Big Bear Blog

I am convinced after attending the inaugural Cal Multi Sports event on July 27 that Big Bear continues to excel to higher levels of athletic prowess and intensity. As a spectator I witnessed genuine competition, courageousness, sportsmanship, encouragement, passion and good vibes all around.

There were about 55 participants who took the extreme racing challenge. Each athlete ran for six miles on trails, rode a mountain bike for another 15 miles and paddled into wicked winds for four more miles to finish the race. One thing for certain is it didn’t seem to matter what place the competitors came in, because each one crossed the finish line with a smile. See photo gallery of event.

I saw sweat pour from headbands, I heard the crunch of blisters pop inside shoes and watched blood ooze from scrapes. The athletes battled high altitude, dehydration and fatigue, but each one who entered the race finished with pride and dignity.

One thing I discovered about this intense athletic contest is it takes sheer grit, desire and determination to finish the battle of these adventure style races.  This is the year of the Olympics and it looks as if Big Bear has Olympics fever!   

I was surprised to find many of the participants were from other states or other countries, too. In fact the big winner in the men’s competition was Eric “Sully” Sullivan from Crested Butte, Colo. This guy was an absolute bull. He came charging and never let up. He was followed by one of Big Bear’s very own intensified Teddy D. who had a good race, but just couldn’t catch the raging bull. I give Ted credit for working it hard on the last leg of the kayak portion where he gained about six minutes on Sully. Third place went to the Marcello Magnanini from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Magnanini.

Interestingly enough Magnanini’s girlfriend, Manu Villaseca from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil took the top prize in the women’s event. Heather D. from Big Bear took second and Tiffany Meyers of Redondo Beach was third. See complete results.
Daniel Pea

I love it when we get rain in the summertime. Lately, Big Bear has been getting hit pretty well with afternoon showers on and off for the last week or so. Every time it rains my phone rings off the hook from friends who want to go out for a ride. The reason is simple, for those that live here in Big Bear know it’s just like a “powder” day in the winter.

Dark moist dirt, bright green bushes and cooler temperatures make for a perfect spring day in the middle of July! It’s fun to follow three or four friends down one of Big Bear’s winding singletrack runs and only see pine needles and mud being kicked up by the flailing knobby’s in front of me.

Our weather man says that we’re getting some more storms soon and I hope he’s right because I’m ready for more summertime rain. If you ever see rain in Big Bear’s forecast, pack your stuff and come on up to enjoy the trails. You could be just like the locals and experience what it’s like to rip it up on a “powder” day in the middle of July!

Spreading the Love, Rev

MORE THAN A STICK

A hiking stick is more than a stick it is actually a tool. It’s the type of tool that many hikers rely on to make a hike more convenient with less stress to the body and an overall more enjoyable experience. An auto mechanic once told me that quality tools make all the difference. That is why it is important to not pick up just any old stick off the ground, and call it a hiking stick. A hiking stick needs to be carefully selected. There is an art to picking out that ideal stick.

THE FIRST STEP

The first step is finding a stick that will help you out on your trek. When walking in a wooded area there tends to be many opportunities to find a stick on the ground near a dead tree or knocked over tree or some other group of braches lying around. However, it’s not easy finding the ideal stick to match your needs. Trust me, I’ve gone over six miles or more before finding the ideal stick. There have been times where I never found the perfect match, and I suffered without a stick on some steep inclines. I’m not saying sticks are a necessity, but it sure does help to have one.

THE SEARCH

I’ve found the best success for a quality hiking stick is near or in a flowing stream or creek. Here you can usually find an assortment of driftwood that is typically hardwood that has been toughened up by nature’s elements. I suggest you look for oak, juniper and other harder woods. Pines are softer wood, and have a greater tendency to break. Don’t get me wrong however, I’ve found some solid pine branches that have taken me to some great peaks, like San Gorgoinio for example. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR 

There are about a half dozen key features to look at when selecting a stick. Depending on your preference you will want to find a stick with most of these features that fit what’s most comfortable for you. First is the bend. Some people like a slight bend or curve in the stick. Many times you can’t help but find sticks with bends. I personally prefer my stick to be as straight as possible. You want to make sure the stick is hard with lots of strength and enough durability to get you through the your trek.

The top grip should fit comfortably in your hand. I suggest you look for a grip that has a groove to rest your thumb on. The diameter is crucial. You don’t want too much girth, because it will tire your hands out quickly, and you don’t want it to thin for the same reason. You want to make sure the bottom portion of the stick has a firm grasp of the ground and make sure it can handle all terrain.

