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Question: How can I hike to the Sign?
Answer: You can't.
Why? It's against the law. There is fire danger and your personal safety is at risk.
In the early years of the Sign, it was possible to climb to the Sign, though it was just as dangerous and inadvisable a trip then as it would be now. Even if you had the stamina to ascend the steep, slippery slope without falling, you could still fall victim to a lurking rattlesnake, be scratched by the rough brush, or be menaced by a mountain lion.
Over the years, the Sign nearly disappeared forever due to the combined efforts of vandals, pranksters, and neglect. Footpaths up the slope became jagged, unsightly erosion sites that ate away at the side of Mt. Lee. Nearby residents in the Hollywoodland community had to deal with unwanted foot traffic through their properties, sometimes by dangerously intoxicated groups of people. Joke additions to the Sign or changes to the letters, which might seem harmless enough, created hazardous work for city workers who had to restore the Sign back to normal.
The Hollywood Sign Trust was established in 1978 for the specific purpose of making sure the Sign and its delicate hillside site were preserved to be enjoyed by future generations. This work extends beyond the physical care of the Sign to the maintenance of an airtight, high technology security system.
The security system for the Sign was developed in concert with city officials, police and fire authorities, park rangers, and the Department of Homeland Security, and it includes the following features:
• A tall perimeter fence with razor wire
• 24 hour electronic surveillance by City of Los Angeles authorities
• Infrared lights and cameras that can see equally as well in the day and on a moonless night
• Monitoring microphones and bullhorns
• Web cameras
• Motion sensors
• Regular patrol visits by city police and park ranger helicopters
Walking into the protected Sign area is trespassing and violators will be cited by police. Anyone who makes an attempt to do so will be buzzed by a park helicopter, ordered off the slope through the bullhorns, and find a police cruiser waiting for them at the bottom of the slope. So please, help us preserve this beloved landmark and enjoy the Sign from below. Besides, with letters 45 feet tall, it is almost like being right there.
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