*Poppies, close-up, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.
This is dedicated to long-time Big Sur local, Paul Vieregge, who passed over yesterday at home at the age of 87. Blessings to you, Paul, from the beloved hills of home. My heart goes out to Penny and Josh.
So much difference in the various areas — severe damage and great restoration. I did not get a photo, but the Madrones are coming back from the roots of the burned trees. It will be years before the Madrone forests are as thick as they were, but they will recover. Some of the burned redwoods have sprouts coming out all up and down the blackened trunks. It is amazing to see.
I have some general photos of different aspects of the fire’s aftermath, and the recovery that I have been trying to upload tonight, but alas, the internet is not cooperating. When I can …
This is a creek that runs under Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. It has become all silted up, and overflowed the road, at some point.
In the background one can see several emerald areas where the retardant was dropped. In the foreground one can see the California Poppies, red maid, and popcorn flowers. In the distance is Cone Peak.
More photos tomorrow, when I am not so frustrated with the unreliability of my internet connection. I have general photos showing the aftermath, as well as more wildflower photos — fields of Indian Warrior, Poppies, and Baby Blue Eyes, as well as a mixture of all sorts of wildflowers. Until then … sleep well, and have a great day.
*Indian Warrior, originally uploaded by wind_dancer. (Pedicularis densiflorus)
A legend I heard years ago about these unusual flowers, was that whenever an Indian Warrior was killed in battle, his blood soaked the soil, and these flowers bloomed.
I don’t like the way the color turned out on these. The flowers are actually between red and maroon. I played with the white balance on my camera, and still couldn’t get them quite right. Notice the fern-like leaves on these flowers.
I found these in the burn area of the Chalk Fire today.
This afternoon, I took a trip through the Chalk Fire Burn Area, looking for wildflowers, and found many. I’ll be posting a few examples here, over the next few days. Parts of the forest are still incredibly devastated, and others are recovering nicely. One thing that was just astounding was the vibrant green of the hills where the fire-retardant was dropped. I had been told years ago that it was a fertilizer, but boy, I’ve never seen the effect as clearly as I did today. I have shots of some of these places, or I watched, as the planes dropped the retardant. The affect is not to be believed.
This is straight out of the camera, but it looks surreal! Wherever the retardant was dropped, is now an emerald field!
South Coast Ridge Rd., and the forest it traverses, is still closed to the public from Nacimiento Rd. to Willow Creek Rd. However, many wildflowers are viewable from Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. I’d advise caution, however, as there are LOTS of tourists on that road, at least today, and most of them were apparently afraid of the edge, and preferred the wrong side of the road!
Watch for photos throughout the week. I will try to post one tonight as a teaser. 😉
And finally, a note about our rather “overzealous” new USFS “cop” — please send or call with any serious stories, if you are willing to back them up, but also remember, we may be VERY glad to have him here this fire season. Note this morning:
“03/29/09 09:14 Big Sur, Mile Marker 14 Plasket Ridge Rd. Report of illegal campfire, USFS responded with Law Enforcement, no fire.”
The BSMAAC agenda is out. Not much on it but two new items: 1. the NOAA weather station; 2. Grants re fire planning and fuel reduction. However, given the concerns about the opening of the State Park, I would venture a bet that this will be the major topic for discussion under “non-agenda” items. The meeting will take place next Friday, the 20th at the Conference Center at the Lodge at 10:00 am.
Wednesday, I took a trip to town and Big Sur Valley to meet with friends. On the way, I marveled at the healing that was taking place — the green, the hills turned golden with a sea of poppies. While there are invasive species taking hold, I did spot this in the burn area just south of Coast Gallery. (The invasive species is the one that looks like wild cucumber.)
Congratulations, all you incredible artists! You all did a wonderful job on this mural. It is beautiful!!
“The ‘Firefighters’ Mural’ was a hit and a beautiful display at the Monterey Conference Center during the First Night Monterey,” according to the art instructor, David Allen.
“The mural is going to be exhibited at the Arts Council for Monterey County, ‘Champions of the Arts Awards’ event on Jan 24. The next step is to make thank-you cards with this mural printed on the front and get the cards sent out to the firefighting units.”
After the elections, and after the floods, I looked back, and realized I had not posted any photos. Debbie sent me these. They were taken yesterday.
After the flood – clean-up and preparation at Debbie’s house. More great work by Blaze!
These sandbags go all around the front and side of the house. I don’t know about the back.
Sandbagging the house
Setting up the berms
A couple days ago, Rick Lesser of the Hermitage, and Skee Stanley, of Cachugua Fire sent me some photos to share with my readers, but I haven’t had time until now (at 3 am) to post.
First, Skee’s shot. This is a closer look at the Hermitage from a perspective only a dozer operator would have.
And here is one from Rick Lesser taken from the Hermitage Road that demonstrates that peace has again descended on the Hermitage.
Skee Stanley sent me some others, not of the Hermitage, that I will keep for the archives of the Chalk Fire. With rain expected this weekend, and the Chalk Fire finally contained, this momentous Summer of Fire is finally over. Fall has arrived, and with it, winter preparations.
I took a short trip to The City this past weekend, to present at a seminar for other lawyers. I drove out the back way (N-F Rd) as when I left Friday morning, Highway One was still closed by rock slides from the Fire. I came back via Highway One. These two routes have both been extremely impacted by the fires of this summer, and will present significant challenges in keeping them open this winter. So what has been a life-changing summer will segue into an interesting winter.
I plan on keeping this blog “alive” throughout the winter, to both document and record the antics of Mother Nature as she laughingly brings us together as a community, and yet separates us into enclaves without access.
