Old Mt. Wilson Trail

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:27 am

This is a message I got from the City of Sierra Madre

Plan accordingly....

Matt

"The Skyland Slope Restoration Project will be starting today, December 2, 2008 on the Mt. Wilson Trail. The restoration project will be headed by the California Conservation Corps with the help of the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue. Due to the nature of the project, the Mt. Wilson Trail will be closed weekdays for the next two months. The Mt. Wilson Trail will be accessible on the weekends and holidays. Thank you for your understanding."

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:27 am

Interesting. I hadn't heard about the project before. I found this on the web:

The City of Sierra Madre has developed and coordinated a project to address the potential debris flows that may affect a number of residents on Skyland Dr. and other areas within the upper canyon. The Santa Anita Fire in April revealed the condition of numerous bulkheads that were placed on the hillside after a 1978 fire. These bulkheads, which consist of surplus military shelving and poles drilled into the mountain, proved to be in very poor shape after thirty years of retaining debris. Virtually all of these structures revealed that they had reached their capacity for holding sediment and many were in disrepair. In order to reduce the potential for damage from falling bulkheads and debris the accumulated debris behind the bulkheads is to be removed, then the bulkheads themselves will be taken off the slope. City staff was able to find funding for the project and an organization that was willing to take on the difficult tasks of this hillside maintenance work. The California Conservation Corps has agreed to handle the job with the use of two 12-person teams. Due to the inherent danger of the steep hillside and lack of footing, the Sierra Madre Search & Rescue team has graciously volunteered to provide assistance. The Search & Rescue team has made recommendations for ropes, harnesses, and equipment for each of the Conservation workers in order for them to safely conduct their work. The Search & Rescue team is also providing hands-on training to each of the workers on how to properly and safely use the equipment, and has provided valuable first-hand knowledge of our local hillside conditions to the Conservation Corps as the methodology is being finalized. This project will begin when the safety of the Conservation Corps workers can be assured and the final logistic details of removing so much debris from the very steep hillside has been completed. The project is expected to take a couple of months, and may require the closure of the Mt. Wilson Trail for certain periods of time. Residents may soon look towards our hillsides with fascination as these dedicated men and women work to complete this project. These 24 workers will literally be hanging off the side of the Skyland slope removing debris that may otherwise travel down the slope to our neighborhoods. If you have any questions regarding this project, please feel free to call the City of Sierra Madre Public Works Department at 626-355-7135.

I actually think it's good that they're going to remove the bulkheads. I've always thought they were ugly, and in heavy rain, the bulkheads themselves might cause a lot of damage.

Post by **HikeUp** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:36 am

Hikin_Jim wrote:I actually think it's good that they're going to remove the bulkheads. I've always thought they were ugly, and in heavy rain, the bulkheads themselves might cause a lot of damage.

Ugly indeed...

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:38 pm

From the City of Sierra Madre

"The Mt. Wilson Trail will be open on weekdays due to a change in the work schedule of the California Conservation Corps. The Mt. Wilson Trail will be subject to intermittent closures Monday through Thursday for the next two months.
Please use alternate trials out of Chantry Flats or Bailey Canyon during closures. "

JMunaretto · Post by **JMunaretto** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:38 am

to summarize: the trail will be open...except when it's closed

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:29 am

JMunaretto wrote:to summarize: the trail will be open...except when it's closed

On the third Sunday following the closest equinox to the last lunar eclipse.

whatmeworry · Post by **whatmeworry** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:23 am

FYI - The City of Sierra Madre has closed the Mt. Wilson Trail due to a large rockslide just below the switchbacks.

The volunteers who maintain the trail are putting together a plan to clear the slide and get the trail reopened, but for safety reasons the public is asked to honor the closure. Charlie Bell will be coordinating the clean-up efforts and I'm sure would accept help if offered.

The City has indicated that they will cite anyone caught violating the closure.

Post by **HikeUp** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:54 am

Thanks for posting this!

Do you or does anyone have contact info for Charlie Bell?

blueshammer · Post by **blueshammer** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 11:15 pm

Wow, thanks for the information. I was even considering hiking it in 9 hours. I would also like to help clear the trail if possible.

whatmeworry · Post by **whatmeworry** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 3:46 pm

I'm not sure how Charlie wants people to contact him - you may want to check with the City of SM and see if they have a preferred contact method for him.

If you can't find contact info let me me know and I'll get you something...

FYI - Some work has already been done as of today (Sunday). A few more days of work and the trail should be in pretty good shape at the slide.

PackerGreg · Post by **PackerGreg** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:56 pm

Try Sierra Madre Search & Rescue for contacts. They can take your info for the regulars on the Mt. Wilson Trail crew...

http://smsr.org/

Layne Cantrell · Post by **Layne Cantrell** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:40 am

HikeUp wrote:Thanks for posting this!

Do you or does anyone have contact info for Charlie Bell?

He's still hiding from Kobe Bryant.

