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.

Weather, 7/2/13

The Bay Area NWS modified today’s forecast to include a slight possibility of rain, which i noted on twitter. I don’t know why I was up at 5:30, but I happened to glance out my window westward several minutes later (7 or 8) and saw what I thought was two lightning strikes. Then I thought I was hallucinating, but I tweeted Bay Area NWS anyway, and they said:

NWSBayArea
@NWSBayArea
@bigsurkate Our lightning detection network just showed two strikes off the Big Sur Coast.. You’re not imagining.

Later, NWSBayArea said they were about 60 miles out.

Yesterday at 9:00 am, the outside temp recorded as 105 F. Last night it got below 85 for the first time since Friday – a cool 82. Needless-to-say, sleep is a hard commodity to come by.

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19 Firefighters lost in AZ

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LODD-

Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends, and co-workers.

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Wildland firefighter foundation (click link to be taken there, and make a donation in memory of this hotshot crew)
The Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a nonprofit organization, provides emergency financial assistance to the families of fallen firefighters, and helps support their young children. Families left behind often find themselves with few resources, and the Foundation steps in to help.

This wonderful organization was already on top of getting to the families of these fallen firefighters. The foundation is short on funds, especially for this many firefighters, so put out a call to all firefighters to donate. You don’t have to be a firefighter to donate.

Auto Accident

One car, right around Plaskett Ridge Rd. managed to get itself stuck up an embankment, partially blocking southbound lane.

Detail Information
4:32 PM 12 [27] A27-014 1148 2 MALES 1 X TO LOS PADRES FIRE PACIFIC VALLEY BM 138 WILL 1021 HERTZ F/ANOTHER RENTAL
4:19 PM 11 [26] 1039 CAMBRIA 1020
3:41 PM 10 [20] 1039 CAMBRIA ETA 90 MINS
3:38 PM 9 [18] [Rotation Request Comment] 1039 CAMBRIA TOW 805-927-4357
3:37 PM 8 [17] PARTIALLY BLOCKING SB LANE
3:36 PM 7 [16] [Notification] [CHP]-[15] CKING FOR 1185 W/LOS PADRES FIRE
3:36 PM 6 [15] CKING FOR 1185 W/LOS PADRES FIRE
3:36 PM 5 [14] 14 CPZ ALL 1185
3:35 PM 4 [12] 14 INQ IF EQUIP STILL ROLLING AND WILL 1185 BE NEEDED
3:35 PM 3 [11] [Notification] [CHP]-[10] FIRE 1097 / 1182 / BLOCKING
3:35 PM 2 [10] FIRE 1097 / 1182 / BLOCKING
3:31 PM 1 [5] [Notification] [CHP]-MTY COMM TOOK ANOTHER CALL ADVS 1182 30 MILES JNO HEARST CASTLE SIL SUV STUCK ON EMBANKMENT NEAR TREE

WildCAD says this is by Plaskett Ridge Rd. LPNF sure has been busy this afternoon!

Wildfires/Medical Aid

1:30 pm – I love our neighborhood and my neighbors. I haven’t been watching LPNF WildCAD, but a neighbor has. He called me (thank you, very much) to ask me to look out my window to Prewitt to see what was going on and if I could see smoke. I couldn’t. Abandoned campfires are now called in as Wildfires. I would have remained blissfully unaware, being deep into a book to avoid this heat, so thank you, sir. You know who you are. I will continue to pay attention, and if there is any change, I will post it here.

BTW, I count on all my neighbors and friends to let me know about these kinds of things. I am only one person – who doesn’t do heat well, so needs all the help I can get!
This is WildCAD, LPNF:

06/30/2013 12:56 LPF-1931 (New) Medical Aid PREWITT RDG & CG M . BC12LPF E16LPF 4X4 E17LPF PAT19ALPF . . .
06/30/2013 12:39 LPF-1930 (New) Medical Aid Pine Canyon Sta . E43LPF . . .
06/30/2013 12:21 LPF-1929 (New) Wildfire PREWITT RDG & CG M . . . . .
06/30/2013 12:18 LPF-1927 (New) Wildfire Nac/ferg cyn . . . . .

