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Mt. Baldy trails reopen this weekend. Here’s what you need to know
Mount Baldy, photographed here in 2019, has bee the site or more than 230 rescues and eight fatalities since 2017.
(
Robyn Beck
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AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
Mt. Baldy trails will reopen this weekend, including the Devil’s Backbone Trail, where three hikers were found dead in December. Officials closed parts of the San Gabriel Mountains to visitors after a series of winter storms made the trails unsafe.
Why were the trails closed? The U.S. Forest Service closed the popular trails on Feb. 10 because of icy terrain, heavy snow and other dangerous winter conditions, which made trail conditions unsafe. Last December, three hikers were found dead near the Devil’s Backbone Trail.
What will reopen: The National Forest System Trails that will reopen this weekend include:
- Mt. Baldy Trail
- Mt. Baldy Bowl Trail
- Devils Backbone Trail
- Three T’s Trail
- Icehouse Canyon Trail
- Chapman Trail
- Ontario Peak Trail
Officials say: Outdoor recreation always involves inherent risk, especially in mountainous terrain during the spring and winter seasons, Keila Vizcarra, public affairs specialist for the Angeles National Forest, told LAist. “Anyone choosing to hike Mount Baldy, especially in winter, must stay vigilant about risks in that area,” Vuzcarra said in a statement.
What you need to know: Visitors are encouraged to check for updates and conditions online before visiting, or by calling the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument office at (626) 335-1251. There is no cell service throughout most of the Angeles National Forest and there are no gas stations in the forest.
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