Overview
- Access resumed this week after a temporary closure tied to winter storms and recovery operations, with officials stressing that open trails do not mean safe conditions.
- Investigators say the three Dec. 29 deaths were falls from an ice-slicked section near the Devil’s Backbone in what appear to be two unrelated incidents.
- Authorities identified the victims as Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, 19, of Seal Beach, and two Guatemalan nationals, Juan Sarat Lopez, 37, and Bayron Pedro Ramos Garcia, 36.
- Sheriff Shannon Dicus criticized the U.S. Forest Service and urged steps such as weather-driven closures and a permit or education system, positions county leaders continue to back.
- The Forest Service says it posts warnings and is evaluating visitor-use management while balancing safety with access, as data show 23 deaths since 2016 and 34 Mount Baldy SAR calls in 2025.