Big Bear Blogs

Southern California Superpipe – Big Bear Lake

Photo Courtesy of Bear Mountain Resort

(Big Bear Lake, CA – February 11, 2010) – Bear Mountain is offering a dose of the Olympic Spirit as they unveil the only Superpipe available in Southern California. This 18-feet high, 580-feet long and 65-foot wide competition-class pipe is now open to all skiers and snowboarders who visit Bear Mountain. In addition to the opening of this massive pipe, Bear Mountain’s Park is getting a serious facelift as the park development crew makes use of more than five feet of fresh snow to build a variety of great new features.

“Bear Mountain’s Superpipe is a big attraction, drawing snowboarders and skiers from all over the region who want to feel what it’s like to ride a pipe just like the USA Olympic Team,” said Chris Riddle, Director of Marketing for Big Bear Mountain Resorts. “This impressive feature gives seasoned riders a chance to channel their inner-Olympian and spectators an up close look at an X-Games-worthy pipe. If you aren’t quite ready for the Superpipe, but you want the experience, we also have a mini-pipe for the more intermediate level riders.”

“Every year we anticipate the opening of Bear Mountain’s Superpipe,” said Bear Mountain team rider, Scott Vine. “There is nothing like dropping into a freshly cut pipe. It’s pretty unreal that a world-class style pipe is available in sunny Southern California every winter.”

Bear Mountain and Snow Summit are having an epic season with record snowfall and a base of over 6 feet. Offering a variety of diverse terrain, Bear Mountain and Snow Summit provide skiers and snowboarders with a combined 438 developed acres, 26 lifts, including 4 high-speed detachable quads, and more than 55 runs.

To receive updates on the latest conditions and terrain information, text* “SNOW” to 52406 or call 800-BEAR-MTN or 888-SUMMIT-1. *Message and data rates may apply. To view updated videos, photos and terrain maps, log on to www.bearmountain.com or www.snowsummit.com.

Snow Conditions -Regularly updated snow conditions for the mountains of Southern California. Check out the latest conditions at Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, Snow Valley, Mount Baldy, Mountain Hi and Mammoth Mountain.
California Snowboard pre-2006 – A compilation of snowboarding videos. Music by Modest Mouse – Dashboard. Hope you enjoy it.Related BlogsRelated Blogs on.
SNOWBOARDING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Snowboarding California is looking Good this winter, especially Snowboarding northern California. This winter you can snowboard in northern California at the following locations,Alpine meadow ski area,badger pass ski area,bear valley …
california snowboard resorts | Snowboard720 – Where Snowboarders Come Full-Circle Again height: auto; overflow: visible; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; display: block; float: none; clear: both; background: transparent; font-size: 9. Burton Custom Detox Orange L snowboard bindings NEW ‘08 $ 114. Silence City Freeride Snowboard 163 Wide NEW in wrapper $ 89.

Snowboarding’s visionary likes what he sees (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
‘Cheap Ski Movie’ Pokes Fun at Ski Film Genre (abcnews.go.com)
Intermap Technologies Brings the Terrain of the Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort to iPhone Owners with AccuTerra App (eon.businesswire.com)

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Big Bear Lake – Amgen Tour of California Stage 6

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. February 11, 2010 – Today officials of the Amgen Tour of California announced the Stage 6 route from Pasadena to Big Bear Lake. On Friday, May 21 the world’s top professional cyclists including Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Dave Zabriskie and George Hincapie will battle it out on the Tour’s most challenging route known as the queen stage. The route from Pasadena to Big Bear Lake consists of 135 miles and more than 12,000 feet of climbing. The grueling queen stage is specifically designed to challenge cyclists, and should have a significant impact on the overall standings of the Amgen Tour of California (ATOC).

“The May timing of the 2010 edition of the AMGEN Tour of California is going to allow us to visit some challenging new areas of California that previously were not possible due to the weather,” said Andrew Messick president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “The Stage 6 route from Pasadena to Big Bear is the perfect example, with our first-ever mountaintop finish at a 7,000 foot elevation.”

Stage 6 begins in Centennial Square, directly in front of Pasadena City Hall at 9:45 a.m. The cyclists will make their way through Old Pasadena as they head east on Colorado Boulevard and over the historic Colorado Street Bridge. The racers will drop into Arroyo Seco and pass by the iconic Rose Bowl, where the competitive portion of the race begins.

