Five hikers had to be rescued Thursday night below the closed Lower Falls Recreation Site in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest about 37 miles east of Cougar.  Skamania County Undersheriff Pat Bond says a total of sixteen first responders responded after receiving a report that four of the hikers had waded across the Lewis River, and only one made it back across because they were unsure of the current due to darkness.  First responders devised a rope system to rescue the remaining trio.  The group ranged in age from 17 to 20 years old and were from University Place.  Bond says all were cited and released for violation of the County’s order restricting access.  Bond called it a “perfect example” of first responders having to respond to something unnecessary due to “the complete disregard of well publicized orders” from various governmental agencies.