Before venturing out, you need to know the latest news about road
conditions, campground closures and fire restrictions. Here is a round-up of the current headlines pulled from US Forest Service press releases, the Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Forestry, National Park Service and other sources.

PALOMAR RANGER REPORTS FOR DUTY - May 4
The Cleveland National Forest is please to announce that Joan Friedlander is the new US Forest Service District Ranger for the Palomar Ranger District, headquartered in Ramona, CA. She reported for duty on April 28, 2008. Joan comes to the Cleveland national Forest from Colorado and brings a diverse background including having served as a Forest Service regional program leader for rare and endangered species, for 12 years. Additionally, she has worked with contentious multi-state water issues throughout the West helping forge solutions with people of differing views. Having most recently worked as a regional strategic planner, Friedlander said, "one of the advantages of working in planning is that I have been involved in just about every major issue and initiative the Forest Service works with." The glide path from working at a regional level with 12 National Forests and Grasslands in 5 states in Colorado, to the Palomar Ranger District is " …like coming home as the District level is where I started my career 25 years ago," stated Friedlander. "In the Forest Service, the District is fundamentally the heart and soul of our system of National Forests. It’s where the rubber meets the road." Friedlander is no stranger to these parts as she has been coming to this neck of the woods for the past 26 years to visit her parents who live in nearby Rancho Bernardo. Prior to accepting this position permanently, Joan served as the temporary "acting ranger" of the Palomar Ranger District and arrived on the District the second day of the fire siege last fall. "I left in a snowstorm, arrived in a firestorm, and then culminating the end of my temporary assignment, was the freak February snowstorm in Ramona," Friedlander recalls. "This gives new meaning to the term 'climate change', but just in case, this time I made sure it wasn’t snowing when I left town to move here." "But seriously," stated Friedlander, "to witness the heroic response of the community as a whole and our Forest Service employees to assist one another during this traumatic event was inspiring to witness and be a part of. It is a privilege and a honor to be afforded the opportunity to work with the District employees and this community on a permanent basis." On a District with seven fire stations, and more than a hundred permanent and temporary firefighters, it should come as no surprise that Friedlander will continue the strong emphasis on the critical agency mission of wildland fire fighting and prevention. But, there are other aspects to the Forest Service mission that interests her as well. "As a mother of two children, I can relate to an important need to get more kids in the woods, as modern day families are becoming increasingly removed from experiencing the outdoors, especially in urban areas," said Friedlander. Friedlander states that she is excited to work on efforts to develop new opportunities for those that like to camp, hike, horseback, and use motorized vehicles. Friedlander knows that there is still plenty of work to do in recovery efforts from the October fires. "It has been an extraordinary year of long hours, and hard yet rewarding work," Friedlander notes. Following extensive weeks of fire-fighting last fall, came extensive road and trail damage from the rain events that ensued. "District employees have worked hard to restore, repair, as well as prevent further tragedy to people and the land, water and species resources we help manage. Candidly, it's been a hard year on our employees and the community as this District incurred the most burned acres in all of southern California," she said. She acknowledges that it has also been rewarding to see the 'renewal' of the landscape as it comes back to life, both figuratively and literally. Looking to the future, Friedlander notes, "In the coming months, I want to personally acknowledge and thank the people in the surrounding community. Residents are the ones who had to make personal sacrifices in a year that took its toll; including having to endure Forest closures while we focused on rehabilitation and repairs. We couldn't have done any of this without the support of the community and we will continue to build strong partnerships within the community in future endeavors. This is their land to enjoy; I am merely a temporary steward." Friedlander and her family plan to reside in Ramona. [US Forest Service press release]

THIS WEEKS SCHEDULED DFG TROUT PLANTS - April 27
The following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be re-stocked this week by the California Department of Fish and Game. All plants are subject to change depending on road, water and weather conditions. More specific dates are not given so that fishing activity will not be focused right after the time of the plant. Occasionally, operational problems may cause alteration of the schedule.
SANTA BARBARA: Lake Cachuma, Santa Ynez River.
VENTURA: Lake Piru.
LOS ANGELES: Bouquet Canyon Creek, Castaic Lagoon, Elizabeth Lake, Little Rock Reservoir, Pyramid Lake.
ORANGE: Trabuco Creek.
SAN BERNARDINO: Miller Canyon Creek, Mojave Narrows, Santa Ana River, Silverwood Lake, South Fork Santa Ana River.
[California Department of Fish and Game (DFG)]

HELICOPTER PICKS UP SNAKE-BITE VICTIM - April 23
A hiker who reported being bitten in the leg by a rattlesnake was picked up Tuesday by a Riverside County sheriff's helicopter and airlifted from a remote area east of Hemet, according to a Cal Fire/Riverside County Department news release. The man, who was hiking alone, was taken shortly after 4 p.m. from Bee Canyon off Highway 74 in the San Bernardino National Forest to the forest's Cranston Ranger Station, the news release said. From there, a ground ambulance took him to a local hospital for treatment. The man's name was not released. The rest of this article is located on the Press-Enterprise website. Click HERE to read the full article. [Gail Wesson, gwesson@PE.com]

