Big Bear Blog

If you have been out on the trails lately, you might have noticed a change in the landscape. The mountains seem to be leaving the lush color of green behind for a canvas painted in orange, purple, red, yellow and white. Flowers and their brilliance accompanied by a sweet scent – it’s making hiking, running and biking a bit more interesting.

I went for a quick run on the PCT this morning – a carpet of tiny purple and white flowers slowed my pace as I admired the perfection of a native landscape. Why can’t my yard look like this? I ran past Indian paintbrush, Sea Fig, Columbine and Lupine. I even came across an entire meadow of wild Iris earlier this week – shocked because I had never seen them before despite having mountain biked the trail for years.

The constant change makes me hike, ride and run the same trails week after week. Checking for changes and waiting patiently for my two favorites - Lemon Lily and Corn Lily – to arrive.

Earning my turns,

Glade Girl

Growing up on the East coast, spring was not my favorite time of year. I associated it with half melted mounds of snow frozen and covered in dirt, muddy walkways and temperatures that were mostly too cold to break out anything cooler than a long-sleeve T-shirt. Even now, most mountain towns refer to spring as their Mud Season. In those towns, there seems to be a holding pattern - between the activities of winter and the actions of summer. But not in Big Bear, spring is spectacular.

The lines of winter blend with summer and a crazy, unpredictable spring emerges. Big Bear seems to be graced with the exceptional ability to escape from winter every time and spot a perfect landing for stellar days of sun. It keeps us on our toes: Not because we are wading through mud and waiting for the sun to dry us out, but because we are preparing for the unexpected and executing our plan.

In the last eight days, I carried out my plan by napping in a hammock strung in the shade of my front yard, climbing and skiing Anderson Peak in the San Gorgonio range as a spring storm rolled up the San Ana River Canyon, taking it inside on a snowy morning for a spin class at Mountain Fitness, riding some of the best resort pow of the year, catching a sunburn during a long run along the north shore, reading Tolstoy on my deck by headlamp, hiking to the top of Gray’s Peak, watching fly fishermen expertly cast in Baker Pond and cruising a favorite trail with my best mountain biking girls. 

As we prepare for another week of the unpredictable, I’m eyeing my kayak and digging out my paddle. If this is our mud season, I’ll take it each and every time!

Earning my turns,
Glade Girl

Since 1970 we’ve celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd. That was the day Americans decided to stop the un-checked pollution of our planet! Before 1970 there were no laws to stop factory’s from spewing black smoke into the air or dumping toxic chemicals into our oceans and waterways. Earth Day was established by Senator Gaylord Nelson as away to “force this issue onto the national agenda” 20 million Americans responded in protest and their voices were heard!

In December of the same year Richard Nixon and Congress created the United States Environmental Protection Agency to begin the task of repairing the damage already done and establish guidelines to protect human health and the environment. I’m challenging you to use Earth Day as a reminder that this is “OUR yard” and we should be keeping all of Big Bear Lake clean and beautiful 365 days a year.

Big Bear Disposal is doing their part by adding six clean, quiet, eco-friendly trucks to their fleet as they work towards becoming a zero waste community. Soon they will be breaking ground for a new recycling facility on the north shore of the lake, reinforcing their commitment to help us keep Big Bear “green.” Please come up and enjoy our playground, all we ask is that you treat Big Bear like it’s your  backyard, because for us, every day is Earth Day.

spreading the love, rev

These are exciting times for athletes on our mountain. Local child superstar Jordan Romero just left for his quest to climb Mt. Everest and the entire mountain community has rallied to support his efforts and send him off with our best wishes.
This will be his toughest challenge to date, but his preparation and training has been at the highest. I’m confident that we will soon see pictures of his bright smile standing proud at the summit.

My dreams of having a stage of the Amgen Tour of California in Big Bear will finally come true next month. We will witness the best bicycle racers in the world taking on one of the hardest stages of any race this year including the Tour de France! This will be one of the most beautiful stages of the Amgen Tour of California but it will also be a double edged sword that will rip the legs of even the strongest of climbers.

Then last Saturday I dropped by SkyHigh Fitness to watch Pro MMA fighter Tierry Sokoudjou train with Bob Antonacci. Sokoudjou a.k.a. the African Assassin is a member of Team Quest out of Oceanside, Ca. He is preparing for a big fight tournament in Japan. Part of his new training regimen is spending some time up here in Big Bear working with Bob to improve his cardio, and to kick his overall fitness up a notch.

