Angeles National Forest officials issued the closure order Tuesday morning in anticipation of a winter storm that is expected to dump heavy snow on the 10,000-foot summit. Three hikers died after sliding off the icy, narrow Devil’s Backbone trail and plummeting to their deaths after a storm in December. Advertisement“The frequency of rescues our department is involved in annually, and the lack of concern for what’s happening on Mt. Baldy changes after a winter storm, when the upper reaches are blanketed in snow and ice and a slip in the wrong place can lead to a catastrophic, unstoppable fall. Violating a closure order is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and six months in prison, although such severe punishment is rare.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 11, 2026 01:17 UTC