Author: bigsurkate

Appointed appellate counsel for indigent defendants (retired.) I have lived in Big Sur since 1984, first on the north coast, and on the South Coast since 1989.

Soberanes Fire, One year later

For many of us, this date will hit us hard, some will cry, some will silently remember whether they want to or not. None of us will forget where we were and what we were doing. Many, many people sent me photographs this day, some are posted on my first blog post here and then I did a second post when the evacuation of Palo Colorado was ordered that evening with even more photographs. It is here.

From that moment on, this fire took over our lives for months, and is still affecting us today, a year later. Take a moment in your day today to think about this land we love and what she has had to endure this last year and do a ceremony or ritual or simple prayer for her healing. She is in even more need now than she was then. Keep her in your thoughts today and every day. Don’t let her be overrun. NOTHING is more important than the land that brought us all here – locals and visitors alike.

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That square spot is a house. Photo by Kodiak Greenwood, sent to me by Lisa Kleissner.

Unless there is another Mud Creek or Soberanes today, I am taking it off to be quiet and reflect and honor Big Sur.

Monterey Co Visitors Bureau outreach

Here are some of the things the Monterey County Visitors and Convention Bureau are doing to educate visitors to Big Sur. Check out these resources when you have a minute. Thanks, MCVCB. Now, if we could just find a way to channel some of the advertising budgets of all these organizations into some ON-THE-GROUND action, like porta potties, trash receptacles, extra patrols by MCSO to ticket those who are breaking the law by camping on the side of the road, or worse, building campfires,. then we would finally have something real going. With  all  the tourists dollars Big Sur brings in to the entire county, some of it needs to be spent here to make the visitors experience more enjoyable. This outreach is a start, but it is only a start.

SeeMonterey.com homepage has a link to a Big Sur microsite that is loaded with the latest information, maps, tips and suggestions ranging from fire/smoking restrictions to FAQs on responsible tourism. See that page here: https://www.seemonterey.com/resources/travel-alert/#sm.0002nsm037hcea110tx17oyjr82hg
• We’ve also created a special Travel Like a Big Sur Expert page with “Dos and Don’ts” – https://www.seemonterey.com/regions/big-sur/big-sur-sustainable/#sm.0002nsm037hcea110tx17oyjr82hg
• We created a Sustainable Moments video series that features Big Sur – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJtR8T1k8yo
• Our Visitor Center is getting about 4000 people a week right now – more than half inquire about Big Sur and we use it as an opportunity to educate them on experiencing Big Sur in a safe and responsible way
• We work with a handful of regional partners ranging from Visitor California to the Central Coast Tourism Council to other CVBs and agencies – attached is an example of a Market Situation Report (MSR) we regularly distribute. With Visit California we update on a weekly basis.
• We constantly update and monitor social channels. On our Facebook page we reach over 100,000 people (and by extension tens of thousands more) with messaging about Big Sur, how to visit and how to do so responsibly. Below is a recent post.
• We’ve been running a significant amount of advertising and paid social posts to promote how enjoy Big Sur in safe and responsible ways. And we’re running paid advertising within Monterey County to reach visitors already in our destination.
• Supervisor Mary Adams is heading up the developing situation and working with Caltrans, Parks and others. MCCVB has been a part of that working group since day. We supported and helped facilitate and promote the new shuttle service designed to mitigate single car traffic – and we support carrying this on beyond the road closures.
• Our PR team is proactively reaching out to journalists around the globe to push a balanced message – Big Sur is open and visit smartly, safely and responsibly.
• An example of getting the message out about balanced tourism growth is this article in Edible Monterey – http://ediblemontereybay.com/our-newsletter-sponsors-spotlight/sustainable-moments-strengthen-local-tourism/
• We’ve created a ‘resource kit’ for all our members with a variety of tools and tips designed to promote responsible tourism throughout Monterey County – https://www.seemonterey.com/members/tools/sustainable-moments/#sm.0002nsm037hcea110tx17oyjr82hg

I don’t mean to overwhelm you. And there is more… But want to give you and others answers for when asked “What is MCCVB doing?”.

While we are very focused on educating travelers about Big Sur – we need to look for more ways to inform and educate our residents on what we are doing and how to collaborate. We are open to more ideas and more collaboration, so be we’ll reach out to Big Sur Kate as well. If you have any further thoughts or questions, please let us know…

Big Sur Pop-up Weekend at the Vineyard in Carmel Valley

From Deetjen’s…

I hope this … finds you well! As you might have heard, Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn is still closed, but our spirits are still active and optimistic!

Our friends from the Big Sur Vineyards will be hosting a “Big Sur Weekend” in their Carmel Valley Tasting Room on July 21-23, 2017.

Between fires, floods, downed bridges, and mud slides, the Big Sur community has had a challenging year. We invite you to come out and support Big Sur businesses, while celebrating Big Sur Vineyard’s 1st year Anniversary in Carmel Valley!

Please join us for PopUp Lunch/Dinner with Domingo will be serving a selection of delectable dishes. No tickets are require and Cash and Check are preferred at our table!

Hope to see you too, and bring your appetite!!