YOSEMITE EL PORTAL MARKET BURNS DOWN - April 22
The El Portal Market, one of Yosemite National Park’s oldest buildings, burned to the ground yesterday in a blaze which was reported by local residents at approximately 5 a.m. Units from El Portal, Wawona and Yosemite Valley and from DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. and Mariposa County responded to the fire. The market has been closed for renovations since late March. The El Portal Market, built around 1934, originally served park visitors travelling to Yosemite by railroad. The market was operated between 1966 and March of this year under the general partnership of Vaughn, Vaughn, and Carter. The current operator was scheduled to open the market in late spring, when renovations were completed. The market has served El Portal residents and park visitors since the mid-1930’s as both a general merchandise store and a community meeting place. Yosemite park managers are meeting to consider options for replacing the building. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. [Adrienne Freeman, Public Affairs Officer]

CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST RAISES RESTRICTION LEVEL TO MODERATE - April 18
The current hot weather and dry vegetation conditions in the region has increased our fire danger level on the Forest, increasing the Forest Use Restriction level from LOW to MODERATE, effective Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 6:00am. "We appreciate the public's cooperation. The forest use restriction level is subject to change with weather and fire activity on the forest, visitors should still use care and caution when visiting the Forest." said Will Metz, Forest Supervisor for the Cleveland National Forest. Some updates for forest visitors include: the Observatory Campground and San Luis Rey Picnic Area on the Palomar Ranger District are now open. Boulder Oaks Campground is closed, and Santiago Fire burned areas in the Santa Ana Mountains have remained closed. Forest visitors can check on road access, allowable recreational activities, and what restrictions are in place by going to the forest website, www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland and clicking on " current conditions" or by calling the nearest District Office. Please check with the other southern California National Forests to determine what current fire restrictions are in place. For a recorded message please call 619-593-2183 or for online information go to www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland. [US Forest Service press release]

MOJAVE MAX MAKES SPRING DEBUT - April 16
After months of anticipation Mojave Max, the famous southern Nevada desert tortoise who resides at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, officially emerged from his burrow at 11:27 a.m. April 14, 2008. This year Max slept late, it is his latest official emergence to date. Warmer weather and a spectacular wildflower season finally lured him from his burrow. The tortoise’s debut is hailed by thousands of students in Nevada and California who have been studying Mojave Desert weather, temperatures, and conditions to estimate when Mojave Max would emerge from his burrow in 2008. They entered their guesses on line at www.mojavemax.com. Entries are being tabulated and the official winner will be announced soon. Students in grades 1-12 enrolled in schools in Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties are eligible for prizes offered in southern California. “The Mojave Max Emergence Contest is one of several components of a desert-wide tortoise education program being developed by the Desert Managers Group (DMG) to help students learn more about the desert tortoise,” said DMG Desert Tortoise Outreach Coordinator Anne Staley. The DMG is a consortium of county, state, federal and military agencies that work together to manage federal and state lands within southern California. “Our goal is to get many more students in southern California involved in the contest and our educational program to learn more about the tortoise, which was federally listed as a threatened species in 1990,” added Staley. Like other desert tortoises, Mojave Max enters a burrow to brumate (the reptilian form of hibernation) every winter and emerges every spring. Warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours, and an internal “clock” are factors known to contribute to his emergence every year. For more information contact Anne Staley at (760) 367-5528 or visit the DMG website at www.dmg.gov. [National Park Service press release]

COALITION OF OFF ROADERS FORMED TO ADDRESS POSSIBLE MILITARY BASE EXPANSION - April 15
Last week, a coalition representing off-road enthusiasts met with representatives of Twentynine Palms Marine Base to review the Military’s possible plans to expand the 1950’s-era base. The proposed expansion would increase the marine base into adjoining Bureau of Land Management (BLM) desert land, which may include Johnson Valley. The goal of the coalition is to gather information as a united group and meet on a regular basis with the military in an effort to work toward a mutually agreeable solution. Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) recreational access areas in California have continued to shrink over the past three decades causing many OHV enthusiasts to question what will happen to the popular recreational sport. In light of rumors of a possible base expansion into the 189,000-acre Johnson Valley OHV recreational area, there is increased concern of yet more closures of public land access. Johnson Valley, located 55 miles southeast of Barstow is a popular OHV destination for many OHV enthusiasts throughout Southern California. The OHV coalition, upon hearing of the Military’s possible expansion into public lands met with Marine Base representatives to understand their long range goals for expansion. The Military has been evaluating options for base expansions in an effort to provide increased training areas for our Nation’s military, and has previously indicated their intent to be "good neighbors." The proposed expansion is in an evaluation stage only. Twentynine Palms has been host to military training dating back to the early 40’s. The Marines now use Twentynine Palms as their Combat Training Center occupying 932 square miles, or 596,000 acres of the southern Mojave Desert. The Combat Center is three-quarters the size of Rhode Island. The California desert is a finite resource that has been allocated over the past seven decades to a multitude of public purposes and uses. One of those uses is national defense training, and the Unites States Marine Corps is evaluating the feasibility of a major reallocation of that finite resource. Ultimately, the coalition is asking for continued access to our public lands. Further progress will be reported following subsequent meetings. [California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc.]

