want those existing volunteers to join the unified team. This change is not designed to push SAR volunteers away鈥攊t鈥檚 designed to bring them into a closer working relationship with us, with uniform standards.鈥�

While the future of听the independent SAR programs remains uncertain, an election in November may hold the definitive answer. Recently retired CCSO Sergeant Lynn Schoenfeld听is running for Sheriff Roberts鈥檚 post and publicly spoke out against the initial plan to disband the SAR structure. 鈥淚ssues such as public safety, the safety of volunteer searchers, as well as any cost associated with these changes were not examined. If these changes continue, I believe lives will be placed at risk,鈥� says Schoenfeld. Sheriff Roberts has since announced that he will听not be running for reelection.听However, one of the architects of the new in-house SAR program, Lieutenant听Brian Jensen, is also running for the position.

鈥淲e are still not getting called out like we used to,鈥� says Russ Gubele, president of Mountain Wave. 鈥淲e are hoping that with a new sheriff, we will be able to keep the independent teams. A lot depends on who wins the election.鈥�

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The last time you were in Yosemite, you may have noticed that many of the classic hotels and restaurants had new names鈥攖here were tarps over the entrance signs to the Ahwahnee and the Wawona hotels, assigning odd monikers like 鈥淭he Majestic鈥� and 鈥淏ig Trees鈥� in their stead. This three-and-a-half-year identity crisis was due to a trademark dispute between Yosemite鈥檚 former concessionaire, , on one side and the听new concessionaire, , and the National Park Service听on the other.

Delaware North had, during the decades that it held the contract as the Park鈥檚 concessionaire,听quietly trademarked many of Yosemite鈥檚 most famous names, including the Ahwahnee Hotel, Curry Village, the Wawona Hotel, and Badger Pass ski Area. They even trademarked the name Yosemite National Park and since 2016, according to the , park products like hats and coffee mugs have read simply: Yosemite. When Delaware North鈥檚 contract expired in 2015, they wanted $51听million for their alleged intellectual property.听

In a $12 million settlement announced Monday, Yosemite National Park got听the right to use the original names of some of its most iconic hotels and attractions, many of which, it鈥檚 worth noting, were derived from听native 听names, the tribe that was indigenous to the area.听Effective July 15, all trademarks and service marks听transfer from Delaware North to Aramark.听The National Park Service can also return to听using hundreds of other trademarked monikers and phrases, including the classic 鈥淕o Climb a Rock鈥� slogan that鈥檚 graced tens of thousands of T-shirts bought at the Yosemite Mountaineering School and the Half Dome logo.

And under Aramark鈥檚 contract with the National Park Service, those trademarks and service marks will transfer (at no cost) back to the National Park Service once Aramark鈥檚 contract ends. The听settlement to Delaware North includes $3.84 million paid from the U.S. government. The rest of the money comes from Aramark.听

鈥淪ome people ask why the government got involved and paid the money,鈥� says Scott Gediman, the park鈥檚 spokesman. 鈥淢y answer is that the lawsuit was active for three-and-a-half years and the attorneys on both sides realized it was time to settle. It is not a small sum of money, but it could have dragged on for years with no resolution.鈥澨�

Word of the settlement spread quickly in the park. 鈥淚鈥檝e been with Yosemite for 23 years, and I鈥檝e never seen such jubilation,鈥� says Gediman. 鈥淧eople were clapping and in tears鈥攖here was a very emotional reaction. I knew our staff and guests would be excited, but had no idea how incredibly moving the reaction would be. The settlement is not just about signs and logos. We鈥檝e ensured that symbols of the park鈥檚 history will remain the property of the American people.鈥� Ken Yager, president of Yosemite Climbing Association and 43-year Valley resident, was more pragmatic.听鈥淚 think that locals never embraced the new names,鈥� Yager says. 鈥淚 continued to call the Ahwahnee Hotel 鈥榯he Ahwahnee.鈥欌�澨�

Immediately after the settlement, Yosemite鈥檚 employees got to work removing the temporary signage they鈥檇 erected in 2016. New menus, directories, website listings, and merchandise like听ball caps,听souvenir shot glasses, and听T-shirts听now reflect the traditional names.听

