Rave Party at Snowcrest

I encountered many of the departing rave partygoers speeding down Angeles Crest Highway early Aug. 29 as I was driving up for a hike. These drivers were frequently crossing the center line and tailgating at high speeds. To find out that the Forest Service actually issued a permit for this party is disheartening (Aug. 31). I felt that my life was unnecessarily put at risk on my early morning drive into the mountains. The complete and utter lack of judgment of the Forest Service in allowing this rave party to take place in the Angeles National Forest can only be explained by the revenue it expects to receive.

This is the same Forest Service that forces me to buy a $5-per-day Adventure Pass to hike in the Angeles Crest area. I’m afraid that the Forest Service’s recent institution of the Adventure Pass is only the tip of the iceberg. It is becoming clear to me that the Forest Service will sell our mountains to the highest bidder, regardless of the impact on the environment and lovers of the wilderness.

LAURIE McCALL

Sierra Madre

* Another tragedy and another round of the blame game. Why was this party allowed? Whose fault is this? What laws can we pass? Unfortunately this was no one’s fault. We don’t live in a risk-free world. It’s easy to try to second-guess decisions after a tragedy, but in this case, useless.

The ski area has a right to rent its property, the promoters followed all laws, had security and first aid. The police knew about it. The Forest Service had issued permits before for the same type of parties with no problems. What more are you going to do?

After a long night of dancing, a teenager either lost control or fell asleep at the wheel and went off the road. It’s sad and tragic. Nobody wants to see young lives end too soon [five teens died], but in this case there is no one to blame, except perhaps the teenagers themselves for what in hindsight looks like a bad decision to head home instead of sleep for a couple of hours. Don’t make a bad situation worse by trying to place blame on those who don’t deserve it.

KEVIN KILDOW

Los Angeles