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Pine Ridge Trailhead Volunteer Overview & Training Session
March 7, 2015 10:00 AM

Please join us at the Pine Ridge Trailhead Volunteer Training Session at the Big Sur Station.

We are looking for courteous, friendly people who are willing to share a few hours of their time at least six times a year to help contact hikers and backpackers at the Pine Ridge Trailhead in the Big Sur Multi Agency Parking Lot.

This is an important volunteer position because the Pine Ridge Trail is the most heavily used trail in the Ventana Wilderness. This trail is used by thousands of hikers and backpackers every year, mainly as an access route to Sykes Camp and Sykes Hot Springs.

No hiking experience is necessary. You will be given the tools and information to communicate to hikers and backpackers about the Ventana Wilderness, the need to practice Leave No Trace Principles, and ensuring hikers know current fire restrictions and other important information.

During this training we will present an overview, duties and responsibilities, the training period, expectations, and evaluation period to become a Pine Ridge Trailhead Volunteer.

If you have any questions, or are interested in volunteering but can not make this date, please contact Sharol Sevilla @ sharolsevilla@gmail.com.

MEET:
Big Sur Station 10:00 AM
Room on the left hand side of the building when facing the entrance.

FOR RESERVATIONS, QUESTIONS OR DETAILS:
contact: Sharol Sevilla or sign up via VWA Meetup
sharolsevilla@gmail.com

VWA Meetup
http://www.meetup.com/Ventana-Wilderness-Alliance-Meetup/

Hello Big Sur!

8:30 PM
Just received a call from Eric DeGroodt, Caltrans District 5 Supervisor for the Big Sur area. There has a been a small rockslide on Highway 1 at MM 34.4 and the Highway will be closed overnight between MM 42 (Fullers) and MM 10 (Willow Springs Yard). It doesn’t sound like it is a bad slide but CHP recommended for safety, closing the Highway. Caltrans will have crews out at first light to clear the road.

At the moment, CHP website is indicating Highway 1 is closed from Rio Road to San Luis Obispo County line. I told Eric about this and he called CHP to have them update the CAD website to indicate where the actual closures are located. The electronic sign at Rio Road should read “Highway 1 closed 30 miles south. All Businesses Open”.

Be safe and buckle up!

Regards,
Stan Russell
Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.TheBigSurBlog.com

Mark your calendars for the Annual Captain Cooper Lasagna Dinner at the Big Sur River Inn this Thursday.
Details below:

US National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey California

Thursday, February 5
12:10 PM Storm Update
Everything is still on track for a stormy end to the week, although we have slightly increased rainfall forecast for all locations. The Friday commutes could be very challenging, so please allow for extra time. Remember, roads are very slick during the onset of rain after long dry spells!

A wet and windy storm is forecast to move into the area later today (Thursday) and continue through the weekend. Rainfall totals across the urban San Francisco Bay Area are expected to be 2 to 4″ of rain, 3 to 6″ in the North Bay and coastal mountains. Locally up to 10″ is possible on the higher peaks of Marin and Sonoma counties.

Locally up to 8” are possible for the coastal mountains in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. Lower rain amounts of 1.5 to 3” can be expected for the remainder of our area.

From the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade

Hello,

The Big Sur Fire Brigade has organized a community meeting with the new Sheriff, Steve Bernal. It has been scheduled for Tuesday February 17th and will be held at the Grange Hall from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

This will be your opportunity to meet him and ask him any questions you may have.

See you then,

Martha

CALTRANS
NEWS RELEASE

Today’s Date: Friday, January 30, 2015
District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact: Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHBOUND HIGHWAY 1 CLOSURE BETWEEN CARMEL VALLEY ROAD AND RIO ROAD IN CARMEL FOR PAVING–NEXT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5

MONTEREY COUNTY –A ¼-mile paving project on southbound Hwy. 1 in Carmel between Carmel Valley Road and Rio Road will take place next Thursday, Feb. 5, Caltrans officials announced today. Details are as follows:

· Southbound Hwy. 1, from Carmel Valley Rd. to Rio Rd. in Carmel.
· Thursday, Feb. 5 from 9 am to 3 pm.
· Detour will be in effect on Carmel Valley Rd.
· Up to 15 minute delays are anticipated.
· Northbound lane will be open.

NOTE: There will be electronic message boards alerting motorists and the CHP will be present to assist with the detour and traffic control. The City of Carmel concurs with the detour plan.

This roadwork is being performed by the Caltrans Monterey Maintenance crews as a safety precaution to provide motorists and bicyclists a safer route to travel.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones.

For more information on this project and for traffic updates on other Caltrans projects in Monterey County, residents can call the District 5 toll freenumber at 1-831-372-0862 or can visit our website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/release.htm#mon

CALTRANS
NEWS RELEASE

Today’s Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2015
District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact: Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CULVERT REPAIR PROJECT ON HIGHWAY 1 BETWEEN VENTANA/POST RANCH AND ALDER CREEK BRIDGE INCLUDES HELICOPTER OPERATION NEXT WEEK

MONTEREY COUNTY– A 30-mile emergency culvert repair project on Highway 1 from Ventana/Post Ranch Inn to Alder Creek Bridge, two miles south of Gorda continues with helicopter operations next Thursday, Jan. 29, Caltrans officials have announced.

