I bean delivery, photo by Steve Harper:

That guy in the back end is steering it, sort of like a long fire engine.

There are 15 girders, each 62 feet long and 62 tons.

Below photos by Cal Trans

Girders arrived at the bridge site this morning.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is reopening tomorrow afternoon, Friday, July 28. This will allow access to the Overlook Trail, the parking and picnic area. The environmental campsites will remain closed until further notice.

Andrew Molera State Park opened earlier this week and they have expanded the trail openings to include the Bluff, Panorama, Ridge Loop trails. This includes access to Spring Beach from Bluff trail.
Bobcat trail is also open.
Creamery Trail is open and the only access to Molera Beach.

Molera Horseback Tours has been given the green light to resume operations on Creamery Meadow Trail.

Ventana Wildlife Society Discovery Center has been given the green light to resume operations in Andrew Molera State Park.

John De Luca, Sector Superintendent/ SPS III (acting) states, “Parks has made great strides and has been working continuously to improve recreational opportunities since the beginning of 2017. Although many of the beloved trails are still currently closed, I encourage the community and the visiting population to celebrate what is now currently open.”

This is good news as it will probably prevent the illegal camping and campfire that took place here earlier this week.

This is from the brochure the vistor’s bureau was handing out when the TapHouse trail opened to visitors on July 1st.

Do you see the problem here?? There IS NO legal camping south of the bridge until Limekiln State Park, some 25 miles south, and until just recently, it was ONLY accessible to locals and deliveries through Paul’s Slide. So, where are these visitors being directed to? One reader found hikers with overnight packs hiking Clear Ridge. Another, found hikers who climbed over the private gate and proceeded up the private road at Coastlands. And Marcus, quoted below, has several times found campers on the property he caretakers. This is where the visitor’s bureau is direcing visitors, purposely or inadvertently – our back yards.

I sent a copy of the below reader’s comment (thank you Marcus) to the Bureau’s 3 top marketing managers yesterday, but as of yet, have had no response. I wrote to Mark, Rob, and April at seemonterey.com and sent this:

“”Just to point out the disconnect the County Visitors Bureau has with the realities in Big Sur. They are advising people to stop at Bixby Bridge and take pictures when there are 20 parking spots and 200 cars trying to park there on weekends. Maybe that’s a bad idea? Also, on their 4 page brochure they were handing out to tourists on the Southside ,when they opened the trail, the second paragraph was telling people “to stay for an unforgettable sunset and sleep under the stars” when there is not one legal campsite to do that. Dangerous!”

Feel free to send them your concerns, as well.

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…

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.

 

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.

July 14, 2017

First Responders Discuss Circle V Ranch Camp Rescue

Goleta, CA – Today, following an update on the Whittier Fire, some of the first responders who were involved in the widely publicized Circle V Ranch Camp rescue on July 8, 2017 were present to provide more details of the incident. This press conference provided additional facts and insight into the coordinated effort involving the multiple agencies who rescued 82 campers, counselors and staff members who were trapped by the fire at the Circle V Ranch Camp.

Speakers included U.S. Forest Service Incident Commander Mark Von Tillow, Santa Barbara County Fire Division Chief Steve Oaks, Sheriff’s Sergeant Neil Gowing, U.S. Forest Service Patrolman Dave Dahlberg, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team Incident Commander Nelson Trichler and the Executive Director for St. Vincent de Paul Circle V Ranch Camp David Fields. The group recounted the incident and provided a timeline of the incident.

At July 8, 2017 at 1:42p.m., concerned citizens reported a fire now known as the Whittier Fire to the Santa Barbara County Public Safety Dispatch Center. The fire was located near the entrance to Camp Whittier and the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. The fire burned toward the Circle V Ranch Camp where 124 people including 88 campers, 36 adult staff members and counselors were attending a summer camp. Thirty campers and 12 staff members were able to evacuate in vehicles. Eighty-two people could not leave when a wall of flames, falling trees, rocks and debris blocked the dirt road that led to Highway 154 from the camp.

Personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene shortly after the fire was reported and began coordinating an evacuation plan.
At 2:00 p.m. Santa Barbara County Fire Division Chief Steve Oaks, who was on scene, became the Evacuation Supervisor. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team responded to assist with the evacuations while U.S. Forest Service Patrolman Dave Dahlberg, responded to assist with traffic control in the Highway 154 – Whittier/Circle V area.

At 2:19 p.m., Dispatch received the first report that campers and staff members were unable to leave the Circle V Ranch Camp. At 2:20 p.m., Oaks and Sheriff’s Lt. Brian Olmstead began an evacuation and rescue plan.

At 2:25 p.m., Sheriff’s Deputy Brice Bruening who is assigned to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, notified Dispatch that the Chumash Casino would send buses to help in the evacuation effort.

At 2:30 p.m., Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Wicklund drove toward the Circle V Ranch Camp up the dirt road but was not able to drive to the camp due to flames and falling debris.

At 2:45 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies in eight patrol cars, led by Sgt. Neil Gowing attempted once again to access Circle V up the dirt road. They drove up the road about one mile but when, a wall of flames engulfed the roadway, they were unable to proceed any further.

At 2:59 p.m., Dahlberg, who had trained for structure protection simulations at Circle V Ranch in the past, drove the one and one-half mile dirt road to the Circle V camp. When he arrived, he met the campers inside the dining hall area along with a handful of staff members waiting outside. Dahlberg assessed the situation and decided the safest course of action was for the campers, staff members, and counselors to shelter in place.

Santa Barbara County Firefighter Mark Linane had offloaded his bulldozer in the area of Camp Whittier to begin cutting fire lines on the fire’s edge. When he heard there were children trapped at Circle V Ranch and he turned his dozer, heading toward Circle V Ranch.

For the next two hours, Dahlberg calmed the campers and reassured them of their safety. They remained sheltered in place inside the dining room building until Linane joined Dahlberg when he reached the Circle V Ranch Camp in his dozer.

When Santa Barbara County Battalion Chief Matt Farris arrived at the Circle V Ranch he, Dahlberg and Linane began active fire suppression to minimize the impact on sheltered campers and protect the structures from encroaching flames.

At 4:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team and Sheriff’s personnel staged at the Circle V Ranch entrance on Highway 154.

At 4:40 p.m., Oaks directed Olmstead to send the extraction vehicles to the camp.

At 4:48 p.m., 12 Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team members in seven Search and Rescue vehicles along with six Sheriff’s vehicles and personnel initiated the search and rescue effort up the dirt road to the Circle V Ranch Camp.

At 4:56 p.m., they arrived at the Circle V Ranch Camp and coordinated with camp staff members to assign children, counselors and staff members to the vehicles. Once everyone was safely in vehicles, the bulldozer, driven by Linane, led the caravan down the dirt road toward Highway 154. The bulldozer minimized the threat to the vehicles and cleared fallen trees and other obstacles partially blocking the roadway.

At 5:30 p.m., the caravan reached the intersection of the camp road and Highway 154. The children, counselors and staff members transferred from the caravan vehicles into two Chumash buses that shuttled them to Mission Santa Ines where they were reunited with their family members.

St. Vincent de Paul Circle V Ranch Camp Executive Director David Fields spoke at the press conference and expressed his sincere appreciation to all of the first responders.

This rescue is a great example of the cooperation among various agencies who have worked together on major incidents over the years. This working relationship has developed a great foundation that was evident during this potentially devastating situation.

DashCam Video of Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Deputies attempting to access Circle V Ranch.
One minute version: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/X3yyumIjI6
Longer version, but shows the length of the road. https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/GOHZcNWiHz

Forest Service Shield

Lee Beyer
Recreation Technician
Forest Service