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djb75 · 01-31-2021, 10:45 AM

In case you're planning to take the scenic coastal route:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/large-...g-2021-01-31-1

OTRA15 · 02-02-2021, 12:17 AM

Thanks for the heads up. Quote from the article:
_____________________________________________

" . . . The washout occurred near Rat Creek about 15 miles south of Big Sur, according to Caltrans, which added that Highway 1 remains open from Carmel to the town of Big Sur.

"Photos posted from the scene showed a significant piece of the hillside and road missing. Due to the size of the missing chunk, it appears that the section of Highway 1 will remain impassible for a considerable amount of time."
_______________________________________________

With the road still open north of Big Sur to Carmel, hopefully the local economy will not suffer too much. Spent some time there in the 60's . . .

. . . but don't remember too much [which means I might have been there?

]

Looks like a "considerable amount of time" . . . "for sure, man" . . . " [another 1960's joke FWIW]

OTRA15 · 02-03-2021, 10:36 AM

Good drone footage here . . . "not as bad as 2017" apparently:

https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/20...pairs-big-sur/

rubikcube · 02-04-2021, 06:28 PM

Slightly concerned here. I have a reservation for site 11 at Kirk Creek Campground at the end of April. Took me a solid month of trying every day at the exact opening of the booking window to book. Hopefully the road will be fixed enough by that point to get there.

OTRA15 · 02-04-2021, 06:39 PM

Have you contacted that campground? I think it is well south of the washout, so you would have to approach from the south [Morro Bay etc.]. Please update us with any info if you get.

Rat Creek slide info: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...alifornia.html

According to that site, Kirk Creek CG is south of the slide.

See also: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffnt&q=rat...+sur&ia=places

field & stream · 02-04-2021, 06:56 PM

Kirk Creek is at about mile marker 19, 11 miles south of the Rat Creek slide. The road is currently closed south of Kirk Creek up to about mile marker 11 due to numerous smaller problems. You could not get there today.

My guess is that by April you will be able to get to Kirk Creek, but it will have to be from the south and you will have to return to the south.

By the way, site 11 is one of the great ones.

OTRA15 · 02-05-2021, 05:09 PM

Thanks for the specifics.

mtbmitch · 02-05-2021, 06:26 PM

in 2017 there was a big landslide on Highway 1. Took close to 2 years to fix if I recall. Alternate plans?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubikcube

Slightly concerned here. I have a reservation for site 11 at Kirk Creek Campground at the end of April. Took me a solid month of trying every day at the exact opening of the booking window to book. Hopefully the road will be fixed enough by that point to get there.

rubikcube · 02-05-2021, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbmitch

in 2017 there was a big landslide on Highway 1. Took close to 2 years to fix if I recall. Alternate plans?

I’ll be coming from 2 nights Grand Canyon and 1 night Death Valley, then heading to 4 nights Yosemite afterwards. Planned on spending 4 nights at Kirk Creek. Could theoretically extend stays at Grand Canyon and Death Valley. Doesn’t look like changing my Yosemite reservation is possible at this point.

I could also insert a stay at Sequoia/Kings Canyon, although it seems like four nights might be a bit too long.

There is also another road, the Nacimiento-Ferguson road that intersects 1 right by the campground. It looks questionable, but should be doable for my 23GT and Ram 1500.

I’m thinking I’ll at least book an alternate plan and have it in my back pocket just in case. Really really hoping Kirk Creek works out.

field & stream · 02-05-2021, 08:52 PM

Sequoia is a terrific park, one of the very best. You cannot get your rig up to the big trees due to the very steep road with tight switchbacks, but there is a really nice (no hookups) campground called Potwisha in an oak woodland at about 3,000 feet. Drive up in your TV to enjoy the high country. You will not regret that choice.

Over on the coast, the Ferguson Nacimiento Road is another very steep and narrow mountain road which has washed out in the same storm and is currently closed. It may or may not be open by the time of your visit.

Even if it is open I strongly advise that you not tow your trailer on it. Coincidentally my first trailer was a 23’ Airstream, and I have driven that road many times on motorcycles and in cars. Even though I love adventure I would never ever consider towing on that road!

OTRA15 · 02-09-2021, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubikcube

. . .
I’m thinking I’ll at least book an alternate plan and have it in my back pocket just in case. Really really hoping Kirk Creek works out.

Have you spoken with Kirk Creek about the main slide, and other possible nearby access problems? Any chance they have already decided to cancel some reservations? It would be helpful to have this information IMO.

There appear to be some sites available in February, but March and April seem to be labeled "FF" -- first come/first served. Does this mean that they are not taking any new reservations for March and April? [not familiar with the system]

Please update us on what they say.

Thanks.

rubikcube · 02-09-2021, 06:16 PM

According to the following article, the south closure is about to be moved up to Big Creek Vista Point in two weeks:

https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/highway-1-closures-shorten-as-caltrans-works-at-rat-creek/121100/

This point is well north of Kirk Creek, so I think we should be good to go for our reservation in April.

The FF indicates that the only sites available are the 2 first come first serve sites. It seems like you would have to be the luckiest person in the world to score one.

Having spent a lot of time trying to score a reservation here, last minute openings happen frequently, so you might be able to get something.

Also, if anyone is interested, I have 2 weeks booked, but only need 4 nights. If any airstream owner wants the remainder, I can try to coordinate when I release the other nights.

OTRA15 · 02-10-2021, 01:17 AM

Thanks for the update, have a great trip.

field & stream · 02-25-2021, 07:17 PM

Update on the status of Hwy 1:

“ MONTEREY COUNTY – Caltrans announced today that major emergency repairs of Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast at Rat Creek will begin March 1 and that it estimates it will reopen the famed roadway early this summer.”

See Caltrans press release for more info.......

OTRA15 · 02-26-2021, 12:52 AM

Thanks.

This "Big Sur Blog" looks like a good resource for future information:

https://blogbigsur.wordpress.com/202...-early-summer/
Home page: https://blogbigsur.wordpress.com/

FYI

OTRA15 · 03-20-2021, 11:08 AM

Recent 3/12/21 CalTrans update at that blog:

https://blogbigsur.wordpress.com/202...-at-rat-creek/

"Deliberate progress continues to be made at the repair site at Rat Creek."

rubikcube · 04-28-2021, 09:21 PM

Just wanted to update this thread. We stayed at Kirk Creek (which was epic) last week and left on Saturday. We ended up driving north since we had heard the road was repaired. Sure enough, it took us all the way to Monterey! It was so well repaired that you really had to pay attention to even know where the damage was.