Trail to Henninger to reopen
It appears that the long-awaited day for hikers in Altadena is about to arrive: The Mt. Wilson Toll Road is set to reopen this weekend. In previous posts, I lamented the length of time it's taken to repair this popular trail to Henninger Flats and beyond, to Mt. Wilson. You can read news about the reopening here.
A giant landslide after winter storms of 2004-05 blocked a portion of the trail in the Eaton Canyon Natural Area, but hikers eventually forged a path across the slide (shown at right), a dangerous undertaking, to say the least.
Funding and other administrative red tape held up the trail repair, and work finally began in March. I was told by Kevin Johnson of the L.A. County Fire Department, which oversaw the repair work, that the repair at the large slide in Eaton Canyon is done, but work isn't quite done on a smaller slide closer to Henninger, which hikers still accessed despite closure signs (below). Johnson says the trail will be reopened this weekend, though.
Another issue is the Pinecrest Drive gate, which has been closed. Hikers entering here can cut off about a mile, as opposed to starting at Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Johnson said that the gate will reopen tomorrow. The city of Pasadena has jurisdiction over the gate, which Johnson says will be open dawn to dusk, and locked and unlocked by area volunteers. Johnson also said the campground at Henninger Flats will also be reopening.
— Julie Sheer
Photographs by Julie Sheer
