Possible closure Eaton Canyon, San Gabriel Mountains, southern California

[sonnylawrence]

A lot has been discussed about the possible closure of Eaton Canyon while Bogley was down. Numerous individual canyoneers have given their feedback to the National Forest and government officials. Please visit the Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) website for our stance on the situation. http://www.americancanyoneers.org/socal/eaton-canyon/
Also, please join the CAC. It is free. That way your voice can join with many others in maintaining canyon access in the United States.

[dougr]

Unacceptable. No way in hell is some govt agency going to close off Eaton. Signs will be coming down.

[sonnylawrence]

The public information officer for the Angeles National Forest confirmed today that closure is imminent. Please visit the Coalition of American Canyoneers for updates. http://www.americancanyoneers.org/socal/eaton-canyon/. We need the canyoneering community's collective creativity to come up with a solution that still allows technical canyoneering. Please fill out the survey, listening your ideas.

[sonnylawrence]

One idea for Eaton Canyon is to create a permit system. This might dissuade the casual, inexperienced tourist from entering the risky area above the lower falls. There have been similar issues in the Cleveland National Forest. http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/cl...TELPRDB5314380
There is now a permit system for Cedar Creek Falls. http://www.recreation.gov/permits/Ce...&parkId=109033 I am looking for feedback on how well this system works. Who is available in the next two weeks to obtain a permits, do the rappel and post about the permit experience here? More information about Cedar Creek can be found at: http://ropewiki.com/index.php/Cedar_Creek_(Lower)

[Deathcricket]

Having the CAwC write a stern letter didn't work? Hmm I'm shocked, they are usually so effective....

[qedcook]

Having the CAwC write a stern letter didn't work? Hmm I'm shocked, they are usually so effective....

That's hilarious!!!

[dougr]

The action of the forest service is, "be rid of the troublemakers, just close it." Instead of consent of the governed, this is consent of the governing. No, we don't need their consent. Hence my comment about flouting the closure. We see time and again that this country is devolving into a lawless state. At the border, at the IRS, at the White House, in Obamacare, and on. The law breakers win, therefore I will proceed. Sorry in advance.

[Eric Holden]

One idea for Eaton Canyon is to create a permit system. This might dissuade the casual, inexperienced tourist from entering the risky area above the lower falls. There have been similar issues in the Cleveland National Forest. http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/cl...TELPRDB5314380
There is now a permit system for Cedar Creek Falls. http://www.recreation.gov/permits/Ce...&parkId=109033 I am looking for feedback on how well this system works. Who is available in the next two weeks to obtain a permits, do the rappel and post about the permit experience here? More information about Cedar Creek can be found at: http://ropewiki.com/index.php/Cedar_Creek_(Lower)

Sonny, Looking at the Cedar Creek Falls info, it looks like Canyoneering is banned at the falls. You can get a permit but this only allows access to the pools and surrounding area. The cliffs and top of the falls appear to be off limits, even with permit till 4/4/2016.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_...rdb5415403.pdf

On a happier note I am heading down Eaton Monday just in-case it gets closed permanently on Tuesday. I appreciate all the work you and the CAC is doing to prevent its closure.

[Rick Demarest]

The Coalition of American Canyoneers has been mentioned in several news outlets regarding our position on the pending closure of Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel mountain range above Pasadena, CA. In order to clarify our position, we have prepared the following press release:

http://www.americancanyoneers.org/so...ion-statement/

Brian Olliver, the creator behind the film “Gorging”, has kindly put together a short video for us highlighting Eaton Canyon (It's on the CAC link above).

[jman]

Brian did a good job highlighting the canyon! How can they possibly close it down now with a vid like that? :)

[Eric Holden]

That's a great video from Gorging! I would like to add my video to the many reasons why not to close Eaton, this was from two days ago.

[sonnylawrence]

Ha, I never thought, 39 years ago while sliding off Denali with Pete Carlson, I would be watching him play in Eaton. I would have enjoyed doing the canyon with him.

[sonnylawrence]

The Coalition of American Canyoneers is scheduled next week to meet with the Angeles National Forest to discuss the Eaton Canyon closure. Please look forward to an update by Friday, July 10.

[Eric Holden]

Thanks for the update!

[dougr]

http://ktla.com/2014/07/03/popular-p...vice-on-aug-1/

KTLA's report says the new tentative closure date is Aug. 1.

[Rick Demarest]

http://ktla.com/2014/07/03/popular-p...vice-on-aug-1/

KTLA's report says the new tentative closure date is Aug. 1.

Thanks. I did see this from an LA Times post, which has a bit more detail.

It is a huge problem for them, but the solution is way to drastic and, quite frankly, won't work. This is pretty much acknowledged in the LA Times article.

CAC is still hopeful that the USFS is willing to work with us on finding a solution to the problem, while still allowing canyoneers to descend the canyon and pass through the closure area.

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0...703-story.html

[dougr]

The obvious, for them, is to close it from bottom entry while leaving open top. Or prohibit entering the canyon without gear. Best, in the spirit of a free country, is to offer no rescues and/or have a hefty cost recovery program for those who require rescue, a la some of the Utah counties facing the same recovery cost problems. The problem, being this is L.A. County, is the populace is third world, has no money, and would ignore summons and bills.

Am aiming for a Sunday descent if anyone reading might be going this weekend.

[Rick Demarest]

An AirTalk program by Larry Mantle of KPCC on the pending closure of Eaton Canyon. The canyoneering case is laid out by a caller at about the 11:30 mark. The link to hear the program is in the left column.

http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk...anyon-is-head/

[Rick Demarest]

A meeting was held on July 7, 2014 between the Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) and Angeles National Forest (ANF) District Ranger Mike McIntyre concerning the closure of Eaton Canyon.

Please see the Eaton Canyon closure update at
http://www.americancanyoneers.org/so...n/anf-meeting/

[ratagonia]

That's a great video from Gorging! I would like to add my video to the many reasons why not to close Eaton, this was from two days ago.

Ha - too funny. Nice Vid. Thanks for putting that together.

Tom