Most of the stories in the media about hiking are bad news. But that's the nature of the news media. I will say that the San Gabriel Valley Tribune has done a good job of doing some excellent feature stories focusing on the Angeles National Forest.

In spite of the various stories of hikers being lost or injured, hiking is still a safe and healthy recreational activity. Most of the time, when a hiker gets lost, I believe it's because he or she was simply careless or ignorant. Likewise, most injuries that make the news are because city folks do stupid things in the outdoors. But even experienced and well equipped outdoors persons can experience serious injury.

We can learn from the trials and woes of others. And we should stay informed about our forest and how we can be involved in protecting it for ourselves and for the generations to come. Here's some articles primarily from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune covering stories in and about the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest. This is not exhaustive list, and I have not cited stories about vehicles driving off the highway and plummeting down steep slopes, often ending in fatalities. It seems that an accident of this type happens about every month or two. So while driving to and from the trailhead, respect the mountains and drive safely.

ANF Temporarily Closes High-Use Areas for Public Safety (4-3-20)

John W. Robinson, legendary author of hiking guides, histories of Southern California mountains, dies at 88 on April 24, 2018 (5-9-18)

Mount Baldy: Hiker falls to death trying to help friend (The Press-Enterprise 2-3-16)

Man survived 1,000-foot fall near Mt. Baldy / Injured hiker rescued using "Text-to-911" (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin 1-29-16)

Station Fire Closure Lifted (Compiled story 5-20-14)

Permanent access to Fish Canyon Falls provided (6-18-14)
       Read my blog post: Fish Canyon Falls - A New Era - June 21, 2014

Missing firefighter died instantly in a cliff-side fall (7-1-14)

Student Dies After Jumping Into Pool at Hermit Falls (Compiled story 11-12-13)

Williams Fire 2012 burns 4,192 acres In San Gabriel Canyon East Fork (9-7-12)

One hiker killed, two safe in Eaton Canyon (Pasadena Sun 8-9-12)

Pasadena man dies in weekend filled with mountain rescues (Pasadena Star News 1-23-12)

Farewell to hiking author Jerry Schad (9-25-11)

Body found in Angeles National Forest may be that of missing hiker (LA Times 4-4-11)

On the road again - Route 39, Crystal Lake access reopens (4-2-11)

Take precautions when hiking in winter (12-18-10)

Volunteer Now! Volunteer group restoring trails damaged by Station and Morris fires (9-4-10)

Hikers, campers find alternate areas to recreate after Station Fire (6-22-10)

Angeles Crest Highway through Wrightwood reopens (Pasadena Star News 5-21-09)

Westminster hiker safe after helicopter rescue (Orange County Register 11-2-08)

Mountain fire road to be cleared (7-18-08)

Hikers rescued in Eaton Canyon (7-17-08)

Mountain biker rescued after fall (11-23-07)

Hiker, climber rescued in forest (8-24-07)

Hiker survives 2 falls, 54 hours in mountains (Pasadena Star News 4-20-07)

Officials may have solution to Rubio Canyon restoration (1-19-07)

Nowhere Fire burning in remote area north of Azusa (11-19-06)

Heat-Exhausted Hikers Rescued From Santiago Peak (CBS2 7-26-06)

A taste of paradise [Chantry Flat open] (6-10-06)

Volunteers work together to clean up forest trails (6-4-06)

Cascading waterfalls are all over San Gabriel Valley (4-29-06)

Lizzie's once entertained hikers, now it serves history (2-13-06)

Hikers rescued from icy trail (1-11-06)

Hiker has happy birthday rescue (11-28-05)

Mountain lion concerns grow (11-9-05)

Touring the damage: Rainstorms wreaked havoc in Anglels National Forest (Hwy 39 closed to Crystal Lake) (1-30-05)

Road closure taking too long - Chantry Flat (2-7-05)

Rains sweep Rubio Canyon clean (10-28-04)

     Other Rubio Canyon Stories:

• Rubio Canyon to get temporary road 9-4-03
• Canyon cleanup goes awry 5-12-04
• Getting Lowe down' on railway 10-23-04

Winter weather poses new risks for hikers (10-24-04)

Angeles National Forest Closure Lifted (ANF press release, 10-19-04)

High fire danger closes Forest: Many recreational areas to be off-limits (9-24-04)
    Read Forest Service Press Release.

Forest in recovery: No arrests made in Curve, Williams fires; probes end (9-18-04)

Forest volunteer wounded by arrow (9-2-04)

South Mount Hawkins lookouts returning (5-21-04)

Missing Hikers Walk To Safety: Got Lost Overnight In Angeles National Forest (CBS2 3-22-04)

Woman hiker rescued from icy slope (2-2-04)

Body of Hiker Found In San Bernardino Mountains (CBS2 2-2-04)

Body of Missing Newbury Park Hiker Is Found on Mt. Baldy (LAT 1-15-04)

Boy killed in fall during mountain hike (1-12-04)

Angeles National Forest special report (9-14-03)

Menacing bear killed: 2 attacks reported at campsite during July (8-18-03)

Agencies' differing policies likely cause of bear-alert delay (8-18-03)

Caltech hikers found safe in Angeles forest (6-10-03)

Curve Fire and Williams Fire - Sept/Oct 2002