The Photo this Sunday is to honor the memory of Alex Pretti, an RN in the ICU at a VA hospital. Federal agents (Border Patrol) murdered him by shooting him in the back four times and then 6 in his chest, neck, and torso while he was surrounded by seven armed and out ofc control Border Agents yesterday,This is the photo of him in his scrubs circulating on the internet. Fair warning, I will take down any comments that are not respectful in every respect. I am a vet.

I honor you, sir. Rest easy knowing you are a part of history now and on the good side…the winning side.

Need to be taught and retaught every day. To each new generation of campers. How hard is it to pick up your own tp? This was yesterday.

The Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council (BSMAAC) will be meeting on Friday, February 6th, at 10:00 am. We will be meeting in-person in the conference room at the Big Sur Lodge at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The address is 47225 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920. The BSMAAC is also scheduled to meet on the following dates: July 17^th and December 18^th. Staff is working on finalizing dates for the second quarter of the calendar year, and that date will be made available soon.

In light of the reopening of Highway 1, the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council (BSMAAC) meetings will return to being in-person only meetings.

I will publish the agenda as soon as it is released. Kate

Today we celebrate the man who was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Tomorrow is one year since the abomination some call our president was inaugurated. What a juxtaposition of opposites. It is so hard to stay positive and continue to fight and get into “good trouble.”I am going to share with you what I do in these times. I try to give myself some breaks each day. I have two ways I do that: The first way I reenergize myself is by playing with or caring for my dogs. The second way I do this is by communing with nature. Wherever you live — country or city, find a slice of nature to recharge yourself, or recharge in whatever way works for you.

Sunrise yesterday from Cooper Point by Bob Pavey:

Please see the attached DRAFT Plaskett Ridge Proposal document that describes the potential phases of the pilot project. I have also attached the Draft Design Narrative. Just to clarify, the Draft Design Narrative is a working document that is meant to help inform development of the proposal, it is not a final proposal. Once the final proposal is developed, an implementation plan would define on-the-ground actions, information and education needs, and monitoring.

Please share the following e-mail address for anyone who would like to submit written comments regarding the developing proposal: 

SM.FS.BigSurVisUse@usda.gov

Plaskett Ridge Designated Dispersed Camping System

Pilot Project Overview

The intent of this pilot project is to address impacts associated with visitor use along Plaskett Ridge Road while maintaining dispersed camping opportunities in a semi-primitive motorized setting.  

The proposal is to designate a dispersed camping system on Plaskett Ridge Road that would be implemented, monitored, evaluated, and adjusted as needed. The proposal includes two phases, with implementation of the second phase dependent on monitoring outcomes from the first phase. 

This is a developing proposal, and we are seeking public input to help design the dispersed camping system. The Design Narrativedocument is a working document that provides a starting pointto develop a proposal, it is not the final proposal. Once the proposal is developed, an implementation plan would define on-the-ground actions, information and education needs, and monitoring.  

Proposed – Plaskett Ridge Road Pilot Project (Phase 1) 

Designate 7 camping areas with a total of 32 designated parking areas.  

Vehicle-based dispersed camping would continue to be allowed within the 7 camping areas, as long as vehicles remain in the designated parking areas.  

Fire rings would be installed in approximately 8 locations that are easy to monitor from Plaskett Ridge Road. These are intended to provide options for groups to gather and use fire rings in safer locations, while reducing the impacts from user created rock fire rings in individual campsites. 

Information and Education would encourage low impact camping, Leave No Trace, and Tread Lightly principles, provide information on alternative camping opportunities, etc.  

A Monitoring Plan would identify trigger points that would indicate a need to move into phase 2 of the pilot. Phase 2 would delineate individual campsite boundaries associated with the designated parking areas.  

Potential monitoring includes number of campsites (rock fire rings, disturbed areas), size of disturbed area, campsite boundary expansion, vegetation and soil trampling, vehicle encroachment into wilderness, erosion near dispersed campsites, visitor conflicts, illegal fires, occupancy and use patterns, etc. 

Future – Plaskett Ridge Road Pilot Project (Phase 2) 

If monitoring indicates that impacts from dispersed camping are exceeding thresholds or causing unacceptable resource or social impacts: 

Designate and delineate the boundaries of individual campsites associated with designated parking areas. Designated dispersed camping within the road corridor would be allowed only in the designated campsites. Walk-in dispersed camping beyond the road corridor would be allowed. 

Click to access 20250909Draft_Plaskett_Ridge_DD_Camping_DesignNarrative_For_Review_1.pdf

From MoCo this afternoon:

In light of the reopening of Highway 1, the Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council (BSMAAC) meetings will return to being in person only meetings. We commend Caltrans staff for their tireless effort and look forward to seeing everyone at the next BSMAAC meeting on February 6^th at 10:00am at the Big Sur Lodge (47225 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920).

The gates at Regent’s Slide will open for a press release, per the gate guard and remain open after. It sounds as if they will remain closed until noon while they add the finishing touches of the bot dots, etc. Here is what you can expect to see. (Photos by Rhea Withrow)

As for me, I plan to avoid the zoo.

Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that Caltrans will open the portion of Highway 1 closed by Regent’s Slide, starting at noon on Wednesday, January 14, months earlier than the estimated reopening date of March 30. The reopening restores full travel access along the iconic Big Sur coast and revives a vital economic lifeline for local business owners and residents affected by the closure.    

“This reopening will bring much-needed relief to small businesses and families in Big Sur and the surrounding communities who have shown remarkable resilience and strength,” said Governor Newsom. “I’m grateful to Caltrans crews for delivering Highway 1 ahead of schedule—deploying remotely controlled heavy equipment, stabilizing slopes with thousands of steel reinforcements drilled up to 60 feet deep, and using cutting-edge monitoring systems to overcome extraordinary geological challenges while keeping workers safe. This vital corridor is the gateway to California’s coast and the lifeblood of the Big Sur economy—and today it’s restored.”