Remembering Alta Vista: An Historic Big Sur Homestead Lost in the Basin Complex Fire

Alta Vista in 2005

While we realize that nothing is forever and that acceptance of impermanence and change is the first step on the road to happiness and enlightenment, we still haven’t been able to shake a strong sense of loss over the enormous amount of Big Sur history wiped out by the Basin Complex Fire.

Secret Stimulus: Federal Transparency Policy Fails to Crack Forest Service Code of Omerta

Ventana Wilderness trails could use some work. How many of the 203 million stimulus dollars the Forest Service plans to spend in California will make it to places like this?

Bicycle Ride: Carmel to Morro Bay

We use our point & shoot camera to take a fuzzy video of an October 10, 2009 bike ride from Carmel to Morro Bay, add some irritating copyright-free music, and post it on the Internet:

Rivers Rise as Deluge gets Rainy Season Underway

Well, the remnants of Typhoon Melor proved to be every bit as wet as advertised. As it so often does, Mining Ridge (above Big Creek) took the prize with a whopping 21.34 inches of rain. Accumulations of over 10 inches were common at higher elevations in the Santa Lucia’s and, while we haven’t heard of any serious debris flow problems, the rivers and creeks went from trickle to torrent in only a few hours.

Time to Throw a Tarp over the Woodpile

And weight it down with a few extra rocks, while you’re at it. Not only are they still calling for heavy rain tonight and tomorrow, they’re also calling for wind up to 60mph on the coast, stronger at higher elevations.

Stormy Tuesday?

The calm before the storm?

Following last year’s fires, Big Sur sweated through the rainy season knowing that a single heavy rain could unleash destructive debris flows. And, amazingly, although the total rainfall for the year was close to normal, the rain spread itself out so evenly throughout the season that, with a few minor exceptions, all trouble was avoided. Can anyone remember another year, other than major drought years, when Big Sur didn’t get even one serious rain?

July in Big Sur

Hot summer day …

Basin Complex Fire Revisited: Part 1 (6/21/08 – 6/26/08)

Saturday, June 21, 2008; one year ago today

A warm, sunny and unusually humid day.

Today on the Pine Ridge Trail

Into the Chalk Fire Burn: Vicente Flat Trail

The Vicente Flat Trail is in excellent condition as it leaves Highway 1 and begins its initial 1600 ft. climb.