THIS WEEKS SCHEDULED DFG TROUT PLANTS - April 14
The following lakes and streams, listed by county, will be re-stocked this week by the California Department of Fish and Game. All plants are subject to change depending on road, water and weather conditions. More specific dates are not given so that fishing activity will not be focused right after the time of the plant. Occasionally, operational problems may cause alteration of the schedule. SANTA BARBARA: Lake Cachuma, Lion Canyon Creek, Santa Ynez River.
VENTURA: Casitas Lake, Lake Piru, Rose Lake, Reyes Creek.
LOS ANGELES: Castaic Lake, Elizabeth Lake, Hansen Lake, Little Rock Reservoir, Piru Creek.
ORANGE: Trabuco Creek.
RIVERSIDE: Strawberry Creek.
SAN BERNARDINO: Mojave Narrows Regional Park, Santa Ana River, South Fork of the Santa Ana River.
SAN DIEGO: Murray Reservoir.
[California Department of Fish and Game (DFG)]

TEAM FINDS HIKER'S BODY - April 6
The body of a North Hollywood man who went hiking in the Green Valley Lake area in early January and never returned was found Friday morning. Dean Gordon Christy, 62, was found at 11:30 a.m. on a remote mountain valley north of Green Valley Lake, according to a San Bernardino County sheriff's news release. During a regular weekly search, Rim of the World Search and Rescue Team members discovered Christy's body. The searches in and around the Green Valley Lake took place over the past five weeks. Coroner's investigators identified the body. Christy went missing Jan. 4 after he became disoriented when fog rolled in during his day hike, according to the news release. Rescuers from Ventura and Riverside counties assisted in the search. Christy made two 9-1-1 calls after the thick fog blanketed the forest. Dispatchers learned of Christy's whereabouts and launched a search around the lake. They lost contact with him when his cellular service went dead and the weather deteriorated. The rest of this article is located on the www.sbsun.com website. Click HERE to read the full article. [Jannise Johnson, Staff Writer, San Bernardino Sun]

SPLINTER’S CABIN ACCESS ROAD CLOSED DUE TO WINTER STORM DAMAGE - April 3
Significant rainfall and run off in Little Bear Creek has damaged the road crossing on the popular Splinter’s Cabin access road on the Mountaintop Ranger District. The recent storms undermined the road crossing of the creek, which is now unsafe for motor vehicles. The road will be closed to motor vehicles until further notice until repairs are completed. The road and the forest remain open for visitors on foot, horseback and bicycles. Visitors are asked to park along Forest Road 3N34, parking clear of the gate and roadway in case fire and emergency crews need to access the Deep Creek area. Visitors entering the area from Hook Creek road please veer right onto Forest Road 3N34, drive a short distance to a dirt parking area on the left side of the road. Follow the trail north along the ridge a short distance then down the hill to Splinter's Cabin. A couple points to remember:
• Conditions may change without notice.
• Please exercise caution when crossing Little Bear Creek.
• Bicycles are permitted to Splinters Cabin, however cannot be ridden on the Pacific Crest Trail.
• Please do not block the access road gate
• Forest Adventure Pass is required and must be displayed on parked vehicles.
• Deep Creek is a day use area; overnight camping is not permitted.
[US Forest Service press release]

FOREST SERVICE REOPENS AREAS BURNED IN ZACA FIRE - April 1
Los Padres National Forest officials today announced that the area burned by the Zaca Fire, closed to public entry since the fire began in July 2007, will be reopened at noon, April 4. "The trail system has sustained extensive damage and the public is urged to use extreme caution when traveling in the affected area," said Forest Supervisor Peggy Hernandez. "A great deal of dry ravel (erosion) occurred immediately after the fire, and the winter rains and heavy snowfall caused additional damage," explained Hernandez. "Particularly hard hit are vulnerable mid-slope trails like segments of the popular Santa Cruz trail, and the Grapevine and Potrero trails in the San Rafael Wilderness. Another key area that sustained significant damage is the Manzana Narrows. Many sections of the trail system have been completely obliterated." Forest Service backcountry manager Kerry Kellogg estimates that 167 miles of backcountry trail were impacted by the Zaca Fire. Kellogg said other safety hazards include deep gullies, landslides and rockslides on trails; burned trees and tree limbs that can fall without warning; burned stump holes; and damaged or missing trail signs. He warned that the land, particularly the steep terrain, will be changing constantly and will be unstable for many years until the vegetation becomes reestablished. "Even the most experienced hikers will need to stay alert to their surroundings and not take unnecessary risks," Kellogg said. Forest Service officials also warned that most of the burned area will not be safe for equestrians until the trails are repaired. "Hikers may be able to pick their way across some damaged areas, but stock would have a very difficult time," said Kathleen Phelps, District Ranger for the Santa Lucia District which encompasses most of the San Rafael Wilderness. Of particular concern are sideslope trails where horses may not be able to turn around safely if they encounter a landslide or gully. A small group of dedicated volunteers who work regularly with the Forest Service have been surveying the burned area to document trail conditions. While they have explored a large area, there are still some regions of the backcountry in the Dick Smith and San Rafael Wildernesses that no one has seen since the fire. "We are still collecting information on trail conditions, and the trails we know about have changed over the past few months," said Santa Barbara District Ranger Cindy Chojnacky. She said it will take years to repair the trail system. "We have started work with trail crews and volunteers in priority areas, and will extend that work as the ground stabilizes. However, some of the more remote, less traveled trails may never be reestablished." "Ironically, some ridge and canyon trails in the burn area, previously impassable due to brush, may be open for the first time in years," Chojnacky said. "For instance, the Hurricane Deck trail is now visible, although it is hard to follow in mid-slope areas. The trails in Indian and Mono Creeks are not in great shape, but the canyons have silted in and the creek banks are fairly easy to hike. For experienced hikers who want to explore, probably the best advice is, check with the district on specific areas and don't count on making a loop trip." Some of the burned area will still be subject to temporary closures during rainy periods. Some gates will remain closed to protect fuelbreaks, fire containment lines and open areas from vehicle trespass until vegetation is reestablished. For example, an eleven mile section of the Buckhorn Road will remain closed to vehicles starting from the point where it intersects the Camuesa Road. In addition, there are still several roads outside the burned area that sustained damage during the fire suppression efforts and are closed temporarily for repairs. For more information about conditions in the Zaca Fire area, contact the Santa Barbara Ranger District Office on Paradise Road at (805) 967-3481, and the Santa Lucia District Office in Santa Maria at (805) 925-9538. Photos of some of the trail damage taken by the volunteer backcountry rangers are available on the forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres. At the height of the Zaca Fire in August 2007, the closure encompassed over 660,000 acres between Highway 166 on the north and Highway 33 on the south. Nearly 330,000 acres have been closed to the public since October including most of the San Rafael Wilderness, all of the Dick Smith Wilderness. [US Forest Service press release]

