RAMONA — Despite elaborate measures taken two years ago to limit the number of hikers along the Cedar Creek Falls trail in the Cleveland National Forest, the number of rescues in the area has recently spiked, leaving some officials baffled.
Distressed hikers have been airlifted from the trail 18 times so far this year, compared to 23 times in all of 2014. In 40 incidents — mostly in the past month — some kind of aide has been provided to overheated and exhausted trail users. One young man died, possibly from heat exhaustion, after collapsing on the trail June 16.
“We’re already on pace to be way over what we had all of last summer,” said Ramona Sheriff’s Lt. Rich Williams, referencing the helicopter rescues.
For decades, people have been drawn to Cedar Creek Falls, a remote and rugged spot between Julian and Ramona that — when water is flowing — offers an experience rarely found in San Diego County. At this time of year, however, the falls are mostly dry and the pool below — where hikers often swim — is a bit stagnant.
The falls can be accessed from the east or west, but the most popular route is from the west in southern Ramona. From there, the trail descends 1,000 feet for about 2 1/2 miles until it reaches the falls.
The problem during the hottest parts of the year is the steep hike back up to the trailhead. Hikers frequently become overheated because they haven’t brought enough water with them.
“People underestimate how steep the incline is back up because the way down is so easy,” said
When visitors are in distress, firefighters or forest personnel either have to hike down to give them fluids and escort them up or even carry them up in a basket.
For those in more serious condition, the Sheriff’s Department has to bring in a helicopter to take them to a Ramona fire station where they are evaluated and sometimes flown to a hospital.
“If they’re not prepared they end up getting rescued by helicopter,” said Williams. “That’s not how they want their day to end and it’s not how we want their day to end. We’re not trying to oversell it. We’re not trying to scare people off. But the facts are that we’ve had people die out there. It’s serious.”
Walker said one theory for why the falls have become more popular this year is the Internet site Instagram where people post photographs.
“We do know that most of the people are getting their information from Instagram,” she said. “They’re seeing pictures of the falls or seeing pictures of people jumping off the rocks. Between the age group of 18 and 24 people are seeing these pictures. It makes it look more attractive than it is right now.”
The trail has existed for many decades but it wasn’t until around 2009 when the number of visitors swelled. Hundreds and hundreds of young people descended the trail daily and the falls became party central.
Rescues were common as were complaints from residents who live in the far eastern part of the San Diego Country Estates, near the Ramona trailhead, who were powerless to keep the kids from parking in their lawns and trashing the neighborhood.
When a teen died after slipping near the top of the waterfall, the U.S. Forest Service made the decision in July 2011 to close the trail indefinitely while a plan to make it safer and more manageable was developed.
When the trail reopened in April 2013, several changes had been implemented.
Two “trail hosts” are now stationed at the trailhead and contact everybody about to make the hike. Both Forest Service and sheriff’s deputy monitor the area frequently and often appear at the falls to ticket anyone abusing the no-alcohol or cliff jumping rules. Warning signs are everywhere and hikers must buy a permit for $6 in order to make the hike. Each permit is good for up to five people per day and only 75 permits are sold each day.
Officials hoped all the new regulations would solve many of the problems and last summer things were looking good. Rescues were down dramatically.
But that success hasn’t been duplicated this year.
“We hoped and expected the numbers to go down, but they are on the rise,” Williams said.
Christine and Peter Ruth, both 67, are the trail hosts this summer. The Minnesota natives by way of Tucson have found it to be a full-time job.
“We tell them don’t ruin your day, don’t ruin your life,” Peter Ruth said. The couple tries to examine every permit and assesses every hiker. Are they dressed properly? Have they brought enough water? Are they too young?
As the heat has risen along with the rescues, Peter Ruth said he and his wife have had to get tougher — “stronger willed and hopefully more influential.”
If a family with small children come by on a hot day they usually can convince them not to make the hike. Larger groups, however, are tougher to deal with, Peter Ruth said.
That came into play on June 24 when a dozen kids between the ages of 9 and 12, accompanied by some La Jolla YMCA day camp counselors, showed up at the trailhead.
The Ruths and even a resident of the neighborhood told them it was a bad idea to start their hike so late on the hot day and warned them strongly that they didn’t have enough water.
Walker said the counselors didn’t know about the permits and had done virtually no research.
Despite the Ruths’ warning the counselors bought permits via a smartphone and then left it up to the kids.
“Of course all the kids were like ‘Yeahhh!” Walker said. “They let the kids decide.” A few hours later two 9-yer-old girls had to be airlifted out after showing signs of heat-related illness. Luckily, they did not require hospitalization.
The YMCA said the camp staff was trained in safety protocols and that the children were safe and healthy and returned to camp the next day.
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