SummitPost.org

They opened the forest this year on Memorial Day, and within two weeks a man died because he can't find the trail and there are NO signs, NO websites or other resources to find trail conditions, and NO ONE can tell you anything if you call the FS station. In fact most of the time you get voicemail messages that say all the mailboxes are full and you can't leave a message.

I found the dead hiker and it is very clear to me that the awful trail condition (you can hardly find it even if you know where it is) was a major factor in his death.

I found Ertug Ergun in Vasquez Creek on June 30, 2012. I strongly encourage people to bring clippers to do some trail work, extra water, good gps route and budget extra time.

After reviewing much information including his intended route from his work computer, it is clear to me that extremely poor trail conditions, hot weather, and inadequate water were the major factors in his death. His mapped route is exactly correct, but there are NO signs and NO websites giving current trail conditions. The trail has not been maintained since the Station Fire, and there are more trees falling down all the time. It's really hard to find the trail, even when you know where it is. The poor man ended up in Vasquez creek, missing one shoe and his glasses, and descended unsafely down eight waterfalls before he died. You can get water here but you can't get out. Sadly, had he found the right trail, there was also water available there on the west fork of Vasquez creek. The trail has weeds over your head. We trampled some with search and rescue, but it is terrible.

http://sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org/i ... &highlight

I also hiked fox-condor trail, and the condition down from fox to stonyvale is pretty sketchy too.

So it's been over 4 years since the Station Fire happened, and the last of the closures have finally expired.

Strawberry Peak is now open to the public, though Colby Canyon trail is pretty overgrown at this point, due to being abandoned for 4 years. The trail from Redbox has been repaired by volunteers, and is in great shape.

Pursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), and to protect natural resources and provide for public
safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Station Fire Recovery Area of the Angeles National Forest. This
Order is effective from May 25, 2012, through May 24, 2013.
1 . Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Station Fire Recovery Area, except the
Hidden Springs Day Use Area and Monte Cristo Campground. The Station Fire Recovery Area is
described in Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 36 CFR 261 .53(e).
2. Being on any National Forest System road within the Station Fire Recovery Area, which is described in
Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 36 CFR 261 .54(e).
3. Being on any National Forest System trail within the Station Fire Recovery Area, which is described in
Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 36 CFR 261 .55(a).

It'll never be the same. The trees do not grow back. Even if seedlings manage to sprout, the brush will grow faster and choke them. I remember my first trip to the Southern Sierra, 1985, drove from HWY395 to Kennedy Meadow (dirt road) and over Sherman and down to Kernville, it was beautiful. The only burnt area was near Bald Mtn. A series of unnatural fires since then has rendered large portions of the drive matchstick forest and/or moonscape. The trees do not grow back, but the brush does, brush and invasive weeds. Perhaps in several hundred years it might look okay if there is more rain and less fires during that time, but that is not likely. The good news is that people who never saw things before the big fires will think the burnt areas are beautiful because they never knew what was before.

Rob wrote:So it's been over 4 years since the Station Fire happened, and the last of the closures have finally expired.

Strawberry Peak is now open to the public, though Colby Canyon trail is pretty overgrown at this point, due to being abandoned for 4 years. The trail from Redbox has been repaired by volunteers, and is in great shape.

Pursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), and to protect natural resources and provide for public
safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Station Fire Recovery Area of the Angeles National Forest. This
Order is effective from May 25, 2012, through May 24, 2013.
1 . Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Station Fire Recovery Area, except the
Hidden Springs Day Use Area and Monte Cristo Campground. The Station Fire Recovery Area is
described in Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 36 CFR 261 .53(e).
2. Being on any National Forest System road within the Station Fire Recovery Area, which is described in
Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 36 CFR 261 .54(e).
3. Being on any National Forest System trail within the Station Fire Recovery Area, which is described in
Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 36 CFR 261 .55(a).

The closure was renewed and was posted on the website on May 28th, 2013, retroactivelly ( ) effective May 25th, 2013 through May 24th, 2014.

Closure Order 01-13-03
http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/angeles/alerts-notices

testid wrote:

Rob wrote:The closure was renewed and was posted on the website on May 28th, 2013, retroactivelly ( ) effective May 25th, 2013 through May 24th, 2014.

Closure Order 01-13-03
http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/angeles/alerts-notices

Unbefreakingleavable!

I think it's outrageous that they can just close OUR forest indefinitely like this .

The vegetation grew back years ago, so the idea that the closure is to protect against erosion or invasive species is just BS. Maybe it has something to do with all the forest degradation that is occurring due to the installation of new high tension power lines on the east side of Strawberry Peak and across Upper Big Tujunga canyon which is all in the closure area. They are bulldozing lots of new roads and widening old ones in order to get all the heavy equipment up there, it's been going on for a couple of years now. So maybe the USFS wants to keep all that out of the public's eyes? You can still drive up through Upper Big T and see the mess they're making. And it's the hiking public that needs to be kept out so we don't hurt the forest five years after the fire went through.

The fact that the closure expired before they renewed it, is a perfect example of the incompetence of the Angeles National Forest management. I bet they saw people hiking last weekend, and it wasn't until then that somebody called the office and told the boss to extend the closure.

We just hiked the Twin Peaks trail which is the backside of Mt. Waterman. I would say half the area got torched and is starting to regenerate. Of the torched are, pretty much all the pines and cedars are gone, but about 1/3rd of the oaks that looked dead are starting to regenerate.

~Swifty