CHP response to snow play
By Marsha Kennedy
Contributed
Over the New Years’ weekend, Idyllwild was struck by an unprecedented avalanche of snow-play visitors — more than the Hill has ever seen, in the estimate of many residents.
In addition to the illegal parking, trespassing and littering, which unfortunately have become standard features of such events, traffic congestion was staggering.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
One bright note comes in the form of encouraging news from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Capt. Aaron Knarr is the newly assigned commander of the San Gorgonio Pass area CHP office located in Beaumont.
In a recent phone call, he reached out to me regarding the Idyllwild Snow Group.
Like so many agencies, COVID-19 has impacted Knarr’s CHP office.
The CHP Academy, which would normally graduate new officers every three months, recently closed for the second time. As a consequence, in addition to injury and retirement, his ranks have been reduced by 25%.
We discussed several aspects of the recent snow play situation in Idyllwild.
His office did not anticipate the number of snow-players we experienced.
However, Knarr met with his staff regarding the situation and made plans for future incidents.
He is committed to increasing coverage up here after snow events and hopes to make a safer environment for both residents and visitors.
Although the CHP closely monitors weather reports, the snow group will also give him a heads up whenever a prime snow-play weekend approaches.
He plans to institute chain control checkpoints on the two highways leading into Idyllwild. If chain control is unavailable, he will utilize overtime to have two additional officers patrol the Hill.
They are reaching out to other CHP offices that have experience with periodic snowfall in addition to Caltrans to gain insight on the situation.
“We’re working on it,” Knarr said. “We’ll do everything we can to not have it happen again.”
