Big Sur Jade Festival 2013 updated 11/2/13

With a lot of work and a little luck, the 2013 Big Sur Jade Festival took place October 11, 12 and 13. The festival had been placed "on hold" after the Federal Government shutdown. The Forest Service campgrounds remained closed, as did the day use areas, which did cause some headaches for attendees, but more smiles than complaints. So Much Jade. This posting is a work in progress. Please chack back for updates.

HWY 1 Closures @ 11 pm Sunday Night, Oct. 13, if you are heading home northward from BS Jade Fest

Release from CalTrans HIGHWAY 1/ROCKY CREEK VIADUCT PROJECT CONTINUES WITH DAYTIME ROADWORK AND INTERMITTENT OVERNIGHT CLOSURES IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION: THERE WILL BE FIVE, FULL OVERNIGHT CLOSURES, FROM 11 PM TO 7 AM, STARTING SUNDAY, OCT. 13 THROUGH THURSDAY, OCT. 17 (OPENING FRIDAY MORNING) TO REMOVE THE VIADUCT FALSEWORK. Daytime roadwork on Highway 1 at Rocky Creek continues next week from 7 am to 5 pm Monday, Oct. 14 through Friday, Oct. 18, with 10-minute delays as needed. Daytime work being performed next week consists of roadway grading and paving. NOTE: Through traffic has been shifted to the newly constructed southbound half of the viaduct while work continues on the northbound half. The project to construct a permanent viaduct about 15 miles south of Carmel near the Rocky Creek Bridge began on Sept. 4, 2012. Completion is scheduled by the end of October, weather permitting. Daily roadwork schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions and other factors so stay tuned for regular updates. The contractor for this $11 million viaduct project is Golden State Bridge of Martinez, CA. Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones. For more information, please visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/ or contact the Hwy. 1 Cambria to Carmel Toll- Free Hotline at 888-836-0866. .

Big Sur Jade Festival is back on

Although Kirk Creek and Plaskett Campgrounds remain closed, the festival got its permit back and so the show will go on. The parking area next to Sand Dollar day use parking lot will be open. Sand Dollar day use remains closed. I'll update any news that might come my way. Hank

Big Sur Jade Festival "ON HOLD"

Due to the Federal Government Shut down, and the subsequent shut down of Public Lands, specifically the campgrounds and day use areas of the Los Padres National Forest in Jade Country Big Sur, the festival is on hold. I will start by stating that I am not going to use this forum to voice my opinion on all of this, but to try to provide details and status updates to those that follow my blog. I left jade country Sunday morning. The campgrounds and day use areas were closed, with the exception of Willow Creek, which is most likely closed by now. As far as access to Jade Cove and other jading areas, and regarding "dispersed camping" within the forest, nothing had changed before I left. I heard rumors to the contrary, but can find little information to confirm anything. I will say this. Those that are involved in the shutdown (on the front line) are doing the best they can while they themselves are affected personally by it. Hats off to Parks Management Company. What a tough position to be in. Same to the staff of Los Padres National Forest. If you have to channel any anger, it should be to the top of the foodchain! My heart goes out to the locals who will be so greatly impacted if the fest is canceled. Of course, there are millions of us who are also impacted by the shutdown in some manner. OK, so I did voice a little of my opinion, now back on-track. I have reached out to Congressman Sam Farr, as I read on BigSurKate's blog that he was able to get an exemption on te use permit for the festival, but nothing in regards to the campgrounds and parking. If anyone out there has additonal information, please e-mail me and I will update my posts. Thanks, Peace and Karma to you all Hank