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California’s Big Sur Highway Reconstruction Is 2 Months Ahead of Plan

By Mike Richard Dec 18, 2019 11:19 PM

big sur california — Jeremiah Davis

Route 66, Virginia’s Skyline Drive, Montana’s Going to the Sun Road — all icons of American roadtripping. California’s Highway 1 ranks up there with the best of them. But, a massive landslide last year threatened to keep a significant portion of the route closed indefinitely. Now, an official announcement heralds the unexpected reopening two months ahead of schedule.

Since late 2016, Highway 1 has fallen victim to numerous landslides. In May 2017, however, an epic slide near Big Sur dumped millions of tons of rocks, soil, and debris along a 12-mile stretch of road. Some sections were buried under 40 feet of earth. It spread so far into the ocean that more than 15 acres of new coastline were created in its wake. It was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime (you might say “biblical”) slide that no one expected.

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At the time, the California Department of Transportation believed the section between San Francisco and Los Angeles likely wouldn’t reopen until September of this year. Last November, critical parts of the highway, including the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, reopened, allowing limited access for visitors and locals. The latter had previously been forced to hike more than a mile out and back just to get to their homes.

However, after marking the closure as a top priority, the department announced last week that it would reopen in July — a full two months earlier than expected. Given the timing at the height of the summer travel and tourist season, the news couldn’t come at a better time. It’s a boon for the hundreds of thousands of outdoor-lovers who travel to the area each year to hike and camp. Although the majority of the highway remained open since the slide, news of the closures also had a dramatic negative impact on local businesses. So, the reopening will return them to some sense of normalcy as well.

The Pacific Coast Highway — and the area around Big Sur, in particular — is among the most recognizable drives in the world. The serpentine highways winds along the Pacific Ocean through some of California’s most breathtaking natural scenery. Along with Route 66, it’s arguably the most beloved scenic route in the United States.

Planning your own epic road trip? Be sure to download the best road trip-worthy podcasts, audiobooks, and mobile apps before you go!

Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He’s kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South… Read Full Bio

5 Tips If You’re Traveling With Cigars: I Learned No. 2 the Hard Way

Wood, Hardwood, Accessories

Traveling with cigars can be challenging if you’re not prepared. The lack of preparation can lead to your favorite cigars getting smashed from inadequate storage, or they can peel because they weren’t kept at the proper temperature, among other issues. Sometimes you do all the right things, and still come away shaking your head.

I’ve been smoking cigars for two decades now, and it’s not beneath me to admit that I’ve made plenty of cigar travel mistakes in that span, and as recently as two weeks ago. You live, you learn, and hope you don’t waste a stogie on the next trip. My most recent cigar travel mistake is what inspired me to share these tips. Sure, there are plenty of articles out there offering similar advice. But this list comes from a cigar smoker and writer who has visited six countries and about a dozen states in the last year alone. And in that time, mistakes were made, and lessons were learned.

The art of adventure packing: packing light but effective

Clothing, Coat, Jacket

If you are like me, you grew up with stories of adventure. Whether you were fans of fictional adventure like Indiana Jones and Alan Quartermain, or you loved the true-life accounts of Ernest Shackleton and David Livingstone, there is a deep pull to venture into the unknown. The desire to abandon the Mon-Fri 9-5 in search of something deeper. You could spend your time thinking about hopping a boat and sailing the seven seas like the pirates of old. You could look up at the elusive peak of a mountain and believe it begs to be summited. You could stare into the depths of a jungle and wonder what treasures it hides beneath its canopy. No matter what kind of adventurer you are, you need to be prepared for whatever the world throws at you. I have climbed Salkantay Peak and explored the jungles of Peru. I have scanned the plains of Africa in search of a giant cat (the prospect of which was much more comforting than the actual sighting and wondering if I was far enough away). And I have disappeared into the secluded areas of Svalbard. One thing that remained constant was the need for the right pack.

Here is what I learned when packing for my adventures.

Savannah Beyond the Postcard

Architecture, Building, Spire

Savannah is one of those cities that seems almost too easy to like. The live oaks are dramatic. The Spanish moss does exactly what it is supposed to do. The brick sidewalks buckle in all the right places. The houses look like they were designed by people who understood proportion, shade, and the value of a proper front step. Even the light seems to arrive with better manners than it does in most places.

I have a built-in advantage when it comes to Savannah. We have family there, so we have been back several times, not just once for the checklist version of the city. I have also done a photography workshop there, which is a terrific way to learn any city. You get up early, stay out late, and pay attention to alleys, doorways, ironwork, reflections, and the way a city changes when the tourists are still asleep.