Day: April 8, 2009

Photos of the mudslide

Tuesday afternoon saw another blow to the Big Sur State Park, who has suffered set-back after set back toward its goal to open by Memorial Day.  I think Mother Nature is telling us she is not ready for millions of visitors to her scarred and healing hills. When she tries to tell us gently, we sometimes don’t hear her, so she has to YELL to be heard.

These photos by Rain Greenslate, Chief of Maintenance Big Sur tell the story so well. She and Jo-ann are sending more tomorrow. Thanks ladies for sharing these with us and I will post as many of them tonight as I can, and more tomorrow!!

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Cal-Trans News Release & Report from the locals

Ah, Mother Nature. How much we love you!! Just when we get complacent that the storms are over and Big Sur sur-vived, as only she can, you come along and remind us — of your awesome power — and incredible sense of humor!! Wild and colorful displays for us, along with 80 degree weather one day, and cold, heavy rains and mud slides the next. Yes, dear lady, you are one grande dame. We honor and respect you here in your turbulent arms!

From my friend, Debbie, in the valley:

“Well, lots of digging out going on.  Just heard on the scanner they are going to try a escort a few cars through the park entrance area a few at a time on a need basis.  Jo-Ann just left here to try to get to her office.  She had to leave her car last night and wade through the day use road to get home.  Quite a mess.  Juan Higuera overflowed the culvert and brought debris down my driveway again.  I was here and the guys kept going to check on it.  Dogs fine and barking at them at the time.  I went home, no problem.  Basil hoe’d out rock from the culvert and all is flowing fine again.  River was never an issue.  Just raised up a bit and is the dark stinky muddy thing it has been all winter during storms.  I spoke with Debra briefly earlier, they are closing the Lodge tonight because they have to close the sewer plant – really don’t know what that story is.”

Cal-Trans News Release:

“MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 reopened with one-way reversing traffic control with flaggers at 11:30am today after closing yesterday at 6pm due to heavy mud slide activity for four miles from south of Ventana to north of the Big Sur Park (Campgrounds), Caltrans officials have announced.

Maintenance crews will continue working in the area to clear any debris and get the highway fully open. Up to 30-minute delays can be expected and motorists should proceed with caution. Updates will be available as conditions change.”

And if you haven’t seen the photos (still trying to find out the name of the photographer) in the post below, take a look!

Storm Watch, 4/8/09

9:00 am – The Herald is reporting the road expected to open by mid-day. Cal-Trans is predicting one lane open by about 1 pm. Stay tuned for further updates, as they become available. And the photo, when the internet fairies allow.

car-in-culvert2I do not know who provided these, it may have been Rene, but I would like to give credit to the photographer. Here is one of Highway One:

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8:00 am – I received an additional 1/2 in. overnight, for the storm, 1.25″, for the season, 33.75″

Here is a shot taken by Rene Robles of the parking lot at the Big Sur Lodge late yesterday afternoon. Be patient with me, if it takes a while to get it uploaded. Well, I will get it loaded when I can. In the meantime, there is an article in today’s Herald about last night’s closure. There is also an article about the fugitive who shot himself in Big Sur a few days ago. The mudslide article is at: http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_12096953?nclick_check=1

5:00 am – it continues to rain, heavy at times. While CHP is not reporting the closure, anymore, I cannot imagine that it opened during the night, given conditions. Often times, old incidents will drop off their website. There were unconfirmed reports that one lane was open for a time, last night around 9:30 pm. Will report more, when I know more.