Eaton Canyon

After talking about it for what seemed like years, the U.S. Forest Service has announced that it's shutting down the bottom portion of Eaton Canyon to everyone (well, it was actually a stealth announcement; there were no public hearings). The canyon is a spectacular, waterfall-filled gouge running down through the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena (near Los Angeles). The reason for the closure is both to save people from themselves (five hikers have died in the last four years while trying to go up a steep, crumbly trail at the bottom of the canyon) and presumably financial (one ranger told me they spend half a million dollars on rescues every year). You might think this wouldn't affect the many canyoneers starting at the top of the canyon and (sort of safely) going down with ropes, harnesses and rappel devices. But if they're caught in the closure zone at the bottom, they'll be fined.

Perhaps this will all be settled soon. There's talk of instituting a permit system for canyoneers. But it does set up an interesting issue of how a fairly reckless group of unprepared people going up the canyon can impact another group of largely prepared people going down the canyon. (The same ranger who told me about the rescue price tag also said they've pulled out people who saw videos of the canyon, bought rope from Home Depot, and tried to go down the canyon, minus any significant training or experience, and got into trouble of one sort or another. So this isn't just the clueless kids unable to recognize the obvious dangers of climbing up a wet, slippery canyon.)

Or, the canyon could be shut down for a long time. You never know.

With all of this in mind, I gathered together a few shots from my three trips through the canyon as a reminder of what a wonderful place this is.

Here's the problem: this lad climbed up a rotten, precipitous trail to get to this waterfall so he could jump off the 80-footer into a pool just deep enough to keep him from busting his body into pieces.

The canyon's final rappel coincides with a waterfall that people hike up to on an easy, almost flat trail. But unfortunately, some of them don't stay there but press on up the crumbly trails to the next fall or beyond where it gets slippery and even more dangerous.

Eaton Canyon

Of all the canyons in the San Gabriel Mountains, I have to say Eaton Canyon is my favorite. It's like a wild, remote water park with slides, waterfalls, deep pools. Plenty of wet fun. Judging by the number of rescues the Forest Service handles there, it's plenty dangerous, too. I was told by a ranger that the Forest Service spends half a million dollars a year to haul out people who venture up the canyon unprepared for the climb up or back down, and then fall. Some die. Or, they have to carry out canyoneers who have hurt themselves. Some know what they're doing and simply twist an ankle, and some neophytes literally get their ropes from Home Depot, cobble together some other gear and run for the canyon thinking it'll be a hoot. Tragedy ensues. During the summer, this sort of thing happens at least twice a week. It's not uncommon to see rescue helicopters swooping in and then a little later swooping out with someone on a stretcher attached to the skids.

Our happy band of canyoneers have now done the canyon three times without mishap and here are a few shots from another pleasant Sunday spent in wet suits and harnesses. No complaints.

Cammy descending into the canyon. Mt. Wilson and its towers loom above.

Sebastian, a good lad visiting from France, joined us for the trip with borrowed gear.

Annette on the first water slide, nostrils plugged and ready for impact.

Rich showing off his water slide form. The judges gave it a 7.8.

Cammy and Annette working their way down a small but slick waterfall.

One of the many pools we had to slosh through.

I've photographed this rappel (second of the day) from all angles. It never disappoints.

Sebastian showing how a Frenchman does it.

And then here's how we Americans splash down as represented by Kevin.

Rich on the final rappel which goes down a waterfall frequented by weekend crowds who hike up from an Altadena neighborhood.

The audience watching Jerri work her way down the waterfall.

There's no way to avoid the waterfall thundering down on one at the end. Good clean fun.

These kids would rather play with a log than watch Kevin.