A Gate for the Cobb Estate?

The Forest Service has an offer from a young Eagle Scout candidate to install a wrought iron gate and fencing at the Cobb Estate, the popular hiking area at the top of Lake Avenue.

The images at right depict what the fencing would look like - the first shows a gate that if locked, would block people from entering the Cobb Estate.  The second shows fencing intended to block people from hiking up an area bull-dozed by firefighters during the Station Fire, an area that the Forest Service does not want hikers using so it can re-vegetate.

The images were provided by a local Forest Service official to members of the Altadena Crest Trail working group.  In the email, Mike McIntyre writes to the members that he is welcoming any public input on the proposal.  McIntyre can be reached at mmcintyre@fs.fed.us.

In a follow-up email to the proposal, local trail advocate Paul Ayers pointed out that proposal does not have any details on when the gate will be closed or open, who will manage the opening, and what will happen if hikers end up trapped behind it.

Local trail advocates already have taken issue with a barbed-wire fence at Eaton Canyon that restricts access to trail users after dark - during winter months it is not unusual for hikers or mountain bikers to get stuck behind the fence, as detailed in the links below.