The first of four main climbs along the route takes place as the riders ascend into the San Gabriel Mountains on the Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) to an elevation of 3,700 feet. The cyclists will encounter a number of climbs on Highway 2 as they strive to reach Dawson Saddle, the highest point of the entire tour at 7,900 feet. From Dawson Saddle the racers will have their first sprint to Wrightwood at an elevation of 5,960 feet.

The peloton of riders will cross Interstate 15 on an overpass, and make their push east onto a curvy Highway 138 to Silverwood Lake. In the distance the cyclists will see mountain vistas that surround Big Bear Lake, which looks quite intimidating from afar. From Silverwood Lake a steep and windy climb into the San Bernardino Mountains begins on their way to Crestline.

The race then moves onto Highway 18, which is known as the Rim of the World Highway, because of its narrow stretch of road that sets on the edge of the San Bernardino Mountains. This portion of the race goes through the mountain communities of Sky Forest, Running Springs and Arrowbear.

Just outside of Arrowbear the racers will encounter the last long sustained climb of the day. The riders will have a steep climb all the way to Lakeview Point, which tops out at 7,112 feet. At this point the cyclists will be treated to a stunning view of Big Bear Lake, the jewel of the San Bernardino Mountains.

From Lakeview Point the racers will sprint along a portion of Highway 18, known as the Arctic Circle. The racers will kick it into high gear as they give it their all on this final sprint to Big Bear Lake. The race route enters Big Bear Valley at Big Bear Dam, but rather than crossing the dam and heading through the City of Big Bear Lake, the riders will continue on the north shore of the lake and race along the shoreline for about three miles. The cyclists will ride through the quaint mountain town of Fawnskin and pass by some of Big Bear’s most recognizable locales, such as the Big Bear Discovery Center, Serrano Campground and the East Boat Public Launch Ramp. The cyclists will cross over Stanfield Cutoff to the City of Big Bear Lake and make a mad dash for the finish line at the base of Snow Summit Mountain Resort at an elevation of 7,000 feet.

The race is expected to end in Big Bear Lake sometime between 3:20 p.m. and 4 p.m. By the end of stage the race the riders will have climbed more than 12,000 feet. The Amgen Tour of California’s first-ever mountaintop finish in Big Bear Lake could very well be a determining factor in the outcome of the final standings.

Big Bear Lake at Snow Summit is the finnish for the Amgen Big Tour of California. The route and video were posted this morning. Watch this video to get an idea of The Big Bear Climb!

More About Big Bear CA

Bicycle .net :: 2010 Amgen Tour of California Route Revealed for … – Specific route details for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race are being announced this week via specially-produced videos highlighting each of the race’s eight stages. Today’s videos, which were produced by the …
Route Announcement, Stage 6 – The Big Bear Climb | The Big Bear … – Stage 6 – The Big Bear Climb of the Amgen Tour of California will travel 132 grueling miles from Pasadena, through the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, and finish in the first-ever mountain-top finish in Big Bear Lake. …

Cycling LIVESTRONG Big Bear Tour of California Livingstrong (livingstrongandhappy.blogspot.com)

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Snow Forecast for Southern California Mountain Resorts

Photo Courtesy of Bear Mountain Resort

Big Bear Lake CA; A winter advisory remains in effect until 10:00 AM this morning. Winds may gust to 35 mph. Our overnight snowfall was eight inches and another foot of accumulation is possible. Road conditions are R2, if you’re vehicle is not 4 wheel drive, you’ll need to chain up.

Snow conditions are the best -Today is a Blue Bird Powder Day! The Resorts report eight inches off perfect powder on a huge base of snow. It doesn’t get any better than this. Come and shred the Southern California Mountains. We have better snow then the Vancouver Olympics.

Besides carrying chains in your vehicle, be sure to have plenty of water, food and warm clothing. Although the weather will be gorgeous this weekend, road conditions can cause unforeseeable events. Bring suntan lotion and sunglasses after today’s storm passes through.

Weather Forecast for Big Bear City: A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS ABOVE 4000 FEET IN THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY DESERTS UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING.

TIMING…WIDESPREAD SHOWERS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE MORNING BEFORE DECREASING IN THE AFTERNOON.

SNOW LEVELS…4000 TO 4500 FEET.
TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…3 TO 5 INCHES AROUND 4500 FEET WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS.

IMPACTS…TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT ON INTERSTATE 15 BETWEEN BAKER AND THE NEVADA STATE LINE. TRAVEL MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE ON UNTREATED MOUNTAIN ROADS.

