I wonder how many other cities’ hiking areas have to deal with things like this.

Another body was found in the Angeles National Forest yesterday afternoon. The unidentified woman’s body was found off of East Fork Road near Prairie Fork Road. Los Angeles County Sheriffs haven’t released any other details yet, and are asking anyone with further information to contact them at (323) 890-5500.

This comes on the heels of last week’s discovery of a body by a hiker in Big Tujunga Canyon Road, which is under investigation by homicide detectives.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get via email is “is it really safe to go hiking?” People hear stories like this or sensational accounts of bear or mountain lion or rattlesnake encounters and they get spooked from ever heading out into our wilderness. I think that’s really a shame. Most of the time these found bodies end up being related to crimes that happen in the city, and your chances of being injured by an animal on the trail are very, very small. I always try to tell people you’re probably taking a much greater risk driving to the trailhead than you ever will on the trail itself, and I stand by that statement.

Don’t let news like this keep you from getting outside!

Image by vpickering.

Tags: Angeles National Forest, crime, investigations, Los Angeles, murder, safety