Images provided by www.ventusky.com

I have been informed there is a new slide between Paul’s Slide and Limekiln, would not be surprised, but haven’t been able to confirm.

Okay, there seems to be a lot of “rumbling” going on about this issue of being stranded. I am getting posts from anonymous people who, fortunately, have to be moderated so I can catch them. I am being called names like “heartless bitch” as if I am the one making these decisions re road closure, State Park closures, etc. I am simply reporting them. Please, just as in the fire, remember that who we are as a community is kind, helpful, prepared and hearty. We do disaster better than any community I know. I posted some of this on FB, but feel the need to share with a wider audience.

It has been less than 24 hours since the bridge was shut down, and we won’t get another report until after this series of storms passes. Lots of frustration and anger is bubbling up, just as it did during various times during the fire. I understand your frustration, I do, but don’t take it out on me, the community, or the agencies trying to help.  For a week, Cal Trans has tried to work with people, inspecting the bridge several times a day, openin it up to solo vehicle crossings or pedestrian crossings, so they could get out and back in, or get out and stay out, to get their cars out, get supplies back in. I don’t know what else they could have done. Those who elected to stay within the closure need to realize it was a choice they made, and hopefully they prepared for that choice. I hope that the frustration takes into account that ALL of those south of the bridge made a choice and it is time to relax and enjoy the solitude. If there is a medical emergency, call 911 and arrange for a helicopter out. Stay calm and carry on. I will do so as well.

Oh, the blessings? We got our Big Sur back in all her glory … we have a front row seat to her beauty and awe. We got this, we really do.

*NEW INFORMATION*— State Route 1 continues to be closed between Ragged Pt. (SLO 72.87)
and Pfeiffer Cyn Bridge(PM 45.5).

FURTHER DETERIORATION DUE TO SLIDE MOVEMENT AND FRACTURES ON BRIDGE COLUMN, PFEIFFER CANYON BRIDGE COMPLETELY CLOSED YESTERDAY, FEB. 15 TO EVERYONE (PEDESTRIANS, VEHICLES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES) AS OF 5 PM

Motorists may travel north on State Route 1 from Cambria to Ragged
Point (SLO PM 72.87) or south from Carmel to Pfeiffer Cyn. Bridge (PM
45.5)

*LOCALS MAY TRAVEL DURING DAYTIME HOURS ONLY BETWEEN RAGGED PT. AND LIMEKILN (PM 21.3), BUT NOT LIKELY HAVE ACCESS TOMORROW, DUE TO EXPECTED STORM.

*IMPORTANT NOTE TO LOCALS: SEVERAL DAYS OF RAIN ARE ANTICIPATED BEGINNING TODAY THURSDAY, FEB. 16. DUE TO SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, PFEIFFER CANYON BRIDGE WILL REMAIN FULLY CLOSED, INCLUDING TO PEDESTRIAN AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. THE NEXT BRIDGE INSPECTION WILL BE MADE ON TUESDAY, FEB. 21 AFTER THE RAIN, BUT IT IS NOT LIKELY THE BRIDGE WILL RE-OPEN.

*BUSINESSES REMAIN OPEN* [I would add SOME businesses, particularly those north of the bridge are open. Nepenthe is closed, Post Ranch is closed, the taphouse is trying to stay open for the locals; Treebones is closed, Plaskett Campground, Kirk Creek Campground, etc. are all closed on the South Coast, and these are just the ones I have heard about. I am sure there are more.]

Another update regarding the Highway 1 Big Sur Coast will be provided around noontime tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 17.

Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Acting Manager
Public Information Office

Lots of speculation and rumors about walking trails to avoid the bridge, and have nothing but rumors (and lots of requests) re a west side option (the “old” bypass is as threatened as the bridge, so not possible) and a path through Rancho Rico would be a private option, if even possible, but this is the official word from State Park re the east side option:

“I have heard a great deal of talk these last few days about the possibility of finding an alternate path downhill of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge and through the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park campground. I’d like to take a moment to address this.

State Parks has and continues to be a supportive partner here in the Big Sur Community. Through the years, we’ve housed fire camp through several major wildfires, provided space for community meetings, participated in multiagency trainings, participated in fundraisers, etc. We’ve demonstrated flexibility and initiative when safe and appropriate. We are providing parking at the Pine Ridge parking lot for those trapped on the other side of the bridge. We recognize the plight of our community members and would like to offer help in ways that we are capable of providing.

We have also entertained the potential of finding an alternate path around the bridge but ultimately we have rejected this as a workable plan. All potential avenues would take the public through areas ravaged by instability. The creeks that flow down from Ventana Inn or Pfeiffer canyon into the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park campground have resulted in massive debris flows these last several years resulting in significant damage to park infrastructure and the Pine Ridge Trail. These debris flows continue with every storm we encounter. Any path around the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge leading to the campground would lead people directly into these dangerous areas. The north slope of Pfeiffer Canyon and the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge itself are all poised to come down directly into the campground and into the path of foot traffic should we allow access. We find this to be an unacceptable risk. We are taking this situation very seriously and consider it life-threatening.

Trailblazing is not permitted or advised. People found within Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park will be subject to citation or arrest. The relevant code section is Penal Code 409.5(c) – entering a disaster area, a misdemeanor. We do not relish the thought of citing our fellow community members but we do what we must to keep others safe.