WINDS…SIGNIFICANT WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

Additional Snowboarding Resources:

Exploring Signal Snowboards Factory & Office – Shayboarder.com – Tags: building a snowboard, california snowboard factory, signal, Signal snowboard factory the lodge, Signal Snowboards, Signal’s The Lodge, snowboard factory, snowboard factory tour, snowboard handpainted graphics, snowboard topsheet …
snowboarding tips | Snowboard720 – Where Snowboarders Come Full-Circle Again height: auto; overflow: visible; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; display: block; float: none; clear: both; background: transparent; font-size: 9. Burton Custom Detox Orange L snowboard bindings NEW ‘08 $ 114. Silence City Freeride Snowboard 163 Wide NEW in wrapper $ 89.
snowboarding at snow summit | Snowboard720 – Where Snowboarders Come Full-Circle Again height: auto; overflow: visible; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; display: block; float: none; clear: both; background: transparent; font-size: 9. Burton Custom Detox Orange L snowboard bindings NEW ‘08 $ 114. Silence City Freeride Snowboard 163 Wide NEW in wrapper $ 89.

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Snowshoe the Bear Big Bear Lake

Atlas Snowshoes from Goldsmith's Board House

Did you know Snowshoe the Bear is this Saturday, February, 6. The event welcomes both experts and complete novices. It starts in the Big Bear Lake Village at 8:00 AM and goes out into the San Bernardino National Forest. There is a fully marked five and ten kilometer course. Enjoy fun, family atmosphere and live music.

I’ve never been snowshoeing, and I wondered what our conditions were like (besides the obvious four foot base of snow). I wanted to know; did the snow support the snowshoes, how well do the shoes grip the snow, and how fast could I walk.

I went over to Goldsmith’s Board House (909 866-2728) in Big Bear Lake and rented a pair. I found out there are basically three types of snowshoes;

Running –smaller size for aerobic exercise, not practical for serious long term snow travel.
Recreational –better in the back country, slightly larger than the running ones.
Mountaineering – made for serious outdoor travel and for long distance. These snowshoes can be up to 30 inches long by 10 inches wide.

Snowshoes for running have fixed rotation bindings which bring the back of shoe up with each step, allowing faster movement. When you find the pair you want make sure you can easily manipulate the straps and securely lock your boot into the snowshoes.

I strapped myself into the snowshoes and was surprised how easy it was to walk in them. I didn’t use the polls. I noticed the crampon cleats were on the balls of my feet. I switched my balance from the heels to the front and was able to move at a good speed.

When I walked on a path that had already been broken, I didn’t leave much of an impression. When I went out into untracked snow, my snowshoes left a three inch deep track (see video). I fell through once. I walked too close to a bush…we have so much snow, you can’t see the bushes!

Goldsmith’s carry Atlas snowshoes, including poles and pack, for under $200. While you’re there, you may want to pick up a good pair of sunglasses or goggles. Ask for Ashley, she helped us and is very knowledgeable. She can hook you up with clothing, boots, anything you need for high altitude recreation.

FACT: The first snowshoes in North America are attributed to the Huron and the Algonquin Indians.

10k Course Description: Begin on Village Drive in front of Paoli’s Restaurant. Turn right/south on Knickerbocker. Turn left/east on Forest Road 2N08. Continue on Forest Road 2N08 to trail 1E01. Turn left/south on 1E01 to Deer Group Camp. Turn right on the Deer Group Camp access road (from the middle of the camp) to Forest Road 2N08. Turn right/east on Forest Road 2N08 and continue to the village via the same path.

5k Course Description: Begin on Village Drive in front of Paoli’s Restaurant. Turn right/south on Knickerbocker. Turn left/east on Forest Road 2N08. Turn left/east on Towne Trail (marked with Boulders). Turn around at beginning of Summit Condos. Return via the same path.

Additional Resources;

Snowshoeing in the San Jacinto Mountains; Several people took the tram and then asended to the top of the mountain. They shot several great videos. The snow conditions are very much like our mountains.

Snow Report Big Bear- Updated snow conditions for Big Bear Mountain Resorts, Snow Valley, Mount Baldy, Mountain High and Mammoth Mountain.

Snowboard & Ski Rentals- Goldsmith’s Boardhouse and Ski Rentals is what we recommend. They have been fitting skiis, adjusting boards forever! Their staff is knowledgable and can shred with the best. Work with people who love the sport!

