1. Safety
People are going to hike in the foothills anyway. That they have already made a trail across the big slide by the bridge is evidence of this. Having relatively safe trails for them to hike on will help avoid injuries, reduce evacuations and possibly save lives.
2. Fire
Fire fighters need vehicular access to the foothills to be able to suppress fires before they reach population centers.
3. Activities
Henniger Flats is one of the few good camping and picnicking places within a day hike of the San Gabriel Valley. Its existence allows generations of young people to learn the pleasure of hiking and camping. It helps to build a constituency for the environment.
4. Historic Significance
LA County has a large investment in the facilities at Henniger Flats. Not reopening the trail means that over time these facilities will be abandoned, vandalized and eventually burned down. The people who took the decision not to keep the trail open will not be remembered well by history.
A Modest Proposal
Bulldoze and grade in a 4 foot wide ATV trail to Henniger Flats on the existing right of way. It will be dramatically less expensive than rebuilding a full width road. It will allow the transportation of personnel and supplies to the facilities at Henniger and will be adequate for horses, bicycles and hikers. It should as in the past only be open for official vehicles. This is definitely a case where less is more.
If ATV’s had existed when the Toll Road was built in 1914 it would have been built for them not automobiles.
The County Supervisors have an opportunity to redefine the way we access the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains in a cost effective way that will positively enhance the lives of many people and communities.
The landslide at Eaton Canyon is probably not reparable to a satisfactory level of safety. You should blame the lawyers, if anyone were to get hurt using a trail that traverses this landslide they would surely sue LA County (i.e. we the tax payers) and they would win.
Karin
Somebody is going to get killed crossing that slide on the little track that has been made there. Is this a job for the phantom trail maker?
Simon