For anyone thinking of entering these lands, please consider the tax on resources you would be causing if you sustain an injury. Our responding agencies are already spread dangerously thin.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Matthew Khalar
Supervising State Park Ranger
Big Sur Sector- Monterey District”

THIS AFTERNOON’S BRIDGE INSPECTION SHOWED EVEN MORE MOVEMENT AND GROWTH IN FRACTURES, FOR THE SAKE OF LOCALS, VEHICLE/PEDESTRIAN ACCESS WILL BE ALLOWED THROUGH ONE LAST TIME, FROM 2PM TO 5PM. THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME PEDESTRIANS, VEHICLES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL BE ALLOWED ACROSS BRIDGE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE NEXT BRIDGE ASSESSMENT WILL BE MADE AFTER THE RAIN, ON TUESDAY, FEB. 21.

VEHICLES MAY BE ALLOWED TO CROSS PFEIFFER CYN BRIDGE, ONE VEHICLE AT A TIME, ESCORTED BY CHP, FROM EITHER DIRECTION FOR THE LAST SESSION: 2 PM TO 5 PM. THERE IS A 20-TON LIMIT. PEDESTRIAN AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ACCESS ALSO CEASES AT 5 PM. NOTE: THESE PROVISIONS ARE FOR CRITICAL AND NECESSARY TRIPS, ON THIS DAY ONLY.

*NEW IMPORTANT INFORMATION—MORNING ACCESS ALLOWED, AFTERNOON ACCESS PENDING BRIDGE INSPECTION AT 12 PM *

THIS MORNING’S BRIDGE INSPECTION SHOWED MOVEMENT AND GROWTH IN FRACTURES, BUT VEHICLE/PEDESTRIAN ACCESS WILL BE ALLOWED THIS MORNING. HOWEVER, ANOTHER BRIDGE INSPECTION WILL TAKE PLACE AT 12 NOON—THE AFTERNOON SESSION (2-5PM) WILL DEPEND ON THE FINDINGS…ANOTHER UPDATE WILL BE PROVIDED BY 1 PM TODAY.

VEHICLES MAY BE ALLOWED TO CROSS PFEIFFER CYN BRIDGE, ONE VEHICLE AT A TIME, ESCORTED BY CHP, FROM EITHER DIRECTION FOR TWO SESSIONS: 1) 10 AM TO 1 PM AND 2) 2 PM TO 5 PM. THERE IS A 20 TON LIMIT. PEDESTRIAN ACCESS WILL ALSO CONTINUE. THIS IS SOLELY DEPENDENT UPON THE RESULTS OF THE BRIDGE SURVEY/ASSESSMENT TO TAKE PLACE AT 9 AM ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15…EXPECT THE ‘GO AHEAD’ OR ‘CEASE OPERATIONS’ UPDATE AT 9:30 AM TOMORROW.* NOTE: THESE PROVISIONS ARE FOR CRITICAL AND NECESSARY TRIPS, ON THIS DAY ONLY.

State Route 1 continues to be closed between Ragged Pt. (SLO 72.87)
and Pfeiffer Cyn Bridge(PM 45.5).

Motorists may travel north on State Route 1 from Cambria to Ragged
Point (SLO PM 72.87) or south from Carmel to Pfeiffer Cyn. Bridge (PM
45.5)

The roadway is not passable between Ragged Pt (SLO 72.87) and Dolan
Pt (PM 29.70) or to vehicles at Pfeiffer Cyn. Bridge (PM 45.5)

*AN ADDITIONAL SLIDE OCCURRED THIS MORNING SOUTH OF LIMEKILN (PM 20)…LOCALS MAY TRAVEL BETWEEN RAGGED PT. AND NACIMIENTO FERGUSSON (PM 18.90)—WHICH WILL CLOSE AT 5 PM.

*IMPORTANT NOTE TO LOCALS: ANOTHER STORM IS ANTICIPATED THIS THURSDAY, FEB. 16. DUE TO SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, PFEIFFER CANYON BRIDGE WILL FULLY CLOSE, INCLUDING TO PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, FOR THE DURATION OF THE RAIN.

*BUSINESSES REMAIN OPEN*

Another update will be provided AT 1 PM TODAY, Wednesday, February 15.

Susana Z. Cruz nature-flower-blue-motif[1]
Caltrans District 5
Acting Manager
Public Information Office

Frankly, I don’t know who Paul H. Is, but he has been adding comments re the weather patterns and studying them, and I have come to believe he is either an amateur meterologist and/or a retired one. His predictions so far this winter have been incredibly accurate. This is his newest “take” on the situation we are all following so I share his latest with the rest of you from the comment section today:

“Hey Everyone and just another heads up that late today will be the beginning of a possible three week run of wet weather and the storm intensity could really ramp up toward the end of February. What looks to be happening is the active belt of thunderstorms along the equatorial or inter tropical convergance zone (MJO oscillation) is now propagating eastward from the west pacific/maratime area and around late Feb/early March will be acting up right below Hawaii where these atmospheric river storms have found a very comfortable path during this winter This will fuel the moisture feed even deeper into the tropics with very high pwats or rain rates. Moreover El Nino is now forming quickly and should anchor the jet stream in a south west trajectory supportive of a positive “Pacific North America Pattern”. Presently, it looks very similar to 1995 (big floods in March that year) teleconnection and ocean atmospheric coupling wise and i would not be at all surprised to see much wetter storms toward the end of month similar to the January storms earlier in the year. This Winter could get much crazier very soon and do not put your guard down after this next week of rain!! Nevertheless, “Major” landslide(s) similar to the 1983 humongous slide is definately a possibility soon as soils have reached super saturation!! Im hoping that nothing that big slides!!
Cheers to El Nino taking control now, paul h”

These were taken by Michael Wilson back after the closure at 3.3 mm in two areas, one back around 4.8 mm and another one back further.