At some point, however, I hope to redirect this blog away from catastrophe reporting, and morph it into something more uplifting and spiritual, to reflect the beauty of this place called, “The Big South.”
Tonight, I leave you with a photograph I took on January 1, 2007. I call it “Fairy Habitat.” It is what I see and feel here on the South Coast of Big Sur. That magic that Mother Nature shows us, if we are paying attention.
At last, it seems as if the Chalk is finally done with the South Coast. We are 97% contained, no real growth to speak of, and I am just about ready to put this baby to bed … at least until winter rains.
But before I do, I have a few last things to say, and one more photo to post, sent by my friend, Skee Stanley of Cachagua Fire.
First, I want to say it has been an honor to be able to serve my community by way of this blog. With the Basin Fire, there were a number of people and organizations who were able to share information. With the Chalk Fire, not so many. We are few and far between down here. Despite that, we are close.
So many people have visited this blog since the Chalk Fire broke out on Sept. 27, 2008, almost a month ago, and so many people shared information and photos with me so that I could share them with you. I was oft times just the conduit. I have tried to mention them in the body of my blog all along, unless they wished to remain anonymous, but this blog was truly a community effort. That community encompasses so many more than the few people who actually live here on the South Coast, as we all know.
Our BSVFB has to be specially recognized. These men and women are all volunteers who have families and jobs. Their abilities were tested to the maximum with too many fires to even list, if we go beyond the “big” ones.
Our local organizations, CPOA, Big Sur Chamber of Commerce, Pelican Network, and others, showed their support for their neighbors to the south in so many ways. We cannot thank you enough! CPOA has been a moving force at raising money to support those who were affected by both the Basin and the Chalk Fires.
And the firefighters … ah, the firefighters. These men and women, whether on the ground, in the air, or in engines, they worked all summer and well into fall for us. I feel a special kinship to all of them. They have always been heroes. I just feel the need to let them know, whenever and wherever I see them.
I ran into a fire fighter on South Coast Ridge Rd. yesterday. I was chasing him down, as he was driving a Jeep with Colorado plates, and I worried we had another ding bat in the closed portion of the forest. He got out, in USFS ff uniform, and I apologized and introduced myself. “I am bigsurkate,” I said. “Hey, my mom reads your blog all the time,” he said. And my heart jumped. I think I have connected to more firefighter moms and dads than anyone else, and to them, I say, “Your sons and daughters are a special breed. I know you are proud of them. We are, too.”
Dave Potter, our Monterey County Supervisor, John Laird, our State Assemblyman, and Sam Farr, our U.S. Senator, have all been instrumental in gathering support for our plight in the political arena, and we are so very grateful for your support and care.
The Hermitage and the Zen Center, have both been impacted, tremendously. They have lost most of the income which sees them through the year. They both have support groups outside this small community, and I know all of you are helping them through these tough times. Please support them in whatever way you can.
We will need each other again, as the winter rains isolate our 90 mile community into pockets. We are preparing for physical isolation, but we know we are not alone. We are part of a grander and larger community that will be there for one another. I have always felt as if Big Sur was a microcosm of the larger whole. We will have the opportunity to demonstrate that this winter.
Please support your favorite branch of the Big Sur Community in whatever way you can.
And, here is another community “sharing” by our favorite dozer operators, courtesy, Skee Stanley. This was taken on Wednesday up above the Hermitage. You can actually see the Hermitage in a way *I* never have!! Thank you for sharing this, Skee!!
And with that…”Goodnight, Gracie.”
bigsurkate, signing off.
So, what this tells me is that when Cal-Trans is working, dawn to dusk, the road is open. Once they go home at night, all bets are off, and you travel at your own risk. PLEASE be careful if you come through after dark. This is a highly volatile and dangerous situation!
Highway 1 is open! This information came from Danny Milsap, Caltrans Supervisor for south coast, as of 7:35 AM this morning – Saturday, October 25, 2008.
Highway Closed again tonight until tomorrow. Another rock slide. So, boys and girls, this is a touch and go situation.
HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH OF LUCIA REOPENS TODAY
MONTEREY COUNTY – Caltrans will reopen a three-mile section of Hwy. 1
between Nacimiento-Ferguson Road, about 27 miles south of Big Sur, and
Lucia, about 23 miles south of Big Sur, at 3 pm today, Friday, Oct. 24.
This section had been closed due to the Chalk fire since 7 pm on Wednesday,
Oct. 22.
Provided there are no other fire incidents/adverse conditions, the road will
remain open but is subject to traffic control or closures if conditions
worsen.
Here are some photos supplied by Cal-Trans:
The Volcano!! Connie got a great shot of this the other day, but unfortunately, her computer ate it!
Look where the rocks are in relation to the yellow line!
And lookey here … we have fire sliding down onto the road!!
Kudos to Cal-Trans for sharing these, and for getting the road open today. Thanks, Danny, Richard, Angie, Phil, and Mike!!
And tonight, it finally looks like it is over. Of course, I remember I said that once before, but this time, I really mean it! Now let’s see if Mother Nature agrees with me!!
Here is part of tonight’s inciweb report:
“Crews will continue mop up and improve existing line along the Hermitage Road to Highway 1. Mop up around structures and improvements in Limekiln State Park. Begin to clean up and remove hose. The Evacuation Warning for Hermitage has been down graded to and Evacuation Watch as of 6:00pm tonight. The Evacuation Watch for the Harlan Ranch and Morning Glory area was lifted as of 6:00pm on October 23, 2008”
