Angeles National Forest News!

[K9luvr]

That is a good way to start having problems with bears.  They become aclimated to people food, then they become aggressive.  Then the bears wind up having to be put down.  Bears always lose in bear/people encounters.   

[Toolman]

Three of us picked this stuff up and put it in the Big Pines garbage can.   

As a member of the Big Pine volunteer patrol staff a big thank you! way to go.  This type of activity is part of our duty to enforce the FS code. With Memorial weekend coming up and an expected dry summer season we will be ramping up our efforts in the field.

[RobertW]

The "Fuel Reduction Project" being conducted along Blue Ridge continues.  Hikers need to be cautious and stay on the trail when hiking through the area:

[RobertW]

The stage at the Table Mountain Campground Amphitheater is being reconstructed and remodeled.  The stage understructure was severly rotted and had to be replaced.  It will be ready for "Movie" and "Concert" nights starting in the middle of June:

[RobertW]

The "Fuel Reduction Project" being conducted along Blue Ridge continues.  Hikers need to be cautious and stay on the trail when hiking through the area:

Wood permits are currently NOT available through the Big Pines Ranger Station.  Wood Pemits can, at this time, only be obtained from the District Office in Acton or the Angelesl National Forest Headquarters in Arcadia.

While out on patrol today we found campers, with chainsaws, taking wood without permits out of Big Rock Canyon.  It's a hefty fine.  WOOD PERMITS ARE REQUIRED!

[hikin_jim]

The "Fuel Reduction Project" being conducted along Blue Ridge continues.  Hikers need to be cautious and stay on the trail when hiking through the area:

The road was open to Guffy but closed thereafter when I was up there on Monday.

HJ

[RobertW]

The road was open to Guffy but closed thereafter when I was up there on Monday.

HJ

The road down to Camp Lupine was heavily damaged this past winter and rumor has it that it may be closed for sometime.  The gate at the Guffy Campground turn off is the only gate that prevents you from going down that road.  The good news is that with the lack of traffic, the Bighorn Sheep may return to the Heath Slide.   

[RobertW]

Saturday, June 9th, is "Get Outdoors Day".  The day is "Fee Free" and you will NOT be required to have an Adventure Pass to recreate in the forest.  Go ahead, get out there and do some hiking. 

The following week, the week of June 10th, Jackson Lake is scheduled to be stocked.  While out patrolling the Lake over Memorial Day Weekend, at least on Saturday, most people had some pretty nice stringers with some nice sized trout.  It must have been the cold weather.  They were biting on everything; powerbait, eggs, worms and lures.  On the next day, after it had warmed up, trout were still being caught, but not as many.

We are often asked, and as a reminder, Fishing Licenses ARE required when fishing at Jackson Lake unless you are 16 years or under.  Licenses are not available in town.  Don't get caught fishing without a license, as the fines are very severe.  Ouch!   

[Tall Trees]

I was in an all day meeting in Arcadia yesterday and it did not finish until after 4pm and I was sure to be stuck in grid lock traffic for hours on the freeways trying to get home to the village.  The east bound 210 was at a stand still and the west bound traffic was moving but starting to back up.  Rather then sitting in traffic I decided to drive the Angeles Crest Highway from La Canada to Wrightwood and avoid the grid lock.  It was a very nice drive and I was amazed at how fast the forest is recovering from the Station fire of 2009.  I did notice that there is flowering poodle brush from Switzer's all the way past Chilao and I was hoping that people know what that plant is by now.  Just as I passed the highest point on the crest at Dawson Saddle and approached the "Snow Beach" area two Big Horn Sheep Rams darted out in front of my car and ran across the road going down hill.  It was a quick but amazing sight to experience.  I continued on towards Wrightwood and just as I passed Inspiration Point a Dear and a baby fawn covered in white spots on it's sides ran across the road in front of me.  Thank goodness I was traveling at a safe speed and was able to allow them safe passage.  It was a great drive and I am glad that I decided to take the scenic route and avoid the grid lock.

[ChrisLynnet]

Wonderful, Tall Trees! I rarely have occasion to take that route, but enjoy it very much when I do.

[Nolena]

Does anyone know if the road to Lupine is open yet?

[Tall Trees]

The Angeles National Forest road crew have begun maintenance on the roads system in this section of the Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers Ranger District.  They have been working on system roads for over a week now and hopefully they can clear the road to Lupine before too much longer.  The road to Lupine Campground was in the worst shape of all the system roads due to numerous landslides, rock falls with large boulders and a large washout in the bottom of the Prairie Fork just west of Lupine.

[RobertW]

The Grassy Hollow Visitor Center will NOT be open for the 4th of July holiday.

[RobertW]

Due to budget constaints and lack of funds the Big Pines Ranger Station has been closed to the public indefinitely.  Sadly, the July 2012 issue of the Big Pines Volunteer Newsletter, which has been published since September of 2009, will be the last issue.   

The volunteers will still be working out of the Big Pines Station and will continue to answer the publics questions and provide up-to-date information on road and trail conditions, fire restrtictions, forest safety, etc. while out in the field.

You can continue to get the latest Forest information for the Big Pines area here on this website, on the Big Pines Ranger Station's facebook page or at the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center on the weekends.  Of course you can always go to Angeles Forest's website as well.

Only daily and Annual Aventure Passes can be obtained at Grassy Hollow on the weekends or at Jensen's Markets and the Gas Station in Wrightwood.  All other passes as well as Wood Permits must be obtained at the District Office in Acton, CA.  Maps of the Angeles National Forest as well as Topo maps are still available locally from Mountain Hardware.

[Bob C]

All other passes as well as Wood Permits must be obtained at the District Office in Acton, CA.

Boy, that's a shame.. that pretty much guarantees no one will bother making the drive all the way there to remain "legal"

[RobertW]

I hear you.  The Fuel Reduction Project remains in full swing and there is plenty of wood still easily available as the pictures above show.  It's very tempting to just grab the wood and run without going to the District Office to obatin a permit. 

[Chesslike]

Sadly, the July 2012 issue of the Big Pines Volunteer Newsletter, which has been published since September of 2009, will be the last issue.   

That is sad RobertW, you did a great job putting that together each month and it was very informative. It will be missed.

[kamperke]

 :(Sorry to hear that Robert. It is a shame the $$$ doesn't trickle down where we really need it. To clarify, if one is camping at a local campground, they cannot collect downed wood for their fire?

[RobertW]

:(Sorry to hear that Robert. It is a shame the $$$ doesn't trickle down where we really need it. To clarify, if one is camping at a local campground, they cannot collect downed wood for their fire?

You are allowed to collect downed wood for your campfire without a permit.  A wood permit is required for those that plan on collecting a lot of wood, say a cord or more, for personal uses beyond a campfire.  Many Wrightwood residents will gather wood from the forest for the upcoming winter season to burn in their fireplaces.  THAT is what the wood permit is for.  We come upon individuals collecting wood all the time while out on patrol and it is pretty easy to decifer between the two.  The person with a trailer full of wood with a chainsaw in hand is NOT just collecting wood for his campfire.   

[kamperke]

Understood. Thanks Robert. I have no problem following the rules; they're there for a reason.