Structure Fire in Cambria & Wildfire SE of King City

See update from the Cambrian in the comments below.
(Blue Whale Inn and not attic, as originally thought. But utility closet)

A fire in the attic of the Cambria Inn on Moonstone Beach was contained by Cal Fire in the last hour (3:30 pm).

A wildfire off 198 SE Of King City was attacked at the same time with SLO sending two engines and a dozer as well as air attack to assist Monterey County. As of 3:30 pm, Forward rate has stopped at 80 acres 60% contained.

With these soaring temps being so widespread, fires are bound to be a problem on the Cental Coast and elsewhere in the state.

Heat Wave

Much of the state and the southwest is on alert for an extensive heat wave through the weekend and early next week. In the mountains of Big Sur, we are expecting 105-110 degrees. I went to Cambria today, for Farmer’s Market and heat relief. Monday I’ll be going to the vet in Morro Bay to get Gideon his summer haircut. Saturday and Sunday, I’ll be busy taking cold showers every 1/2 hour.

The weekend is the Nac music festival where it will be over 100 each day. There is a large pond for swimming, and I imagine it will get lots of use.

Okay, I’ll be back in a few days, after I’ve melted.

Rocky Creek Update #37

Daytime roadwork on Highway 1 at Rocky Creek continues next week from 7 am to 5 pm Monday, July 1 and Tuesday, July 2. On Wednesday, July 3, roadwork will occur from 7 am to 12 noon. Up to 10-minute traffic delays are expected. There will no daytime roadwork as of noon next Wednesday, July 3, on Thursday, July 4 or Friday, July 5 due to the holiday.

NOTE: There will be NO OVERNIGHT FULL closures or NIGHT ROADWORK next week. .

The closures/delays are needed to construct a soldier pile wall.

NOTE: Through traffic has been shifted to the newly constructed southbound half of the viaduct while work continues on the northbound half.

Super Moon

Whoa, what a moon tonight!

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Through my kitchen window, with the reflection of the sunset through the bathroom window behind me. What magic!

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What kind of idiot …

… Leaves an illegal campfire in the middle of the wilderness unattended? These surfer dudes and/or dudettes. Campfires have been prohibited for WEEKS!

On my way home Thursday night June 20, I found an unattended fire with flames about a foot high in an undeveloped campsite. Tents, chairs, ice chests, truck, surfboards, skateboards, campfire, but no people. I was fit to be tied. Pulled in, honked, got out, yelled, no one. I went into their ice chest, grabbed handfuls of ice and dumped it on the fire. Found a 16 oz water bottle, dumped that on the fire, found a baking sheet, used that as a makeshift shovel, and covered the fire with dirt. Flames out, but still smoking. Got to cell phone signal, called USFS PV Station. (Closed, but I have a home phone number) told them, and they promised to go up and make sure it was completely out. The campers had a big stack of firewood back behind a log, hidden from view. I grabbed piece after piece and threw it over the edge. Only got about a quarter of it. I felt like throwing it at their tent to be honest. Also felt like using the skateboards as shovels, rather than the baking sheet. I do not suffer fools gladly.

This is what I saw

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This is a Volkswagon truck, which I had never heard of, at least that is what the tailgate said

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Missing Big Sur Man

Update 6/19 at 8:30 pm. Wayne is safe, and uninjured, thank goodness. His family and friends want to thank the South Coast community for all their help and support.

Update 6/19: rumors are flying, most of them not true. I’ve had contact with Jenny, Janine, and Richard directly. The Mill Creek drainage and trails have been thoroughly searched from the Highway to South Coast Ridge Rd.

Wayne Hyland, a longtime Big Sur resident who lives at Rancho Rico, has gone missing. His family is very worried. His sister, Chris, asked me to post this. He was at his brother’s house on Apple Pie Ridge on Saturday evening, was seen driving off, and has not been seen since. On Monday, his car was found about a mile up Nacimiento Rd., locked. Wayne has a long-standing reputation in the Big Sur community of being kind and gentle, and knows these hills and how to survive out here well.

His family and friends have been down here searching since Sunday, and his sister was staying at Kirk Creek Campground while the search continues. She went to the USFS Pacific Valley Station to report this late this afternoon. I am trying to find a recent photograph I can post. Please keep your eyes and ears open, and lets hope he is found safe and sound. If you have any information, please contact his family members, Richard Mole, or me, and I will get a hold of family members.

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