Southern California Traveler’s Stats Revealed by Online Lodging and Vacation Rentals Directory Rentalo.com (prweb.com)
Go ahead, forget to pack your skis and snowshoes (nationalpost.com)
Snowshoers, here’s your boot (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
How To Make Emergency Snowshoes (howcast.com)
Ski season: Is your body mountain-ready? (nationalpost.com)
10 Places to Cross-Country Ski for Free (abcnews.go.com)
Help Planet Green “Save Our Slopes” (treehugger.com)
Winter Mountaineering Tour in Dragus – Fagaras Mountains (highballblog.com)

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Big Bear CA Events

Boats getting ready for fireworks show.

Throughout the year Big Bear is full of events. During the warm days of summer, Big Bear hosts the annual Jazz Festival offering live jazz. The combination of live music and a magnificent mountain setting attracts a devoted audience that returns every year.

Old Miner's Day

Old Miners’ Days has been a Big Bear favorite for years and is a tribute to Big Bear’s western history and the days of the Gold Rush. The event starts in July and goes through August, weekends only. The western flavor is sure to be found in the Miss Clementine contest, the Chili Cook-off, the Loggers’ Jubilee, the Doo Dah Parade and Horseshoe Pitching contests. Don’t miss the grand finale – the Old Miners’ Day Parade – scheduled the first Sunday in August.

Big Bear has one of the best Fourth of July Fireworks shows in all of Southern California. The fireworks are launched from a barge in the middle of the lake which provides the crowd with a great view from anywhere around the lake. With the backdrop of a crystal clear, star-filled sky, the explosions of light and color bring a chorus of “ooohs” and “aaahs” from young and old.

Antique Car Show

The month of August couples the Fun Run and the Renaissance Faire. The Fun Run brings hundreds of hot rod, classic and antique cars to the Big Bear Village. There is great food, entertainment, and a 1960’s street dance. The Big Bear City Renaissance Faire is set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and is an authentic re-creation of an English summer faire. Visit an exciting village with strolling minstrels, stage performances, beautiful handcrafts, and delicious food and drink. If ye not be faint of heart . . . observe the valiant jouster in action!

Cooling mountain temperatures bring indoor events during September and October. Each September Big Bear hosts the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival, a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing emerging film talent and independent films. The festival’s goal is to create a forum for up-and-coming filmmakers and industry professionals staged in Big Bear. Big Bear has a history with the movie industry dating back almost as far as the inception of filmmaking itself.

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest

The Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest runs for six consecutive weekends from the end of September to the last weekend in October. The magic of the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest comes alive at this annual event reviving the long-held belief that life should be celebrated. From oom-pah bands and lederhosen to fräuleins hefting steins filled to the brim with beer, Oktoberfest brings a bit of Bavaria to Big Bear.

Whatever the season, there’s something for everyone. Come and enjoy!

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Arts & Culture – Big Bear Lake

Art Gallery in the Village of Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake is host to three art galleries, a local arts council, a community arts theatre society, and a state-of-the-art performing arts theatre. The Arts Council of Big Bear Valley promotes art and music through service programs such as the “Magic of Music” and events, including Art on the Lake and the Big Bear Lake Film Festival.

The Community Arts Theatre Society (C.A.T.S) was established in 1994 as a non-profit theatrical organization designed for community participation in bringing inspirational theater to Big Bear. From stage production and costume design to the performance itself, community members have an opportunity to be a part of the theater magic.

The Big Bear Performing Arts Center (Map: PAC) is a 398-seat, state-of-the-art theater, where the stage is set to promote and encourage a wide variety of arts, cultural performances, community events and programs designed to take advantage of the full range and flexibility of the center. It also develops community outreach and provides opportunities for individual performers and community theater presentations.

An appreciation for literature also abounds with the local Trio of Talent, a large group of artists, authors and actors that meet once a week at a village bookstore to discuss each other’s work. The local bookstore also features book signings. The Big Bear Library serves as a great community resource and is connected to the San Bernardino County Library networking system. This gives the community access to all materials available countywide. T

he Library provides services to children, adults, and seniors and is committed to being a resource upon which the public, business, industry, and government can rely for accurate and timely information, recreational needs, and cultural enrichment. Through the Library’s Literacy, Information, Technology and Education center (LITE), programs and resources are offered that assist today’s young children, parents and caregivers in developing skills to meet tomorrow’s challenges. The workshops, hands-on projects, and all-around fun, offered to children up to five and their parent or guardian, expose them to educational opportunities and growing experiences that benefit both child and adult. The program also provides free, confidential adult basic literacy assistance, free children’s books for qualified families, English improvement and GED instruction.

Big Bear Lake Arts Council -Village

How we show art and what we make of it (ivanpope.com)
Community Theaters ups and downs (faircarnivals.com)

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Clubs

From A to Z, Big Bear residents can find a club or organization that meets a need, offers an opportunity to serve, or provides a learning experience. At last count, there were 87 Big Bear clubs and organizations.

Big Bear offers the traditional service clubs such as the Big Bear Lions, Elks, Kiwanis, Moose, Optimist, Rotary and Soroptimist International. Veteran, political, parent and children’s organizations that serve specific groups and meet specific needs are also available. Big Bear’s business organizations are very active and include the Chamber of Commerce, Leads Club, the Professional Property Management Association and the Real Estate Board. Youth sports, scouts and senior clubs are also available.

Big Bear’s senior population is growing and currently comprises approximately 30% of the population. Senior services and living accommodations include the Bear Valley Senior Center and the Mountain Meadows Senior Apartments in the Village. The Senior Center offers activities for those 55 and older and includes weekly Tai Chi, ceramics, senior aerobics, bingo, crafts, cards, ping pong, potluck and barbeque dinners, socials, dances, a travel club and more. Mountain Meadows Senior Apartments provide eligible seniors with very comfortable, one-bedroom apartments with modern kitchen appliances, a living room area, a bath and a small deck or balcony. For Big Bear seniors who are unable to get out and about, Big Bear offers Meals On Wheels, a program primarily established to provide nutritious meals for seniors in need.

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City of Big Bear Lake

The City of Big Bear Lake (the City) and the Community Services District (the CSD) govern Big Bear Lake and Big Bear City, respectively. Big Bear Lake is the western portion of the Big Bear area and Big Bear City, the eastern, with the dividing line being Division Street.

The City was incorporated in 1980, with the establishment of its first charter three years later in 1983. The City currently operates under the council-manager form of government with a five-member council, elected at large for four-year overlapping terms. The City provides general administrative services, community development, and public works functions and also maintains the Performing Arts Center. The subsidiary districts, Big Bear Lake Fire Department and Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power, provide fire prevention and protection and water services, respectively.

The CSD is the governing authority in the unincorporated, eastern areas of Big Bear that are under the jurisdiction of the County of San Bernardino. The CSD is an independent special district. The CSD Board of Directors is comprised of five elected members from the district’s service area. Elected members are responsible for overseeing the fire protection, water and sewer service, refuse collection and street lighting for the district. The district’s General Manager who is employed by the Board of Directors administers day-to-day operations.

The Big Bear Municipal Water District is a special district of the State of California and is responsible for managing Big Bear Lake, Southern California’s premier recreational lake. The water district focuses primarily on stabilizing the lake’s water level, managing watershed and water quality, managing recreation, preserving and enhancing wildlife habitat, and maintaining the Bear Valley Dam and Reservoir.

More News About Big Bear Lake;

Big Bear Lake Winter of 2009, Photograph by Mike Russell … – Big Bear Lake winter scene taken one afternoon when a storm was passing over. Photograph by Mike Russell. EDITOR: BLOG.JETSETTINGMAGAZINE.C.
El Nino Comes to Big Bear Lake, California Jan 19, 2010 … – The same storms that struck the southern California region beginning on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 and continued to Saturday, January 23 causing fl.
Big Bear Lake – One of the best place to take the family out for a relaxing vacation located in the San Bernadino Mountains, California. Big Bear Lake is 7 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. Like any other lake it’s the perfect place to kick back and enjoy …
Big Bear Horror Film Festival | Horror Society – The festival will open October 15, 2010 and run through October 17, 2010 at the Performing Arts Center in Big Bear Lake, CA. The festival is an intimate event where horror fans can come to the peaceful, idyllic surroundings of Big Bear …
Big Bear Lake Snow Conditions – Big Bear Lake has received five feet of snow and another foot of fresh powder is expected to arrive tonight. The snow conditions at Bear Mountain and Snow Summit are the best they’ve been in the last forty years.

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Old Miner’s Days -Big Bear Lake

Old Miner’s Days has been a long tradition in Big Bear Lake. We went into our collection of Big Bear Lake ephemera and found these advertisements that were placed in the newspaper. Many of them are hilarious. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

: Map Old Miner’s Days

: Pioneer Town to Big Bear Lake

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Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake High School 1930

The call of the wild! What pictures the phrase brings to the mind at this season, the spring of the year when the blood is pulsating with renewed life and when the spirit of man hungers for the outdoors.

