Tag: Big Sur

Two South Coast Incidences today, 4/25/09

There were two fire-related incidences reported today. One was a possible wildfire in the Nacimiento area. One was an abandoned campfire on Plaskett Ridge. The USFS-KC sent a very nice young lady named Tammy over to check on both.

The Nacimiento report was a false alarm. It was a burn pile, near a residence being closely monitored by the owner. The second, which the ex reported to me, and I passed along to the USFS, was not “originally” abandoned, as the ex had seen people there, but after he left, it WAS abandoned, and when the USFS got there, it was still hot, and Tammy made sure it was good and out. 

Thank you, USFS!!

Also, Tammy informed me that the current plan is to open the  forest on May 1, 2009. I did not think to ask if that was the entire forest, or just the portion down here. (Gotta get better at that!) She did say that it should help to take the strain off of this unburned (since 2000) area. That should be good news for the VWA folks.

Fire at Salmon Creek, 4/24/09

Noon – nothing more, so I can only assume no news is good news. I will continue to monitor, but given the cool, foggy conditions, I think it is a good bet that this little fire is either out, or on its way to being out. 

8:20 am – No details, yet. Heard on scanner. I will post more information as it becomes available .

From chp website:

7:57AM 1039 27-S1
7:57AM MTRY CTR ALREADY DISPATCHED FIRE
7:54AM BRUSH FIRE / 50 YRDS X 50 YRDS NR THE RANGER STATON
RESPONDING OFFICERS STATUS
8:16AM CHP Unit Assigned

This posted on Wildland Fire, hotlist:

From the Salinas Californian wire 50-yard brush fire reported in Big Sur
April 24, 2009 
The California Highway Patrol reports that a brush fire has broken out near the ranger station at Highway 1 and Salmon Creek Arch Culvert in Big Sur.
As of 7:54 a.m., the fire was reported as 50 yards by 50 yards in size. 
Fire fighting teams are responding.

Considering the cold, damp conditions, I don’t expect this one to be a problem. But, like Capt. Mike says, it means the ground is ready. *sigh*

Redbud & Blue

Redbud & Blue, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

In honor of Earth Day, as I was a little preoccupied yesterday.

I planted this amazing redbud in the corner of my garden. I babied it for years, as they usually like more water. But, over the years, it has gradually become very drought tolerant.

Here, it is pictured in its between time, when it still has the buds, but is beginning to leaf out.

Hot Temperatures

Heat wave advisories posted throughout the region for yesterday and today, and then hopefully, a cool down. Lucia reported 100 degrees on the coast, yesterday. I did not notice how hot it got up here, as I was otherwise engaged. Stay cool and fire safe, everyone! And NOAA weather discussion had this to say:

“TREND OF COOLING TEMPS BACK DOWN TO BELOW NORMAL LEVELS WILL

 CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THE WORK WEEK."

First Big Sur Fire of 2009 Season

From one BSVFB member, this fire is at Rancho Rico. This is what is reported on wildlandfire:

“As of 2116hrs, Los Padres Communications Center is reporting a veg fire at Sycamore Cyn and Hwy 1 on the West side of the highway, 3-5 acres with 50-60% contained.” 

SurCATS is reporting that as of 9 pm, this fire is in the mop up stages. Here is a link to some photos of the fire:

Kodakgallery.com: Slideshow.

Photos by Nancy Sanders

Big Sur Marathon in one week

Just a reminder, the 24th Annual Big Sur International Marathon is a week from today, Sunday, April 26th. Highway One between the Deli/Post Office and Rio Rd. will be closed for the race. There are only 2 caravans going south, starting from Rio Rd. at 8:45 am and again at 11:00 am. There are 3 heading north, starting at 7:20 am at the starting line; 9:50 am at Point Sur; and 11:55 am at Palo Colorado. You can download the entire caravan schedule here: 

http://www.bsim.org/site3.aspx

All things Great and Small

 

All things Great and Small, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

What can I say, that Mother Nature hasn’t said better?

State Park & Bridge Update, 4/18/09

Bidding for the installation of a temporary Bailey Bridge closed yesterday, 4/17. Part of the required bidding process was a guarantee that the installation would be completed within 30 days of the awarding of the contract.

Current speculation regarding how camping reservations will be handled for the summer traffic at the Big Sur State Park is that it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, starting the day the bridge opens. The Bailey Bridge will be one lane, controlled by a signal light.

The closure of the State Park is putting a burden on the remaining campsites, which down here on the South Coast are filled *beyond* capacity. That, in turn, is leading to camping in undeveloped areas of the forest. As XT points out, the closure of much of USFS (and state) lands in Big Sur, due to the 2008 fires, has lead to additional stress on the unburned and highly vulnerable areas of the Los Padres National Forest. This is a lose-lose situation.

And more wildflowers

I tried. I really tried to narrow down my wildflower photos, but darn, they are just going off, right now. Particularly the blue bonnet lupine – you know the short little ones that are so bright, they almost hurt one’s eyes? Yeah, those ones. I still haven’t finished posting my others, and here I am with new ones!!

Lupines & Sea blue

Oh, you see a lowly poppy here, as well as the popcorn flower (I really must learn its botanical name) as well as the lovely legume, vetch. Yup, that is the ocean in the background.

You’ll probably be tired of bright blue lupines (aka blue bonnets) when I am finished with this post. Probably, but not me. They are around such a relatively short time, and this way, we can look at them all year!

dsc_1988It used to take me only 1/2 an hour to get down to the highway. I cannot do it in less than an hour, now-a-days. Gee, I wonder why?

dsc_20291Isn’t that one of the most gorgeous things you’ve ever seen? And why are we surprised that all the city folk want to come here? Where else can they see something like this? Now, if we could teach them that those fields they want to tear up with their 4×4 when there are no flowers  could all look like this if they stayed on the road, we’d make some progress! This one used to get torn up, but the USFS set up a ditch and a berm to prevent off-roading, which is not allowed up here.

dsc_2040Okay, I have more, but I guess I will change hues. Don’t want you getting bored. Here is some clover, not owl’s clover, which I’ve seen, but not much of.

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Some of these are not as clear as they could be, as it was a VERY windy day when I took these. They were in a relatively sheltered area, or none of them would have been clear. 

Okay, and how about the lovely Flannel Bush? Yellow goes well with blue, don’t you think? This one is located at Pacific Valley School, in Gail’s front garden. I’ve asked for seeds, but, as I recall (I’ll have to look it up) this may be one of the seeds that I have to put in a tray and set fire too for it to germinate. See, fire does play a roll.

dsc_2009I think that is all for tonight. Tomorrow, I have off. I am meeting friends for a variety of activities throughout the day. This weekend, I’ll be putting up “No trespassing” signs so that people can have fun tearing them down. It’s what they do, up here in the wilds of Big Sur. I guess they think nobody has the right to be as lucky as I am.

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Sorry, I could not help myself. I so love these lupines! Promise, this is the last one, at least, today.

Back to the Wildflowers

Some sun up here today, and I understand good weather for the weekend and next week, prolonging the wildflower displays, I venture to guess.

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