WITCH, POOMACHA AND HARRIS FIRE CLOSURE AREAS TO RE-OPEN - March 28
The Cleveland National Forest is pleased to announce the re-opening of the Witch, Poomacha and Harris Fire areas following their closures in response to last October's wildfires. (Please note that the Santiago Fire area on the Trabuco Ranger District will remain closed) The areas of the Forest will re-open Friday, March 28, 2008. The closures were necessary in order to provide for public health and safety, to allow time for the land to re-vegetate, and for forest crews to complete emergency restoration efforts. "We greatly appreciate the public's patience and cooperation while the closures were in effect," said Will Metz, Cleveland National Forest, Forest Supervisor. "Our public lands are important to so many people, and we are happy to re-open the Forest for their use." Unfortunately not all of the fire areas can be re-opened at this time. The Santiago Fire area on the Trabuco Ranger District (northern most District on the Forest) will remain closed in order to allow more time for the burned area to re-vegetate and for forest crews to complete restoration work. Additionally, some roads within the Witch Fire area that were heavily damaged will remain closed to motorized vehicles until stabilization work can be conducted. A portion of the Wild Horse Trail within the Agua Tibia Wilderness Area impacted by the Poomacha Fire will also remain closed. "Our crews have surveyed all of the burned areas and have found that some of the transportation facilities such as roads and a part of the Wild Horse trail will need fairly extensive reconstruction before being considered safe for public use," added Metz. While these roads are closed to motorized vehicle use, the immediately adjacent areas surrounding the roads are open for public use via non-motorized methods. "Public safety is our number one concern," adds Metz. "There are hazard trees, falling rocks and boulders, and significant road damage within the fire areas. Please follow the instructions on all posted signs to ensure a safe and fun outing in the Forest." For information on road closures within the Poomacha and Witch Fire areas, and the Wild Horse Trail on the Palomar Ranger District, please call the District office in Ramona at 760-788-0250. For further information concerning the Harris fire area, please contact the Descanso Ranger District in Alpine at 619-445-6235. For information on the Santiago Fire area that will remain closed on the Trabuco Ranger District, please contact the District in Corona at 951-736-1811. For a full listing of existing closure orders and maps of closed areas, roads and trails, please visit the Cleveland National Forest web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/conditions/firestorm.shtml Please note these changes to Forest closures are only for the Cleveland National Forest and do not impact the San Bernardino, Angeles and the Los Padres National Forests. [US Forest Service press release]

JOSHUA TREE ADDS EVEN MORE PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS - March 26
Superintendent Curt Sauer announced that Joshua Tree National Park has revised park regulations contained in the Superintendent's Compendium. The Compendium is a list of park-specific regulations National Park Service Superintendents are authorized to issue under the Federal Code Regulations (36CFR, sec.1.5). The Compendium codifies park regulations "necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety, protection of environmental or scenic values, protection of natural or cultural resources, aid to scientific research, implementation of management responsibilities, equitable allocation and use of facilities, or the avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities." Revisions to the Superintendent’s Compendium for Joshua Tree National Park are as follows:
* The Coxcomb Adit and Mission Mill Site areas are removed from their status as 'day-use-only' areas.
* The Pinto Wye and Cottonwood Well Service roads are closed to public access.
* Entering park mines and adits is prohibited.
* Use of Segways by mobility-impaired individuals is now permitted on park trails.
* Use of inflated balloons within the park is prohibited without a permit.
* Use of Black Rock and Ryan Campground Horse Camps is limited to horse groups only.
* Campers must pay for campsites within one hour of their occupancy.
* Check-out time for all park campsites is 12 Noon on the day of departure.
* No fixed lines are allowed in park campsites. Lines used to secure tents to the ground are permitted.
* Hanging lanterns from park vegetation is prohibited.
* Outdoor showers used in park campsites must have containment basins.
* Winter recreational activities are prohibited on park roads.
* Swimming, wading, and bathing are prohibited at the 49 Palms Oasis.
These revisions to the Compendium are adopted with the issuance of this press release. A complete copy of the Superintendent's Compendium is available at: http://www.nps.gov/jotr/parkmgmt/ Questions about the Superintendent's Compendium and the current revisions should be directed to Joshua Tree District Ranger Jeff Ohlfs at 760-367-5548. [National Park Service]

