Notices

The Big Sur blog that has been covering fires, the weather, road conditions, and other events for over 3 years now – first with all the news relied upon by locals and tourists alike – both official and unofficial sources. We also cover events, history, a smorgasborg of Big Sur topics, and when we run out of things to say, photos…sometimes even when we DON’T run out of things to say! Send your news and photos, and we will do our best to post them. send to: kwnovoa@mac.com

Header Photo by Jane McKay-Parks who won a $50 gift certificate to the Big Sur Bakery, courtesy of Mike Gilson of Big Sur Real Estate THANKS TO MIKE GILSON!

NO PHOTO CONTEST FOR A WHILE. Around Spring Equinox, I will feature one of my own photos, but you MAY get to vote on which one! For future contests (probably only 2 a year for a while) header dimensions, which are: 760 x150 pixels or 10.5″x2.25″ It should be 72 dpi for ease in loading.

Current & Immediate Future of Highway One, 1/26/12

Ben Grasmuck, resident CHP officer sent me this, this morning:

“Good morning. I’m at the GSB trailer and just talked to John Matteuchi. They are going to work all weekend and if everything works “perfectly” the road will be open on Monday. They have to build a dirt platform in the roadway and park the crane on it to rehang the netting. We can’t even get an emergency vehicle through without an hour delay.
Yesterday, the scalers were rolling boulders down the hill and said they cannot declare the road safe until the netting is rehung.

Ben”
*****************************************************************

I got this from Cal-Trans yesterday:

“We made some progress on the hillside today but there is still a lot of
loose material on top that could fall onto the roadway. We should have an
estimate of opening by tomorrow or Friday. I would characterize this slide
as a medium scale event, not short-term but not long-term either.

Thanks for your support and outreach efforts, we really appreciate it.

Colin Jones
Public Affairs Manager
Caltrans District 5
(805) 549-3189
——————————–”

So, I am outta the prediction business, at least when it comes to mother nature and the road!

Highway One Closure Update #2, 1/24/12

Spoke with Collins Jones, PIO for Cal-Trans sometime between 4 and 4:30, but I was on the road, and this is the first opportunity I have had to post this update.

Resident geologist, John Duffy, and his climbing team went up today and did some “scaling.” Scaling is taking the loose stuff down from the top. That operation revealed that the top is still geologically unstable, so they will be going back tomorrow for more scaling. After that operation, Cal-Trans believes they will be able to give a definitive answer about when the road can be re-opened.

Based on my 23 years of experience dealing with rock, dirt, and mud slides here on the South Coast (I’m guessing probably over 100), my view of the photo Cal-Trans provided, my conversations over the years with old-time Cal-Trans workers, as well as more current ones, I suspect the highway may be open on Friday.

Closure Update, 1/24/12

8:00 am – I have not received any information yet this morning, but was informed by Colin Jones, PIO for Cal-Trans, District 5, last night that the geologists and climbing crew would be on-site today, climbing to the top to check out the conditions up there and making an assessment re: safety and clean-up. Considering what that entails, I do not anticipate any significant up-date until that is completed, sometime late this afternoon. As soon as I get word, I will post here, and to FB, for those who prefer social media. Also note that on the links to the right, under La Niña, 2011-2012, I have added the District 5 FB page, so you can follow them, if you choose, also.

For those of you needing to get through or to the area, and not familiar with the detours, I suggest 101 to 68 and across to Highway One, where you can either go north to Santa Cruz, or south to Big Sur. Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. is a narrow, winding road, not recommended for those in RVs or for the faint-of-heart.

Closure Update, 1/23/12, #2

Rain Rocks Slide by Cal-Trans

I was having internet goblins playing games with my connections Monday afternoon, so didn’t get to post this update from Cal-Trans:

Today’s Date: Monday, January 23, 2012 @ 3 pm
District: 5 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz
and San
Benito Counties
Contact: Jim Shivers or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3237 or (805) 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
***TRAFFIC ADVISORY #2***
HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE

HIGHWAY 1 REMAINS FULLY CLOSED 25 MILES SOUTH OF BIG SUR

MONTEREY COUNTY:

Highway 1 (Post Mile 22), 25 miles south of Big Sur remains closed
indefinitely in both directions due to a large rock slide near Limekiln Creek. Caltrans crews are on site monitoring and assessing the damage. Weather conditions are expected to improve tomorrow.

There is no estimated time when the highway will re-open.
All Big Sur and coastal businesses remain OPEN with detours available for motorists.

For more information on Monterey County projects, call the toll-free hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit
www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/. The public may also call the statewide

CHIN at (800) 427-7623 for

updates on current traffic conditions.

Jim Shivers
Caltrans
District 5 Public Information Officer
(805) 549-3237

Also, note that I have added a link to the right for winter conditions (La Nina 2011-2012)to our local district Cal-Trans FB page.

Road Closure Update, 1/23/12

Noon – From Cal-Trans:

Cal-Trans official press release says there is no anticipated date of re-opening of the road.