Visions of pine-encircled lakes, flower sheets on deeded subdivision land, making a total of of hamlet—and tree-gemmed valley, there a jeweled mountain peak piercing the skies, and at the top of the trail great open spaces, where in the moonlight on cottage doorstep one may push away the trifling cares of the valley and get acquainted with oneself as a careless person.

No wonder the wild calls to so many thousands each year.

And where could the wild be more fascinating than in the San Bernardino Mountains, or where its call more clear or more insistent? For the wild to the up-to-date traveler does not mean inconvenience; it is the call of the open in a land where every possible need of the traveler is catered to; where physical cares are sloughed off and the spirit is left free to drink in the beauty and peace of nature.

Feeling this insistent call o’ the wild then, what more logical thing to do than to start in your automobile or take the bus and bring along your fishing equipment and hiking togs and in the greatest of ease and comfort take a week-end trip over the sun-spangled Rim O’ the World to Big Bear Lake in the Valley of Big bear.

Mountain Auto -Rom of the World Fares

Here you will find true hospitality and an ever-pervading spirit of the Old West and many places of historic interest dating back to the days of the Dons.

After leaving San Bernardino, which is sixty-five miles east of Los Angeles, you travel north, out Sierra Way and enter the mountains, traveling over high-gear road which is kept open throughout the year by an ever-watchful and highly efficient state highway crew.

Winding and ever winding, you come upon sights that are thrilling and never to be forgotten, for the San Bernardino Mountains offer you some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.

Words cannot tell of the wondrous beauties that may be seen here,

In the old days it was a week’s journey from Los Angeles to Big Bear Lake, but now the trip can be made in three hours of careful driving.

Big Bear Lake, forty-five miles east of the city of San Bernardino, in the heart of the San Bernardino mountains, at an elevation of 6,750 feet, spreads 72,000 acre-feet of water behind a multiple-arch dam 72 feet in height, is seven and one-hale miles long and averages one mile wide.

Big Bear Lake Dam

The Lake lies in a valley fifteen miles long and three miles wide, with gentle sloping hills, wooded to the shoreline of the Lake with large and small pine and fir trees.

The principal business center is Big Bear Lake Village, located four miles from the dam, on the south shore. It is a well-developed business center with grocery, meat and vegetable stores, hotel, cafes, curio shops, hardware stores, a theatre, dance pavilions, postoffice, stage depot, super-service stations, garages, real estate offices, cocktail lounges, large department store, ladies’ ready-to-wear shop, barber shops, and beauty parlors, shoe repair shop, ice distribution depot, commercial boat landings, saddle liveries, shooting gallery and amusement center and seventy camps, each having from six to fifty cabins each.

The population of Big Bear Lake ranges from 1,00 people making their permanent homes to 30,000 people on holidays such as Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and New Years with an average population between May 15 and September 15 of 15,000 people.

Big Bear Lake grammar school has three teachers and an attendance of 96 pupils.

It also has a fully accredited high school with three teachers and an attendance of 45 pupils. There are 708 private mountain homes built on United States Forest service land at Big Bear Lake.

Big Bear Lake has an average increase of 228 new mountain homes per year. The total assessed valuation of Big Bear Lake and Fawnskin district in 1940 was$2,887,130 making an increase of the total assessed valuation of the two districts of $768,590.

A survey of the United States Forest Service shows that 4,491 acres of private land has been subdivided into 24,379 building sites, and approximately 16,500 building sites have been sold.

In the same survey they show that 472 acres of government land has been subdivided into 1,096 building sites and 708 of the total have been leased and improved.

Big Bear Land & Water Company

Big Bear Lake has furnished the setting for many motion pictures, and location scouts have stated that Big Bear Lake can furnish more diversified scenery than any other mountain resort in California.

These companies furnish a large revenue to the merchants of Big Bear Lake and extend the seasons as they prefer the spring and fall of the year because of the better lighting effects.

Following is a partial list of pictures taken at Big Bear Lake and an estimated amount of expenditures for locations, cost of sets, hotel lodging and meals, local labor, garage bills as well as the amount expended by members of the company for individuals.

