Today’s Date: Thursday, September 4, 2014
District: 05–Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa
Cruz Counties
Contact: Jim Shivers or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3237 or (805) 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11th ANNUAL BEST BUDDIES CHALLENGE BICYCLE RIDE COMES TO THE CENTRAL COAST THIS SATURDAY

CENTRAL COAST – The 11th Annual Best Buddies Challenge bicycle ride will take place on Highway 1 beginning in Carmel in Monterey County and ending in San Simeon in San Luis Obispo County on Saturday, September 6.

Traffic control for this ride will begin at 6 am and consists of rolling closures by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). In addition, Electronic Message Boards will be posted alerting motorists to ‘Share the Road’ with cyclists. Motorists can expect delays not to exceed 15 minutes.

This bike ride will begin at 7 am at Carmel Valley Road in Carmel. All riders will be off the road by 4 pm on San Simeon Road near Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

Caltrans reminds motorists to be aware of these cyclists and any support vehicles. For more information regarding this event, please visit the Best Buddies Challenge website at: http://bestbuddieschallenge.org/hc/

For traffic updates on other state highways on the Central Coast motorists can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at (805) 549-3318 or visit the District 5 website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/road_information.htm

Jim Shivers
Caltrans District 5
Public Information Officer
(805) 549-3237
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It started about 5, and being familiar with the area, didn’t think it would get far, and thus held off on reporting it. Don’t underestimate the fire potential of dry grass. Two tankers have been assigned, as well as a couple fire crews, including one from Cuesta.

The CHP is quiet about this one, so must not be interfering with traffic.

Unless it “grows legs,” as the ff community says, I’ll be leaving reporting at this post.

NEWS RELEASE

Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Los Padres National Forest Elevates Fire Restrictions

GOLETA, CA, August 26, 2014…Due to extremely dry vegetation and an increasing fire danger, Los Padres National Forest officials today announced that Level IV fire restrictions will go into effect beginning today, August 26, 2014. The following restrictions will be rigorously enforced until the end of the declared fire season:

Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in all areas of Los Padres National Forest including designated Campfire Use sites; however persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are allowed to use portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel within the designated Campfire Use Sites only. California Campfire Permits are available for free download from the Los Padres National Forest website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf). You must clear all flammable material for a distance of five feet in all directions from your camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times when it is in use.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in all areas of the National Forest unless specifically authorized by a special use permit with the Forest; however, hunting with a valid State of California hunting license during open hunting season is exempt from this restriction.

Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the national forest except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated Campfire Use Site.

Fireworks are prohibited at all times and in all locations within Los Padres National Forest.

Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order on roads and trails specifically designated for such use. (This restriction is in effect year-round.)

Violators are subject to a $5,000 fine and/or six months in jail, and could be liable for the full cost of any fire suppression activities that result from their actions. For further information regarding current conditions as well as safety tips, contact your nearest Forest Service office or visit the Los Padres National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

From Stan Russel:

“Hello Big Sur!

I spoke with Commander Joe Moses, Monterey County Sheriff with Monterey County Search and Rescue team focused on searching for Arvin Nelson. Here’s an update:

A very active search is still in progress with 20 people in the field today. They have not discovered so much as a foot print from Arvin. Yesterday (Thursday) they “took a step back” to re-evaluate their search priorities and wrote up all new plans for the search through Sunday. This weekend will see an influx of volunteer help as well as Search and Rescue teams from Ventura, Santa Barbara, Placer County.

As far as we can tell, my friend Dennis English (Jack English’s son) was the last person to speak with and see Arvin. Dennis and Jack had gone out to visit their cabin in Pine Valley on August 6. A couple hours after they arrived Dennis was sitting inside the cabin playing guitar with his father, Jack English. He heard a voice outside asking to approach the cabin. It was Arvin who had heard the guitar playing and he came up and introduced himself. Dennis welcomed him in, befriended Arvin and they hung out and played music and hiked around Pine Valley for a couple days.

Dennis and Jack were picked up by helicopter on the 8th, leaving Pine Valley. Arvin saw them off. He told Dennis he was going to be staying through Saturday, the 9th and then hike the 11 miles to Sykes on Sunday morning, the 10th.

I know it has been rather quiet for a couple days so I wanted to let people know that the search efforts have not let up. In fact, Monterey County Search and Rescue are ramping up this weekend with a different approach and more boots on the ground. Ventana Wilderness Alliance has Steve Benoit, former backcountry ranger for Los Padres National Forest and key trail crew leader of the volunteer backcountry ranger program on scene as well as Betsy McGowan volunteer ranger and trail crew leader at the command center to show on maps where remote water sources are located, give insights into trails conditions and to help direct the efforts of those coming in from out of town. The best humanly possible team is in place to handle this thanks to the efforts of the Monterey County Sheriffs Search and Rescue leading the charge with their knowledge and experience in Big Sur.

The Monterey County Weekly, August 21, 3:31PM, posted ” Cmdr. John Thornburg of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office says the search team is using one airplane, three helicopters and about 30 ground searchers per day, with help from California Highway Patrol, the National Guard and the Coast Guard.”

The search efforts continue.

Keep Arvin in your thoughts and prayers.

Regards,
Stan Russell

(note – Foto Friday has been delayed in order to bring you this special message, and because technical difficulties are interfering with uploading the photos.)

From their FB page:

Looks like Missy!

I have nothing new to report, but will as soon as I hear anything. Good thoughts and energy still needed. Pray. Light candles. Invoke. Meditate.

Photo by Patrice Ward

Per Bob Cole at the Big Sur Station around 1:15: The search has been expanded from Pine Valley Camp/Falls area to Black Cone Trail. They’ve got personnel posted at a bunch of different campsites and they’re interviewing people.

12:15 Marin Co SAR to assist MoCo in search.

Those of you who know this sweet man, who waits tables at River Inn, he may need your good intentions for his safe return. He went on a backpacking trip alone, MAYBE to China Camp, Pine Ridge, to Sykes and was due back Thursday or Friday, but has not been seen, yet. He is a tall black man with a sweet smile. Search & Rescue has been out both yesterday and today. If you see him, or HAVE seen him in the last week, please contact Bob Cole at the State Park or MCSO.

Noon from Suzy Cowman Tennyson: “Just got off the phone w/ Deputy Jesse…. nothing yet. But he does report they have helicopters (don’t know how many, but he used the plural) out again today along with “lots of guys”….”

Keep good thoughts for his safe return home. It worked with Chief … Let’s make it work for Arvin. And Arvin, if I’ve embarrassed you, I’ll give you a great big hug and apologize next time I see you!

Rock Knocker found an abandoned campfire on the way up here. He only had a gallon of water, which he used, so I called the USFS. Smart man that he is, RK found a couple receipts at the site, so he grabbed them. 😉 Nothing like leaving your name and number behind so the USFS can track and ticket the idiot. One receipt from Lucia and one from Ragged Point.

Like the robber who writes his stick up note on one of his personalized deposit slips, you gotta love the idiots of the world.

3:30 pm – per IC, 25 acres with some open line.

2:50 pm – per a reliable source, air tankers have been released. A good omen.

2:40 KSBW reports it is up to 20 acres. My dear friend Barbara Sparhawk is right near there. Thought for her, her home, her gallery, and her sanity.

2:30 – vegetation Fire in area of Robinson Canyon Rd, per CHP website?

2:20 pm – Fire crews are battling a 5 acre fire in Carmel Vslley. No further details at this time. More when I know more.

Photo by Skee Stanley, Division Chief, Cachauga VFB