Big Bear Blog

Big Bear Lake and the surrounding mountains provide so many recreational options. You can choose water sports with gas powered toys like jet skis or motor boats, or you can explore our incredible network of trails via dirt bikes or 4×4 vehicles. As fun as all that sounds my friends I prefer to enjoy Big Bear’s beautiful playground under HUMAN POWER.

When my family and friends come up to visit it’s not to relax, we all want to be outside as much as possible and we’re always on the go. Whether it’s hiking or trail running, road or mountain biking, kayaking or canoeing we choose to be the engines that drive the machines. Gas prices are not a concern. We only worry about the price of pasta and energy bars! And why not try the same philosophy all week? Just a couple days ago I went for an early morning road ride around the lake, when I got home my girlfriend wanted to go for a hike and then after our hike we rode our cruisers around town to run errands. With all the new bike routes around town and the “share the road” signs placed around the lake, it’s much better to get where you need to go up here and much safer too. If you haven’t already noticed our little community is very human power friendly and it’s way more fun to get around by bike that it is by car. Come on up for a visit and when you get here try to spend one entire day having human powered fun.

Spreading the love and spreading the fun, rev  

Summer can be the toughest time to fish Big Bear Lake. That is if you don’t make a few adjustments to your fishing techniques!

The first thing you need to do is fish early and late; during the middle of the day, the best thing to do is something to pass the time like golfing or horseback riding. Fish from sun up in the morning until about 9:30 am. Then in the afternoon, fishing is best from about 4:00 PM until dark. Note: when it’s cloudy and overcast, fishing can be good all day, and if it should happen to rain a little, fishing can be exellent any time!

If your going to be trolling, troll very slow, and the average depth you should fish will probably be from 2 1/2 to 4 colors. For the last two weeks, 2 1/2 & 3 colors have been the best for me.

It’s also a good time to fish smaller lures like #1 Needlefish and the #0 & #1 Dick Nite Spoons. Best colors have been Nickel, Brass, and Copper Bikini, Red Dot Frog and Lady Bug Needlefish. Best Dick Nite Spoons have Been Purple, Pearl, and Copper Hot Heads.

If your bait fishing, go to one of the marinas or sporting goods stores and ask them to show you how to rig a slip bobber. A slip bobber baited with either a night crawler or floating baits like Eagle Claw Nitro or Berkley Power Bait & Gulp can be very effective.

Drift fishing down the South or North Shore lines from the dam down to Metcalf Bay, with a slip bobber rig can get you a limit of tasty rainbow trout.

Good luck!
FishBigBear.com

There are some hidden gems in them thar mountains. I am talking about rocks, but not the kind you put on your fiancée’s left hand. The rocks in Holcomb Valley known as the Holcomb Pinnacles are crags just waiting for climbers to conquer.

I wanted to see for myself if Big Bear really is a destination for climbing. My first step was to connect with the right people in the rock climbing circuit to make it happen. Being a newbie to the sport my first objective was to find the right lead climber. My first call was to Billy Beach, a valley dude from Westlake. Beach made the suggestion a few months back that he has been itching to try out the crags of Big Bear. Scott Road from Lake Forest, another avid climber had the same agenda, which is to discover the hidden treasures of Big Bear. On Sunday, my two friends and I set out to find these goliath rocks, and see if Big Bear has what it takes for rock climbing.

This past May I invested in my first harness, and did some climbs in Joshua Tree. Of course in the summer it’s way too hot for climbs in the desert, but Big Bear provides a cool alpine setting with clean air, plenty of pines for shade, and soothing mountain breeze to for ideal comfort. More importantly, Big Bear does indeed have some real challenges and outright fun climbs. The combination of its cool climate and solid pitches makes Big Bear one of Southern California’s top rock climbing destinations for the summer. There are plenty of 5-10 and 5-11 climbs, but on this day we set out for 5-6 and 5-7 climbs. 

Last week I spent my hard earned cash on a new set of rubber. I picked out a set of 5-10 Spires, a great beginner shoe with just the right amount of snug and plenty of that C-4 Stealth grip. The next thing was to find the ever elusive, hard to find copy of the San Bernardino Mountains rock climbing guide book titled “Hidden Treasures” by Brad Singer. Beach was able to track down a copy, which his buddy sent overnight to him. The good news is “Hidden Treasures” is getting reprinted and should be out in the next month or two. This will make a great stocking stuffer for the climber in the family. When the book is released it will be available at Equada Outfitters, located in Big Bear Village.

The rock formations we set out to discover were Skyy Slab and Gold Wall. The routes we conquered included Firewater (5-5), Naughty Pine (5-6), Mid Summer’s Night Seam (5-7) and Hidden Gold (5-7). The routes were a bit short, but nonetheless perfect for beginners like me. Hidden Gold was my favorite, and probably the most challenging for the day.

This time out I also learned some key climbing techniques, including belaying and self-repelling. Beach is one helluva a great teacher and I felt no intimidation learning these must-know routines. Thanks Beach.

I am off belay, but ready to conquer some more crags in Big Bear Valley soon. If you are itching for a great climb and want to get out of the heat Big Bear is the place for some quality climbing.

Chalk Up,
Daniel Pea

Getting There:
To get to the north Holcomb Pinnacles Take Highway 38 (North Shore) to Big Bear City. Turn onto Van Dusen Canyon Road (3N09) north to 3N16. Turn right on 3N16 to 3N32. Turn left on 3N32. This is a rough road and requires a 4×4 vehicle, preferably with high clearance. Take 3N32 to a side road that is marked with a rock cairn. Turn left at the rock cairn, and take that to the parking area. The approach to the Pinnacles is just a short jaunt away from the parking area.

Wow! The community of Big Bear gave an epic send off ceremony last night at Big Bear Middle School for Ryan Hall, Big Bear’s hometown hero. Ryan is an Olympic marathon runner born and raised right here in Big Bear Lake.

He is a favorite to win a medal in the 26.2 mile race that has become the pinnacle event for all who love to run. It was amazing to see the huge crowd of locals turn out to wish him well, including hundreds of school kids who showed up with their bright red “Run Ryan Run” hats on, which symbolizes our community spirit and support for Ryan Hall.

I applaud the Light house Project for putting together such a well organized send-off event. The Lighthouse Project is a organization that has one goal, to create child honoring communities. The Lighthouse Project began the “Move a Million Miles for Ryan Hall” program to show Ryan support by having people log miles from walking, running, biking, paddling or anything human powered.

It’s been an amazing thing to see all the red hats all over town, and watch the miles grow on the website. It was even more thrilling to watch them unveil a huge banner for Ryan showing how many miles have already been logged. The goal was not only accomplished, but exceeded before the due date with 1,203,000 miles. Ryan was absolutely moved by all the support and love shown by his hometown crowd and was completely blown away when he saw that they’ve already exceeded the original “million” mark, and the miles keep on climbing. Be sure to watch for Ryan’s race on August 23 U.S.A. time, and if you’re a runner come on up and see where Ryan Hall trains and don’t forget to cheer for our very special hometown Olympic hero!

spreading the love, rev

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