Stuck Behind the Pinecrest Gate

With the Forest Service now , this story from local mountain biker Mitch Marich about the existing Pinecrest gate that blocks access to Eaton Canyon trails is closed is particularly relevant:

I was thinking this would be a particularly bad night to be stuck behind the gate in the dark, so I drove by after 5 when I knew it would be locked.  As I was about to park, to see if anyone was coming up, I noticed someone climbing the 10-foot razor wired fence. 

I got out and found a very upset and worried young woman who had come there with a female friend, who was not there yet.  The lady I met was from San Dimas, did not know how to get out, and was afraid for her safety.  She didn't even know how to describe her location to her husband over the phone. I told her she should call 911 in such a situation. 

Her friend came up shortly, she used to live in area and was not so worried, but was surprised the gate was locked so "early" (this was about 5:15, it was almost dark by then).  I let them out.   A classic example of why locking the gate is probably more dangerous than leaving it open.

Marich, who has been a long-time vocal supporter of keeping the gate open, is also one of the people who have asked for and received a key to the gate from Pasadena Water and Power.  He wrote in a subsequent email that the female hiker was "almost in tears."

Marich and others have vowed to try to convince the various authorities who have some claim to controlling the gate to open it up: for more on that issue read the links below: