[pct-l] Angeles Crest Highway Reopens

[Paul Bodnar]

Today I drove up highway 2 to Three Points (mile marker 403 on the PCT) to see the trail.  The trail looked better than I expected.  Fire damage was bad but it was nice to see unburned areas.  
 
I was impressed with the repair of the highway.  Almost every barrier and sign was replaced.  The road was in pretty good condition from La Canada to Three Points--about 30+ miles.  There were about five one way sections which required waiting for opposing traffic to pass.  But it wasn't too bad.  You can view some of my pictures at
 
http://picasaweb.google.com/pctdata/Hwy2Pictures#5410093017618599570 

 

Paul

 
> Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:54:50 -0800
> From: ki6asp at gmail.com
> To: reddirt2 at earthlink.net
> CC: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Angeles Crest Highway Reopens
> 
> Sounds like hiking the trail is a much safer prospect than driving highway 2.
> 
> On Monday, November 30, 2009, Stephen Adams <reddirt2 at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > Yup, I'll bet, and I've cleared a lot of rocks off that road over the years and many others.  IT is the right thing to do if there is a safe place to pull over.  Thus not leaving the rock for the next driver, motorcyclist, or biker to hit.  Hit a rock once with a friend after climbing in Tuolumne and heading down the steep east side of Tioga Pass (hywy 120) and took out two tires and a rim.  Scarry.  Hit another rock along the Trinity River canyon once and flatted there too.  Have hit various rocks and flatted and crashed once while cycling.  Just have to be careful and even though I am, those little bastards get in my way.  So I make it my business to clear the road for others when possible and that's almost always when out and about.
> > On the other hand, Angeles Forest and Angles Crest Hwy were not built for and not intended for commuting.  They are good roads to be cautious perieod, yet when 14 was closed due to the Northidge earthquake issues around Sylmar, (Do you remember the Sylmar quake?) and a lot of folks were pretty muched forced to use those roads to get to the city for work or whatever, I was not impressed with the way folks chose to drive.  I was almost hit at least four times by oncoming traffic.  Lucky for me I anticipated it.  Bottom line is it's a dangerous mountain road and folks seem to think everything should be laid out for them all safe and neat.  I notice once you get away from the city folks things slow down and people actually drive at safe speeds.  Up along the 395 heading along the desert corridor and along the eastern Sierra there seems to be a larger presence of CHP and County Sherifs and a lot more folks pulled over for speeding etc...  Good.
> > On Nov 30, 2009, at 5:20 PM, Carl Siechert wrote:
> >
> >> The money quote:
> >>
> >> Danny Macias, an equipment operator for Caltrans on his way to work in East
> >> L.A. from Palmdale, had not taken the road since August. After weaving
> >> around large boulders that had tumbled onto the road and watching rocks
> >> falling from the barren hillsides, Macias was shaking.
> >>
> >> “I’m terrified,” he said. “I wouldn’t go up there. There’s rock slides
> >> everywhere.”
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 11:11 AM, The Incredible Bulk <ki6asp at gmail.com>wrote:
> >>
> >>> Los Angeles Times | November 30, 2009 | 10:05 a.m.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Angeles Crest Highway reopened
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Angeles Crest Highway has been reopened for the first time since it was
> >>> closed over the summer because of the Station fire. The reopening was
> >>> delayed by high winds and rock slides.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Officials are urging drivers to use caution because crews are working to
> >>> remove debris and the area remains windy.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Full story at:
> >>> http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/angeles-crest-highway.html<
> >>> http://link.latimes.com/r/9UIJ7Y/R6VCK/2Z2517/DX0B3/6V1Q0M/QR/h>
> >>>
> >>>
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> >
> >
> 
> -- 
> Tom KI6ASP
> The Incredible Bulk
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