by Carolyn Seitz
This year we seem to have experienced more rescues of hikers from Eaton Canyon than usual, and more hikers seem to head into the canyon or up to the falls ill-equipped or inexperienced, ending up in trouble, some of them suffering tragic results.
Capt. Steve McLean from the Altadena Sheriff's Station is asking if there is any interest from hikers in Altadena who regularly and routinely hike Eaton Canyon in helping the Sheriff's Department educate the public about hiking safety in the Canyon.
The Sheriff's Department is considering doing a training session for those interested in distributing information to hikers entering the canyon ill-equipped and unprepared.
We keep hearing that many of those who've been injured, killed or have needed to be rescued because they found themselves stuck in a dangerous situation or too afraid to move, were off the trails.
Sometimes people who find themselves in dangerous situations also put their rescuers in jeopardy and working together maybe we can influence some who enter the canyon unprepared to make smarter decisions.
If you have an interest in participating in this project, please let me know.