SEARCH TEAMS LOOK FOR MISSING HIKER - March 24
Search teams are looking in the Garner Valley area of the San Jacinto Mountains for a woman hiker reported missing Friday, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Deputies were sent to the 58000 block of Apple Canyon Road in the Mountain Center area at 10:33 a.m. Friday after a report that hiker Deborah Huglin, 54, of Cardiff, by the Sea in San Diego County, was missing, according to a news release from Sgt. Mark Sedgwick of the Hemet sheriff's station. Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit volunteers were called out that afternoon, and other teams from neighboring counties joined on the weekend, along with helicopters and search dogs. Anyone with information is asked to call Senior Investigator Kevin Duffy at 951-791-3400. [US Outdoor News]

THIS WEEKS TROUT PLANTS - March 23
The following lakes and streams will be re-stocked this week by California Dept. of Fish and Game. All plants are subject to change depending on road, water and weather conditions. More specific dates are not given so that fishing activity will not be focused right after the time of the plant. Occasionally, operational problems may cause alteration of the schedule.
LOS ANGELES: Arroyo Seco Creek, San Gabriel River (east and west forks), Big Tujunga Creek, Puddingstone Reservoir, Santa Fe Flood Control Basin.
ORANGE: Laguna Lake, Trabuco Creek
SAN DIEGO: Murray Reservoir
RIVERSIDE: Hemet Lake
SAN BERNARDINO: Santa Ana River
[California Fish and Game]

FOREST SERVICE ISSUES DECISION AUTHORIZING FUEL REDUCTION AND FOREST HEALTH THINNING - March 18
John F. Capell, District Ranger of the Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers Ranger District, issued a Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on March 17, 2008 authorizing hazardous fuel reduction and forest health thinning activities on National Forest System lands near Wrightwood, CA. The following actions will be implemented by this decision:
* Construct and maintain 352 acres of fuelbreaks to reduce fuel hazards around the community of Wrightwood.
* Thin 1320 acres of forest to reduce bark beetle risk, to reduce disease spread, and to modify wildland fuel conditions.
* Thin 484 acres of chaparral shrubs to modify fire behavior by reducing fireline intensity.
The purpose of the project is to protect people and property, to increase fireline safety for fire fighters, to reduce the risk of damage to forest resources, and to improve forest health. Angeles National Forest officials completed an environmental assessment (EA) for the Wrightwood Project in November 2007. The project was analyzed under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) authority, and is thus not subject to appeal (36 CFR 215.12 and 218.3). The HFRA replaces the Forest Service’s administrative appeals process with an objection process. A 30-day objection period for the Wrightwood Project was initiated on November 23, 2007, and closed on December 26, 2007. All requirements for response to objections by the Reviewing Official (Forest Supervisor Jody Noiron) have been met. The management activities described in the EA under Alternative 2 may be implemented at any time 30 days after March 17, 2008, which is the signature date of the decision. Copies of the Decision Notice and FONSI are available online at www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles and at the Angeles National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 701 N. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006. For additional information, contact John Capell, District Ranger, 661-296-9710, or Kathy Peterson, Forest Planner, at 626-574-5206. [US Forest Service press release]

HELICOPTER USED TO RESCUE INJURED HIKER - March 10
A Laguna Beach man who fell while hiking in Los Padres National Forest near Ojai was rescued Sunday by helicopter. Richard Maxwell, 81, and his wife, Carol, were hiking Sunday morning on the Pratt Trail when he became lightheaded and fell, sheriff's deputies said. A group of Boy Scouts hiking with the couple tended to him while two adults in the party called for help on a cell phone. Emergency crews from the county Fire Department and an aviation unit from the Sheriff's Department arrived and rescued Maxwell. The rest of this article is located on the www.venturacountystar.com website. Click HERE to read the full article. [Ventura County Star]

DEAD HIKER HAD GEAR, NO PARTNER - March 3
Search and rescue experts Monday said 46-year-old Robert Bruner, who died while hiking in the mountains, brought almost everything he needed to safely go ice-climbing. "This gentleman had all the equipment he should have had - except for a partner," said Richard Wingate of the Mt. Baldy Search and Rescue Team. "You don't recommend anyone doing anything like that alone, or if you are, being pretty specific about where you're going." Bruner, of Chino, hiked into the mountains at Icehouse Canyon on Wednesday. He was reported missing Friday morning when he did not come home, officials said. Ed Wallace, a Sierra Club hike leader who lives in Big Bear Lake, said he knows people who hike on ice. "I don't want someone to get hurt doing it," said Wallace, 67, who has been a hike leader for the Sierra Club since the 1970s and has lived in Big Bear Lake for five years. In fact, Wallace said he does not recommend hiking on ice at all. "Sometimes experience (means) ... being experienced enough to not do something," he said. The rest of this article is located on the www.dailybulletin.com website. Click HERE to read the full article. [Wes Woods II, Staff Writer, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin]

