Mt. Baldy Closes To The Public Amid Treacherous Conditions, Hiker Deaths

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Following three hiker deaths this week on Mt. Baldy, the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday issued a temporary closure order of the peak.

The closure runs from 10 p.m. Dec. 29 until 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31. and affects portions of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, including Mt. Baldy (see the full list of closure areas below*). It's unclear whether the impending storm might prolong the shutdown.

"The tragic loss of life on Mt. Baldy and repeated rescue responses highlight how dangerous current conditions are, even for experienced hikers," San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said Tuesday. "Weather and terrain conditions remain extremely dangerous and unpredictable, posing a significant risk to both the public and Search and Rescue personnel. The temporary closure of Mt. Baldy trails is necessary to prevent additional emergencies and protect lives. The public is urged to respect the closure and avoid the area until it is safe to reopen."

Three hikers died Monday in the Devil's Backbone area of Mt. Baldy. Aerial crews attempted repeatedly to rescue the trio, but high winds prevented a safe operation. After nightfall, a medic was finally hoisted down to the three, but all of the hikers had died. Read more: 3 Hikers Found Dead On Mt. Baldy

In addition to the tragedy, search-and-rescue crews also worked Monday to save two hikers near Mt. Baldy's Ontario Peak Trail.

At approximately 1:44 p.m., the hikers, identified only as an 18-year-old Riverside County man and a 31-year-old San Bernardino man, called 911 for help after one of them fell approximately 100 feet and sustained injuries, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

A sheriff's department helicopter crew spotted the hikers and successfully performed a hoist rescue. An update on the hikers' condition was unavailable.

For those considering flouting the closure order, there are repercussions.

"Members of the public are required to comply with all posted closure signs and directions from U.S. Forest Service personnel," according to the sheriff's department. "A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.

"The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department advises all subjects to refrain from traveling to or recreating in the Mt. Baldy area for the duration of the closure," the agency continued. "Public cooperation is essential to ensure the safety of visitors and rescue personnel and to support ongoing public safety operations."

*Mt. Baldy closure areas:

The Mt. Baldy closure begins at the intersection of Mount Baldy Road and Glendora Ridge Road in Section 30, Township 1 North, Range 8 West, San Bernardino Base and Meridian (SBBM); then continues due west to Section 22, Township 1 North, Range 8 West, SBBM; then continues due north through the summit of Iron Mountain in Section 3, Township 2 North, Range 8 West, SBBM, to Section 27, Township 2 North, Range 8 West, SBBM; then continues due east through the summit of Pine Mountain in Section 30, Township 2 North, Range 8 West, SBBM, to the Angeles National Forest congressional boundary in Section 28, Township 2 North, Range 7 West, SBBM; then continues south along the Angeles National Forest congressional boundary through the summit of Timber Mountain in Section 23, Township 1 North, Range 7 West, SBBM, to Section 27, Township 1 North, Range 8 West, SBBM.