It is unbelievably beautiful up here this afternoon, and so, I am going to sit on my sunny, warm, back deck. Maybe take photos, and enjoy this wonderous place where I live. Perhaps, some photos after sunset … but maybe I will be too busy living it to record it.
After sunset. I lived it, and I recorded it, and as soon as I find my A/B cord, I will download then upload some shots of the beauty of where I am blessed to call home.
This is my deck. It is only 8 ft. wide, so I plan on expanding it.
It’s is not much of a deck, yet, but it makes up for it in views.
This is what I see all day, every evening, and every sunset. Am I blessed or what?
And the sunsets can’t be beat! That is a Big Leaf Maple, getting ready to bud out. Spring is almost here!
Here is the weather update from NOAA’s NWS for tomorrow’s storm:
RAIN WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN WITH THIS SYSTEM PRODUCING 1/4 TO 1 INCH IN THE POPULATED AREAS AND UP TO 2 INCHES OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN. THE RAIN WILL FALL MOSTLY WITHIN AN EIGHTEEN HOUR PERIOD BEGINNING EARLY FRIDAY MORNING IN THE NORTH BAY AND MID-MORNING IN THE MONTEREY BAY AREA. THE WIND WILL PICK UP A BIT…BUT REMAIN BELOW 35 MPH.
And here is the road update from Cal-Trans:
The Alder Creek Slide is now fully open. Lucia is one lane with flaggers, until a signal light can be put in. The work near Ragged Point is complete. For the complete report see the Cal-Trans announcement page.
Finally, Fred Garcia, one of 3 candidates for Sheriff (along with the idiot who locked down Big Sur, issued that horrific notice threatening to arrest anyone leaving their property to help their neighbors) wants to meet with Big Sur on Wednesday at 6 pm at the Lodge Conference Center. Garcia has been endorsed by the deputies union. Article in today’s Herald: here
9:30 am – Cal-Trans just issued their official update on the Alder Creek Slide. In part it says:
HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH OF GORDA NOW FULLY OPEN DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS
MONTEREY COUNTY – Hwy. 1 just south of Gorda (Alder Creek Slide) is fully open during the daytime hours from 7 am to 6 pm. The road will close again overnight tonight from 6 pm to 7 am.
As of 7:10 am, per the CHP website, the road is now fully open, with no traffic control and no delays. I have still not received the “official” word from Cal-Trans, but this one looks like a good bet, based on reports I have been hearing the last few days. No significant rain last night to change that. At 9 am, it is 35 degrees outside, and 49 inside. I am working to change that later figure as fast as possible.
The next storm is predicted to arrive Friday, bringing about 3/4 of an inch of rain to the Santa Lucia Mtns. then we are in for about a week of clear weather. Hallelujah! I am turning into a mushroom!
Yesterday, Rock Knocker climbed Mud Creek (about a mile north of Alder Creek Slide) to make sure it wasn’t backing up. (Yes, he IS retired, and no, he does NOT have to do this, but he is a curious fellow.) Normally, these are not the type of photos I would post, as some people are not interested in this type of thing. But I thought some of you might like to see how slides can happen (it is not backing up, therefore no slide is imminent) and get a different perspective on the hills and rocks that come down ON the road! I’ve even included some photos of the road from a perspective most of us are not likely to ever see. Definitely a unique perspective! RK took 104 photos, I’ve narrowed them down considerably, but I still have quite a few I want to share, so will be adding to this throughout the evening. Thanks so much, Rock Knocker! Climbing up Mud Creek, by Rock Knocker
That’s Highway One, down below.
