Month: January 2013

Hang glider accident

I got notification from a friend who follows the police/fire radio traffic about 3:00 pm, of a hang glider accident. Details are sketchy, but it could be a serious non-fatal accident. Rock Knocker was up here, and we were listening for the helicopter which had been dispatched, but hadn’t heard it. I asked him to call if he saw or heard anything as he made his way down my road.

He saw the helicopter from down near the bottom of Plaskett, and got out his field glasses so he could more accurately report what was happening. he watched the helicopter hover about 1000 ft above Pacific Valley Center for several minutes, at about 4:34, saw three trucks by the South Forty of Pacific Valley Center, one a USFS truck, probably Engine 17, then watched the helicopter take off with a litter hanging below. It landed across the highway from the Pacific Valley Ranger Station at 4:40 pm. The injury reported over the airwaves was serious. I will report more if I hear more. We don’t know if the glider is local or not. I have been informed, but cannot confirm, that it was not a local hang glider.

Plaskett Creek Campground is NOT without water

A couple weeks ago, the USFS sent out a press release regarding Kirk Creek Campground becoming a dry camp. I posted a notice here: USFS announcement

I have received a number of reports that Plaskett Creek campground was going to be dry. Apparently, this error began in the Pine Cone, and spread. My comment was always that I got the notice re the Kirk Creek campground, but not Plaskett. I have now confirmed with Bob, the mgr at Plaskett for Park Management, that it is in fact Kirk Creek, not Plaskett which is now a dry camp. He informed me he would be asking the Pine Cone to print a correction.

The February 1, 2013 BSMAAC meeting has been cancelled due to the lack of agenda items.  The next meeting will be held on May 17, 2013.  Please submit agenda items to our office no later than April 30, 2013.  Feel free to contact our office if you require any additional information.

Thank you,

Jayne Mohammadi

Aide to Supervisor Dave Potter

County of Monterey, Board of Supervisors

(831) 647-7755

(831) 647-7708

Bigsurkate and other updates

I got back home just before sunset last night, to find my solar power system unresponsive. I relied on the gennie last night, and tried to get the solar online. No luck. Someone had turned the PV switch off, and my gennie was not charging it today. Tomorrow, I have to run to town to replace groceries eaten by my dog sitter, propane for my appliances, restock on critter food, and all the usual, so I won’t get a chance to figure out what is wrong with the solar … Means I better get gas for the gennie back-up, as well, until I can read the manual, call my power guy, or otherwise become brilliant in solar power. I know, but it MIGHT happen!

My dogs sitter may have messed up my solar (or someone else?) but he had a fire laid out for me to Light last night, all four dogs were good, as were two cats, he hauled in firewood for a few days, and with all else, I have been warm, thanks to him.

Blaze got the contract for the Partington Rd clean-up. I understand there was a meeting between Blaze, Cal-Trans, and the Partington Ridge Road Association this morning. Will keep you posted as I can.

Friday the BSMAAC meeting is to be held at the State Park Conference Center, starting at 10 am. I will be attending. Kathleen Lee promised an agenda by end of business today, but so far, it has yet to find my inbox.

We have one more month of overnight closures at Rocky Creek, and then life will get a little easier for all of Big Sur. NOTE – I did not say “normal” – ain’t no such thing in Big Sur.

Glad to be home, and back doin’ what I do.

Kirk Creek converted to dry camp

Date: January 18, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Lynn Olson (831) 385-5434

Los Padres National Forest
6755 Hollister Ave. #150
Goleta, CA 93117
http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

Water Shut Off at Kirk Creek Campground

GOLETA, CA…Los Padres National Forest officials have announced that Kirk Creek Campground on the Monterey Ranger District will convert to a dry campground effective today. Visitors to the camp site are encouraged to bring an adequate amount of water for use during their stay.

Over the years, the Forest Service has taken a number of steps to upgrade Kirk Creek’s water treatment system in order to meet the State of California’s water quality standards. When these efforts failed to improve water quality, the decision was made to shut down the Kirk Creek water system to reduce the potential for public healthy and safety issues.

Two new vault toilets were installed to replace the antiquated, flush-toilet restrooms in anticipation of the water shut-off.

“After exploring our options and assessing the impacts, we have determined the best course of action is to shut off the water as a precaution,” said Monterey District Ranger Tim Short. “While I understand this will inconvenience our visitors, the public safety aspect simply outweighs the alternative.”

Kirk Creek Campground was originally constructed in the early 1960s to provide year-round, single-family vehicle camping along the Monterey County coast. The campground includes thirty-three campsites configured around two intersecting loops. Over time, several of the sites were modified to allow for recreation vehicle and multi-family camping.

For more information, please contact the Monterey Ranger District at (831) 385-5434, or on-line at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.