The U.S. Forest Service closed trails leading to Mt. Baldy after a wildfire for safety and natural recovery, but climbers still ascended despite the closures.
Three climbers described finding no signs of fire damage on their ascent, leading to a heated debate over the appropriateness of the Forest Service's closure.
Social media has polarized opinions on the mountain's closure, spurring a clash between concerned hikers and those who view the regulations as unnecessary government overreach.
Despite a $5,000 fine for trail violations, some climbers assert that the closure seems overly cautious since the summit and surrounding trails appear undamaged.
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