Big Bear Blog

 Big Bear’s lupines are out dancing the rumba. It seems no matter where I go in Big Bear Valley there is at least a patch, sometimes an entire grove of these colorful, vibrant flowers that flutter like a group of cha-cha dancers grooving to the beat of Tito Puente. The shin-high purple shaded flowers look like a lively dance floor. There is an orchestra of birds that provide the melody, the mountain breeze is the rhythm and the lake shimmers like a giant mirror ball.

Take a drive and see for yourself. You can see these lupines cuttin’ the rug now through July on the side of roadways, at the crest of trails, in lush green meadows, on the brinks of hillsides and at lakefront beaches.

Big Bear is known for its rare button-sized indigenous wildflowers, but it’s the lupines that know how to boogie. Right now is the time to enjoy the presence of these purple beauties. Lupines make great backdrops for picnics in the forest, and of course quality photo opps. So be sure to bring a camera.

Daniel Pea

When Memorial Day rolls around you know that summer is just around the corner and for all of us that enjoy cycling, it’s the time of year we love the most! This cycling season could be one of the best ever on our mountain and you’ll have the local bikers to thank. It seems that in recent months the Bear Valley cycling community has really put out an effort to make Big Bear an even more bike friendly city than ever before.

We have 26 new “SHARE THE ROAD” signs scattered around the valley that help motorists remember that it’s our road too. On the Saturday, May 24 we had the ribbon cutting ceremony for an all new bike route that is designed to give locals and visitors a nice scenic ride with minimal interaction with traffic. A group of about 25 of us pedaled the route in a ceremonial parade lap with the oldest rider being a bit over 60 and the youngest was only 5 years old and he had only learned to ride his bike a week before!. 

If you haven’t been to Big Bear for a bike ride in recent years you might want to come take part in the excitement, feel the energy that’s growing day by day and find out why we enjoy riding here so much, it’ll take just one ride!

Welcome summer, welcome friends, and let’s ride!

Spreading the word and the love, Rev 

This Memorial Day Weekend, we had it all; cold, rain, snow, wind, and the fishing could not have been any better! From Friday through Sunday, my clients caught over 100 Rainbow Trout (many were released!) Unless there is similar weather in the future (which is very unlikely) this was probably the best Memorial Day Weekend I will ever have on my boat!

Bad weather, within reason, is great for trout fishing. Light to moderate winds, over cast skies, rain, and snow all help put the trout into a feeding frenzy. All I fished this weekend was #5 and #7 floating Rapalas in gold/fluorescent, Fire Tiger, Purples, and Chartreuse/silver. I never left the east end of the lake.

The fish were also a lot shallower than they have been. I caught several fish on straight mono, and the deepest I had to fish was two colors of leadcore. The fish were constantly feeding in different areas of the east end, so I had to keep moving to new locations to find them, but when I got in the right spot, the action was fantastic!

 I wasn’t the only one cashing in on the great fishing. I saw many limits and several “Trophy Fish” brought into Big Bear Marina, and I’m sure it was the same at all of the other marinas on the lake.

Lousy weather in the Summer can also mean great fishing. I love it when we have afternoon showers. When I see the clouds moving in, I know my clients are going to catch a bunch of fish!

FishBigBear.com

Lowlanders who plan to conquer a major summit this summer like Mt. Whitney, Mt. Shasta or Mt. McKinley will want to get accumulated to high altitude before the big trip. Even if you plan to hike the Rockies in Colorado you may want to get accustomed to higher elevation to avoid high altitude sickness.

Big Bear is at 7000 ft., and just a short jaunt for most Southern Californians and Southern Nevadans to get climatized! Big Bear is the perfect solution and will make it much easier on your body when you hit higher elevations at major summits of 12,000 ft. or more.

One week out before your summit hike come to Big Bear for at least a day trip. However, I suggest you camp overnight or a few nights for that matter to truly get climatized. There are plenty of campgrounds in and around Big Bear Valley. There are some great campgrounds off Hwy 38 at the Bartlett Flats area too, however I suggest going to Big Bear to get the highest possible elevation experience. In fact, Big Bear has some great RV campsites right on the lake if you really want to go in comfort. 

The higher you are and the more days at higher elevation, the better chances of avoiding high altitude sickness when you attempt to conquer a major summit. To get the most of your high altitude expereince I suggest doing a day hike in and around Big Bear like Sugarloaf Mountain at 9,952 ft. (my personal favorite), Gold Mountain at 8,235 ft. or Delamar Mountain at 8,398 ft. In fact, there is a planned group hike this Saturday, May 24 at Delamar. And of course, if you really want to challenge yourself and get a solid climatize experience, climb Mt. San Gorgonio, which is Southern California’s highest elevation at 11,499 ft.

Get Climatized,

Daniel Pea

I took a surge into the Inland Empire this weekend. Don’t ask! I entered the lowlands at night, not aware of what was ahead. About 10 a.m. the next day is when I started to feel it. A crashing wave of heat, pure heat! It’s the kind of heat you roast a turkey in. In fact it takes about four or five hours to fully cook a turkey, and it seems this is what the sun had in mind on this day. That’s right I was a turkey for leaving the mountains and taking a chance in the scorching valley, a.k.a. “The Oven!”

By 1 p.m. I had enough, I scratched my plans and headed east back to Big Bear to get refuge from the distaining feeling of stickiness and sweat. I knew it was best to retreat to a place that is cool and placid. Big Bear is at high altitude, which is why it’s cooler than down below. The temps in the Inland Empire were in the high 90s if not 100 degrees. Big Bear was a mellow 75 or so. In fact, that evening I put on a flannel to warm up a bit.

I figured I was a cooked turkey in the Inland Empire, but when I got to Big Bear I was leftover turkey in the refrigerator. I tell you it was much more cool and comfortable in the fridge.

I truly feel for the people down below. Big Bear however, is such a close place for Southern Californians to getaway from the heat. Big Bear’s cool lake is brimming to the top and offers great shoreline relaxation and plenty of activities on the lake. There is SOOOO MUCH SHADE, too. The Big Bear Valley must have a million trees or more to provide plentiful amounts of shade. (This is an element So Cal beaches do not offer).

My suggestion is if you live off the mountain and you know a heat wave is coming, you should make plans to escape to Big Bear Lake. Generally Big Bear is about 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the valleys below, especially the San Fernando Valley, Lancaster, The High Desert, the Inland Empire and Palm Springs! Even if it’s just a daytrip, make plans to leave early and depart late. This way you avoid the scorch.

If you are worried about gas prices, don’t fret! The Big Bear Lake Resort Association offers guests who stay overnight a free $25 gas card. In fact those who want to escape the heat for five days or more will receive a free $100 gas card. Not too shabby. What a bargain, not only will you get out of the blistering heat, but you’ll have free gas in your tank!   

It’s Cooler Up Here,

Daniel Pea