Work hours are from 7 am to 5 pm under one-way traffic control with flaggers. No overnight or weekend work is scheduled. Motorists can expect a delay not to exceed 30 minutes during helicopter operations for one day only on Thursday, Jan. 29.

The purpose of this emergency project is to repair damaged culverts and place netting on hillside to protect for future slide activity. Work will be completed in the spring, weather permitting.

NOTE: Access to businesses will remain open via Hwy. 1.

The contractor for this $1 million project is John Madonna Construction of San Luis Obispo.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway construction zones.

For more information on this project and for traffic updates on other Caltrans projects in Monterey County, residents can call the District 5 toll freenumber at 1-831-372-0862 or can visit our website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/release.htm#mon

VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2015

Media Contacts:
Kelly Sorenson, Ventana Wildlife Society, (831) 455-9514
KellySorenson@ventanaws.org

Mystery Condor Discovered by Biologists

Over the holidays, Ventana Wildlife Society biologists discovered a mystery condor at its wildlife sanctuary in Big Sur, California. This juvenile condor was seen with adult condors, #209, aka "Shadow" http://mycondor.org/condorprofiles/condor209.html and #231, aka "Wild 1" http://mycondor.org/condorprofiles/condor231.html , which are a breeding pair. This pair of condors is suspected of nesting in a remote portion of the Ventana Wilderness in the Arroyo Seco drainage and are the most likely parents for the mystery bird. Biologists have never entered the nest because of the area’s inaccessibility.

This would be the third chick for #209, the suspected father, and is perhaps the best Christmas present we could ask for, said "Kelly Sorenson, VWS executive director. "This is truly exciting to witness as it offers another example of condors surviving on their own."

The total condor population now stands at 425 individuals (captive and wild) of which 116 are living in the wilds of California. Condor populations are also found in Baja California, Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

ABOUT VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY:
Founded in 1977, Ventana Wildlife Society led the way to successful reintroduction of the Bald Eagle and the California Condor, two of the most iconic birds in the world, to native habitats in central California. Through the course of our work, we developed an organizational culture that strongly values science, education and collaboration and regularly found ways for both wildlife and people to benefit from one another. VWS recovers individual species and tracks the populations of many others so that conservation can be timely as well as effective. Focusing on youth education, we better ensure that future generations have the willingness and capacity to help wildlife. Our vision is to have a society who cares for and supports wildlife across the planet, particularly in California. http://www.ventanaws.org/> .

Condors in the wild can been seen by live streaming video at http://www.ventanaws.org/condor_cam thanks to the Oakland Zoo, Camzone Networks and FedEx and Ventana Wildlife Society.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Temporary Closure Notice Update:

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park will have a partial re-opening December 24. The following areas will be open: Main Camp (campsites 131-189), The Big Sur Lodge Restaurant, Store and Lodging, Buzzard’s Roost Trail, Pfeiffer Falls/Valley View Trail, Picnic areas near the day use parking lots. All other areas will remain closed.

The Pine Ridge Trail between the Big Sur Station and Sykes Hot Springs is closed until further notice. This closure also includes the Pine Ridge parking lot at the Big Sur Station. Heavy rains and large landslides have created extremely hazardous and impassable conditions. Further segments of the trail are in imminent danger of failure or collapse which could result in serious injury.

Inquire at the entrance station for further information. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Today’s Date: Monday, December 22, 2014

District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties

Contact: Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CULVERT REPAIR PROJECT ON HIGHWAY 1 AT VENTANA/POST RANCH IS UNDERWAY

MONTEREY COUNTY– An emergency culvert repair project on Highway 1 at Ventana/Post Ranch, two miles south of the Big Sur Park/Campgrounds began today, Monday, December 22, Caltrans officials have announced.

Work hours are from 7 am to 5 pm under one-way traffic control with flaggers. No overnight or weekend work is scheduled. Motorists can expect a delay not to exceed 10 minutes. Electronic Message Boards will be activated to alert motorists.

The purpose of this emergency project is to repair the damaged culvert and embankment erosion from the recent batch of storms. Roadwork is necessary to ensure all of the maintenance needs of the coast highway area are met. Work will be completed on Wednesday, Dec. 31, weather permitting.

NOTE: Access to businesses will remain open via Hwy. 1.

The contractor for this $300,000 project is John Madonna Construction of San Luis Obispo.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway construction zones.

For more information on this project and for traffic updates on other Caltrans projects in Monterey County, residents can call the District 5 toll freenumber at 1-831-372-0862 or can visit our website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/release.htm#mon

# # #

Susana Z. Cruz

Public Information Officer/

Portavoz de Relaciones Públicas

805. 549.3138

805.549.3326–fax

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