March 14, 2017
Daily trail progress update.
More progress was made again today on the access trial work. Many more steps were completed in addition to continual work on the actual trail.
There was an incident on the trail today that involved unauthorized use of trail that compromised the safety of the trail crew. The subject was trying to gain access to Post Ranch for work during hard closure. Subject was on the north side a few switchbacks up the new trail. Subject was contacted by a State Park Peace Officer and was asked to respect closure. Per witness statement, Subject threw a duffel bag down and stated short cut. The bag weighed an approximate 40 lbs. and was loaded with metal tools. Subject was issued a citation for violation of PC 409.5 (c) entering a disaster area. Subject was released without further incident
Gerry Malais, Monterey County OES, and Larry Notheis, Region 2 Director of the CCCs, toured the trail today.
Caltrans will eventually need the pullout at the south east side of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge cleared for construction. Caltrans will give advance notice and the southern access to the trail will not be impacted by this future use.
Thank you to CCC crew from Monterey Bay Center, Watsonville. This crew will time out tomorrow, 3/15/17 at 1200 hrs. They will be immediately replaced by a CCC crew from San Luis Obispo.
Here are updated statistics provided by State Parks.
Total Trail tread completed today: 237 linear feet
Total heavy brushing completed: 1539 linear feet
Total light brushing completed: 778 linear feet
Total number of workers on trial: 13 CCC, 10 volunteers, 5 DPR
· 15 Wood crib steps have been completed
Trail crew lead recommends a hard closure of the trail on Wednesday, March 15th. Excavated retaining wall site and 3 step sections pose significant risk to public and can be damaged by unnecessary use.
Brent Marshall, Martha Karstens, Gerry Malais – Unified Command
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Part of today’s Cal Trans Update, most of the rest is old, and repetitive, and it is getting more and more confusing, but this re Paul’s Slide is the latest, and it all changes again, next week:
**Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) is limited to vehicles weighing 50,000 lbs., with a maximum vehicle length of 30 feet. There is a flagger at Ragged Point checking I.D.’s for locals and allowing delivery vehicles through. The next opportunity for resupply will be Wednesday, March 15 and Friday, March 17 between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm each day. LOCALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESUPPLY THROUGH THIS WEEK. Slide removal and highway realignment at Paul’s Slide is scheduled to begin next Monday, March 20 and may require limited local access for an undetermined amount of time.
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March 14, 2017 from John Lindsey, SLO Meterologist:
“It appears that a trough of low pressure will develop over California. Consequently, the jet stream will drop southward toward the Central Coast and will produce increasing southerly winds and rain as a low pressure system moves into the Central Coast Monday night into next Tuesday. This system will be followed by a couple more storms over
the rest of next week.”
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March 13, 2017
Daily trail progress update.
More progress was made again today on the access trial work. Many more steps were completed in addition to continual work on the actual trail. There were 10 volunteers mostly from Ventana today led by Fire Brigade Engineer Rayner Marx. He said quite a bit of wood was also carried up today for tomorrows work.
Approximately 1/2 of the trial has been put in already. The top part of the trail was looking even better.
The Fire Brigade staffed a water tender with Jess Mason and Hubbs Hubback on the south side today for fire suppression
The work and progress on the trail will be reevaluated daily. The hard closure is still in place during trail construction.
The below statistics on the trail are provided by State Parks.
Total Trail tread completed: 739 linear feet
Total Trail tread completed today: 167 linear feet
Total heavy brushing completed: 1539 linear feet
Total light brushing completed: 778 linear feet
Total number of workers on trail: 13 CCC, 9 volunteers, 4 DPR
· 11 Wood crib steps have been completed
Brent Marshall, Martha Karstens, Gerry Malais – Unified Command
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For Big Sur residents south of the bridge who need to get rid of accumulated trash, there will be a large dumpster delivered to Kirk Creek Campground tomorrow morning. Should be in place by noon. Thanks to the efforts of Kurt Mayer.
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“As Big Sur bridge demolished, isolated residents urge Caltrans to consider temporary structure. 2/3rds of business comes from north.” SJMN story here: http://bayareane.ws/2moji1l
If some of those cranes could lift out some of those fallen Redwoods,haul them to the Gulch and place them across the Gulch, and trim them with chain saws…Presto- instant temporary bridge.
But, this would be too simple, yes?
Kate,
What will be added to the base of the trail once it’s done esp. with a series of storms on its way? Does blue rock in anyway improve the stability of a newly created trail?
I worked on the trail today and saw the pair of guys who were working for a contractor to do repairs at Post Ranch. They were attempting to bring in a wheel barrow overloaded with tools and crap and one of those big plastic Husky chests that has plastic wheels, intended to roll along a garage floor. They were really not the ones at fault, the contractor and Post Ranch Inn bear the responsibility for having these guys attempt something so ridiculous. The worst part is that they are the types who will ruin it for locals.
It was great fun to help work on the trail today. A good crew and good work. I really encourage everyone to volunteer and spend a day building the trail.
The Fire Poppies on Mt. Manuel and the ridges are spectacular.