Lastly and one of the most important factors when choosing a hiking stick is the height of the stick. From my experience I’ve found the most effective way to find the ideal height for a hiking stick is to stand it up erect next to your body. The ideal height is at the mid section of your chest and no higher than your shoulder. If you find a stick that meets all the other criteria you are looking for, but is too long, I suggest you crack it over a rock or tree until you get the perfect height. This takes some practice. Often times it breaks too much or cracks in the wrong place, etc. One last thing is be sure to remove all unnecessary twigs and snags.

Happy Trails,

Daniel Pea

You’d never know July 13 & 14 was the inaugural Big Bear Paddle Fest, because things seemed to go so smoothly and the turnout was great. It was put on by the North Shore Trading Company in partnership with Captain John’s Marina - both in the lakeside community of Fawnskin.
 
After checking out the stuff on display at the Trading Co. by Keen and Big Bear’s own Equada Outfitters, we headed over to the marina for some splashin’ action. Dozens of people were getting ready to take the kayak clinic put on by Cathleen Calkins and Scott Cordner, and that looked fun, but my boyfriend Jeff and I opted for the canoe class.
Our “trainer” was from the Big Bear Discovery Center, which leads canoe and kayak excursions every week. Since Jeff was the “stern man” (yes, we joked about that later), he was in charge of most of the learning, and within a half hour, he was putting the J-stroke and the Canadian stroke into action. My job in front was to set the rhythm, and to follow his navigation (well, I followed most of the time).
 
We had a ball and were glad we gave canoes a try - it was the first time for both of us. It’s a nice alternative to a kayak and is actually a good team-building exercise for a couple! At the end, we raced a couple of French men back to shore, but alas, we let the U.S. down.
 
We couldn’t make the *official* races the next day, so we missed the fun and prizes: the top finishers won goodies worth $5,000! But we earned our share of booty. Saturday night, the Trading Co hosted a slide show of Scott & Cathleen’s kayaking trip to Siberia’s Lake Baikal, and at the raffle, Jeff won a pair of Smith sunglasses and I won a $50 gift certificate to the Trading Company. How cool is that? Now what to choose among the clothes, shoes and gourmet gift baskets…….?
 
Mark your calendars for next year’s Paddlefest!
Vanessa

KTLA Channel 5 did a superb job covering Big Bear Lake yesterday! Mark Kriski, at the helm, gave KTLA viewers some great inside scoops about lake activities, summer events and other key attractions.

This time around Kriski was able to soar high above the lake from a parasail, he did some jet skiing and even hooked a fish from a bucket. Viewers learned about the Big Bear Museum, The Antique Car Fun Run, and “Move a Million Miles for Ryan Hall” campaign.

It was a great scene with the Big Bear Pirate Ship blasting off cannons and Miss Liberty blowing her horn. There were a dozen or so jet skiers having a good time in the background. Of course the Big Bear mascot got into the action and was seen riding on the back of a jet ski.

It was a great time indeed, but don’t let Mark Kriski have all the fun. Make plans now to enjoy summer in Big Bear Lake. It’s a breath of fresh air.

Take it easy,

Daniel Pea

Sugarloaf Mountain is the highest peak in Big Bear Valley at 9,952.’ With an elevation gain of 2000’Sugarloaf Mountain is no walk in the park, but it is a true walk in the woods.

This hike offers a quality workout, and at the same time offers a genuine experience with nature up close and personal. It is the hike where earthly beauty comes alive. The amount of tromping that happens throughout the 8.5 miles round trip is unrecognizable because the sights and sounds take over and entertains along the way.

One of my favorite sights is the massive Lodgepole Pine grove, which is at the 3-½ mile mark. About 80 – 90% of trees in this vicinity are Lodgepole Pines. The densely wooded area of Lodgepole pines stretches about a half-mile or so. It is a quite treat to see so many of these towering beauties clustered together, especially considering Jeffery Pines are the dominating population of evergreens in Big Bear Valley. 

The slender Lodgepole Pines extend upward to about 70 to 80 feet tall. The forest floor is carpeted with the trees’ miniature cones. It seems Lodgepoles produce more cones than a barn full of bunny rabbits, leaving thousands of cones on the ground for crafty types to gather. The cones make attractive Christmas decorations and cabin decor.

Some other natural features that kept my mind off the elevation gain were lush meadows that line the trail along the way. The meadows present a variety of flora created by a natural spring, and the greenery of the meadows are rather overwhelming. Of course that’s a good thing. In fact, these green patches attract winged beings like butterflies, hummingbirds and finches.  

There are some quality views on this hike as well. There are views of the Mojave Desert, Mount San Gorgonio and Big Bear Lake all within a couple of miles. There is one point on the hike where you get all three of these views at one time.

