Anatomy of a Slide – a photo essay

As promised, here are more photos of the Alder Creek slide. I’m going back to the day before to show its development. Think of it as a mini course in slides – Big Sur style. Thanks to Rock Knocker.

John Duffy, climbing boss by Rock Knocker

This was taken on April 12, 2011, 2 days before the big slide. The climbers were going up to check a big crack up above that had developed. They checked it the next day, and knew it was giving way. There was LOTS of movement.

Getting a lift by Rock Knocker

Uh, oh ... by Rock Knocker

This was taken the day before the big slide.

Letting Loose by Rock Knocker

Cleaning up by Rock Knocker

The slide by Rock Knocker

This was 5 days after the slide with dozers and trucks working both ends. Hard to make any progress that way with a monster like this.

Now we move on to yesterday, Tuesday April 26, 2011 -

Danny Millsap, Supervisor, Willow Creek by Rock Knocker

Duffy and Crew by Rock Knocker

Flying rocks by Rock Knocker

Flying in the Equipment by Rock Knocker

That is the Chinook. If you follow the cable one can see the dozer or spider being brought in. I cannot tell from this photo which it is. But two of each were brought in by helicopter to the top of the slide. The spiders are blue and the dozers are yellow.
Here, one can tell it is a spider being ferried in. Follow the cable.

Chinook & Spider by Rock Knocker

CHP Officer Diane Clark by Rock Knocker

Diane flys in for a look-see.

Chinook by Rock Knocker

Equipment and Climbers in place by Rock Knocker

Ah, and here is my very favorite one of this series. Look at the size of those silhouettes up against the raging power of Mother Nature. “Men of Courage” I titled it, but it could have easily been The Crazy Men of Cal-Trans, Big Sur.” I know, I was married to one of them.

Men of Courage

Magnitude by Rock Knocker

~ by bigsurkate on April 27, 2011.