Big Bear Blog

Last weekend I went all out and experienced a smorgasbord of activities Big Bear offers in the winter time. The weekend was filled with great camaraderie and lots of laughter.

First up was a trek in the forest via snowshoes. I joined a group from off the mountain on Big Bear Discovery Center’s snowshoe tour. This tour is perfect for beginners, and I must say there were quite a few. The great thing about the Discovery Center’s tours is there is no pressure, and everyone is welcome to go at there own pace. There were a few stragglers that were far behind, but when I looked at their faces it was all smiles. The key factor here is it doesn’t matter how slow or fast you go, just as long as you have a good time.

On the tour we learned some interesting facts about nature. For instance did you know willow trees are the source for aspirin, and did you know white fir tree needles are filled with vitamin C, and taste like a tangerine?

Next, I went inner tubing with my nephews at Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain. Thanks to the magic carpet ride we must have slid down the hill 30 times or more in a two hour span. It was well worth $25 for easy lifts to the top.

On Sunday I went on an off road excursion led by our fearless leader Doug Walton of Big Bear Off Road Adventures. It was an absolute blast! It was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride to the nth degree. A wild adventure indeed! We slipped and slid through the snow, got squirrely with it a few times, got stuck in 3 ½ feet of snow, pulled out another vehicle that was stuck, Doug hummed the theme song to Bonanza and we rammed into a juniper tree. The entire vehicle was filled with laughter. There was so much comedy on this trip, it was like being on a trip with Mr. Bean or Will Ferrell. It was one funny moment after the next.

I was expecting to go to work on Monday, but when I woke up and saw fresh snow on the ground that it could only mean one thing, a fresh powder day on the mountain. I went to Goldsmith’s Boardshop to rent a demo board and off to Snow Summit I went. What can I say it was a pow pow day. I can’t think of a better way to end such a great weekend of adventure.

May the snow be with you,

Daniel Pea

It is probably a good thing snow storms happen on Sunday nights – it means more ‘freshies’ for those of us sticking around for some epic mid-week riding. Five inches of powder goes a long way on a Monday morning. I made first chair and riding alone, I enjoyed the morning’s silence as the lift whisked me to the top. I figured I could move faster through the singles line and lap it up on Bear Mountain’s Rips, Gambler and Outlaw before moving on to Silver. It didn’t take long before I made some new friends. And it took even less time for the mountain to get tracked up. We rode all morning, toasted our turns with après ski libations and parted ways in the parking lot.

What a great way to set the tone for the week ahead – making friends and memorable turns. It just can’t get any better than this!

Earning My Turns,

Glade Girl

A coalition of outdoor adventure events have joined forces and launched www.openairbigbear.com. It’s a website dedicated to everything outdoors. The new movement is great for those into adventure sports, because it’s going to be easier to keep up with what’s going on in Big Bear, especially with outdoor sports.

We have a bunch of super fun events for outdoor enthusiasts on the mountain this year, Snowshoe the Bear; Paddlefest; six mountain bike races produced by Team BigBear; the Big Bear Marathon and California Multisport race. There is also an overall category for those who want to “Conquer the Bear” in an attempt to wear the crown of king or queen of “Altitude”. 

As the year goes on we will have updates, stories and photos so you can keep track of the exciting action and check on any family or friends who participate. Get your gear ready, pack the camera and I’ll see you at the finish line.

Spreading the love and the word, Rev

I forgot how fun it is to go night skiing! In High School I was a member of the ski club: Every Thursday afternoon we climbed onto a school bus that took us to Labrador Mountain - an hour’s drive from my hometown in upstate New York. We skied into the evening on well lit runs. At some point we would cut through the trees on slick trails that snaked their way between runs, flying over darkened whoop-dee-doos in power wedges. I haven’t been night skiing since then – at least not until this past Friday night at Snow Summit.

And the skiing was great! We rode Westridge right after the groomers had finished with it – laying our edges into deep cut corduroy. Super fun, we headed back up Chair 2 for more. At the top, I poked my head into Snow Summit’s Patrol shack to see if any of my friends were working. To my surprise and delight, many were. In fact, the women of Patrol had taken over for their annual Girl’s Night. A sign on the door could have read ‘No Boys Allowed’ because it was just the girls manning first aid for the mountain. And they had cooked a feast: A potluck with enough healthy and not-so-healthy calories to keep everyone warm while responding to emergencies on the hill. Thanks Dee, Debi, Leigh Anne, Jen, Heather, Liz and Tara for keeping us all safe. It was cool; let me know the next time you take over the mountain!

In the end, it was the views that got me. There is something special about looking down on Big Bear Lake bedecked in city lights – the shoreline is illuminated in casts of green and gold. In dramatic contrast, the center of the Lake appears bottomless in deep tonal blacks. I think I am going to mix in some more night skiing this winter and I encourage everyone else to do the same.

Earning my turns – Glade Girl

 2009 is already off to a great start at the Snow Sports School at Snow Summit. Classes have been super fun and as always it’s great to be reunited with friends and co-workers after the summer break. Snow conditions have been perfect! The sunny days with bright blue skies provide epic views and comfort.

We have a great lineup of instructors this year with every level of student covered, from first time beginners to shredders that want to hit the boxes, rails and other terrain features. Now is the time to learn how to ski or snowboard. Come up to take a beginner class with one of our fun and friendly instructors. This way you can get out there and have fun on the slopes with your friends and family.

Safety, fun and learning is our motto and helping you learn how to safely have fun on our mountain is our goal. So come on up and let’s have some fun!

Spreading the word, rev

Or rather Wednesday morning light! Knocking off my 2009 Resolutions one by one: Skiing mid week and carving it up with the girls. This morning I took laps until noon with my friend Joanna. We carved fresh corduroy until the sun softened a few choice off-piste aspects. Conditions are fabulous, coverage is excellent and the weather couldn’t get any better!

First thing we jumped on Chair 9 at Bear Mountain for some warm up laps on Showtime, Rips and Outlaw. When the lines grew too long we moved to Chair 4. We took a break on top to enjoy the views and Silver’s chill vibe before dropping through the trees onto The Wedge. Its double fall line provides a big mountain ride before it falls to the flats. I couldn’t resist The Wedge’s ungroomed lines and flawlessly spaced moguls – returning to perfect my turns over and over again. From here we moved east to Geronimo - ducking in and out of Bow Canyon from both the top and bottom faces. We rode Chair 8 one last time to enjoy a quick snack from Bear Peak’s lofty perch and to inspect San G’s snow covered bowls. It was tough to leave and return to the reality of a work day!

Earning my turns – Glade Girl