Hiker describes surviving Mount Baldy fall that killed 3 others

MOUNT BALDY, Calif. (KABC) -- It was less than a month ago that Jason Lopez was hiking Timber Mountain near Mount Baldy with his brother-in-law, Rob Wayman.

Lopez said he did not feel he was in danger until they reached near the peak, where the conditions changed.

"The terrain was getting steeper, and it was icy," Wayman said. "There was snow everywhere."

They were close to the summit when Lopez lost his footing, and Wayman said that's when he saw him go over the edge.

The pair estimates the slide at more than 1,000 feet but Lopez survived. The hiker suffered broken bones, a skull fracture and brain damage but is happy to be alive.

"At that moment I was just hoping he was going to be OK," Wayman said.

Since then, there have been dozens of rescues at Mount Baldy, as well as three deaths, including a 45-year-old man who fell off the Devil's Backbone trail over the weekend.

The trail was closed on Feb. 8 after the Forest Service had deemed it too dangerous. The area has since reopened, but officials are warning people to be careful.

Lopez and Wayman wondered if the trails should be closed to the public.

"With the amount of deaths and people going up and hiking these trails, they definitely need the training behind themselves to understand when a situation is a little too hairy," Lopez said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Jason Lopez. To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/xf257usg.