I also want to mention “Sugarloaf Rocks.” What I mean by that is there are some stretches on the trail that are “infested” with rocks. There are all different shapes and sizes of rocks that could pose a threat to ones ankles and wear down the soles of ones feet. It is the only fallback of the hike, however the amount of nature on this trail by far outweighs the rocks. It is well worth reaching the summit and makes for a great picnic area with plenty of shade. This is a solid hike and should be on any hikers list to accomplish this summer.

It’s natural to hike, 
 
Daniel Pea

I got a call the other day from my friend Suzie asking if I was willing to go on a “girls’ ride. She explained that our friend Cathleen and her were both celebrating their birthdays by doing a long mountain bike ride and they wanted a ‘boy” along to play guard dog.

I’ve gone out with these girls before and was more than willing to tag along for the fun. What I didn’t realize was just how much fun they had in mind. As soon as they got together with the third partner in grime “Cheryl” it was a giggle fest and I was immediately treated to a goodie bag with snacks and toys and a balloon to tie to my pack like the rest of them. Let the fun begin!

As we rolled through the forest I held back and just listened to the girls chat and laugh and play. It was fun to see them notice everything. They took the time to see and smell the flowers to stop and check out the lush patches of fern and lily’s and to watch the critters play, fight and hunt.

It was nothing like riding with my usual pack of rabid dogs so eager to be in front of somebody…anybody that they forget to just ride and enjoy the perfectly carved trails, towering pine trees and the crisp clean fresh air. Not these girls, they waited for each other each time somebody wanted to stop and not a complaint was heard. But don’t get it twisted, it was no stroll in the park, even with all the stops we still busted out a good 26 mile mountain bike ride with several thousand feet of elevation gain. It was a super fun day and I was stoked to be invited.

Come on up and ride like a girl, check out the flowers and don’t forget your own goody bag full of snacks.

spreading the love, rev

Were you one of the 1,000 boats cruising Big Bear Lake on July 4? If so, you helped set a new record! Of course, it thinned out by sundown, but there were still enough boats on the water to make it a magical night. Take one of the highest rated fireworks shows in So Cal, and add a few hundred extra lights from watercraft, and you’ve got an evening to remember forever - except you only have to remember it for a year, because this is an annual tradition.

As for my gang, two boats dropped anchor, then we tied up another three to them for a floating party about 50 yards from where the Big Bear Lake Rotary Club was launching the pyrotechnics to synchronized music by KBHR. Fabulous!!
 
Slept on a boat by Bear Valley Dam then had an onboard picnic by Garstin Island the next day. Visitors were doing it right: setting up umbrellas on boats and canopies along the shore for the long day ahead - it could have been a poster for Relaxation. After watching every toy imaginable criss-cross the lake for awhile, we hopped ashore for an afternoon bike ride then ended the day by docking at B’s Beach Bar, where a terrific band plays on the lakeside deck.
 
The friend sitting behind me on the deck said with a huge smile, “Too bad we don’t have a better life, huh?”

“Oh yeah,” I said, “Listening to music in the sun, poor us!”
 
And what was even better was, this was only Saturday night! Talk about enjoying a long weekend with plenty of good company. We all felt a little proud that our little town was where everyone wanted to celebrate Independence Day.
 
Vanessa

Spent the first day of summer on the boat, of course! Slipped into Big Bear Lake from the East Boat Launch at about 5:30 Friday night and motored over to Fawnskin to meet friends at the Moose Lodge, where they were serving up $7 cook-your-own-steaks to a bunch of happy eaters. After that, a mellow sunset cruise - and if you’ve never floated and watched the stars come out over the water, you’re missing out. Our friends tethered up to our boat in Grout Bay for awhile - rockin’ and talkin’ - and we made plans to meet the next morning for even more fun.
 
The next morning, we were off land again by 8:30, this time with a more active agenda. We had two Criss Crafts ready to tow eight wake boarders. Heck, who needs coffee with this kind of wakeup call? We launched from our friend’s house on Papoose Bay, and conditions were great: some ripples but no whitecaps. Some of us wore wetsuits, and some just bathing suits; there’s room for all styles.
 
On my boyfriend’s boat, the guys used custom-made Henry Boards set up for switching, and the women traded off on a Hyperlite, a smaller board with lace-up O’Neals. It was great!! Our boat not only had a tower, the rope has a special wide grip handle to make easier to get your tricks on - just pass it behind your back as you spin and any people you pass on other boats will cheer you on, I promise!
 
Come play!
 
Vanessa
 
p.s. Papoose Bay is home to Holloway’s Marina and its Pirate Ship. If ”pirates” ever fire sound cannons at you, be a good sport and pretend your vessel has been hit - it’s part of the show!