California Highway 1 closed indefinitely

Sean · March 18, 2011, 09:42:17 AM

In case anyone was planning to do the PCH this summer, a slide took out a 40' section of the highway between Big Sur and Carmel this week. CalTrans says the road will be closed indefinitely:
http://www.mercurynews.com/central-coast/ci_17638872

I know few buses travel this stretch anyway, and there is a strict 40' length limit, but it is a beautiful trip when the road is open. This is arguably the most scenic portion of the entire coast highway.

Coming north from LA, the detour involves turning east on CA-46 to US-101 at Paso Robles, then north on 101 to Salinas where you can again return to the coast highway in Monterey by way of CA-68.

The alternate detour mentioned in the article, involving Naciemento-Ferguson Road through Hunter-Liggett to Jolon Road at King City, is not accessible by larger vehicles.

OTOH, if you wanted to spend a couple weeks on the Big Sur coast, this closure is certain to empty out all the campgrounds and you will have no trouble getting into places that are normally fully booked months in advance. Also, you'll have no wait for a table at Nepenthe or Deetjen's.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

bs4104 · March 18, 2011, 11:10:51 AM

more photos

Lin · March 18, 2011, 01:03:07 PM

I always have called it the Big Sur Loop. You get in the loop somewhere, go around in circles for hours with the coast on one side and the hills on the other, then for some unclear reason you find that you are no longer in the loop, but moving straight through a different area. The same thing will happen if you get on it again. No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to find the loop exit for hours.

Dreamscape · March 18, 2011, 05:26:58 PM

I've traveled that road many times when I was stationed at Ft. Ord. Such a beautiful scenic route. Haven't driven it in a bus, not sure if I want to. Did drive it from San Diego to Astoria in a Mustang Conv, what a trip that was.

That will take time to get it engineered as it's a pretty steep area.

RJ · March 18, 2011, 05:37:11 PM

Paul -

Quote from: Dreamscape on March 18, 2011, 05:26:58 PM
Haven't driven it in a bus, not sure if I want to.

Way back when I was driving charters, I drove Hiway 1 NB & SB twice a week, in either Prevosts or MC-9s. After the first round trip, it was just another road. The only thing was you often had to take your half out of the middle on some of the corners, so you simply stopped and waited for the oncoming traffic (if any) to clear, ignoring the horns behind you.

Lots of 2nd & 3rd gear, manual or automatic. Not because of any grades, just because it's that slow in many places.

I actually prefer SB, less risk of kissing the mountain on a few turns, plus much easier to pull over for the mandatory photo ops.

But you and Sean are right - it's a specatularly beautiful drive!

Don't be afraid of it when it re-opens - GO!!

FWIW & HTH. . .

luvrbus · March 18, 2011, 05:49:45 PM

Like RJ I driven the highway many times in a bus just take your time it is easier to drive than AZ 89A from Cottonwood to Prescott lol

good luck

JohnEd · March 18, 2011, 06:03:24 PM

Incredible beauty. Ca and the Fed spend a lot of money to keep that stretch open for us all and it is money well spent. The entire road is a "Scenic Overlook". And people live all along and off of the thing and call it their "address".

Don't miss it and take your time and smell the roses or salt air or whatever the breeze brings.

John

TomC · March 19, 2011, 08:54:18 AM

I drove Highway One north bound with my bus when it still had the air assist steering (8 turns lock to lock). Needless to say it was a very busy 90 miles or so and was very glad that I had an automatic.

Years ago, I took my big rig (empty) up that route also-but then again I was in my 20's, young and stupid. Now I'm just stupid. Good Luck, TomC

happycamperbrat · March 19, 2011, 09:52:17 AM

I drove a 27' motorhome down it a few times. Scary but awesome! The kids and I stopped at a couple spots and had pancakes while watching the surf, then at another spot to watch the seals and eat peanut butter jelly sands and take a nap! Just absolutely great time!! I would be scared out of my mind to do it in the bus though, I think.

Seayfam · March 19, 2011, 10:20:47 AM

Whats so scary about this drive? Is it narrower than your typical two lane road? Does it have a little bit of shoulder?
My wife and I have been wanting to go down there and drive that in the bus.

Gary

JohnEd · March 19, 2011, 10:42:15 AM

It is as narrow as possible. Some of the turns cannot be made in a bus unless to take a hunk out of the middle so oncoming is a consideration and a part of your "turn/curve Plan". Not your average driving cruise. But, DOABLE?...yes. Worth it...most certainly. Safe....as safe as you want it to be. Guard rails....naw....that would interrupt the scenery and what rail would keep a bus on the road anyway?.

I did this drive in a 30 foot Winne. It was delightful and rewarding. As many have said...it is the journey.

Just do it!

John

Tony LEE · March 19, 2011, 01:58:23 PM

After driving down and up Wards Ferry Road, California in a 36' Airstream, Highway 1 in an MC8 would be a doddle.

Had a look at wards ferry rd on Google Earth tonight and it doesn't look too bad from a few hundred feet up. Pity there isn't Street View available.

Geoff · March 19, 2011, 05:03:49 PM

Been there, done that, don't miss the coast at all. Cal Trans has been fighting to keep HWY 1 open for years and nature just takes its course.

--Geoff
Born in San Francisco and don't miss it.
Prescott, AZ since 2005.

JohnEd · March 19, 2011, 05:23:56 PM

So very many years ago I was driving up the coats from Eureka. I went north and then I went east to connect with 101 to continue to Coos Bay, Orygun. On that easterly jaunt I drove on the scariest piece of highway EVER. I did it at the end of the day and I had semi's everywhere. A stretch of the road was cut from solid rock and the outcropping was over head in my lane and there was a rock wall bordering the west bound lane. It was a trwo lane road and I swear the cliff face was a mere feet from the right window. I thought I would scrape off the mirror. NOWHERE TO GO and the traffic was whizzing on that two lane road. Serious pucker factor and I am pretty hardened and back then I was stupider as well. 30 foot Winnie pulling a Z car and all three of us was askert. I have never found that strip of road since I was on it in 1990 and no trucker has ever said he knew of it. Talked to quite a few. Thought that thing might warrant a word of caution if I only knew where it was or its name.

Anybody?

John

happycamperbrat · March 19, 2011, 05:30:59 PM

Sean has a photo somewhere that his wife (I think) took where his bus was just inches from a rocky cliff as he was cruising hwy 1. It is a very twisty turny narrow road, and often you cant see very far ahead because of the sharp turns. It doesn't have guard rails cuz there is no room for them. Its a shear drop on the west side into the rocks and ocean below, and shear rock cliff going straight up on the east side (at least in most places of it). When I lived on the coast I used to read and hear of accidents and people dieing on that road all the time. But it is absolutely gorgeous!