I had a great opportunity to spend this year's Christmas holiday in Big Bear, a popular ski resort in Southern California. The weather started out pretty reasonable, cloudy with a chance of snow... A big chance of snow...
The next day it surely happened. Early in the morning on Monday, December 23rd it started to snow. It's been a while since I've seen snow since moving to California, and I can't say I missed it too much. But seeing fluffy flurries reminded me of good times (snow days!) in New York. Snow is really pretty when it falls, but it becomes really nasty driving in it very quickly. I still remember shoveling my car out a few years back as I promised it (yes, the car...) to never see snow again. I did fulfill my promise as I left my car at the bottom of the mountain where snow fell in the form of rain.
Since skiing is not my kind of thing (or so I think...), hiking is. Hence, on this beautiful snowy winter day there is no better way to enjoy the flurries than checking out some trails. And surely I was not disappointed. As snow got deeper, it was a bit more challenging to walk, but it added to the serenity of hiking in snow. There is something meditative about the sound of crunching snow under the boots and complete silence that happens when snow absorbs any sound nearby. Step after step, I continued along the Cougar Crest Trail.
I did not get to finish the trail, but truly enjoyed it.
My plan was to hike several more trails, but after the snowy day, many of them were impassable. One of the trails that appeared still reasonable (only a foot of snow!) was Alpine Pedal Path Trail, a moderate difficulty, mostly flat trail along the Big Bear Lake. This was the day after the snowy day, and the sky was blue and clear. It was a crispy day, but with proper attire no cold was felt, and half a mile into it even the heavy jacket came off. Apparently, it's not that easy to hike in a foot-deep snow!
Again, I did not finish this trail, but go to enjoy the lake at it's best - covered on all shores by a fresh layer of snow, cold and clear.
Overall, it was a memorable trip, but I certainly prefer warmer climate!
The next day it surely happened. Early in the morning on Monday, December 23rd it started to snow. It's been a while since I've seen snow since moving to California, and I can't say I missed it too much. But seeing fluffy flurries reminded me of good times (snow days!) in New York. Snow is really pretty when it falls, but it becomes really nasty driving in it very quickly. I still remember shoveling my car out a few years back as I promised it (yes, the car...) to never see snow again. I did fulfill my promise as I left my car at the bottom of the mountain where snow fell in the form of rain.
Since skiing is not my kind of thing (or so I think...), hiking is. Hence, on this beautiful snowy winter day there is no better way to enjoy the flurries than checking out some trails. And surely I was not disappointed. As snow got deeper, it was a bit more challenging to walk, but it added to the serenity of hiking in snow. There is something meditative about the sound of crunching snow under the boots and complete silence that happens when snow absorbs any sound nearby. Step after step, I continued along the Cougar Crest Trail.
I did not get to finish the trail, but truly enjoyed it.
My plan was to hike several more trails, but after the snowy day, many of them were impassable. One of the trails that appeared still reasonable (only a foot of snow!) was Alpine Pedal Path Trail, a moderate difficulty, mostly flat trail along the Big Bear Lake. This was the day after the snowy day, and the sky was blue and clear. It was a crispy day, but with proper attire no cold was felt, and half a mile into it even the heavy jacket came off. Apparently, it's not that easy to hike in a foot-deep snow!
Again, I did not finish this trail, but go to enjoy the lake at it's best - covered on all shores by a fresh layer of snow, cold and clear.
Overall, it was a memorable trip, but I certainly prefer warmer climate!
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