Big Bear Blog

Last Sunday a bunch of local mountain bikers joined a new team known as Team Nigel, which was created by a few local Big Bear moms to help out Nigel Holland’s family. You see Nigel recently had brain surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. Nigel is only 7 years old. His surgery and his follow-up treatments are very expensive, so the moms have done some fund raising efforts, which included a bike ride for Nigel.

It was no surprise to see a nice group show up even though we did not have much time to promote the event. Our little mountain community really comes together when it’s about the kids, and I was proud of all the riders that came out to show their best wishes for the Holland family.

The ride wasn’t a huge fundraiser with tons of money coming in, but I know there was a lot of love shown for Nigel and we all hope he feels us pulling for him for a speedy recovery. Thanks to all that joined Team Nigel!

Spreading the love, rev

The fall colors are alive!! It took awhile this year, but I am glad to share with you the fall foliage is officially here. Load the camera with a new disc because photography opportunities are boundless for the next couple of weeks. Remember, once Mother Nature blows the leaves away the colors will be gone. So it’s important to get up to the mountains now to see a variety of autumn hues. It truly is one of the only places in Southern California to experience a genuine autumn.  

This weekend I drove around Big Bear Valley and could see it everywhere. Gold, copper, auburn and yellow splashed across the mountain vistas and intertwined amongst the cabins and lodges. The village is vibrant with its crimson trees blushing alongside the boutique shops. It’s absolutely stunning right now.

I’ll be the first to admit the colors came late this year. But the good news is it will enhance Halloween in Big Bear with a more festive flare, and may even last through Thanksgiving. Now wouldn’t that be a treat.

The best way to see the colors of course is to get out of your vehicle and see the leaves up close and personal. Right now Delamar Mountain and Greys Peak are going off. These areas are at the far west end of Big Bear Valley on the north shore about a mile or two from the dam. These areas are loaded with oak trees showing off golden manes.

A hike into the wilderness is completely worth it. You will see leaves floating like feathers in all directions. Be sure to look on the ground too. There are leaves everywhere, and ferns have turned to blend naturally with the earth tones.  Some other recommendations are Castle Rock and Pine Knot Trail. These areas mostly have oaks, but there are some dogwoods and poplars in the mix.

Big Bear is just a short drive away from most Southern California communities, which makes it an affordable option to witness a real autumn bliss. Remember to bring an extra layer of clothing. Although the days are warm, the mornings and evenings are cool. The air is crisp and quite invigorating. What a great time of year to experience Big Bear.

Get “Color-Fall,”

Daniel Pea

Our friend Gavin has been visiting from Australia for the summer and the crew from Bear Valley Bikes have shown him some of their favorite trails and even talked him into racing a few times. It was fun having a guest from out of town that had enough time to ride where we ride with our friends. When you work at the bike shop you tend to steer people to the common and clearly marked routes because unless they hire a guide to show them the way, there’s always the possibility that they’ll get lost.

Gavin had all the time in the world and all he wanted to do was explore the great trails of Big Bear with the locals. He went riding with such a variety of people that he got a real taste of the diversity in the Bear Valley area. He’s going home soon and every time I see him all he talks about is when he can come back for some more mountain biking and good company.

I’ve had friends visit from all over the world , including friends from Southern California, Texas; Chicago; Colorado; Utah; Oregon; Brazil; France; and Germany just to name of few. Of course the list goes on and on and it’s always fun to hear them tell me how great my home is and how much they want to come back for a return visit. Whether you’re coming from the land down under or just driving up from down the hill, if you’re into riding bikes Big Bear is a great place to visit. 

Yours Truly,
Rev

I just got back from an epic lunch. Within an hour and a half I ate a nutritious meal, read a chapter each from two different books, took a small nap and went for a hike. My body and mind are now energized and alive.

I took my lunch break at Aspen Glen Picnic Area, which is right off Mill Creek Road, west of the Village across from Bear Valley Bikes. This is a peaceful area that comes complete with about ten picnic benches, a restroom, bear-safe trash cans, BBQs, a couple of hiking trails and more.

I started my lunch with a great meal I packed from home, which included a chicken Caesar salad, nectarine, whole wheat crackers and water. Good for the body and good for the soul.

During this time I opened up a new book I just got in the mail “The Art of the Deal” by Donald Trump. I read the first chapter then opened another new book titled “Words that Work” by Frank Luntz.

I fed my body with good food and fed my mind with words of wisdom. I felt a bit tired, so I stretched out on the picnic table and took a nap. It was so peaceful. The pine trees provided ample shade, and birds provided gentle music. A bluebird, a white-breasted nuthatch and a raven sang songs as if they were the Three tenors. The raven of course played the role of Luciano Pavarotti with a strong voice, yet pleasant to the ears.

I fell into a REM type dream within a minute and woke up five minutes later refreshed. There is nothing like taking a quick nap in the great outdoors surrounded by the sounds of nature.

To finish off the epic lunch I headed up the Pine Knot Trail. The trail head is found at the base of the Aspen Glen Picnic Area, east of the parking area. The conditions for hiking are perfect right now. I repeat the hiking conditions in Big Bear are perfect. The skies were crystalline blue. It’s the type of blue not found on any color palette. I looked straight up and saw blues as deep as the ocean. As I looked toward the horizon lines the blue was so clear it looked like the shores of the Caribbean Islands. It was so inviting, as if I could dive into the sky and swim. The temperature was a mellow 72 degrees and the mountain breeze was gentle like a caterpillar. I was the only one on the trail with the exception of a few squirrels, chipmunks and bluejays.

What a lunch!
Daniel Pea

A friend of mine came up for a mountain bike ride this week and brought his little brother along. He hadn’t seen him in awhile since little brother was going to school in Montana. It was hard to believe that he was living in Montana and still had never been mountain biking, but since his main focus was football he just never had the time.

As always it’s super fun watching a new rider discover just what a bike can do if you let it roll. It was also fun watching a big brother introduce a new thing to little brother, even if he is a grown man. When you’re riding a mountain bike deep in the forest we all feel like we’re young again, that’s why we go. Young guys very rarely like the climbing part of it, and Joe was no different. However, just like everyone else, the minute we hit the downhill he started railing that sweet single track. In fact, his grin was so huge he got bugs in his teeth. 

If you’ve been riding for awhile you know that all of us on two wheels are part of the same family, we’re all brothers and sisters on bike. Come on up, bring someone new, introduce them to mountain biking in Big Bear and I’ll introduce them to the rest of the family.

Spreading the Love, Rev