High Sierra Topix

This afternoon around 3:00pm the people who sheltered in place, or camped, in the Sabrina and North Lake area were successfully evacuated. At this time the road is blocked at North Lake, and the gate at Aspendell is closed. This incident area will be re-evaluated in the morning.
A big thank you to CHP - Inland Division Air Operations H-80 for providing aerial recon and assistance. Follow Caltrans District 9 for updates on the status of Hwy 168.

STATE ROUTE 168W (BISHOP CREEK) ACCESS TO RETRIEVE VEHICLES (Caltrans Press Release)
Inyo County Sherriff, CHP - Bishop and Caltrans District 9 would like to inform the public that access to remove previously trapped vehicles will be available today until 3:00 p.m. Access past the road closure will be with law enforcement escort only.
U.S. Forest Service - Inyo National Forest has closed Sabrina Lake and North Lake campgrounds and trailheads (Piute Pass and Lamarck Lakes), therefore there will be no incoming traffic allowed. Today’s opening is restricted to vehicle removal only. Thunderstorms are predicted today and may impact the stability of the slide, forcing authorities to close the road. Consequently, vehicle retrieval efforts early on may be more successful. Caltrans has planned the hard closure of State Route 168W to begin tomorrow, July 25, 2018, for cleanup efforts. There is no anticipated date for reopening the road.
For the latest highway information please visit the Caltrans QuickMap site at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).

STATE ROUTE 168W (BISHOP CREEK)
ACCESS TO RETRIEVE VEHICLES

BISHOP — Inyo County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) would like to inform the public that access to remove previously trapped vehicles will be available each day from 4:00-5:00p.m., weather permitting, until the road is reopened. Other than this hour for access, there is a hard closure in effect to allow heavy equipment to continue to clear the material from the road. Access past the road closure will be with law enforcement escort only.
USFS has closed Sabrina Lake and North Lake campgrounds and trailheads (Piute Pass and Lamarck Lakes), therefore there will be no incoming recreational traffic allowed. This scheduled opening is restricted to vehicle and personal belonging removal only.
Thunderstorms are predicted in the afternoons this week, and may impact the stability of the slide, forcing authorities to close the road. The safety of the public, the crews of Inyo County, CHP and Caltrans, is Caltrans number one priority during this operation.
There is no anticipated date for reopening the road.

For the latest highway information please visit the Caltrans QuickMap site at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).

Caltrans District 9, with the assistance of Inyo County Road Department, has been working very hard clearing mudslide debris on 168. The public is reminded to please be patient during this process. Access to remove vehicles above the 168 mudslide is available with law enforcement escort from 4:00-5:00p.m., weather permitting, until the road is reopened. Other than this hour for access, 168 is closed above Aspendell.

We are excited to announce that Hwy 168 West is re-opening tonight at 8:00 pm after the rock/mudslide last week. Thanks to Caltrans District 9, Inyo County Sheriff's Office, CHP - Bishop for all their work to get the road opened and safely escort people stranded by the slide. This photo was taken at 12:30 today.

Info from the news release:

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Inyo County Public Works and Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) would like to inform the public that SR 168W will be reopening this evening, July 27th, at 8:00 p.m.

USFS will also be reopening the North Lake Campground and Sabrina Campgrounds. Additionally, the Sabrina Lake and North Lake trailheads (Paiute Pass and Lamarck Lakes) are now open. The USFS will honor wilderness permits held for these trailheads starting tomorrow, July 28th, and will be issuing new permits (within the quota) as well. Please call the Wilderness Permit Office at 760-873-2483 if you have questions.

The recreating public is reminded that 168W may close at any time due to future weather-related road issues. Please avoid stopping, parking, and/or walking in the slide area as the slide may still have some instability. Additional work will continue on this road, repairing culverts and stabilizing the slopes, which may cause short delays.

Since the initial rockfall/mudslide last Sunday, July 22nd, Caltrans, Inyo County, and the CHP worked relentlessly to assist over 70 stranded vehicles and 150+ people beyond the slide at Sabrina and North Lake campgrounds. Each day, heavy equipment moved tons of material that included large rocks, some more than 10 tons. Beginning Monday, and each day after, the operators cleared a path to allow people an hour-long opportunity to evacuate the area. Some people hiked over the slide on Sunday night, many leaving the area and their vehicles and belongings behind.

Caltrans would like to thank Inyo County Public Works for their tireless assistance, bringing over bulldozers and personnel to assist Caltrans on the state route. Thank you also to CHP and the Inyo County Sheriff’s office for their support with escorts, personnel and keeping the public informed and the USFS for working with the public to reschedule countless wilderness permits.

All agencies would like to thank the public for their patience during this process.