Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
How To LA: What It Takes To Rebuild A Lost Trail
Volunteers with Lowelifes Respectable Citizens' Club work to restore a trail in the Angeles National Forest.
(
Erin Stone
/
LAist
)
Topline:
You read the articles, now listen to the podcast. How To LA explores the day in the life of volunteers who are by rebuilding trails damaged by the Bobcat Fire.
Why it matters (to L.A.): Angelenos love to get out in nature and hike. Trails all over the county are typically packed on the weekends from the Santa Monicas to the San Gabriels. But wildfires have left many spots damaged and unusable. Enter the volunteers. These groups donate their time to rebuild trails with the U.S. Forest Service, which has been hampered in recent years by staff shortages and funding issues.
Why now: How To LA producer Evan Jacoby and LAist climate reporter Erin Stone strapped on their hiking boots and went up to Mount Wilson to report on these efforts and also help restore damaged trails. They joined 17 other volunteers who are part of the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens’ Club, one of the groups working with the Forest Service.
Support for LAist comes from
Listen to the episode:
Listen
• 22:58
Listen
• 22:58
After Fire, Who Rebuilds Our Trails In The San Gabriel Mountains?
Agencies like the Forest Service are allocating more and more resources towards fire management — but that leaves little time and money for trail rehabilitation. Enter volunteer groups like Lowelifes Respectable Citizen's Club.
Go deeper:
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist