I did a combo snowshoe/snowboard adventure just last week!  I started at one of my client’s houses, right across from the big boulder island in Boulder Bay. There is a road that the DWP uses to access some huge water “drums”.  I snowshoed up for maybe 2.5 miles with board on back and ski poles in hand until I reached what I thought was a summit (it wasn’t, but it was going to get dark soon). 

The poles really help as far as stabilization goes because of my awkward snowboard laden backpack. Wow, did my arms get a workout! The snow was rather deep. How deep?  Well, signs that mark the forest boundary that are usually at eye level are now barely visible! 

Now, the really fun part, snowboarding the fresh powder all the way down to the road!!  I spotted a few rock drops and jumps on my way up so I memorized where to ride in order to hit them with the right amount of speed. There is nothing more fun in snowboarding then to cut fresh tracks and hit virgin jumps and land in fresh powder!!  A few times I had to use the ski poles to keep my momentum. I basically rode thru to Big Bear Blvd and people waved and honked their horns when they saw me get the last few turns in an area that is usually just huge boulders. Now they are huge boulders covered in snow with fresh snowboard tracks on them!

So anyway, I love all this snow and it’s getting me ready for a snowshoe race the Saturday, February 9th.  It is called “Snowshoe the Bear”.

Saturday February 9, 2008
5k and 10k Events
Mens and Womens Categories

Great SWAG bags, FREE Raffle for All Participants, FREE Demo Snowshoes
(Demos are limited – Reserve Your Size By Registering Today.)

Pre-race Social on Friday evening at Robinhood Resort in Big Bear Lake

Entry Fees - $25 for 5K and $45 for 10K

Online Registration at www.teamsole.com (#’s are limited, sign-up asap)

Look for sponsor goodies and prizes from these great sponsors: Kahtoola,
SOLE custom footbeds, Inov8, Hammer Nutrition, Bridgedale Socks, La
Fuma, Tifosi Eyewear, Garmont, Outdoor Research, Snowpeak, Mountain
Hardware, Deuter Packs and more….

Peace,
The Land Crab