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Fire Restrictions, Level 3 LPNF

NEWS RELEASE
Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen
Twitter: @LosPadresNF
Elevated Fire Restrictions Take Effect in Los Padres National Forest

GOLETA, CA, July 19, 2017…Due to extremely dry vegetation and an increasing fire danger, Los Padres National Forest officials announced that Level III fire restrictions will go into effect immediately. The following restrictions will be rigorously enforced until this Forest Order expires:

Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in all areas of Los Padres National Forest except for designated Campfire Use sites; however persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are allowed to use portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel outside of designated Campfire Use Sites. California Campfire Permits are available for free download from the Los Padres National Forest website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf). You must clear all flammable material for a distance of 10 feet in all directions from your camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times when it is in use.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in all areas of the National Forest unless specifically authorized by a special use permit with the Forest.

Hunting with a valid State of California hunting license during open hunting season is exempt from this restriction.

Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the national forest except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated Campfire Use Site.

Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order on roads and trails specifically designated for such use. (This restriction is in effect year-round.)

For further information regarding current conditions and safety tips, please contact your nearest Forest Service office. A list of designated Campfire Use Sites is available on the Los Padres National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.

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Forest Service Shield

Lee Beyer
Recreation Technician
Forest Service

Cal Trans Closure Map

I would remind visitors that there are no campgrounds north of Paul’s Slide – the last available campground when proceeding north from Nacimiento is Limekiln State Park, and the only lodging available is at Lucia Lodge and Post Ranch, south of the bridge. Additionally, there is no camping along the Highway One corridor anywhere in Big Sur. NO CAMPFIRES OR CHARCOAL STOVES ANYWHERE IN BIG SUR. Locals are quite nervous after last year’s Soberanes Fire and this year’s floods, mudslides, and road closures and will be reporting all violators to the appropriate agencies. Be a conscientious visitor, and you will be welcomed. Be a clueless, careless one? You will not.

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Cambria Fire – Bridge Fire

At 5:00 – it is 35% contained and still only 3 acres. #BridgeIC (Final) Fire is looking good.Evacuations lifted.Main St. Still closed.@CALFIRE_SLO will remain at scene mopping up for 3 hours.

Photos below taken by Sekoya Sleeth, an 8th grade student at Pacific Valley School.

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This photo was taken by Joan Schleicher at about 2:30 pm from Santa Rosa Creek Road:

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3:20 calling it 3 acres, 20% contained, forward progress stopped. Will stay on site throughout the evening.

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Tribune Article Link

2:30 pm – think they held this one to 3 acres. Will keep following.

“From Cal Fire SLO (5 minutes ago): @CALFIRE_SLO #BridgeIC (update)fire is 3 Acres with fire fighters making progress. Evacuations have taken place for Main and Bridge Street.”

2 pm – A vegetation fire broke out in Cambria near Bridge St. and Main St. Currently, evacuations are in process. Currently about an acre. Will post more when I know more.

Paul’s Slide Opens today

 

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)
Paul’s Slide reopens this morning at 9 am to the public 24/7, with one-way reversing traffic control with flaggers; which means a lane of travel is open 24/7.

JUST A REMINDER THERE IS NO CAMPING BETWEEN THE BRIDGE AND PAUL’S SLIDE. THE CLOSEST CAMPING IS LIMEKILN, THEN KIRK CREEK, THEN PLASKETT. CAMPING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. GIVEN THE ILLEGAL CAMPFIRE THAT TRIGGERED THE SOBERANES FIRE LAST YEAR, LOCALS WILL BE EXTRA VIGILANT IN REPORTING ALL CAMPERS, WITH OR WITHOUT CAMPIRES, AND CALLING 911 ON CAMPFIRES, WHICH CARRY A $5000 FINE, PLUS SUPRESSION COSTS. PLEASE SEE MARCUS FOSTER’S COMMENT BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Fire near Parkfield – Park Fire, Garza Branch II

7 pm – 900 acres.

3:30 pm – 250-300 acres about to enter into Monterrey County. They have designated this the Garza, Branch II fire, for now. Oops, back to Park until the new team takes over the Garza.

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It is on the Fresno side. They are pulling resources off the Garza Fire and sending them to this one. “Per IC 75 Ares Still Dangerous Rate Of Spread.” Fire will be moving into Monterey County. Also will impact structures in parkfeild proper. 4319 heading into parkfeild proper to set up for structure defense.

 

Watch Nacimiento Rd. Crumble

Last week, I sat at the turn out on the west side of the tiny bridge while a caravan of 16 tractor trailer rigs crossed the bridge. I noted that all 16 of them had their entire weight on the bridge at one time. I have photos. This is what it is doing to the road itself. Believe it or not, these 13 are just SOME of the problem areas. Going to be a lot of work to fix this.

 

I am grouping them into batches of 4 for your convenience. They are rather boring, but must be shown and preserved so that when this road says “no more” I have documentation I have been talking about this for MONTHS. And making suggestions on how to lessen the impact, but people are getting impatient, businesses want to bring in their big bucks and to be semi-normal, and tourists are clamoring to come in, so this “life-line” is just a minor detail that apparently will be addressed eventually, but seeing how things get done around here, won’t be addressed until it is beyond critical.

 

These were all taken on Friday, July 14th, 2017. Note in particular in the two smaller ones above, the pavement is completely gone in spots.

Vehicles need to be moved

Can you help get the word out….

These vehicles are parked too close to the job. Need to move by Wednesday or tickets / towing will ensue.
No parking signs will be installed Monday.

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