WARNING – DO NOT TRY THIS YOURSELF. Rock Knocker is a professional rock climber, and has been to the Cal-Trans climbing school each year for over 20+ years. In fact, he has been invited back again, even though he is retired. Across the rockfall of Mud Creek, by Rock Knocker
One can see a sliver of Highway One in the distance on the right. Looking down the rock fall, by Rock Knocker
I am afraid of heights. Even looking at a photo like this makes me queasy. Good thing he doesn’t have video! Even higher still, by Rock Knocker
I can’t even BEGIN to describe what looking at this one does to my stomach! This is the one time I am “almost” – not quite – glad to Pampas Grass holding the hillside in place! A tree grows ... by Rock Knocker
Amazing to see on this barren slope, a tree tenaciously growing out of rock. Roots in Rock, by Rock Knocker
The close-up The Coastline, by Rock Knocker
If one looks closely, one can see the CT cone, and the sliver of road in front of it. Highway One - a different perspective, by Rock Knocker
Right behind where that front ridge and the highway intersect is the Alder Creek Slide. One can also see the recently rebuilt seawall at Shale Point. Going down? by Rock Knocker
There is his truck, parked on the side of the road. And that ends the photo story of the climb up Mud Creek.
It is down to 37.6 degrees at 5:30 pm – and I need to update the weather/road post for today, March 9. 2010.
Because I am watching two fronts – weather and road, I have divided this post into 2 sections, one for road updates, and one for weather updates. I will add information to the appropriate section as information comes my way.
WEATHER
9:30 pm – it is 34.9 degrees outside, and still dropping. It is going to hit the upper 20’s tonight — I just KNOW it. Brrr…
7:30 pm – currently down to 36.7 and still dropping.
5:30 pm – currently down to 37.4 degrees, and still dropping. Looks like a freeze tonight. I just hope it doesn’t get down into the 20’s. I have a brand-new, unopened package of silk long-johns I have misplaced. Tonight would be the night for them! (Can you tell I got my temperature gauge set up, again?)
5:00 pm – currently down to 38.0 degrees, and still dropping.
3:00 pm – 40 degrees, currently, and still dropping, after a day of mostly sunny skies. (I mistakenly put 44 degrees earlier.) It feels much colder due to wind chill factor. Windy up here, and white caps visible on the ocean.
9:30 am – NOAA’s NWS is predicting another chance of precipitation tonight, although amounts should be low, and light snow above 3K ft. No accumulation expected. Wednesday and Thursday should be dry, with a stronger system arriving on Friday.
8:00 am – First, everything is frozen up here. Hail and ice cover the deck, so I cannot safely go out on it, quite yet. It was 45 inside, when I woke this morning. However, the sun is shining. I will try to post photos later. Dave Allen reported very large hail at the mouth of the Valley. Here is one: Hail, by Jana Allen
ROAD
11:00 am – Cal-Trans JUST NOW issued this report:
MONTEREY COUNTY –The closure just south of Gorda (Alder Creek Slide) that reopened yesterday morning continues with one-way traffic control with flaggers from 7 am to 6 pm with up to 1-hour delays. The road will close again overnight tonight from 6 pm to 7 am.
Caltrans will reassess the slide conditions each morning and provide updates accordingly.
9:00 am – This is Dave Allen’s report from his commute this morning: “The road was clean, except for the Lucia slip-out. That is gowing lower fast…the drop was about a foot.Looks like the “sag” rate is about a foot a day…not bad for a slip-out! CALTRANS, though, is there with a foot of fill each day…’sorry, slip-out!’.”
8:00 am -Please see Suzi’s comment from last night under Road Conditions, 3/8, for her first hand report of going through the Alder Creek slide around 5:30 last night. I have yet to receive anything “official” from Cal-Trans, but that normally doesn’t come in until 9 am.
9:22 pm – it is going off again. This time, I stepped outside, collected the evidence on my black sweater, and it is primarily hail. Good night, all. Will check in in the am!
9:00 pm – Oh, my heavens! Hail, snow, sleet has just begun, and the ground is already covered! (frankly, I am not sure whether it is all or some.) It is coming from the north. I sit right on top, so the north side of my place is completely covered, but the south side has just patches. An interesting phenomena to watch from up here.
8:30 pm – I have heard nothing new regarding the Alder Creek Slide, so one can only assume that the night-time closure is in effect, and that more news will be forthcoming from Cal-Trans in the morning. The current assumption (proceed with caution when one sees that word) is that the road will open again at 7 am, with up to 2 hours delay. This is, of course, subject to the whims and fancy of Mother Nature. And lest you wonder about the 7 am opening, let me share what I have experienced. It is out of the question for Cal-Trans to work these monster slides in the dark. They get up before the crack of dawn, and are out on the road when the dawn first breaks, and they can see the danger. Then, they have to clear up whatever came down overnight to clear one lane for the public by 7 am. That is not an easy task. I know, I have been on “dawn patrol.”