....whoops, wrong Charlie Bell!

whatmeworry · Post by **whatmeworry** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:23 pm

A crew is going up to work on the trail tomorrow (Wed).

Bring work gloves, lunch/water, etc.

Meeting at the trailhead at 8:30.

Post by **HikeUp** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:57 pm

Thanks for the info.

whatmeworry · Post by **whatmeworry** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:17 am

The trail is open. Big thanks to everyone that pitched in to help clear the trail.

From the city....

The Mount Wilson Trail is now open to the public as of Wednesday, December 23, 2009. Please note the trail is subject to closure due to weather conditions or unforeseen natural occurrences. Please contact the Sierra Madre Police Department at 626-355-1414 for up to date trail status.

cougarmagic · Post by **cougarmagic** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:11 am

Does anyone know if these have reopened? Or is it still just too darn "unsafe"?

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:57 am

I'm pretty sure the "Grim Reaper" has gone to other places to stalk hikers!

Post by **HikeUp** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 9:15 am

I'm planning on heading up those trails this Saturday, so I'll be driving by them late this afternoon to check their status.

Post by **HikeUp** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 6:05 pm

As of Wed. 17th 5:00 pm both trails were open.

cougarmagic · Post by **cougarmagic** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:52 pm

Thanks for checking, and reporting H.U.!

Post by **HikeUp** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:59 pm

That's what Taco pays me for!

lakenyon · Post by **lakenyon** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:19 am

Can someone enlighten me as to why the Old Mt. Wilson Trail is currently closed? I couldn't find discussion of this elsewhere in the forum.

Post by **HikeUp** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:22 am

lakenyon wrote:Can someone enlighten me ...

No. It's a mystery.

I think the City of Sierra Madre is in charge of opening and closing the Bailey Canyon Trail and Mt. Wilson Trail, as well as the gate on the road up to Chantry Flat. Emphasis on the "I think" - who the hell really knows?

Anyway, the Sierra Madre website says the trails are open at the time of this post! So...there you go.

lik2hik · Post by **lik2hik** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:21 am

What Hikeup said!

The City of Sierra Madre is in charge of the trailheads, including the gate to Chantry Flats road.
Their website is very often not up to date. It may say that the trails are still closed, when in fact they have been opened.
I think part of their concern is the adjacent canyon areas where they are having mudslides, evacuations and that sort of thing. Also, there have been some recent washouts along the trails. No big deal, but probably a liability concern.
In 1994 a father and son died in a flash flood/debris flow in Bailey Canyon. I think that is why they close Bailey when it rains.
Whatever the reasoning, they are not shy about closing the trails, unfortunately.

Post by **Taco** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:37 am

HikeUp wrote:That's what Taco pays me for!

Hey, don't let anyone else in on the massive amount of currency we receive!

lakenyon · Post by **lakenyon** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:26 pm

Thanks. The trail was definitely closed on Sunday. I thought perhaps the trail had been washed out, but maybe the city only feared that would happen. Too bad: it's much nicer than the toll road.

DrLWC · Post by **DrLWC** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:44 pm

With Mt Wilson being right on the fire line, it's a bit hard to figure out what areas/trails were either scorched or destroyed by rain/mud and which ones are still good for and open to hikers. Does anyone have recent information or experience on Mt Wilson? I'm esp. interested in trails like the Old Mt Wilson trail (Sierra Madre), Winter Creek, and Sturtevant (e.g. Hiles 44 and 45 in Robinson's book).

Thanks!

AlanK · Post by **AlanK** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:13 pm

DrLWC wrote:With Mt Wilson being right on the fire line, it's a bit hard to figure out what areas/trails were either scorched or destroyed by rain/mud and which ones are still good for and open to hikers. Does anyone have recent information or experience on Mt Wilson? I'm esp. interested in trails like the Old Mt Wilson trail (Sierra Madre), Winter Creek, and Sturtevant (e.g. Hikes 44 and 45 in Robinson's book).

I have hiked up Mt. Wilson four times since the Station Fire. The Old Mt. Wilson Trail is fine, as are Sturtevant and Upper Winter Creek. Also, Mt. Zion, etc. The trail to Newcomb Pass is closed.

simonov · Post by **simonov** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 1:40 pm

AlanK wrote:I have hiked up Mt. Wilson four times since the Station Fire. The Old Mt. Wilson Trail is fine, as are Sturtevant and Upper Winter Creek. Also, Mt. Zion, etc. The trail to Newcomb Pass is closed.

Want to take the kids to Sturtevant Falls this Saturday. No problem with that?

AlanK · Post by **AlanK** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 1:59 pm

simonov wrote:
AlanK wrote:I have hiked up Mt. Wilson four times since the Station Fire. The Old Mt. Wilson Trail is fine, as are Sturtevant and Upper Winter Creek. Also, Mt. Zion, etc. The trail to Newcomb Pass is closed.
Want to take the kids to Sturtevant Falls this Saturday. No problem with that?

No problem at all. Well, except for parking at Chantry Flats, which is the same as always.