The precedent is significant for other parks who are dealing with trademarks and concession contracts. A similar battle is being waged at Grand Canyon National Park. In reaction to the lawsuit, the state of California has passed the , a law that forbids park concessionaires from claiming or trademarking any of the cultural, recreational, or historic resources in the areas where they operate. 鈥淭his is good for Yosemite National Park,鈥�听says听Gediman. 鈥淭he money the U.S. government spent will protect other state, local, and national parks. For that reason alone it is a good deal.鈥�

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The Winter Olympic Games are returning to Europe in 2026. Northern Italy鈥檚 world-class ski resort of Cortina d鈥橝mpezzo in the heart of the Dolomites, and the fashion/economic powerhouse of Milan will co-host the games. The two sites are about 220 miles apart. Cortina will host alpine ski racing and curling, with Milan focusing on skating and ice hockey. Other snowsports are slated for several alpine villages in between.

The IOC had narrowed the potential sites to two contenders鈥攁 joint bid from the Swedish resort town of 脜re and the country鈥檚 capital, Stockholm, and Milan-Cortina. Both regions have long, colorful histories in winter sports and extremely enthusiastic fan bases. According to the IOC, there were 47 votes in favor of the Italian bid versus 34 votes for the Swedish proposal. Sweden鈥檚 efforts were stoked by a last-minute appeal by the mayor of Stockholm (鈥淎BBA is everywhere,鈥�听 before singing lines from Dancing Queen, one of the most famous songs of the iconic Swedish pop group), but the promise of the longer days and sunnier weather of the Italian Dolomites prevailed. The IOC has committed to providing at least $925 million toward听Italy鈥檚 potential Games budget of up to $1.7 billion. The听 means Milan-Cortina will also host the Paralympic Winter Games 2026.

The multi-city Olympic venue isn鈥檛 new. In 1956, Australia鈥檚 strict equine quarantine laws caused the equestrian competition of the Melbourne Olympics to be held in Stockholm. But for 2026, it鈥檚 a result of the Olympic Game鈥檚听restructured bidding process, called the 鈥淣ew Norm.鈥澨� is based on 118 reforms that were implemented to check sky-rocketing costs and the excessive building of soon-to-be abandoned venues that critics argued hurt, rather than helped, Olympic cities.听

Italy has hosted two previous Winter Games鈥攊n Torino in 2006, and in Cortina in 1956. The 1944 Winter Olympic Games were slated for Cortina but were cancelled due to WWII.听

Cortina is known for the pink-hued limestone of the Dolomites and ever-flowing pink prosecco. It鈥檚 also home to one of the raddest downhill听and Super G courses in the world. These races generally take place on the crazy-steep Olimpia delle Tofane slope. It鈥檚 arguably the most spectacular setting听in alpine racing, with the shark-toothed Dolomites looming above. The downhill race starts at 7,612-feet and finishes at 5,118鈥攁 terrifying, icy 2,493-foot drop.听

鈥淐ortina is one of my favorite stops on the women鈥檚 World Cup tour,鈥澨齭ays two-time Olympian and U.S. Ski Team member Laurenne Ross.听鈥淔rom the Dolomite peaks to the town鈥檚 unique vibe to the course preparation, not many places beat Cortina. The snow conditions are always impeccable, the downhill course is fast and fun. The gorgeous mountain peaks, and the best-in-the-world pizza make Cortina the perfect spot for the Olympics.鈥澨�

IOC President, George Bach, said that one reason the Games were awarded to Milan-Cortina is the promise of sustainability. 鈥淲e can look forward to outstanding and sustainable Olympic Winter Games in a traditional winter sports country,鈥澨齭ays Bach. According to Bach, the Cortina-Milan venue will incorporate 93-percent of 鈥渆xisting or temporary competition venues.鈥� That means 13 out of 14 of the venues slated for the Milan-Cortina Games already exist (including the site of the closing ceremonies鈥攖he Verona Arena, a Roman amphitheater built in AD 30). The Games are scheduled to start on February听6 at the San Siro stadium, home of the AC Milan and Inter Milan soccer teams.

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