It’s exciting for all of us that live and breathe the mountain athletic life, and witness these activities at such high levels. We’ve always preached the benefits of living and training in Big Bear and now we get to witness it first hand, that’s exciting!

spreading the excitement, rev  

Last Saturday B-Ray and I went out for a little day trip on snowshoes on the other end of the valley towards Sugarloaf Mountain. From my front porch we could see a small peak just below the actual top of Sugarloaf and we wanted to find out how long it would take to get there.

After packing a few safety essentials and a few beers for hydration, off we went into the forest slowly plodding towards our goal. It was a perfect day for a snowshoe outing, sunny and warm with no breeze to speak of. B-Ray and I prefer to hike off trail when there’s good snow. In no time we freestyled up a steep ridge that would lead us right to the spot we could see from my front yard. In less than two hours we stood at the crest and looked down on Highway 38 and could see my house.

It really feels like an extension of my “yard” when we can go off into the forest without packing everything into the car and driving somewhere. From the crest we took a roundabout way to head home and found ourselves on the edge of a really steep drop off.

B-Ray loves to charge hard on the way home, so we jumped off into the powder side stepping our way down the steep face until we got to the big meadow at the bottom. As we approached the clearing we heard voices through the trees. At the bottom we saw a six pack of snowshoers heading up the trail. They stood there with mouths open sporting that look of “where the hell did they come from?” They told us they were from San Diego, and had gone to the Discovery Center to get some advice. The fine folks at the Discovery Center sent them out this way. It was really cool to see people enjoying a getaway to the mountains where I call home.

Most people don’t want strangers playing in their backyard, but when your yard is as big as the San Bernardino Mountains visitors are welcome! So come on up and bring your gear, you’re welcome to play in my “yard.” It’s big enough for all of us.

spreading the love, and the mountain style hospitality,
rev

While Holidays in Big Bear are super fun and action packed, sometimes you just need to schedule in a non-slope day. Not saying you should back it off; just suggesting penciling into your schedule time away from carving and shredding corduroy, hitting boxes and grinding rails. A day dedicated to a quieter scene. A day for exploring the forest on foot, climbing to perches offering stellar views. A day spent snowshoeing with friends.

After a long week, I decided I needed some quality time and a quick snowshoe up Snowforest’s slopes was definitely in order. Access was easy and there was plenty of parking at the top of Pineknot Avenue. Leaving the parking lot we dodged sledders testing their saucers on runs that rocketed over downed trees. It didn’t take us long to ascend to the top of the open slope above the Village. Here we lingered over a long lunch, enjoyed amazing views of the Lake and the Valley’s northern ridge. Even picked out some of Big Bear’s seven summits and scheduled a few dates for winter summits of these fantastic peaks.

It was a fun afternoon and while we didn’t sit idle, the cool air and our efforts refreshed me for the week ahead! Happy Holidays!

Earning my turns,
Glade Girl

This past Holiday weekend - during a feel-good, giving thanks-type of conversation - a friend posed this question, “What takes your breath away?” I was quick to answer: The power of a winter storm. Perhaps it was the glass of chardonnay I was holding at the time or the engaging topic but I was sincere. I find winter’s fury remarkable.

We were sitting around a cozy campfire in Joshua Tree National Park, tucked under a sagging awning watching it rain and enjoying leftovers from our Turkey-day feast. At that same moment I suspected Big Bear was receiving its first dose of winter. Rain in Southern California flatlands means snow in the mountains, right? While I was content in the desert, I really wanted to be in the snow. Feel the excitement of the first significant snowfall of the 2009-2010 Season and be a part of the celebration.

I fired off a quick text to a friend I knew was riding Bear Mountain. She answered in kind with a single, perfect image – it said it all and conditions looked awesome. As I enjoyed the last day of our holiday, I was happy to spot white-capped peaks as we drove through Johnson Valley. We climbed the 18 from Lucerne, encountering the first evidence of winter at 5,000 feet. It felt as if we were driving in the wake of the storm’s fury. Cresting into the Big Bear Valley’s east end, in the growing darkness of dusk my eyes traced Baldwin Lake’s broad sweep west and settled on slopes now white with winter – in that moment I was thankful there is more than one thing in this world that steals my breath. It was good to be home!

