All articles tagged with #mountains
Stage 18 covers 185.2km from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette, climbing about 3,900m and kicking off three brutal Alpine days to close the 2026 Tour. The final climb averages 6.7% over 7.1km, making it tough for pure climbers but still favorable to a well-escorted breakaway; Start: 6:35 a.m. ET, Est. Finish: 11:12 a.m. ET, setting the stage for an increasingly Mountain-focused finale.
Plate tectonics–driven simulations of the Alps, Pyrenees and Baetic mountains suggest deep mantle rocks rose and interacted with water to release hydrogen, which then accumulated in porous rock layers—making the Alps and Pyrenees plausible natural hydrogen reservoirs. The Baetic range, by contrast, uplifted and eroded too rapidly for large hydrogen volumes to form or be retained. If validated, this approach could guide searches for other natural hydrogen sources to support a hydrogen-powered economy.
Everest is the highest mountain above sea level at 8,848 m, but Chimborazo in Ecuador sits farther from Earth’s center due to the planet’s equatorial bulge—about 6,384.4 km from the center versus Everest’s ~6,382.3 km, a ~2.1 km difference. Whether it’s closest to space depends on how you define space: from the center (Chimborazo wins) or from sea level (Everest wins). The key point is that “highest” and “farthest from the center” are two different measures, and Earth’s shape, not mountain height alone, drives the gap. Historical geodesy missions helped confirm the bulge and the oblate Earth.
An ATR 42-500 turboprop operated by Indonesia Air Transport carrying 11 people vanished after losing radar contact while approaching Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in South Sulawesi. A multi‑agency search—with air force helicopters, drones and ground teams—was launched, aided by reports of debris with an Indonesia Air Transport logo seen on Mount Bulusaraung amid clouds and about 5-mile visibility. The aircraft reportedly deviated from its planned approach and radio contact was lost.
A private helicopter with four people on board crashed in the mountains near Phoenix, Arizona, with rescue crews working to access the remote site; injuries are unconfirmed, and authorities are investigating the incident.
A winter weather advisory and hazardous weather outlook have been issued for Colorado's mountains, with snow expected to accumulate through Friday and possibly into Sunday, affecting areas above 8,000 feet and near the Continental Divide.
Four hikers, including three men and one woman, were found dead after an avalanche in the Vardousia Mountains in central Greece, where they had gone missing on Christmas Day. The rescue operation was challenging due to difficult weather conditions and terrain, with efforts ongoing to recover the remaining bodies.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning and advisories for Colorado's mountains, with over a foot of snow expected in some areas and strong winds, making travel difficult or impossible, especially along the I-70 corridor and mountain passes.
The tallest mountain in the Solar System is Olympus Mons on Mars, standing at 40 km high, surpassing Earth's Mount Everest, with other notable features including the equatorial ridge on Saturn's moon Iapetus. Olympus Mons is a massive shield volcano that may still be active and is a potential site for extraterrestrial life due to its water ice and heat sources.
Tadej Pogacar wins stage 3 of Volta a Catalunya with a solo attack, maintaining his dominance in the mountains. The other riders struggled to keep up, with Mikel Landa finishing second at 48 seconds behind Pogacar. The stage featured climbs including Port de Toses, Port de Canto, and Port Ainé, totaling nearly 4,000 meters of elevation gain.
While the Denver metro area saw little to no snow, the mountains experienced heavy snow and high winds, leading to difficult travel conditions and road closures. Southeast Colorado faced high fire concerns due to dry and windy weather. Some mountain areas received over a foot of snow by Sunday evening, with chances for snow every day in the mountains in the upcoming week. The National Weather Service reported snow accumulation in various locations, and the Pinpoint Weather team will continue to provide updates on the forecast.
Atmospheric sciences professor Cliff Mass predicts massive amounts of snow in the mountains of Western Washington this week, with snowpack expected to rise significantly. While some lowland areas may see some snow, heavy accumulation is not expected due to relatively warm ground temperatures. Mass emphasizes that mountain areas will experience substantial snowfall, potentially causing travel disruptions, and advises listeners to prepare for wintry conditions.
Oregon's mountains are expected to receive massive amounts of snow, while the Willamette Valley's largest cities, including Portland, Salem, and Eugene, may see only rain with the possibility of 1-2 inches of snow in the Portland metro area. The snow level in the central and southern Willamette Valley is likely to stay around 1,000 feet, with potential for lower elevation snow in places like Mill City and Detroit. Additionally, smaller ski areas in Western Oregon are set to open this week due to the recent snowfall.
A winter storm in Colorado brought heavy snowfall to the high country, with some areas receiving over three feet of snow. The Denver metro area saw minimal snow, while the northern mountains experienced the heaviest accumulation. Hurricane force winds were also reported in the Front Range Foothills. Winter storm warnings and advisories are in place, with additional snowfall expected.
Winter storm watches have been posted inland as a winter storm is expected to impact the area from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning. Rain and snow will develop, starting as light rain before transitioning to snow for much of the state. The coastline will see the transition last, with accumulating snow expected overnight. Snow totals will range from a coating to 2 inches along the coast, 2-5 inches north of the coast, and 5-10 inches further north, with some parts of the mountains seeing up to a foot of snow. The snow will taper off on Monday morning, with snow showers continuing in the afternoon and night. The rest of the week will be mostly dry but cold, with temperatures in the 20s to low 30s and overnight lows in the single digits and teens.