HELITACK 408 CREW'S SPECIALIZED RESCUE SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT SAVE HIKERS - February 25
Rescue crews from the Kern County Fire Department, Kern County Sheriff and U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were kept busy performing two separate air and ground rescues in remote locations of northeastern Kern County on Feb. 17. The first rescue was in a rugged canyon near Nicholls Peak in the Kelso Valley area southeast of Lake Isabella. While hiking with three friends, a 43-year-old Bakersfield woman fell and injured her ankle. The fire department received the call at 6:06 p.m. and responded ground units from Lake Isabella and Helicopter 408 from Keene. With information received by phone from the one of the hikers, including Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates and a description of the location of the patient, Helicopter 408 proceeded to the area. Using night vision goggles, the helicopter crew spotted the hiker’s headlamps from about four miles out. After circling the group and evaluating the scene, Firefighter Ryan Fox was lowered from the hovering helicopter by a hoist cable to affect the rescue. After the patient was stabilized and secured in a rescue harness, Firefighter Fox and the patient were hoisted into the helicopter and flown to an awaiting ambulance. After transfer to the ambulance the woman was taken to Kern Valley hospital for treatment. The remaining hikers safely walked out of the area. A combination of good safety preparations by the hikers and the specialized rescue skills and equipment used by the fire department helicopter crew contributed to a positive conclusion to this incident. The second incident, located in the El Paso Mountains northwest of Garlock Road and east of Highway 14, involved a man who became separated from his group after his off road vehicle was disabled. Darkness, rugged Jeep trails and the vague description of the man’s location made it difficult for rescuers to find him. After about two hours of searching Kern County Fire Captain John King from the Randsburg Station made cell phone contact with the man and was able to direct Air-1, the Sheriffs Department helicopter, to the area. After locating the man the crew of Air-1 directed BLM Rangers to his location. The man was found tired and thirsty but had no apparent injuries. The BLM rangers reunited the man with his group. Effective inter-agency coordination of these incidents was key to the successful outcome.
[Captain Tony Diffenbaugh, Public Information Office, KCFD]

CITY STRUGGLES TO BUY WILDERNESS AREA - February 21
With a developer's deadline fast approaching, the city is scrambling to assemble a $7 million financing package to buy Annandale Canyon, one of Pasadena's last remaining wilderness areas, and save it from becoming a luxury housing estate. It's been a year since the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy gave the city a $2.5 million grant toward purchasing the rugged 21-acre canyon in the San Rafael Hills. Coming up with the rest of the money has proved trickier. Neighbors complain that a proposal to tax them to cover about $3million of the land purchase - with annual levies from $200 to $1,000 per household - would put too much of a burden on them for what would become public parkland. The City Council put off deciding on the proposed benefit assessment district until its Feb. 25 meeting. Developer Jon Head said he was prepared to be patient, up to a point. If the city can't find the money, Head said he has a couple of interested developers "on the back burner." Mayor Bill Bogaard said there's a short list of five "unfunded priorities" in the city, which includes acquiring or preserving open space and parkland. The rest of this article is located on the pasadenastarnews.com website. Click HERE to read the full article. [Pasadena Star News, By Janette Williams, Staff Writer]

EFFORTS FAILED TO SAVE MAN FROM SURF - February 19
A 27-year-old man from San Luis Obispo was swept out to sea early Saturday while camping at Limekiln State Park early Saturday, officials reported. The state Department of Parks and Recreation reported that Christopher Partridge had been camping and hanging out with friends when he was swept off the beach by a large wave around midnight. A friend tried to rescue the man but was almost swept under when another large wave hit the shore. According to the San Luis Obispo Tribune, Partridge and a friend were watching waves at the Big Sur campground when Partridge crept toward the waterline. A wave pulled Partridge into the surf. The rest of this article is located on the montereyherald.com website. Click HERE to read the full article. [Herald Staff Report, The Monterey County Herald]

FIRE RESTRICTIONS REDUCED ON THE SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST - February 14
Significant rainfall and snow across the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains has reduced the risk of wildland fire on the Forest effective Saturday, February 16th. The change in the fire danger level does not relax fire use restrictions. Open campfires are never permitted on the San Bernardino National Forest outside of agency provided fire rings in developed campgrounds and picnic areas. Gas, jellied or propane-type camp stoves are permitted in the backcountry areas with a valid California Campfire Permit. Approved Spark arresters in good working order are always required year-round on all off-road vehicles, chain saws and other equipment with internal combustion engines. Recreational Target Shooting is permitted in designated sites and locations under special use permit with the exception of Big Pine Flats (closed due to Butler II Fire) and Lighting Gulch (road closed due to snow). Fire Crews will continue burning slash and debris piles throughout the winter and early spring as conditions permit. Burning unnecessary fuel will further help protect nearby communities from wildfire. With the arrival of rain and snow, visitors need to be prepared, as conditions may change without notice. 'Know Before You Go,' plan your trip by checking on road conditions, letting someone know where you are headed and when you plan to return. Take along a few essential winter safety items such as tire chains carry extra food, water and blankets. Don’t forget to dress appropriately for winter weather! [US Forest Service press release]

