Danger in Them Thar’ Hills

Angeles National Forest offers a wilderness retreat within easy access of millions of Southern Californians. Unfortunately, city slickers who head for the forest too often are ill-prepared or unaware of natural wilderness hazards that can be deadly. But warnings at dangerous spots, and even trail signs, are virtually nonexistent in the forest.

That’s inexcusable and worrisome, especially since Angeles is the nation’s most popular forest--host to 20 million visitors annually. That amazing statistic is no surprise when you consider that the Angeles Forest extends the length of the San Gabriel Mountains.

They loom closely over the Los Angeles area, from the San Fernando Valley almost to San Bernardino, and are readily accessible by several major highways.

The U.S. Forest Service manages this 652,000-acre wilderness area in Los Angeles’ back yard, but does not keep data on accidents that occur in the forest.

In a story pointing out safety concerns, Times writer Jeff Meyers reported recently that a handful of people are killed and dozens more injured in the forest every year.

Since 1970, almost 100 visitors have lost their lives in accidents at Switzer Falls alone. One was Thomas Grijalva, a 22-year-old street kid, who was killed in a fall there during his first and only visit to the forest earlier this year. Xavier Soto, a 23-year-old Pacoima auto mechanic, has been paralyzed since a 1983 diving accident in a pool near the Stonyvale Picnic Ground.

Local Forest Service officials have inexplicably refused to address these safety concerns. They have an obligation to adequately inform the public of the potential perils of Angeles, not just shallow pools but fast changing weather, too. Posting warnings in English as well as in Spanish would at least put visitors on notice that certain spots are dangerous.

The local Forest Service folks should take a safety cue from their boss in Washington, F. Dale Robertson, who said, “It’s not our policy to treat the public with anything but care and concern. We ought to be warning people if there are dangers they’re not aware of.”

So why is that not the case in Angeles National Forest?