03/02/2010: UPDATE: Chelsea King's body has been found and the search has been called off. Lake Hodges will never be the same. I will think of her every time I am there and every time I drive by it, which is very often.
These used to affect me before, but, now that I have a child of my own, my heart goes out to her friends and family.
Regarding hiking safety, I don't know what to say. Lake Hodges was one of the areas where I felt a lone woman could be safe. There are trails like Black Mountain and Woodson Mountain, where the trails are sufficiently filled with people to deter a would-be predator. But that is what I thought about Lake Hodges.
Hopefully, putting this guy away will remove a great percentage of danger from San Diego.
I won't say any more about this except it is tragic and pointless. There are going to be new debates about the release/punishment/rehabilitation of sexual offenders, but it is really outside the scope of this site.
Stay safe out there on the trail.
