3/1/17

Today at 0930 we met with California Parks, Monterey District Supervisor, Brent Marshall, and John Hiles, in charge of Parks trail work and planning for the emergency trail. Present were myself, Big Sur Fire Chief, Martha Karstens, Kate Daniels representing Mary Adams, Monterey 5th District Supervisor, and representatives from State Senator Bill Monning.

The topic was planning for the creation of a viable foot trail between the south extent of the failing bridge and a point in the park that would allow safe foot traffic access for locals and essential personnel to maintain the sustainability of the community to the greatest degree possible under the emergency circumstances.

State Park management has made the following arrangements to support the plan. They have:

1. Obtained a permit to allow the construction of a trail as described
2. Established funding sufficient to provide the labor and materials needed to construct the trail
3. Crafted a contract with the California Conservation Corps to do the work, starting at their earliest opportunity, which at present is March 15, 2017
4. Estimated work to take 5 weeks, once started, which translates to completion on or about May 3, 2017. We have agreed that this is not an acceptable target date.
5. Agreed to support the formation of a volunteer crew to assist with the work under the sponsorship of the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, and this crew can be put to work under Parks supervision starting Monday AM, 3/6/17

While Parks has done an excellent job of bending their normal process to help support the emergency, we are concerned that the time line is too long to be the total solution we need for the residents and businesses. We are pursuing alternate versions of the plan to support the Parks in their legal and liability needs and to provide a more rapid resolution of the access crisis we are experiencing as the days mount up.

Chief Karstens will be the contact person for the formation of a work detail from the community and we will continue to work closely with Parks to augment their resources and logistics to help accelerate the time line and take the pressure off those who are suffering the greatest now and into the near term before the other access plans can be implemented

We now have substantial support from our political leadership at all levels of government and hope to provide the means and motivation to help Parks accelerate their plan to strategy the work and complete it as soon as possible.

Frank Pinney

Chief Emeritus

Dear Friends in Big Sur,

If you can safely make your way to our property, the small group of staff at Esalen would like to invite you to share some of our available resources. We’d ask that you call ahead to ensure the safety and welfare of all visitors as we can only support a limited group at a time.

Please call 831-667-3023 to reserve your space. Please bring a form of ID that includes a local Big Sur address.

Open 2-5 pm Daily to Locals Only
Fresh drinking water (please bring your own containers)
Access to baths (please bring your own towel and water bottle)
Thank You,

Patrick Sheridan
Director of Operations
Esalen Institute

831-250-1022 x254 / Carmel office

831-869-1195 / cell
831-667-2723 / on property

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Good afternoon Stan and Kate,

Can you please help me get the word out to the public, vehicles currently parked in the large turn-out just north of Pfeiffer Cyn. Bridge will have to be moved BY MONDAY, MARCH 6, in anticipation of equipment and material mobilization. I understand the owners of many of these vehicle may be south of the bridge. If that is the case, we will tow them to the large “secure” parking lot at the MAF ON TUESDAY, MARCH 7.

I’ll also include this in tomorrow’s update.

Thanks so much in advance for your help in this regard. ☺

Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Acting Manager
Public Information Office

From Rick Aldinger:

Diana, Basil and I had a conference call with Lance Gorman and Susana Cruz regarding the status of the highway north of PCB. Lance and his engineers identified 4 locations of concern:

PPM 51.04
Highway shoulder just north of Andrew Molera campground road gate. Not a high priority at this time. Bank is sliding just off the highway shoulder, but roadbed seems fine.

PPM 54.4
North end of lighthouse flat. Roadbed is undermined under the southbound lane due to plugged culvert last week. High priority for highway to be opened to the public.

PPM 56.8
Large slide between Little Sur and Hurricane Point. High priority for highway to be opened to the public.

PPM 57.6
Guardrail and edge of highway shoulder starting to slide. Something to keep an eye on.

Cal Trans plans to have contracts signed today, and contractors on site by tomorrow. They will focus on ppm 54.5 and 56.8, and will be able to work concurrently on both. At 54.4, material needs to be replaced under the southbound lane and compacted, and then resurface. At 56.8, Cal Trans will consult with the contractor to determine if the remaining slide material is stable enough to simply let it come down on its own, and clean the road, or if they need to employ equipment to pull it down and haul it away.

Hopefully, by the end of this week, a better estimate can be made for the opening of the highway. In the meantime, either Lance or Susana will reach out to me with any updates.

Stay tuned.

Rick Aldinger
General Manager
Big Sur River Inn

Until there is a change of circumstances, or new information being offered, this will be the last update until things change. If the placement of the closure changes, the report on the bridge is updated with new information, or anything new is offered other than new photos, I will not be posting on my blog until then. There are other things to cover.
SR-1 FULL CLOSURE CONTINUES–RAGGED PT (SLO PM 72.87) TO JUST SOUTH OF PALO COLORADO (PM 61.5).

*IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5) UPDATE:
· DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE BRIDGE’S DYNAMIC INSTABILITY, EVERYONE needs to STAY CLEAR and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge. This closure will be enforced.

· Drilling began Thursday, February 23 and will continue for approximately two weeks. Caltrans geotechnical and bridge experts from around the state are working as quickly as possible toward the bridge replacement. Drilling investigation findings are targeted for March 17.

· On the maintenance side, our goal is to make progress with the slides to regain access on both sides of the Pfeiffer Cyn. Bridge:
· On the south, work is being done 24/7 to repair the road at Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6).
· On the north, there are still areas of concern with fallen trees, mud and slope instability.

Locals may travel in a truck, SUV or van, daytime only:
1) between Ragged. Pt. and Limekiln Crk Bridge (PM 21), (there are flaggers checking ID’s at Ragged Pt.) and
2) between just north of Pfeiffer Cyn Bridge and Carmel.

*We realize that access is limited to locals and please be aware that [SOME] businesses remain open.*

Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided around mid-day Thursday, March 2 or sooner if conditions change.

NOTE: For information on emergency services only (not Caltrans road inquiries) for the Big Sur Coast, you may contact Gerry Malais, Mon. Co. OES via email at: malaisg@co.monterey.ca.us or Maia Carroll, Mon. Co. OES PIO at carrollm@co.monterey.ca.us or via phone at (831) 796-3092.

Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Acting Manager
Public Information Office

From Fire Chief Cheryl Goetz, Mid-Coast Fire Brigade.

Work party on Saturday, March 4, 2017, 9:00 AM.

Able bodied folks needed to help remove large log jams in Palo Colorado to prepare for the next storm. Equipment also needed if you can share – to chain out the large material.

If you can help, please meet me on Highway 1 so we can load everyone in pickups to take as few trucks up the road as possible as road restrictions still apply. I believe we have this one time shot, so getting this done before another heavy rain is key to saving the lower canyon road for everyone.

Bring your lunch and know it’s been cold and wet! This is where many hands make quicker work.

These photos are from Monday, 2/27/17. All these photos are between the River Inn and Palo Colorado Canyon, except the last one, which is near Fernwood. The slip out is on Lighthouse flats (2 photos) and the slide is at Hurricane.

SR-1 FULL CLOSURE CONTINUES–RAGGED PT (SLO PM 72.87) TO JUST SOUTH OF PALO COLORADO (PM 61.5).

*IMPORTANT NOTE – CALTRANS PFEIFFER CYN. BRIDGE (PM 45.5) UPDATE:
· DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE BRIDGE’S DYNAMIC INSTABILITY, EVERYONE needs to STAY CLEAR and not get within 100 feet of either side of the bridge. This closure will be enforced.

· Drilling began Thursday, February 23 and will continue for approximately two weeks. Caltrans geotechnical and bridge experts from around the state are working as quickly as possible toward the bridge replacement. Drilling investigation findings are targeted for March 17.

· On the maintenance side, our goal is to make progress with the slides to regain access on both sides of the Pfeiffer Cyn. Bridge:
· On the south, work is being done 24/7 to repair the road at Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6).
· On the north, there are still areas of concern with fallen trees, mud and slope instability.

Locals may travel in a truck, SUV or van, daytime only:
1) between Ragged. Pt. and Limekiln Crk Bridge (PM 21) and
2) between just north of Pfeiffer Cyn Bridge and Carmel.

*We realize that access is limited to locals and please be aware that [some] businesses remain open.*

Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided around mid-day Wednesday, March 1 or sooner if conditions change.

NOTE: For information on emergency services only (not Caltrans road inquiries) for the Big Sur Coast, you may contact Gerry Malais, Mon. Co. OES via email at: malaisg@co.monterey.ca.us or Maia Carroll, Mon. Co. OES PIO at carrollm@co.monterey.ca.us or via phone at (831) 796-3092.

Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Acting Manager
Public Information Office

The House That Big Sur Built

Don Case and his family lost their beautiful hand-crafted home on Castro Ridge in the 2008 Basin Complex Fire. CPOA, with leadership from Mike Gilson, orchestrated a fund raiser for the family. CPOA then matched the funds raised providing a little over $60,000 that was placed in a fund to be drawn down on as materials were purchased. Mike Gilson, Arden Handshy and Rob Carver helped the family with the onerous permitting process. Other professionals in the community stepped up to provide the archeological documentation, structural work and more. And friends from up and down the Big Sur Coast donated their time to help build the Case Family’s new home – old fashioned barn-raising style.

The family has had its share of challenges over these last 8 years. Family member Joyce Duffy did not live to see the project finished. Don’s health has been a challenge as well. But the family stayed the course.

We have just been informed by Gabe Case, Don’s son, that the building permit, issued 8 years ago, was finaled last week.

Congratulations to the Case Family!

Written by Lisa K.