Monterey Ranger District COVID-19 Closure- 4/16-6/1/20

[VWA Admin]

CLOSURE UPDATE: PER A USDA FOREST SERVICE DECISION EFFECTIVE MAY 15 THROUGH MAY 31, 2020, COASTAL ROADS AND TRAILHEADS OF THE MONTEREY RANGER DISTRICT OF LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST ARE CLOSED. THIS CLOSURE INCLUDES PLASKETT RIDGE, WILLOW CREEK, AND SOUTH COAST RIDGE ROADS, AS WELL AS COAST-SIDE TRAILHEADS ACCESSING THE VENTANA AND SILVER PEAK WILDERNESSES. PLEASE SEE THIS LINK FOR DETAILS.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lpnf/ale ... rdb5347980

[VWA Admin]

The closure will definitely be renewed in some form, we will update the notice at the top of VWA's Plan a Trip page as soon as it's official-
https://www.ventanawild.org/plan-a-trip

Note that the Los Padres National Forest just elevated fire restrictions, so campfires are not permitted outside developed car campgrounds until further notice.

[bolbol]

Any update on the closure notice? is it going to end this week?

Are there any public meetings we can attend (virutally) to give public comment on this issue?

[Falderal and Fancy]

Nacimiento Rd is a county maintained road. Can the forest service really close that road?

Related to Kate Novoa Woods statement regarding the closure. Where was this true? Is this a lie to chase away non-big-sur residents or she simply mistaken? I cannot think of any place this would be true.

"These roads, trails, and trailheads were drawing increasingly heavy vehicle traffic and large groups of people, creating circumstances where social distancing was not possible. Additionally, some roads, trails, and trailheads are located adjacent to residential properties and could potentially contribute to exposure risks to local residents. Roads and trails may create unmanageable vectors for further community spread of COVID-19." - Kate Novoa Woods (She requires acknowledgement per copyright)

[Jack rabbit]

The coast ridge rd / trail shouldn’t be closed, it is wide. The houses along that road are at least 30 ft off the rd, who thought of this closure list?

[AaronP]

The Santa Lucia Creek trail, Lost Valley, the arroyo seco trail, and the Carrizo trail are not listed in the order. if I drive on Milpitas Road and park at the trailhead, am I going to get a ticket?

Milpitas Road is on the updated list of road closures and also on the map of closures so I would advise against it even if those trails are not listed.

Jack's Map https://bigsurtrailmap.net/trailconditions.html has been updated to show all of the road closures.

[claire_northall]

The Santa Lucia Creek trail, Lost Valley, the arroyo seco trail, and the Carrizo trail are not listed in the order. if I drive on Milpitas Road and park at the trailhead, am I going to get a ticket?

[Rob]

I've been following the Monterey RD closures with some interest, but personally more interested in the Stanislaus NF's closures. Apparently they had similar closures, and those were also extended to May 15th.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus/

Just a couple more weeks to go. Maybe by then the National Parks will also follow suit.

In winter and early spring of 2016 I was actually recovering from surgery, and for various reasons could not get out backpacking until Memorial Day weekend.

I survived that. I'll survive this, too.

[Ptarmigin]

Regarding the closure of portions of the Monterey Ranger district, does anyone know of evidence to support this statement:

"These roads, trails, and trailheads were drawing increasingly heavy vehicle traffic and large groups of people, creating circumstances where social distancing was not possible. Additionally, some roads, trails, and trailheads are located adjacent to residential properties and could potentially contribute to exposure risks to local residents. Roads and trails may create unmanageable vectors for further community spread of COVID-19." - Kate Novoa Woods (She requires acknowledgement per copyright)

[VWA Admin]

The Monterey Ranger District closure has been extended to May 15. The Los Padres National Forest has not yet updated the closure order on their site as of 10 AM 04/30/2020. But we have received confirmation of the extension.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf