Hiker swept away by flash flood near Forest Falls

[halhiker]

A hiker was killed in a Flash flood near Forest Falls on September 9. He was crossing the creek with his girlfriend and he was swept away. It was reported that the Yucaipa Ridge got over an inch and a half of rain in less than 30 minutes and part of this cloudburst contributed to the flooding of Mill Creek. So sorry of the loved one of this man and please be careful, everyone, with this crazy weather out there. A lot of lightning strikes in the San Jacintos today and SW of Idyllwild got over two inches of rain.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/09/ ... est-falls/

[Florian]

Hal, Jon King and i were staffing Tahquitz Peak yesterday. We recorded 31 lightning strikes by 5pm! Most around southern Desert Divide, Thomas Mtn and Cahuilla Mtn. On strike directly to the trailer park at Lake Hemet. Also some strikes in the SJ high country with a couple pretty close to the tower but no direct hits. Was a busy afternoon.

-Florian

[Wildhorse]

Florian- Were you standing on the insulating platforms a lot? What a day that must have been.

Floods and lightning. Good old fashioned terror.

It is sad about the hiker who died and his girlfriend who saw it.

[Ellen]

[Hikin_Jim]

Fascinating to me since there has been not a drop of rain down this way (Orange County).

Of important note:
“The water [was]... waist-deep, and they tried to cross it, which is extremely inadvisable. And again, she was able to self-extricate, and he was not able to,” said Capt. Brett Raney of the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

If there's fast flowing water and it is or has been raining, and it's more than mid-shin deep, think very carefully about it. Better to be a couple hours late getting back to the car than ... a funeral. Always carry a headlamp, rain gear, extra food and water, and some warm clothing -- yes, even in summer.

HJ

[tekewin]

A very sad outcome. Flash floods are probably an underrated danger.

[zippetydude]

That's such sad news. I have done Vivian many times during the summer and always wondered if I would come back down to a flash flood and have to wait it out. We're always talking about signs - maybe it would be good to have a sign posted at Vivian and Momyer to warn people who have never seen how dangerous trying to cross a flash flood can be. That's one of the most dangerous flash flood locations I know of in SoCal. My heart goes out to those affected by this loss.

z

[Sally]

Very sad news . I believe there is a sign warning of the danger on the south bank of the crossing. A sign would also be useful on the north bank because one is more likely to encounter a flash flood in the afternoon as one is returning from their hike. One problem is that it takes a few minutes to cross the creek bed, and although it may look safe when you start across, a huge wall of water can just come crashing through without warning and so fast that you won't stand a chance.

[Ed]

I believe there is a sign warning of the danger on the south bank of the crossing.

I thought I remembered a sign. Having never seen a flash flood, I don't know how quickly they come, or how long you have to wait for them to pass. I don't need warning signs myself, having had a dislocated shoulder for eleven days after a stream crossing accident, I am the meekest stream crosser you ever saw. Perhaps with the dryness of the last four years some people don't know what Mill Creek can be like. I've never been fond of crossing it in the spring after a winter of heavy rain and snow.

[Florian]

Here is a video of the Mill Creek flash flood. You might need a facebook account for the link to work ..

https://www.facebook.com/10000416320590 ... nref=story

-Florian