HIKER INJURY ON THREE SISTERS FALLS TRAIL

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By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –  A 49-year-old man suffered a head injury in a tumble down a trail leading to Three Sisters Falls on April 29.   The injury occurred at a steep section of trail where hikers must descend by rope, ECM has learned.

“The Forest Service considers this area unimproved wilderness,” said Lt. Todd Richardson with the Sheriff’s  office, which performed a hoist rescue via helicopter. 

Unlike nearby Cedar Creek Falls, where trails are maintained, the U.S. Forest Service declines to maintain trails in unimproved wilderness  areas such as Three Sisters Trails that are not officially designated as hiking trails.

Cleveland National Forest officials have long turned a blind eye to injuries at Three Sisters Falls, which has become a very popular hiking destination that often attracts dozens or more hikers on any given day.  ECM has previously reported on injuries in the Three Sisters Falls area as well as safety concerns about the trail, which ECM’s editor hiked in January 2011:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/5428   In February 2011, another hiker suffered a head injury in the same area and shared her story with ECM:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/5478

The rope was placed along the trail by hikers to assist others. 

“This is a very rugged trail. I’ve flown over this trail and I would not hike it,” Lt. Richardson told ECM.  “Unfortunately a lot of people don’t understand that” and go in unprepared, he added.

The riskiness of the user-created trail puts the Forest Service in a Catch-22 situation.  Without a legal declaration of a designated trail, Forest Service officials can neither maintain the trail nor make any official agreement with outside groups to maintain or improve trails. 

“It would take official designation, which first requires extensive environmental review,” Steve Harvey with Cleveland National Forest told ECM in February 2011.

To date, no request for official designation has been made.

Improving trails can bring its own set of problems. After the USFS improved a trail to Cedar Creek Falls to make it easier to access, crowds and drinking increased, as well as rescues due to injuries or dehydration. 

After a local teen fell to his death from the top of the falls, the Forest Service closed the entire area for close to a year, much to the dismay of outdoor enthusiasts.  The USFS recently reopened one entrance to Cedar Creek, but a second entrance remains closed.

The hiker rescued on April 29 from Three Sisters Falls was conscious despite the head injury, according to Lt. Richardson, who had no updates on the victim’s condition.

It appears likely that injuries will continue to occur along the trail unless an official designation is made that would enable the Forest Service to begin environmental assessments needed to empower officials to maintain or improve the trail for safer public access to what many consider one of East County’s  most attractive jewels. 

 

 

 


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