Author Topic: Big Sur fire effects?  (Read 13007 times)

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Offline MrBent

Big Sur fire effects?
« on: August 31, 2008, 01:33:50 pm »
Ahoy,cyclists: I was wondering if anyone here has ridden the central California section of the PCH since the big fire.  What are the consequences for the touring cyclist in Big Sur?  Is it a big piece of toast?  We might ride it again this winter.  I'm afraid of what I might find.

Cheers,

Scott


Offline erniegrillo

Big Sur fire effects?
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2008, 01:00:55 pm »
I'm riding from Oregon to LA in September. I'll give you a report in October.


Offline MrBent

Big Sur fire effects?
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2008, 03:32:21 pm »
Thanks, Ernie!  I look forward to it.  Have blast on your ride.  Wish I were joining you.

Cheers,

Scott


Offline AlamedaT14

Big Sur fire effects?
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2008, 11:23:51 pm »
Hi Scott,
I rode it the second week of September, all is well at the campsites and the scenery is still spectacular. Fire damage is clearly visible, right down to the road in places, but it is intermittent and really does not detract from the ambience of the ride at all. One major concern this winter will be the lack of vegetation above the road causing mud slides once the rainy season begins in earnest (sometime between Nov 1st and Jan 1st). One good storm and the road may be closed for many days. Be prepared to plot an inland route through the Salinas Valley, and allow time to backtrack should you get into Big Sur and suddenly find your way blocked by mud. Hey, that's why they call it adventure cycling!

Alex


Offline MrBent

Big Sur fire effects?
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2008, 12:16:09 am »
Hey, Alex:  Thanks so much for getting back to us on this.  Sounds like it's still a great ride.  I do some backpacking and climbing, too, and I've lived to see a couple of my favorite areas turned into ashtrays. Nice to hear that Big Sur is still worth the ride.

Hope your ride was all you hoped it would be.

Cheers,

Scott


Offline erniegrillo

Big Sur fire effects?
« Reply #5 on: October 06, 2008, 06:18:27 pm »
I second the report by Alex.  You can see the fire effects in places but it is intermittent and certainly not a moonscape. The underbrush was burned but most all of the large trees although some are scorched, will recover. It should not changed anyones travel plans.


Offline bern

Big Sur fire effects?
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2008, 08:50:12 pm »
Just found this...might help if you plan on camping in Pfeiffer or Julia.

Alerts and Important Information
Pfeiffer Big Sur is closed to all camping, hiking and day use effective October 6, 2008. As a result of extensive burn damage from the wildfire, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park will be closed this winter to prepare for potential catastrophic winter flooding and landslides. The campground bridges will be removed in anticipation of mudslides and debris flows. The day use area and trails will be closed due to construction and potential flooding and safety concerns. Depending upon the outcome of the winter events, it is our goal to put the bridges back in and re-open the park for camping and day use in late spring 2009.

Alternate state parks in the area are Limekiln SP and San Simeon SP. Additionally, there may be alternate camping in the Big Sur area at several of the nearby private campgrounds (www.bigsurcalifornia.org). Please check the California State Parks web page for updates next spring (www.parks.ca.gov).

Group Camps A and B have been closed permanently.


Offline AlamedaT14

Big Sur fire effects?
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2008, 01:47:37 am »
Bern:  Yes, those two parks are directly below the brunt of the burn area and in the bottom of river valleys, which means that they could easily be overwhelmed with flooding and mud flows. If I was set on attempting a winter ride down Big Sur this year I would plan on doing it early in the season.  The Central Coast is more prone to flood producing rainstorms after the first of the year. On my last ride I overnighted at Monterey (Veterans Park) and rode through to Plaskett Creek NFS campground, which is just a few miles from Jade Cove and a popular campsite for beachcombers and rock collectors. Plaskett Creek sits on a mesa above the ocean, just south of the burn area, and is not likely to have any fire related closures this winter. Alex.


Offline WesternFlyer

Big Sur fire effects?
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2008, 01:49:42 am »
I road through the Big Sur area two weeks ago.  As far a I could see the big Basin fire did not cross Highway 1.  Lime Kiln State Park was closed due to fire danger from the Mill Creek fire.  I and two other cyclists camped near Lime Kiln at Kirk Creek NFS campground but on the ocean side of 1 and we, along with the other campers, were under an official alert for immanent evacuation.  

We had a truly spectacular front row view of helicopters dipping their buckets in the Pacific a few hundred meters from the campground and roaring up the canyon to dump.  Likewise twin-engine propeller driven planes would dive over the ridges with their loads of fire retardant.  Near sunset we witnessed the truly awe inspiring spectacle of the huge Canadian DC-10 fire bomber as it made a bombing run down the ridge line in front of us.  That run pretty well let us have a peaceful nights sleep.  

In the morning ground crews were setting backfires and the skies were filled with smoke again.  I met and talked with a team of fire fighter in Gorda who were being rotated out for the day.  They were a tired and dirty crew.  They told me to be careful.  I replied they were the one doing the dangerous work.  

There were fires the whole length of my trip from Crater Lake through the Big Sur coast.  I had several conversations with the fire fighters and they all love their work.  It was adventure cycling at its best.


Western Flyer

A wise traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving.
           Lao Tzu
Western Flyer

We must ride light and swift.  It is a long road ahead.

King Theoden

Offline MrBent

Big Sur fire effects?
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2008, 09:04:46 am »
Thanks, Western.  That is quite an adventure you had!  I'm glade fire fighters like their work.  It is so difficult and dangerous.  We are blessed to have such brave and hearty souls working for us.

Cheers,

Scott