Mount Baldy Trails Closed Following Death Of Second Hiker In Less Than 1 Week

MOUNT BALDY (CBSLA.com) — Officials have closed all trails in Mount Baldy indefinitely following the death of a second hiker in less than a week.

A couple from Temple City fell and got stuck on an icy slope underneath a tree Saturday near the Ice House Canyon trail where conditions were icy.

"It's those shady areas that the ice freezes at nighttime that become the situation we saw last Saturday where people are sliding down the hillside," said Nathan Judy with the U.S. Forest Service.

Night vision goggles were used to find the pair. Even with help from good Samaritans, the 47-year-old man did not survive.

"Tragedy, very sad, it's very sad," said James Johnston, a hiker. "Like I was telling my daughter, 'You have to be very careful when you come out in conditions like this.' You have to know what you're doing and what not to do because it can become dangerous real quick."

The wife of the hiker who died said over the phone she was injured and too sad to talk.

Last week, 23-year-old Daniel Nguyen died trying to save a friend who slipped.

Following the two deaths and 12 air rescues Saturday, the Forest Service closed all Mount Baldy hiking trails.

"There was like a blood trail going down the side of the mountain," said Rob Wayman, whose brother-in-law Jason Lopez remained in the hospital with a brain injury, the result of hiking along the trail.

Wayman and Lopez -- both novice hikers -- were hiking up the Ice House Canyon trail with spiked shoes in late January when Lopez slipped and fell 1,000 feet.

"And I keep telling him, 'Put your spikes down. Put your spikes down,' " recalls Wayman.

But it was too late.

At the bottom of the trail, Lopez was bleeding and unconscious.

Wayman and other hikers found Lopez and covered him in coats and blankets as they waited for a helicopter rescue.

Lopez is now recovering with a number of injuries, including a fractured skull and a brain injury.

Crews are urging the public to stay away from the trails until it's safe to return.

"For the resources they have to rescue people there, I think it's a good decision," said Wayman of the closure.

Lopez's family says he will have to undergo extensive long-term therapy. They have set up an online fundraising page to pay for it. For more information, click here.