“Trail of the Lonesome Pine” made by the Walter Wanger Company…$200,000.00
“In Person” made by RKO…$75,000.00
“Having a wonderful time” made by RKO…$110,000.00
“Daniel Boone” made by Herlima Productions…$90,000.00
“None of Your Business” made by Paramount…$35,000.00
“Heart of the North” made by Warner Bros….$75,000.00
“Untamed” made by Paramount…$35,000.00
“Brigham Young” made by Fox Production…$90,000.00
“Shepherd of the Hills” made by Paramount…$175,000.00

The Paramount Company has filmed fifteen Westerns, some of which are Nevada, West of the Pecos, Arizona Mahoney, etc.

Estimated amount of expenditures$300,000.00 or approximately $20,000.00 per picture,

Many independent companies have also taken pictures at Big Bear Lake with an expenditure of from $3,000.00 to $5,000.00.

Big Bear Lake Location for Movie Shoots

Big Bear Lake also has one specific and highly specialized industry, that of fox raising. There are twenty silver fox ranches, ranging in size from thirty pair of breeding stock to two hundred and forty.

Approximately twenty-five hundred silver fox pelts are produced annually, and due to the advantages afforded by this district a higher average pelt value is received by the Big Bear Lake ranchers. It is estimated that the business brings $125,000 annually to Big Bear Lake.

Cattle grazing is another of Big Bear Lake’s industries. Nearly 2,000 head of cattle are grazed under Forest Service Regulations on this area annually during the summer and early fall seasons.

Very few strangers, even the people who make yearly visits to Big Bear, ever think of anything in these mountains except the lake, which lies in the center of the valley. For those who are willing to expend the energy, there are many trails leading to some of nature’s most beautiful spots. The views to be seen are incomparable, and the true appreciation of Big Bear cannot be realized unless several days are spent in wandering through these mountains.

Aside from driving and hiking to the beauty spots of the Valley, there is a variety of other amusements to be enjoyed. Big bear Lake itself has much to offer to the pleasure-seeker. Swimming and tennis are open to all. In the evening dancing is provided with orchestras and glistening dance floors. In short, life may be one ceaseless round of activity and pleasure in Big Bear.

Big Bear Lake is considered one of the country’s best health resorts for those suffering with asthma and like ailments, and many sufferers after visiting here return to make it their permanent home.

Fox Farming in Big Bear Lake

Fishing season starts on May 1^st, and many thousands come to Big Bear Lake each year to enjoy the sport. Unlike many other districts, Big Bear Lake’s season is open on all fish at the same time. There is an abundance of Bass, Crappie and Blue Gill and the women and children spend many enjoyable hour fishing for them.

One hundred seventy-five thousand six-inch trout are planted in Big Bear Lake each year by the State Fish and Game Commission. One million Rainbow eggs are taken each year for replanting in Big Bear Lake and other waters of Southern California.

Boat rentals rates are comparatively lower than many other places in the state.

Bag limits

Crappie

Blue Gill none under 9 inches

Trout

Bass

Boating on Big Bear Lake

Hunting season finds Big Bear a headquarters for the hunter. For years the lake has been a stopping place for thousands of ducks of all kinds. A natural feeding ground is afforded here which is large enough to accommodate flocks of any size.

Duck season is ushered in noisily on the morning of the first day, and thereafter the mornings and evenings are punctuated by a volley of noises suggesting a blitzkrieg of great magnitude.

Many years ago the country surrounding Big Bear Valley was set aside as a game preserve. Every sportsman appreciates the efforts of the government to preserve the wild life of the state and nation and at the same time to provide areas open to the public for hunting during set seasons.

In providing for the game preserve in Big Bear, the authorities took these elements into consideration. The edge of the preserve was located a few miles from the Valley, which provided outside its boundaries a great expanse of good deer hunting territory. It is possible for the hunter to make his daily trip into the game territory.

This preserve provides the protection needed to propagate the wild like and to supply the territory with a quantity of deer and other big game. In the Valley itself these protective measures have begun to show results among the small animals, for they may be seen now quite numerously. The protected life has made the squirrels and chip munks friendly and a pleasure to watch.

Deer season starts September 16^th and ends October 15^th.

Duck season date set by Federal Government.

Mountain quail season starts November 15^th and ends December31st. Limit 10 per day.