Cal-Trans called this morning to inform me that the slide at Alder Creek will be open, controlled by flagging during daylight hours, and closed this evening. This is the press release from this morning: “The closure just south of Gorda (Alder Creek Slide) reopened this morning with one-way traffic control with flaggers from 7 am to 6 pm with up to 2-hour delays. The road will close again overnight tonight from 6 pm to 7 am.” So, if you are going south, make sure to stop in Gorda, use the facilities, get a cup of coffee, and bring a good book to read!
Rock Knocker is climbing Mud Creek today, so I expect some photos tomorrow. Check back then, but in the mean time, if you haven’t seen all the photos of the various slides, scroll down. There are some good ones!
And for your viewing pleasure, here is a waterfall flowing into the Big Sur River that only flows during very wet winters! Photo by Debbie Reed. Waterfall by Debbie Reed
These were taken yesterday. Waterfall 2 by Debbie Reed
5:30 am – (if it is dark, isn’t it conceptually the same night?) CHP is no longer reporting a slide at Big Creek, if one existed, but they have sent a unit at 5:01 am down to Alder Creek due to closure, and are reporting that one on their website.
10:00 pm – CHP website reported at 8:30 pm that Big Creek is closed again due to another slide? Yes, Cal-Trans did clear it, and it was open today, but that may have changed, once again. The entry by CHP is rather contradicting, as Stan Russell points out. Mother Nature can be a fickle mistress when stressed. Can’t we all?
One reader reports that at 10:30 this evening, a friend drove from Esalen to Lucia and there *is* NO closure at Big Creek. CHP may be “closing” the road in terms of the sign at Rio Rd., but at least one report is that it is open. BTW, I have received two reports that there are two confusing signs at Rio Rd. re status of road.
Also a report from a reader, “…[S}ome small rocks and gravel were falling on the road this evening just north of Soberanes, actively moving when I came home from my mom’s just now.” (Also reported at 10 pm)
I must admit to a bit of exhaustion tonight from being a one-person newsroom. Thanks for your understanding. Can I go to bed, now?
Thursday night, TreeBones Resort, owned by John & Corinne Handy held their second in the annual Big Sur Legends Series to raise money for Pacific Valley School.
TreeBones Resort
One entered the lobby, and there was the guest of honor, Don McQueen.
Further in, the items for the silent auction. This is just a few of the many items available to bid on.
The resort lobby and dining room was decked out for the occasion with lovely table settings, and tables that would eventually fill completely as dinner was served by the students of Pacific Valley School, all of whom were dressed in black. They looked so classy and did an incredible job of serving the 70 of us in attendance!
There were appetizers, Heller Estate donated wines that were poured by Mary Roos; a salad from the gardens of TreeBones; but the piéce de resistancé was the filet mignon with pomegranate demi glaze served over garlic mashed potatoes with steamed asparagus. I have never seen a filet that thick, 2 to 3 inches, or one that literally melted in one’s mouth like that one did. I am only sorry I did not think to take photos of the food. I see food — and I just want to eat! Chef Chris Watts
And I am informed that Chris won the People’s Choice award at the recent Chanterelle Cook-Off. Congratulations, Chris, and eating food you have prepared is such an honor!
Oh, and the dessert? It was created and donated by Margaret Graham Doyle. It was a wonderful date pudding with hot caramel sauce. Yum … when my student waitperson tried to take it away before I finished that last bite, she realized she would risk my wrath.
Throughout the evening we were treated to live music, some performed by the students themselves.
But the “fireside chat” between John Handy and Don McQueen was what most of us came to see and hear. Don McQueen, a Big Sur Legend, and one of our elders. Don McQueen John Handy
Don McQueen came to Big Sur in 1931 at the age of 11. His father was in charge of the highway. [Ed. note – Highway One was finished and opened in 1932.] When he got here, he thought the Pacific Ocean was ” … the biggest lake I’d ever seen.”
