Forest Service uneasy about new mural

A new mural depicting a youth jumping into the pool at the bottom of Cedar Creek Falls has caught the attention of the Cleveland National Forest Service, which wants to remind the public of current restrictions and offer tips for summertime hiking.

“We’re hoping this will help alleviate a lot of safety issues,” said Olivia Walker, public affairs officer for the Cleveland National Forest.

Rob Lewallen, chair of the Ramona Design Review Board, which approved the mural in April, and a member of the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural board, said he received a letter from the forest service that expressed concerns the mural would encourage people to jump off the rocks.

“It came up on the mural board and we were concerned as well,” said Lewallen at the design review board’s May 26 meeting. For that reason, the muralist was directed to show the child jumping from the rocks next to the pool, he said.

Called “The Old Swimming Hole,” the mural on the west wall of Leslie’s Pool Supplies, 1905 Main St., is aimed at evoking a Norman Rockwell-esque image of the days when the falls and pool were hidden gems frequented by residents.

Now, to hike to the falls requires a visitor’s use permit from the forest service, and jumping from the cliffs is prohibited. Diving, rock climbing and alcohol are also not allowed.

Over the years, the falls and trail gained in popularity with many visitors unprepared or unfit for the 6-mile-round-trip strenuous hike, leading to rescues and medical emergencies, and traffic and parking congestion at the trailhead on Thornbush Road in San Diego Country Estates. In July 2011, the trail was closed following the death of a teenage boy who fell from the cliffs.

The Thornbush Road trailhead reopened in April 2013 after the forest service implemented a system requiring hikers to purchase a visitor’s use permit to walk down to the falls. One permit will accommodate five hikers and 75 permits are allowed per day. A permit costs $6 and can be purchased at www.recreation.gov.

“Every weekend we sell out,” said Walker.

Most hikers, she said, hit the trail between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the worst time in the summer. The temperature at the waterfall, usually dry in the summer, will be 10-15 degrees hotter than the trailhead, said Walker.

The forest service is considering closing the trail on days when the temperature will be 90 degrees or hotter, giving a two-day notice and making purchased permits available for another day, she said.

Hikers often do not bring enough water. When that is factored in with no shade and hot temperatures, heat exhaustion often results.

The forest service recommends one gallon of water per person.

“Drink consistently and drink often,” said Walker.

Last year, a 23-year-old man died of heat exhaustion, she said.

In 2015, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there were approximately 100 rescues and two fatalities, all heat related, according to forest service statistics. Almost half of the rescues involved a sheriff’s department helicopter, with each estimated to cost taxpayers $10,000.

Most hikers who were assisted up the trail were given water, electrolyte replacement and a protein/carb replacement, said the forest service. Only a handful were transported to the hospital.

Ramona Fire Department, Cal Fire and San Diego County Fire Authority have also assisted with rescues.

Volunteer trailhead hosts will check permits and whether hikers have enough water, said Walker.

For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.