9:30 am – semi-official report: there is no equipment buried under the slide, none of the rock shed is affected, the slide didn’t take out the light, only the wires going to the light, and it is expected that the road will be open in 3-4 days, but still waiting for the geologist’s analysis.

8:30 am – reported by local in comment section below: “Just went for a look, was told by the flagger that the slide has buried part of the rock shed, with much of their equipment, and will probably be closed for at least a couple of days. Also unofficial, but that was at 8:20 this morning.” If all that equipment is buried, it will be more than a couple days!

7:30 am – Per one of my “unofficial” but very reliable sources, the slide occurred just south of the new Rock Shed at Rain Rocks, and took out the light on the southern end of the construction. I have no word from Cal-Trans “official” sources, yet, about how long the closure will last. I suspect I will not get any official word until mid-day or later, as the resident geologist will have to evaluate the situation, then get the word to the PR guys/gals. Will update as soon as I have additional information. BTW, the CHP website no longer shows this closure, but that does not mean it is open.

Hard Closure of Highway One

Active Slide with debris covering both lanes on the road at Paul’s Slide/Pitkin’s Curve/Rain Rocks has closed Highway One indefinitely. Cal-Trans will have geologists look at the matter in the morning to give a better estimate about when it will be able to be cleared, but for now, no traffic will be able to get through in either direction, per Colin Jones of Cal-Trans.

Colin said it was at Rain Rocks, but he also said Pitkin’s Curve. CHP reports PM 22, which is Paul’s Slide, 1.5 miles south of Lucia. Cal-Trans website puts it at 1.8 miles south of Lucia, which is right at Rain Rocks, approximately. per Rock Knocker. Wherever it exactly is, it is north of Nasty-Fergy, so no getting through from the north, and the hard-closure on the south is at Limekiln Bridge, so travelers going north will have to go over N-F Rd.

NOTE: I have a report that there are rocks on the road at the Alder slide from last year that have made their way under the chicken wire drapery. Brace yourselves, as there is another 2-3 inches expected tonight into tomorrow, then an extended dry period starting Tuesday.

FROM NOAA AT 3 PM SUNDAY: “HAVE FOLLOWED RFC QPF FOR TONIGHT WHICH SHOWS SOME HEALTHY 6 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ROUGHLY BETWEEN 10 PM AND 4 AM. EXPECT UP TO 3 INCHES IN THE HILLS FROM SONOMA SOUTHWARD TO BIG SUR ….”

The light … shines

Yes, the rain continues, but for a change of pace, this photo I took at Post Ranch last month, because the light was just exquisite!

Impressive Rain totals

Here is what is expected:

Rain anticipated next 24-hours

And this is what we got the LAST 24-hours:

Impressive Rain totals

Can you believe those totals? 7.5 at Three Peaks, over 7 at Chalk Peak, and 5.5 in Big Sur proper?

Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Meeting

BSMAAC meeting tomorrow, January 20, 2012 at 10:00 am at the Big Sur Lodge Conference Center. On the agenda are two items related to the Brazil Ranch – performing arts center and parking.

Hang Em High Part 3

Hi everyone. Avis here with the last installment of my experience 172′ in the air, in a basket, above the Pitkin Curve bridge & rock shed job.

This time I will focus on the rock shed. An amazing feat of man and machine working to alter the flow of “Mother Nature”

Common in Europe for avalanche diversion from mountain roads, this is the very first Rock Shed ever built in the United States. I think when this job is done, it will be an historical icon for highway 1 that will rival the Bixby Bridge. The rock shed looks a lot like a tunnel. It has two sides, a roof and is open on both ends. As you will see through these pics,  it’s a massive amount of concrete designed to force the rocks that fall to land on the roof of the shed then down to the beach.

That rock face they are working in front of is called “Rain Rock”. It has literally rained down tons and tons of rocks over the years.  Many times closing the road for weeks at a time. Not to mention the thousands of flat tires it used to cause.

As you drive through the rock shed, on the ocean side of the road it will have arch shaped windows to enjoy the view from. I can’t wait to take some pics from inside looking out.

Building the forms for the columns

Inside the column before the concrete is poured

All the sides are on. Now it's time to pour the concrete

After the concrete is poured in the center they now build the top of the column

The base of the columns formed now it's time for....

Building the walls between the columns. These guys are literally hanging off the edge.

From the basket view you can see how it all comes together. Including the finished walls on the other side of the road.

Heres a view you don't get to see every day. I had them lower the basket to get a below the rock shed view.

Well that’s it for now. The job supervisor said very soon they will be putting up the archway window sides and the top to the rock shed. And I get to go up again when that happens. Yay!! Should be some cool shots with the bridge and rock shed done.

Thanks for the venue to post this Kate. And thank you to all of your readers for all their kind comments.

Kate told me to post the link to my online photo gallery. A work in progress.

www.latonephotography.com