SEARCHERS FIND THREE MISSING SNOWBOARDERS - February 8
Yosemite National Park began a search for three missing snowboarders on Monday afternoon after they failed to meet their ride near the community of Yosemite West, close to the park's western boundary. Their planned route was reportedly from a point just south of the Yosemite West junction on the Wawona Road to that community. A search was begun and continued until midnight, then resumed on the following morning. More than 65 SAR personnel from the park and Mariposa County were committed to the operation, which was also supported by aircraft. They were spotted from a helicopter early yesterday afternoon near the South Fork of the Merced River. All three were able to walk to the helicopter on their own. Medical assessments had yet to be conducted at the time of the report. [Adrienne Freeman, Public Affairs Officer]

RESCUED HIKER NURSING BROKEN ANKLE, FROSTBITE, AND ALREADY PLANNING NEXT TREK - February 5
Rescued backcountry hiker Ellen Coleman, hospitalized and nursing frostbite and a broken ankle Monday -- is already planning her next big adventure, family members say. The 54-year-old Riverside resident has scaled Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. A fierce weekend storm trapped Coleman Saturday and Sunday nights in the mountains above the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. She spent both nights inside an emergency shelter near Mount San Jacinto Peak. Temperatures plummeted to 16 degrees, officials said. After taking the tram up the mountain, Coleman climbed to the summit about 11:15 a.m. Saturday, but slipped on a patch of ice and broke her ankle, authorities said. She then spent about three hours crawling to the safety of a rock cabin that had a cot and a sleeping bag. On Monday morning, Coleman swung the cabin doors open to signal rescuers after hearing a helicopter overhead, said Robert May, who reached her as a member of the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit. The rest of this article is located on the Press-Enterprise website. Click HERE to read the full article. [STEVE MOORE, The Press-Enterprise]

MISSING HIKER'S BODY RECOVERED FROM MT. WILSON AREA - February 5
Authorities recovered the body of a female hiker Monday from the Mount Wilson area of the Angeles National Forest, after a rockslide and bad weather halted an earlier effort, authorities said. The woman apparently fell near Chantry Flats on Saturday, Deputy Tony Moore of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau said. Her body was recovered Monday morning, said Deputy Ed Hernandez. Authorities withheld the name of the woman, who was 32, pending notification of her relatives, Craig Harvey of the coroner's office said. The woman was hiking with a group of friends when she lost her footing and fell off a cliff at about 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Moore said. The rest of this article is located on the KNBC.COM website. Click HERE to read the full article. [KNBC (NBC4 Los Angeles)]

RESCUE GROUPS SEEK MISSING HIKER ON SAN JACINTO - February 4
Rescue crews atop Mount San Jacinto are continuing to search today for a 53-year-old female hiker - one of six hikers from three separate groups who either slid off icy trails or got lost near the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway this weekend, officials said Sunday. It all started at about 7:10 p.m. Saturday with a cell phone call from two stranded hikers who had slid some 600 to 700 yards off Skyline Trail, said Riveride County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela. The hikers, Marine Sgt. Lucas Ellison and Marine Sgt. Lance Chatagier, both 26 and stationed in Twentynine Palms, were helped out of dangerous ice and cliffs by volunteers using ropes and crampons on Sunday. "It was treacherous terrain," Valenzuela said, and they were unable to work their way back. Chatagier and Ellison, who are each believed to have at least four years of hiking experience, were wearing camouflage clothing when they slid off the trail. The search for Ellen Coleman, the hiker who is still missing, ended at 4 p.m. Sunday due to strong winds, Valenzuela said. Rescuers resumed the search this morning at 9 a.m. The rest of this article is located on the Desert Sun website. Click HERE to read the full article. [RaNeeka J. Claxton - The Desert Sun]

SKIER KILLED BY AVALANCHE - January 30
Morgan Cowles, 39, of Santa Barbara, California, was caught and buried by an avalanche in upper Tokopah Canyon in Sequoia National Park on Monday, January 28th. Cowles and companion Jason Gardner were skiing through the area at the time. Gardner uncovered Cowles, but he had already expired. Gardner was found shortly after the avalanche and was in good condition. Additional details are pending. [Kip Knapp, Acting Chief Ranger]

