Month: December 2014

Mud/Rock Slide at Limekiln

2:30 pm – It apparently has been cleared as it is no longer listed on the CHP site.

Noon – The northbound lane is completely blocked, the south bound lane is partially blocked. Cal Trans is on the scene, working to get it cleared. MM 20.7, Limekiln State Park, not Rain Rocks. Just south of the entrance is an area that has given us fits over the years.

Highway One open

Highway is open and clear. Couple of minor slides, nothing too big.

Greg DeAlba, Supervisor, Willow Springs Maintenance Stayion.

Great job, Greg! You and your crew are awesome!

Highway One closed

Hi Kate, Just wanted to give you a heads up that we are going to be closing the road right now (Friday night 8pm) at the Willow Springs maintenance station and at Ragged point due to multiple slides between here and there.

Greg DeAlba Jr.
Supervisor,
Willow Springs Maintenance Yard

I am sure Greg and crew will be working on clearing these slides at first light and will have the road open as fast as possible. There were several times earlier this evening where it was raining 3″ an hour for a while.

Alder Creek Rock Slide Wednesday Night

Cleared by 7:00 am by Greg DeAlba and crew, Willow Springs Staion.

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December Storm Graphics

At 4:55 pm, the rain rate was 2.95″/ hour … At 5:15 it was 3.13″ an hour. Hopefully, just a short-lived cell.whew!

From Dave Allen of Pacific Valley School

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Here is another graphic

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I know I haven’t seen the sun up here in a week! More this afternoon and evening, then a break (although I have to point out that every so called “break” predicted thus far, it has rained, at least up here), another storm on Monday/Tuesday and then another on Thursday.

Highway One closed Overnight due to slides

Per the CHP website, the highway is closed in both directions due to three slides between MM 38 and 42. (South of Nepenthe, between Partington and Grimes Canyon) Barricades are in place.

Forest Service Releases Cause of Pfeiffer Fire

This is the link to the reports. There are three parts.
pfeiffer fire report on cause

Here is the general link to the LPNF. Will add the specific link when I get a moment.
LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST HOME PAGE

Forest Service Releases Cause of Pfeiffer Fire

GOLETA, CA, December 3, 2014….U.S. Forest Service officials today announced the release of the Pfeiffer Fire investigation report which determined the cause of the fire to be a local water company’s electrical control wires creating a competent ignition source.

All other fire causes were investigated and excluded.

The Pfeiffer Fire began just before midnight December 15, 2013, on the Pfeiffer Ridge in Big Sur and eventually burned 917 acres.

The investigation report is accessible to the public on the Los Padres National Forest Internet website.

Weather Report, 12/3/14, Plaskett Top, Big Sur

8:00 pm – 1.05″for the day. More tomorrow.

9:00 am – received a total of 1.43″ until midnight last night. This morning I am up to .28″ so far. 2.09″ for this three-day month. The winds gusted to 47 mph at 8 am this morning. Still pretty gusty. I haven’t checked, but given the state of Plaskett on Monday afternoon, I am certain it is now impassable. With the winds, I am also relatively certain there are a number of trees down the back way, but have no way of knowing if they are blocking the road. The major concern is the 1 mile to the south Coast Ridge Rd and then the 2 miles to Prewitt. A number of chain-saw toting individuals use it from then on. I have no where l have to be until Saturday, and I am well stocked. I hear Big Sur got even more than I did. Add your totals to the comment section below.