Cyclist injured, rescued, after trying to cross Regent’s Slide near Big Sur
BIG SUR – There is no bicycle or pedestrian access on Highway 1 through Regent’s Slide due to its ongoing activity, steep slope and unstable material across the roadway, but a cyclist learned the hard way why that rule is in place.
Last Friday, Cody Lynn Mortensen, 28, of Lucerne Valley, ignored verbal and posted warnings, and tried to traverse Regent’s Slide, tumbling down the rock-strewn slope, resulting in injuries to himself and needing to be rescued.
“The repair at Regent’s Slide involves the top-down removal of slide material,” said Caltrans District 5 spokeman Kevin Drabinski. “The repair at Regent’s Slide is challenging in part because the slide begins some 450 feet above the roadway and because of the steepness of the slope.”
California State Parks Rangers requested search and rescue for Mortensen at about 11 a.m. the day of the incident, according to a report from the California Highway Patrol. A Papitch Construction crew member said that at about 9:30 a.m., Mortensen road his bike to where the worker was, about two miles south of the closure point and asked him for some water.
Highway 1 is accessible up to Lime Creek where a turnaround is required at the closure point – post mile 32.1 – due to the ongoing repair work on the scenic highway at Regent’s Slide.
The crew member gave Mortensen a bottle of water and advised him that the road was closed due to a rock slide, the CHP report said. He told Mortensen the road is not passable and if he attempted to cross he will probably die. The crew member also told him that if he gets caught by CHP in the closure he would be cited. Mortensen said he was going to try anyway.
About an hour later, a State Parks ranger arrived on scene and drove to Regent’s Slide where upon looking across the slide, a backpack and the injured man with a bleeding arm was spotted about 100 feet below. The ranger requested search and rescue at that point, while Mortensen climbed down to the beach below. He was later rescued from that spot by the parks ranger and Big Sur Fire personnel. Mortensen was treated by AMR, a medical emergency response service, for a laceration to his forearm and possible head trauma. Mortensen was then life flighted to Natividad Medical Center for his injuries.
“I’m not sure I can add any comment to that young man’s foolishness,” said Drabinski about the incident.
Mortenson is being charged for the wanton disregard of failing to obey a person directing traffic and failing to obey the traffic signs and signals, according to the CHP. He also endangered the lives of rescue personnel who had to traverse an active slide. Road Closures are put in place for the safety of the public as well as for the crews working within the closure. It is against the law to drive, ride or walk past a “Road Closed” sign.
CHP spokesman Saul Perez said “Monterey County courts will determine” what penalties Mortensen will face.
Regent’s Slide occurred on March 9 and started seeing top-down removal of slide material by crews on April 30. It is the last of three slides that will see repair work completed due to its challenging conditions associated with the extreme slope at the site. Repairs are slated to be completed by late fall and will open up Highway 1 to direct travel between Carmel and Cambria.
Two other slides on Highway 1, Paul’s Slide – post mile 22 – which occurred Jan. 14, 2023 and Dolan Point Slide – post mile 29.5 – which occurred March 8, 2024, have had repairs completed and opened within the last few months.
A slip-out occurred just south of Rocky Creek Bridge on Highway 1 at post mile 60 on March 30 resulting in the undermining of the southbound lane. Emergency stabilization measures have been achieved and one-way, 24-7, signalized traffic control established to allow traffic to flow freely south to businesses in Big Sur. The emergency project continues with the construction of a viaduct to support the roadway, and repairs to a concrete seawall at the base of the cliff.
Regent’s Slide starts about 450 feet above Highway 1 covering the roadway on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. Crews continue a top-down removal of slide material as part of the challenging repair work at the steep-terrain site. (Photo courtesy Caltrans)At the ongoing repair project at Regent’s Slide, crews are using bulldozers at the top of the slide with smaller and more nimble spider excavators working material down the slope. Due to the severe slope, the spider excavators, which are designed to negotiate steep terrain, need to be tied to, and anchored by, bulldozers above them.
“As crews work their way down the slope they need to be sure that the slope behind them is stable,” said Drabinski. “Crews are continuously monitoring and adjusting their approach based on site conditions.”
Crews have had to suspend work entirely for days due to movement in the slope uphill of the repairs, but able to resume debris removal work soon after. The steep slope at the site will require repair work to continue with due deliberation and caution.
“The slide material that falls naturally or is pushed from above not only covers the roadway but continues down to the beach and ocean below,” said Drabinski.
The original estimate for construction repairs at Regent’s Slide is $31 million.
Road information and updates can be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
