LEBEC, CA (Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019 at 6:50 a.m.)—The Grapevine section of Interstate 5 is open. A high wind advisory is in effect. Gusty winds may make it dangerous to travel in high profile vehicles, including campers.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 6:55 p.m.)—Southbound lanes now open over summit with escorts.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 6:35 p.m.)—Northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 5 are being opened with traffic breaks.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 6:06 p.m.)—CHP is shutting down the southbound Frazier Mountain Park Road offramp until about 6:35 p.m. to allow traffic to clear. Northbound Interstate 5 traffic is being held at State Route 138.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 4:11 p.m.)—CHP reports that approximately 100 vehicles are stuck on Ralphs Ranch Road near Gorman School Road. These are motorists who were trying to get around the freeway closure. Mountain Enterprise photographer Jeff Zimmerman reports that a semi-tractor trailer has become stuck in snow on Gorman Post Road, blocking the entire road with all cars traveling in either direction unable to get around it.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 1:11 p.m.)—Interstate 5 is closed in both directions. CHP Officer Burdick told The Mountain Enterprise that it could be at least several hours before Caltrans has the roadway safe for travel. The northbound lanes of the freeway are closed in Castaic at Parker Road and southbound lanes are closed at Laval Road.

PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, Ca (Monday, Jan. 14 at 12:53 p.m.)— “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” has been the informal creed of postal carriers since the Greeks used the phrase in 500 BC . But not today.  Pine Mountain Club announced in a news blast this hour that “Due to extreme weather conditions, we have been informed that there will be no mail delivery to Pine Mountain Club today (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019).”  —PH

LEBEC, NEWHALL, Ca (Monday, Jan. 14 at 12 p.m.)—”At 1150 hours we received a call from the [California Highway Patrol] Bakersfield communication center that snow was sticking on the Grapevine. The CHP Newhall Area is in the process of shutting down the I-5 freeway on our side of the hill,” wrote CHP officer Josh Greengard at noon. “The I-5 at the Tejon Pass is impassable, due to snow and/or ice, for an unknown duration. Operation Snowflake has been implemented for the duration of the storm.”

Greengard said that Newhall CHP will close the I-5 northbound at Parker Road. All traffic will be directed to turn around at Parker Road and all motorist will be advised to take alternate routes.

Generally, the primary alternate route in this situation is SR-126 to US-101 to SR-166 to I-5, or SR-14 to SR-58 to SR-99, Greengard writes. “Please bear in mind alternate routes are subject to closures with short/zero notice,” he said. “Therefore, it is imperative motorists verify, for themselves, the status of alternate route(s), prior to travel,” he added.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 11:40 a.m.)—CHP is letting traffic move slowly southbound on I-5.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 11:15 a.m.)—CHP is stopping southbound I-5 traffic at Lebec. Northbound Interstate 5 traffic is backed up to Highway 138. Traffic on Ralphs Ranch Road (motorists attempting to get onto southbound I-5) is backed up to Frazier Mountain Park Road.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 10:20 a.m.)—Numerous vehicles are stuck on Frazier Mountain Park Road just east of Monterey Trail due to snow conditions, according to CHP.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 10:14 a.m.)—Various traffic collisions along the Grapevine continue to occur, both northbound and southbound. So far, no serious injuries have been reported.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 10:08 a.m.)—“Mil Potrero Highway is a mess” according to PMC resident Kip Storz, who stopped at the newspaper office this morning to purchase a resident permit. Cars are stranded in the snow. Meanwhile, CHP reports that vehicles are getting stuck on Interstate 5 near the summit between Gorman and Frazier Mountain Park Road. Snowfall in Cuddy Valley just west of Lake of the Woods is “moderate to heavy” according to CHP. NOTE ABOUT THE RESIDENT PERMITS: There are no more permits avaialable; they are sold out. You can use your PMCPOA sticker, and you can carry a recent utility bill in your car, showing your are a resident. CHP will accept these as proof of residency.

(On a positive note: Ducks have been congregating behind Frazier Park Post Office during the past week, splashing in the puddles. Do they know something about the near future of the park pond?)

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 9:35 a.m.)—Snow is falling on the Grapevine at the summit north of Gorman. CHP is pacing traffic to slow drivers down.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 8:08 a.m.)—Several collisions on northbound I-5 have emergency crews scrambling within a 15-minute period this morning, starting at 7:50 a.m . A single-vehicle rollover into the center divider occurred at Lebec Road had lanes 2 and 3 blocked under the Lebec bridge. A semi truck vs. SUV collision occurred at northbound Grapevine Road offramp. Several vehicles were spun out at the northbound Lebec curve at 8:04 a.m. Other Mountain Communities roadways are open at this time.

This is part of the January 11, 2019 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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