Here is one possibile prediction for next week for Tuesday and Wednesday. While we would be inconvenienced, the fire victims in SB County could be devastated. This looks like fun…

…not.

Noon – as predicted, Cal Trans was able to get this open by noon. It is, however, raining this afternoon, and predicted to continue tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday, so no telling when it will close again, but it wouldn’t surprise me to find out it closes for overnight tonight, or at least in the morning, depending on rain amounts, of course. But be a Girl/Boy Scout and be prepared. (Note added later – rain did NOT stick around all afternoon, so problems may not manifest until tomorrow or later.)

9:20 am –

Chimney trickled down through the night but it wasn’t a significant amount. The pavement is in pretty bad shape and they are cleaning up and repairing the road surface this morning. The road is estimated to be open by noon today.

Paul’s slide has minimal material coming down and looks good at this point.

With that being said, more rain is on the way and I will keep you posted as I am updated.

Susana Z. Cruz
Caltrans District 5
Public Information Officer

Note: My son is trying to make it to work at the Hermitage, north of the Chimney Slide and Paul’s Slide. If he gets through, I expect a report in about 1 and 1/2 hours.

The SLO Tribune has a good article AND video of a drive on Mud Creek taken in January. You can read it and view the video below. Remember, this was January, and this first 1/2 of March is predicted to be pretty wet.

Mud Creek, Jan 2018

In getting ready for the eventual opening of the highway, remember another time – this one?

You can read Kathe’s recollection of the opening “party of the year” here:

1984 highway opening

Memorabilia of the opening sent in by Aaron Appel:

 

5:40 pm – USFS managed to clear the tree. Nacimiento is now open. There were actually two trees in the road, one on the east side just below the Nac station, and one on the west side about a mile from the summit. Thanks Doc, for getting those cleared for us!

From CHP:

[19] 1039 MTY COMM W/ LINE 16
4:26 PM 8 [17] CO RDS ETA 1 HOUR
4:16 PM 7 [15] REQ RECALL OF ETA WHEN AVAIL
4:14 PM 6 [14] 1021 MTY CORDS VMAIL / 1039 MTY COMM FOR CALL OUT
4:14 PM 5 [13] A27-014 CT HAS RD SHUT DOWN JSO LIMEKILN AND JNO NACIMIENTO FERGUSSON FOR SLIDE AT TWO BEE ROCK
4:09 PM 4 [4] RP HAS DRIVEN TO THE ABOVE CALL BOX SHE IS BLOCKED ON HWT 1 W/ EXISTING SLIDES and THE TREE ON BAC FERG
4:08 PM 3 [3] RP ADVZD APX 1/2 HR UP NCA -FERG RD F/ SR1
4:07 PM 2 [2] ENTIRE RDWY NB and SB IS BLOCKED
4:07 PM 1 [1] TREE DOWN ACROSS THE RDWY

By Brendon Shave who did NOT go through slide area, thankfully.

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As of 2 pm, Highway 1 to remain closed this afternoon and overnight. Will be reassessed in the am.

I have it on good authority that when the material was cleared a very large hole in the road that must be repaired. Of course, it hasn’t stopped raining today at all.

Cal Trans announced: Highway One is closed. THE SLIDE IS AT THE CHIMNEY, JUST SOUTH OF LIMEKILN – both lanes. There is no ETA on when it will open. Will post when I know more.

Photo Credit: Grace Lutz. While it doesn’t look bad, and looks like it would be easy to open one lane, it is still moving, and rain is predicted for the next 10 days. They could open it only to have it slam shut 1/2 hour (or less) later. Note that Cal Trans is not going UNDER this slide area. Too dangerous right now.

from Cal-Trans, no change in information provided, but here are new photos of Mud Creek. Three photos of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) from Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10.

Also, rain predicted on and off for the next 10 days. Updates as needed.

Here are a couple radar maps. I have received .20” thus far, by 2:30 pm.