FLOODING CLOSES ROCK SPRINGS ROAD - January 29
Rock Springs Road has been over taken by Mojave River flood waters and now looks more like a lake, cutting off at least 11,000 vehicles per day who use it. Due to the recent heavy rains more than 366,000 gallons of water per minute is being released into the Mojave River, which has caused the closing of Rock Springs Road. The low-lying road which connects Apple Valley to Hesperia is often flooded out during heavy rains. The recent storms caused the California Department of Water Resources to release water from Silverwood Lake. "Cedar Springs Dam is not a flood control dam so any natural resources that come in, we have to let out," said John Bunce, operations superintendent for the department. Starting Sunday, the department began releasing 320 cubic feet of water from the dam per second, or 2,400 gallons. By Sunday night it was up to 4,500 gallons per second being released, said David Zook, spokesman for San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. Monday morning they increased the flow again up to 815 cubic feet per second, or 61,000 gallons, Zook added. It will continue at that rate indefinitely he said. The Cedar Springs Dam holds water in Silverwood Lake. The lake is a state water project retaining water from the California Aqueduct. The rest of this article is located on the Victorville Daily Press website. Click HERE to read the full article. [RYAN ORR, Staff Writer, Victorville Daily Press]

CAMPERS RESCUED AFTER FLASH FLOOD - January 28
Four friends sleeping in tents in Bowen Ranch Hot Springs were swept away in a flash flood Sunday, but rescue crews fished them out 6 miles downriver. The four - Krystal Levitre, 20, of Lucerne Valley; Ernest Taylor, 18, of Apple Valley; Jennifer Morse, 31, of Victorville; and Sammy Douglas, 26, of Victorville - hiked into Bowen Ranch Saturday afternoon and set up camp. Camping is illegal in the area, and a caretaker who maintains the property said he did not know there were trespassers. Deep Creek overflowed around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, and a 15-foot torrent of water destroyed the camp, stranding the two couples. "They woke up in the middle of the night being washed away," said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Arden Wiltshire. One of the men managed to call authorities Sunday morning and alert rescue crews that they had followed the Pacific Crest Trail downstream toward the Deep Creek Spillway. The rest of this article is located on the San Bernardino County Sun website. Click HERE to read the full article. [Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer, San Bernardino Sun]

MRCA ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF KEY BACKBONE TRAIL PROPERTY - January 28
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today it has purchased of one of the last remaining properties needed to complete the 65-mile Backbone Trail System. The 10-acre property in Encinal Canyon in unincorporated Ventura County (APN 694-0-21-500) provides a critical link to more than 20 miles of the trail between Los Angeles County and Point Mugu. The $275,000 purchase price includes an appurtenant easement over Etz Meloy Motorway, the trail alignment for the Backbone Trail. The acquisition is the latest of more than 177 individual parcels and trail easements that have been obtained by public park agencies since the crestline trail through the Santa Monica Mountains was first envisioned and planned in the late 1970s. The Mountains Conservancy Foundation (MCF), a nonprofit organization, donated $50,000 towards the purchase. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy granted the remaining amount in Proposition 84 funds approved by the voters in 2006 to complete the acquisition. Over 400 private donors have contributed to the Backbone Trail Completion Fund, which was established to augment public money to purchase trail properties. The donation is the latest in over $145,000 of funds contributed by the MCF for the purchase of Backbone Trail properties since the year 2000. 'The enduring vision and hard work of park agencies and hundreds of volunteers and donors dedicated to the Backbone Trail has made this trail system through the Santa Monica Mountains a reality,' said Joseph T. Edmiston, Executive Officer of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. 'The goal of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is not only to preserve these magnificent mountains, but to make them accessible for all people to explore and enjoy.' The Backbone Trail is a ridgeline trail unifying parklands in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and spanning two counties. The trail stretches east to west through vast canyon land, historic sites, streams, unusual geology, grassland, and coast 65 miles from Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades to Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County. It is anchored in the middle by Malibu Creek State Park. Completion of the Backbone Trail has been a more than 30-year effort by the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) unit of the National Park Service, California State Parks, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, and countless volunteers. Only three remaining parcels need to be purchased in order to complete the trail. Currently 63 miles of the trail are open to public use. For more information about the Backbone Trail, including maps, visit the SMMNRA website at http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/backbonetrail.htm. Press may also contact Melanie Beck at the National Park Service at (805) 370-2346. [Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority press release]

OUT OF BOUNDS AVALANCHE NEAR MT. HIGH KILLS THREE - January 27
This week, storms dropped up to four feet of snow in the San Gabriel Mountain Range in the Angeles National Forest. The heavy snowfall drew thousands of skiers and snowboarders to local resorts, but conditions turned deadly when visitors ventured beyond Mountain High Resort's posted boundaries. Beginning on Friday afternoon, San Bernardino County Fire Department and Antelope Valley Search and Rescue, with the assistance of Mountain High personnel, responded to reports of missing persons and began working to locate them. Three skiers triggered an avalanche in Government Canyon, located just east of Mountain High's posted boundary, that eventually cost one skier his life. The victim, a male in his early 20s, was located and transported via ambulance to Desert Community Hospital in Victorville, CA where he was later pronounced dead. In a separate area known as Sawmill Canyon, also beyond the resort's posted boundary, avalanches took the lives of two other skiers. Additionally, a male snowboarder in his early twenties exited the resort's boundaries and ended up south of the resort in the San Gabriel river valley. After spending the night outdoors, that visitor hiked out under his own recognizance and sustained only minor injuries. Mountain High offers its condolences to the families of the deceased individuals and wishes them the best during these difficult times. Mountain High Resort does not promote out-of-bounds skiing and recommends that all visitors stay within resort boundaries. [Mt High press release]

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