Earning my turns,
Glade Girl

Are you a local? Do you consider yourself a local because you’re always visiting Big Bear, pulling a “weekend warrior” one weekend after another? Are you often mistaken as a local?

Want to know if you are legit? Test your Valley “Cred” with our Big Bear-inspired quiz.

(1) Have a set of chains in your car and actually know how to use them? (Score 1 point for having ‘em and 10 points for knowing how to use them)
(2) How many ski resorts have you skied in the Big Bear Valley? (Score 1 point per mountain)
(3) Have you ever skied by torchlight? (Score 1 point for Yes and an additional point if you wrecked your favorite jacket)
(4) Have you been stuck in a long line at Vons on a Friday Night? (Score 2 Points for Yes)
(5) Have you explored Big Bear’s forests by snowshoe? (Score 1 point for Yes and an additional point if you went at night)
(6) Have you seen “A Christmas Carol” at the PAC? (Score 1 point for Yes)
(7) Have you gone sledding or tubing? (Score 1 point for Yes)
(8) Have you sipped hot chocolate while strolling around the Village? (Score 1 point for Yes)
(9) Have you stood outside in the freezing Big Bear air to usher in the New Year? (Score 1 point for Yes and 100 for the experience)
(10) Have you dug your car out of a snow bank? (Score 1 point for Yes)
(11) Have you grinded a down rail or MJ’ed a box? (Score 1 point for knowing what these mean and 10 points for performing either one)
(12) Have you attended a tree lighting ceremony on Pine Knot? (Score 1 point for Yes)
(13) Have you competed in ‘Snowshoe the Bear?’ (Score 1 point for Yes and 10 if you won!)
(14) Have you ever spent a Friday or Saturday evening skiing under the lights at Snow Summit? (Score 1 point for Yes)
(15) Have you seen zillions of twinkling stars on clear, crisp Big Bear evening? (Score 1 point for Yes and another 10 for the experience)

So what’s your score? Actually, it doesn’t really matter. You’re a local whether you live here or not, so long as you are out having a good time and sharing it with friends and family! Happy and safe holidays!

Earning my turns,
GladeGirl

I admit it: I am a life-long, die-hard skier who has never given much thought to a ski-specific pre-season exercise program. Sure, I mountain bike, run and do yoga regularly, but I have never considered throwing circuit training into the mix. This year is different – I set a few skiing-related goals for myself and these will require more from me than my typical strategy of “I’ll get ski-fit by skiing.”

Plus, as a PSIA Certified Ski Instructor, I know the key to skiing well is a strong core, not just endurance and strength in the lower body. I confess, this year I decided to ‘walk the walk’ and signed up for a group snow sports-specific workout program with Ted Devito at Mountain Fitness.

While I was open to having my butt kicked by Ted’s no-nonsense approach to fitness, I didn’t think I would enjoy it. In the past, the only time I spent in a gym was to attend a spin class or swim laps not to lift weights, count reps or do sit-ups. But after three weeks into the program, I am having a blast. Each night is different and interesting. The circuit of eight exercises tests my core, flexibility and balance and tasks me to draw strength not just from my legs but my upper body too. The next morning I wake up a bit sore with a feeling of accomplishment and a notion that this season might just be better than last.

And, I have to give a nod to Rev: He’s always there with some encouraging words balanced with some good-natured heckling and, of course, some awesome funk mash-ups to help us groove through the tough parts.

Earning my turns,
Glade Girl

This time of year temps make a sustainable dip into the 20’s at night. Early season storms swing through without commitment. And inevitably, we hit a brief warming trend. Tank tops and shorts return and the trails become busy with hikers and mountain bikers. Just when we start to wrap our arms around chilly nights – welcoming the cold with a roaring fire in the wood-burning stove.

Yup, we’re in a bit of holding pattern, a waiting game. Waiting for that first snow. We know it’s coming. We’re not putting life on hold. We’re taking advantage of the warmer weather – doing all the things we did before it turned cold. Patience is a virtue, right?

One of the cool things about living in Big Bear is when that wait is finally over. Fat flakes float down turning forests and slopes a monochromatic hue. We long for enough snow to create, at best, a decent base or, at worse, a solid argument for snowmakers to return to work. And with that first snow we reach for our phones, send emails, facebook and tweet. Our fingers move in a frenzy trying to get the words out – “It’s snowin!”

We’re on the front lines and we take it seriously. But for now…we play the game.

Earning my turns,
Glade Girl