Reminder regarding Overuse and Loving Big Sur to death

Yesterday, I went down the hill. I saw vehicles and campers everywhere, off-road, cutting through fences and installed barriers to get where they wanted to go. And when I came home, most of them were gone, leaving large amounts of tp and trash behind. image

I just want to take this opportunity to remind all that I have created two separate pages, where I am collecting photographs Loving Big Sur to death and data and suggestions on the Overuse of Big Sur Page. I add to both of these several times a week, usually. Some of you are checking these regularly, others seem to have forgotten. The discussion continues and gains momentum on social media sites.  Per readers, these links do not work (and I cannot figure out why – they work for me!) but don’t despair – these same links are up above in the “Info” post and to the right under pages. Those DO work!

Favorite Big Sur Wildflower

I really needed a change of pace, from the problems of overuse, to something much more beautiful, so I suspected you did too. This is the Calochortus venustus, or Mariposa Lily. My favorite.

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May Wildflowers on Plaskett Ridge

Here are just a few of the wildflowers I photographed on the way down Saturday.

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And then there were –  what used to be the exceedingly rare, but much more prolific in the last few years – Charmin flowers.

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Campfire Rules & Regulations

As with many statutes, rules, regulations, etc. especially by the federal government, these statutes are spread throughout several codes. There is the Code of Federal Regulations and the United States Codes, both quoted below. I did my best to find all the applicable ones, but may not have succeeded. I simply have laid out the statutes, and am NOT offering any legal advice.

Federal Campfire Statutes:

CFR › Title 36 › Chapter II › Part 261 › Subpart A › Section 261.5
36 CFR 261.5 – Fire.

The following are prohibited:
(a) Carelessly or negligently throwing or placing any ignited substance or other substance that may cause a fire.
(b) Firing any tracer bullet or incendiary ammunition.
(c) Causing timber, trees, slash, brush or grass to burn except as authorized by permit.
(d) Leaving a fire without completely extinguishing it.
(e) Causing and failing to maintain control of a fire that is not a prescribed fire that damages the National Forest System.
(f) Building, attending, maintaining, or using a campfire without removing all flammable material from around the campfire adequate to prevent its escape.
(g) Negligently failing to maintain control of a prescribed fire on Non-National Forest System lands that damages the National Forest System.
[42 FR 2957, Jan. 14, 1977, as amended at 46 FR 33520, June 30, 1981; 73 FR 30307, May 27, 2008]

§ 261.1b Penalty

Any violation of the prohibitions of this part (261) shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than six months or both pursuant to title 16 U.S.C., section 551, unless otherwise provided.

§ 261.52 Order

When provided by an order, the following are prohibited:
Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire

16 U.S. Code § 551 – Protection of national forests; rules and regulations

The Secretary of Agriculture shall make provisions for the protection against destruction by fire and depredations upon the public forests and national forests which may have been set aside or which may be hereafter set aside under the provisions of section 471 [1] of this title, and which may be continued; and he may make such rules and regulations and establish such service as will insure the objects of such reservations, namely, to regulate their occupancy and use and to preserve the forests thereon from destruction; …

Once the order is in effect under 16 USC § 551 then the following penalties are provided:
18 USC § 3559 lists the classification of offenses and states: [when not specifically designated in the statute it is determined by its punishment] six months or less but more than thirty days, as a Class B misdemeanor
18 USC §3571, class B misdemeanor carries a maximum fine of $5000
18 USC §3581, class B misdemeanor is carries a maximum jail time of 6 months

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I have an example of the 2014-2015 order I will post, probably tomorrow if events allow.

 

Easter Eve

This is why people want to share my space … Can’t say I blame them.

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I get to live here. I am blessed.

Search and Rescue South of Palo

Per a local who went by earlier this evening, search and rescue, ,CHP, and Sheriff are looking for one of two young men from town who were climbing the cliffs south of Palo Colorado. One fell on the rocks then went over into the ocean. Praying they find him alive.

Fire in Cachugua Village

imageAccording to KION, a structure fire has broken out at 37200 Nason Rd. Multiple Agencies assisting on this one. A mobile home and two vehicles are burning.

photo by Matt Shea

 

Big Sur Snow Photos, 1/31/16

imageimageBy popular demand, here are a couple shots from this afternoon. The clouds dissipated, the sun came out to play, and Cone and Twin Peaks finally displayed their winter clothes. Thank you, Big Sur.

These snow photos preempted  my intended 1/31/98-1/31/16 comparison post, so I will post that tomorrow. Still hoping for a spectacular sunset shot, too.

Plaskett Final Update … And a million

final count was 3.1 acres. FHL responded as well as LPF, and who knows who else. A WT came up around 10 pm to get 1500 gallons of water from my neighbors well. There was a transition to another IC at 7:45 am, but all indications are it was just a watchful eye needed for a bit. Was told we lucked out on this one. There was NO wind last night.

Sometime during the Plaskett Fire, bigsurkate reached the milestone of one million views. Appropriate on so many levels that it happened last night/this morning on this fire. Synchronicity. Thanks to all my loyal readers. I think it is going to be a long season for all of us. I’m calling this week to arrange for satellite internet. Can’t deal with the slowness and iffyness of this Verizon system of mine. I want photos, mine and others, to be involve ease of down and uploading. Still no plans for video as I am already paying enough for media storage on my blog.

Plaskett Fire

7:00 am-  Sun, 6/14, all quiet on Plaskett.

10:30 pm – no action thru here since 9. The IC is a man who was born here, and whom I’ve known since he was in … Well, elementary school. He is 3rd or 4th generation local. I can rest easy tonight. Oh, and his twin came thru on the Cal Fire truck. Doesn’t get any better. Thanks, You two! (I’d mention your names, but we all know who you are.) g’nite, all!

9:01- USFS Crew truck just came through.

8:27 Bombers on. Direct path overhead. Where’s my camera?

8:15 – Cal Fire just came through. They said a few acres. Bombers hitting it hard.

7:55 pm – sounds like the air show is starting! Yeah! Hope they can knock it down before dark!

7:45 pm – see last blog entry for beginning of this story.  I went down a bit to take a look, and got some photos. It’s going good, but it’s funny, as I knew it would happen as I saw a camp fire smoking at 10:30 am on my way to the muster. I told Ryan Webster of the PV Station about it at the muster, and described the campsite, the 7 or so trucks, 1/2 dozen dirt bikes, etc. AAND the photos I took! So when they got the report, he knew EXACTLY where it was. I took some photos and will try to post, but I’ve not been having much luck today.

06/13/2015 18:34 LPF-1609

P5 JSH4 (0507)

Plaskett Wildfire Plaskett Ridge Rd 3 miles up from Hwy 1 . 7EDW1 BC12LPF D450 E15LPF 4X4 E19LPF PAT17LPF Q . . . 35.927 x 121.432