UPDATED: PREWITT RIDGE RD 2/17 -- CLOSED:Bixby/Coast Road 2/17

[TheWitchAndTheWoodsman]

Have they opened the Old Coast Road up again? Last I heard, it was closed off after the mudslides. I hope it is! It's a short, gorgeous drive that I'd always take on my way from the Bay to some of my favorite campsites in Los Padres before the fires.

 

[infennonlabs]

Have they opened the Old Coast Road up again? Last I heard, it was closed off after the mudslides. I hope it is! It's a short, gorgeous drive that I'd always take on my way from the Bay to some of my favorite campsites in Los Padres before the fires.

I'm hoping it's open don't know for sure. I can't imagine the road being there bad over the year from when those videos were posted.

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[infennonlabs]

This is what I can find:

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-i-z/resource-management-agency/public-works/road-conditions-closures

From Highway 1 North to Highway 1 South. Not advisable for 2-wheel drive vehicles
02-02-10 to Indefinite

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[TheWitchAndTheWoodsman]

This is what I can find:

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-i-z/resource-management-agency/public-works/road-conditions-closures

From Highway 1 North to Highway 1 South. Not advisable for 2-wheel drive vehicles
02-02-10 to Indefinite

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The most recent update I could find that specifically mentions Old Coast Road is from early November. http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/highway_conditions.html

 

[ScorpioVI]

Already had plans for morning of 2/17 but trying to weasel out of it so I can tag along if you guys wouldn't mind the company. Will find out next week if I can go for sure.

 

[infennonlabs]

The more the merrier

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[2003DiscoII]

I’m interested in going. So meet at Chevron, 3645 Rio Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923 by 11am?


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[WheelMe]

10:30 - 10:45, is what was suggested earlier.

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[infennonlabs]

Let's get together a roll call and finalize info here
Chevron and caravan down to the start of the road at Bixby Bridge. Google says a little over two hours from the city, so what do you think, aim to meet there 10:45ish? (Looking like this could be closer to 11 depending on traffic):
Attendees:
Me
JeepWave
Alfabluette
Outsane
TheWitchAndTheWoodsman
ScorpioVI
2003Discoll

 

[ScorpioVI]

Probably closer to 11AM for me, if you guys aren't there I'll chase you guys down the coast.

I have a Baofeng UV-5R in the truck, but damn if I know how to use it for comms. Mostly just use it for a scanner to listen in on SJPD.

 

[WheelMe]

Let's get together a roll call and finalize info here
Chevron and caravan down to the start of the road at Bixby Bridge. Google says a little over two hours from the city, so what do you think, aim to meet there 10:45ish? (Looking like this could be closer to 11 depending on traffic):
Attendees:
Me
JeepWave
Alfabluette
Outsane
TheWitchAndTheWoodsman
ScorpioVI
2003Discoll

That's a good number of rigs, awesome! We can all air down when we get to a clearing at the start of Bixby.

Will anyone be CB-equipped? It'd be nice to have at least two rigs with comm (little/no cell signal on the trail). I'll have both Ham and CB.

 

[JeepWave]

Let's get together a roll call and finalize info here
Chevron and caravan down to the start of the road at Bixby Bridge. Google says a little over two hours from the city, so what do you think, aim to meet there 10:45ish? (Looking like this could be closer to 11 depending on traffic):
Attendees:
Me
JeepWave
Alfabluette
Outsane
TheWitchAndTheWoodsman
ScorpioVI
2003Discoll

I talked with @willnicks and he might join as well.

Will anyone be CB-equipped? It'd be nice to have at least two rigs with comm (little/no cell signal on the trail). I'll have both Ham and CB.

I'll have GMRS/FRS and, if the FCC comes through with my new callsign in the next week or so, Ham (passed my Technician Class exam last weekend; planning on General Class in May).

 

[WheelMe]

I talked with @willnicks and he might join as well.

I'll have GMRS/FRS and, if the FCC comes through with my new callsign in the next week or so, Ham (passed my Technician Class exam last weekend; planning on General Class in May).

You'll need a rooftop antenna for your Ham signal to propagate beyond your truck's cab (this applies to ScorpioVI as well). Rooftops are mostly magnetic-mounts, and the coax can be snaked into your cab via an open window. Start with the Baofeng, and upgrade later.

 

[JeepWave]

I have a Baofeng UV-5R in the truck, but damn if I know how to use it for comms. Mostly just use it for a scanner to listen in on SJPD.

Listening to Ham chatter can be a good way to pick up some of the social conventions of amateur radio communication. If you want to use that handset as more than a scanner, I just took the one-day Ham course and Technician Class license exam at the Benicia Amateur Radio Club and they were excellent. For $30 and one day of your weekend, you cram for the exam and they give it and grade it and you're done. There were a lot of other off-roaders there (including a guy with a cool G-Wagen, not any other OB members so far as I know). It's an easy way to get Ham licensed for trail comms.

 

[JeepWave]

You'll need a rooftop antenna for your Ham signal to propagate beyond your truck's cab (this applies to ScorpioVI as well). Rooftops are mostly magnetic-mounts, and the coax can be snaked into your cab via an open window. Start with the Baofeng, and upgrade later.

I already have an Icom T70A but no rooftop antenna yet. Thanks for the advice!

 

[infennonlabs]

I picked up a pair of GMRS/FRS that you got Jeepwave but no license

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[ScorpioVI]

Listening to Ham chatter can be a good way to pick up some of the social conventions of amateur radio communication. If you want to use that handset as more than a scanner, I just took the one-day Ham course and Technician Class license exam at the Benicia Amateur Radio Club and they were excellent. For $30 and one day of your weekend, you cram for the exam and they give it and grade it and you're done. There were a lot of other off-roaders there (including a guy with a cool G-Wagen, not any other OB members so far as I know). It's an easy way to get Ham licensed for trail comms.

Yea Im trying to reconcile all that effort vs how often I'm going to be running with people. My work schedule is off-kilter compared to most folks so I can't get out there when normal people are. Not sure I want to put in all that effort for something I'm going to use rarely. I used to be an RTO in the Army but my interest in comms pretty much died the day I separated, lol.

 

[willnicks]

@SuperLuke may attend

 

[ScorpioVI]

Was talking to a dude at TW about this and he mentioned that he tried to take Old Coast on New Year's and it was closed.

This page also has Old Coast Rd listed as closed (last updated 01/09/2018): https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lpnf/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5347980

I'll make a call to State Parks Big Sur tomorrow to confirm.

 

[infennonlabs]

Was talking to a dude at TW about this and he mentioned that he tried to take Old Coast on New Year's and it was closed.

This page also has Old Coast Rd listed as closed (last updated 01/09/2018): https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lpnf/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5347980

I'll make a call to State Parks Big Sur tomorrow to confirm.

Thanks. Let is know what you find.

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