Instructions regarding our trip to Big Creek Reserve in Big Sur:

Here is the website for the reserve to learn more about it:

We will have access to Highlands camp for camping. It can be reached by car (a bit of a rough dirt road), and the number of cars needs to be limited to 2 or three max up there. It takes about 40-45 minutes to drive up there from the entrance gate. I’ll give campsite directions on wed.

So… here is what I have so far regarding people:

Staying over Friday night:

Rebecca- carpool 1

Ariana – carpool 1

Alaysa – carpool 1 (how will you get back on sat – a different car I guess?)

Bloo – needs a ride

Chris – carpool 2

Brian – carpool 2

** I will put Ariana in charge of Friday night (if that’s ok with you Ariana)

Staying over Sat night

Rebecca – carpool 1

Ariana – carpool 1

Bloo – needs a ride

Ryuta – Ride with Ali?

Sunny – Ride with Ali?

Ali – Drive

Chris - maybe

Brian - maybe

Day trippers

Jessica

Rosa

Travis M

Bryndyn

Jeremy L

Jeremy E

Savannah

Marianne

Valerie

Phil

Naka

Travis G

Stephanie

Evan

Ramiz

Please let me know if any of this is inaccurate!

READ:

  • Bring food for lunch and plenty of munchies – we’ll be hiking for a good part of the day
  • No smoking at all in Big Creek
  • NO ONE should venture in to the reserve until I get there on Sat. am except for the Friday eve people.
  • ALL must sign a waiver before entering the reserve (I’ll have those on wed)
  • ALL must spray your feet when you arrive in the parking lot (spray bottle over near the small library. This is for sudden oak death (to stop the spread into the reserve and is VERY important
  • This is a research reserve, not a playground. Please do not deviate from our stated class plan. NEVER hike or walk alone and NO HIKING AFTER DARK. There are mountain lions on the reserve, as well as many other wild animals

Directions (I’ll hand out a map on wed.)

Fill up with gas in Monterey – Gas in Big Sur is expensive!

It will take you about 2 hours to get there from Santa Cruz (East side)

  • Take highway 1 south.
  • Drive carefully – windy road and some rubbernecker drivers!
  • Beautiful scenery – stop to gawk and take pics! The Gray whales are migrating north – stop to see some!
  • Big Creek reserve is just about 50 miles south of the Rio Road junction in Carmel
  • Pass the town of Big Sur, keep going and pass the restaurant/Inn called Ventana (to the left of the highway) and Post ranch Inn (to the right just after Ventana)
  • Keep going and pass the restaurant and shop called Nepenthe and Phoenix shop (on your right)
  • Keep going…look for Esalen Institute (you’ll see a sign for Esalen on the right side of the road)
  • Big Creek is 4 miles south of the Esalen Institute
  • It is unmarked, so look for the following:
  • You will cross a large bridge (the biggest after Bixby Creek Bridge) called Big Creek Bridge (written in tiny black letters on the bridge)
  • IMMEDIATELY after the bridge on the left (sharp left down hill) is the turn into Big Creek Reserve.
  • Cars behind you WILL NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BE TURNING, since it doesn’t look like you can turn. So put your blinker on early and slow down!
  • The gate is a big iron gate with two waves on it
  • Combo is 1960
  • Go to the bottom and wait in the Parking Lot
  • WE’LL MEET AT 9:30

It should be beautiful!!