Local Resident

Wild animals in and around Big Bear:

Adorned Shrew Sierra Chipmunk

Amer. Bay Lynx (bobcat) Kangaroo Rat

Antelope chipmunk Long Legged Bat

Anthony Gray Squirrel Merriman Chipmunk

Badger Mink

Banning Wood Rat Mojave Desert Gopher

Brown Bear Mountain Lion

California Bat Mountain Sheep

California Blacktailed Deer Raccoon

California Gray Fox Red Fox

California Meadow Mouse San Bernardino Chipmunk

California Mule Deer San Bernardino Flying Squirrel

Civet Cat San Bernardino Spermophile

Cottontail Rabbit So. California Skunk

Coyote Wild Goat

Desert Jackrabbit Desert Swift

Fisher Ground Squirrel

Game Birds—

Avoset Butter Ball

Blue Wing Teal Canvas Back

Bufflehead Chinese Pheasant

Doves Redheads

Gadwall Ruddy Duck

Golden Mantle Spoonbill

Greater Bluebill Sprig

Green Wing Teal Teal (cinnamon)

Jacksnipe Valley Quail

Lesser Bluebill Widgeon

Mallard Wild Geese

Mountain Quail Wild Pigeon

Mudhen (coots) Wild Turkey

You will also find a variety of 65 Beautiful Birds in and around Big Bear, of which some of the more uncommon specimens are here listed.

Allen Humming Bird Olive Sided Flycatcher

Bullock Oriole Pacific Nighthawk

California Yellow Warbler Red-Shafted Flicker

Green-tailed Towhee Say Phoebes

Horned Owl Tolmie Warbler

Laurence Gold finch Violet Green Swallow

Mountain Chickadee Western Bluebird

Nuttall Woodpecker White-Throated Swift

Here you will also find a variety of 25 trees and a great quantity of flora and fauna which will delight the heart of the naturalist. The mineralogist will also have a thrill in store for him as fold and other minerals are still being found in these mountains.

Big Bear Lake Ski Club

Big Bear Lake is the coming recreation center of all southern California for Winter sports.

Many thousands of visitors come to Big Bear Lake during the winter months each year to participate in the gala events sponsored by the Big Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Ski equipment, toboggans, sleds, skates, etc., may be obtained in the Village at very nominal rates. Every need of the winter sportsman is carefully attended to by those who have the visitors’ interest at heart. The Big Bear ski lifts which are under the supervision of the Big Bear Park Board, are the finest in the country, and the ski jumps are open to all those who are brave enough to indulge in this thrilling sport. For those who wish to make the first attempt, advice and teaching is provided by the masters of the game.

Another winter sport which comes in for a place of great importance because of the universality of its appeal is ice-skating. Young and old together may enjoy themselves in this manner.

While many of the cities of southern California may have an indoor skating rink, nothing compares favorably with skating under an open sky and on a Lake surrounded by snow and pine trees.

Come! Enjoy yourself in the hills and dales of the San Bernardino’s at Big Bear Lake. Leave all worry and cares behind; relax and enjoy the quiet solitude and listen to the sweetest music ever; the whispering of the pines and the trickling of the streams as they go wandering down the mountainside.

Take a trip to Bartletts Lake where you may still see many of the movie sets left there after the filming of some of the foremost pictures and to Bluff Lake and along skyline drive, which overlooks the Santa Ana with old Greyback in the distance. Truly a wonderful and awe-inspiring sight.

Let us visit Holcomb Valley just over the hill from Big Bear Lake to the north and relive the days when history was in the making during the gold rush days of the old California, visit all the points of interest. Go up Marble Canyon and Burnt Flat to the rim where you may look down hundreds of feet to the far-stretching desert below and wonder how it all could be; and then return by way of historic old Doble Mine to a point where you may see mountains, lake and desert at the same time.

There are many of these trips and many more sights to see that are just as wonderful, and so I say again:

When your feet begin to itch

And your mind begins to rove,

Come up to old Bear Valley,

The place you will always love.

Where God is in His heaven

And all is well with Him,

Where health is wealth, my brother,

And friendship never dims.

Where the sweet songbirds warble

Where beauteous flowers bloom,

And all outdoors is heaven

Clear up to the moon.

So pack your duds and duffle

And come along, I say,

Do not linger longer,

Get on your way today!

Up winding trails, through Forest Glen

And bring along your Sally,

And Mary and Pete and Lucy and John

To dear old Bear Valley.

–MacCallum.

In closing, the American Legion wishes to extend its gratitude to the Big Bear Lake High School for their courtesy in extending to us the privilege of using items in the preceding sketches, from their copyrighted booklet, “Big Bear Panorama.”

Also to the Bear Valley Development Co. for the service they have rendered.

W.C. MacCallum, Editor.

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