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