Don McQueen telling stories
Don started the Big Sur Campground in 1953 with Walter Trotter. Now, reservations for this icon are 18 years out. But the project in Big Sur that Don built that he is most proud of is Fernwood, and that project he did for free. Don on Firefighting
Don started fighting fires in 1947. He said of that time, “The most amazing thing was that people went out and put the fire out.”
During the Basin Complex Fire of 2008, Don called Caterpillar Company and order a $200,000 cat on credit. They delivered it to him in 16 hours and 15 minutes. I asked him about this, and he replied, “If I didn’t do that, I would have lost everything.” And from what I hear from his friends and neighbors, they also would have lost everything, but for Don and his cat. Don on Traffic
“We have too much traffic already.” I’m with you there, Don. Even the wagon trail that passes for a road up to my place gets crowded during the summer. Fortunately, every so often, Mother Nature, when she’s had enough, closes the highway.
Thank you, Don, for the stories, the sharing, and for being an elder in our community, and a Big Sur Legend!
4:00 pm – Note from Danny Millsap: “Hey Kate , there’s some mix up about the name , we are calling it the Alder Creek slide now. I have as much help as I can get, that will fit in the area, to get the job done safely and as quick as possible. The message boards north and south say road work with delays / and from 6:00pm to 7:00am it will say road closed ahead and what ever the distance the message board is from the slide . We are letting traffic through every two hrs. from 7:00am to 5:30 pm, unless mother nature decides different .
Here are some up to date photos
(See attached file: Alder 9.jpg)(See attached file: alder 99.jpg)
Danny Millsap
Caltrans Maintenance Supervisor
Willow Springs Station , Big Sur
Office (805) 927-4243”
And here are those photos: Alder Creek Slide, by Danny Millsap
I wish I had either Danny or Rock Knocker here to tell me if that BIG boulder is the same one in the photo below, sitting up on the side of the slide zone … very well could be, it is large enough!
... all the help there is room for, by Danny Millsap
Thanks, Danny! You are THE MAN!
3:30 pm – ROAD UPDATE. Hard closure again tonight, it is just too unstable. Big Creek is cleared, thankfully, so only the one between Villa Creek and Alder Creek currently blocking the road. Cal-Trans is now calling this the Alder Creek Slide, so changed the title of this post. Will be reassessing the danger, bringing in a geologist, and making determinations Monday and Tuesday about next actions. Some up-to-the-minutes shots to post from Danny Millsap, shortly.
Here are a series of shots taken this morning by Rock Knocker. As a retired Cal-Trans worker from Willow Springs Station, trained by the legend, Don Harlan, he knows what is going on.
As with last night, I will publish immediately, but be adding new photos whenever the opportunity arises. All photos at Villa Slide, and all photos by Rock Knocker
Loading the truck
bring down the loose stuff.
This is the slip plane — where the material begins sliding down the face in the hill above, all of it looking to “come on down” – Newton’s Law, you know. That is one huge boulder in the middle of the on-going slide. Note the crack. Hopefully, this will crack open when it comes down.
Working it from a platform
Is this a fault?
Either wordpress just added a new feature, or I finally discovered it, but I like the “photo” look and caption, so will be converting to these, most of the time.
Here, at Villa Slide, note the rocks. An interesting geological formation has been revealed by the slide. You will note the almost horizontal layer of rock, butting up against an almost perpendicular layer, then into another almost horizontal layer. Does this indicate a fault line? I don’t know. But below is a closer look. Close-up of interesting geological formation
That drain is his-tory!
That drain is supposed to redirect the water coming down, horizontally under the road. Fortunately, it is not blocked and can still perform its duties.
These last two show the water coming out of the hill at Mud Creek, about a mile north of Villa Slide.
Water from a Rock... and the long view
That’s it for the slide today. In a few hours, I will be writing the story and uploading the photos from The Legends of Big Sur series Thursday night at TreeBones resort. Also need to check weather reports, but as of last night, it was looking as if we are in the clear until Friday. Here’s hoping that is true, although Big Sur Valley reported 1/2 inch from last night’s storm. I haven’t even had the time to get to my rain gauge yet!
