Following a series of unfortunate incidents on Mt. Baldy, which resulted in the death of two hikers and injuries or losses of 15 others this year, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is urging legislators to devise strategies to enhance safety for hiking enthusiasts.
Residents Janelle and Joey Rasich, who hike the Mt. Baldy trails weekly with their dogs, shared their own harrowing experience of getting stuck due to icy conditions and the need for a helicopter rescue. Such incidents are not uncommon in this area, especially after the snow melts, making the terrain particularly treacherous.
Deputy Chief John Walker of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Valley Mountain Patrol highlighted the frequency of such incidents, citing 10 search and rescues and two deaths in January and February alone. The department has conducted over 100 such operations since 2020, spending more than $3 million with minimal reimbursement, despite the area being federal land under the jurisdiction of the United States Forest Service.
Sheriff Shannon Dicus has proposed several safety measures in a letter to U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, whose district includes the Mt. Baldy region. Suggestions include closing the mountain to hikers during high-risk conditions, like heavy snowfall and ice accumulation, and implementing a permitting process to limit the number of people on the mountain at any given time.
The department also proposed an educational initiative where U.S. Forestry personnel would engage with and educate potential hikers. Regular hikers like the Rasichs support such measures, emphasizing the need to differentiate between hiking and mountaineering.
The Sheriff’s Department pledged to continue working with the U.S. Forest Service to develop safety solutions and is hopeful that lawmakers will contribute to improving the situation.