Big Sur residents isolated after winter storms close Highway One

Caltrans inspector Tony Pascual, left, and construction engineer Wayne Walker examine a landslide that took out the southbound lane and shoulder on Highway One, in a section known as Mud Creek along the Big Sur coast.

Caltrans spokeswoman Susana Cruz gets an up-close view of a bolder that came down on Highway One north of Ragged Point.

A landslide in the Big Sur Valley damaged the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, forcing the closure of Highway One. The bridge, which was condemned, since has been demolished. Caltrans hopes to have a new bridge in place by October.

Workers take steps to stabilize the slope after a landslide took out the southbound lane and part of the shoulder in a section of Highway One known as Paul’s Slide along the Big Sur coast.

Workers take steps to stabilize the slope along a damaged section of Highway One known as Paul’s Slide along the Big Sur coast.

Along with landslides, Caltrans will have to repair the asphalt on Highway One in Big Sur, which was damaged by runoff from winter storms.

Workers climb a massive slide area above Post Creek near the Ventana Inn in order to replace a water line that had been severed by debris.

Of all the properties in Big Sur, Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn was perhaps hit hardest by the winter storms. Falling redwoods damaged several of the hotel’s historic buildings.

Doris Jolicoeur, 64, stands in front of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn. The historic hotel lost several cabins to falling redwoods during the winter storms.

Jeannie Alexander, second from left, a medical captain with the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, enjoys a moment with other residents after she playfully touched the beard of Josh Case, left, an employee at the Ventana Inn & Spa, during a gathering of townspeople near Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

With the road taken out by a massive landslide, Big Sur resident Scott Moffat and his son Roman, 4, hike through muck and debris above the Ventana Inn to get to their truck.

When the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge was condemned in mid-February, residents on its south side were unable to get to the cars they had parked on the north side of the span. One afternoon, they bushwhacked their way into Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park in order to move their cars to make room for the construction crane that would demolish the bridge.

Big Sur resident Carl Swanson, left, gives a helping hand to Carissa Chappellet while navigating a trail inside Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park in order to get to their stranded cars.

In the absence of visitors to Esalen, Verity Howe, 39, helps tend the center’s community garden with her son, Calder, 4. Howe is married to the retreat’s gardener.

Clouds roll in over a section of hillside above the Ventana Inn in Big Sur on March 4, 2017. The area has been isolated since winter rains closed a stretch of Highway One.

Sander Koning, 39, right, high-fives Adam Olthof during an impromptu barbecue for employees at Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur on March 4, 2017.

With Highway One and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park closed to the public, a walkway overlooking the park’s famous waterfall is deserted. On a normal afternoon, the site would be crowded with visitors from around the world.

Richard Wangoe, with his dog, Zoie, an Australian heeler at his side, enjoys the warmth of a fire as he takes in the sunset from the top of his 54-acre property above Hot Springs Creek.

Rosa Gallo and her husband, Vicente Hernandez, executive housekeepers at the Ventana Inn in Big Sur, watch the sunset at a vista in Big Sur on March 6, 2017.