Big Bear in Winter

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!

Cougar Ridge to Jack Creek Meadow Trail

I had a holiday party later tonight. And what do I decide to do? Go on a longest hike I've been in a while, of course! Cougar Ridge to Jack Creek Meadow trail was one of those 15 mile trails that you think to yourself you would hike just partially and at some point just turn around and go back... That did happen, indeed, but a bit farther along than I would hope.

It started out slowly gaining elevation and continued at the same pace, up and down, throughout the hike. Stanley Peak was ultimately the turn around point, as I knew there was no way I was making it to that party if I continued...

I found the hike rather isolated with only a few people nearby. The weather was cloudy and misty, and only at one point during the hike did I see the sun peaking through the clouds. It made the trail somewhat mysterious and suspiciously remote.

A nice pond (or I call it a pond) was located along the trail, and it was a perfect spot to relax and take a break. For whatever reason, I can't find a picture of it, but trust me, it was worth sitting next to.

Stanley Peak did not seem like a destination point initially, but as I ascended the mountain, the views really opened up.

On this gloomy day, I could not imagine a better place to enjoy the view of the valley (although I have to admit, I was pretty frustrated with initial fog).

The distance I covered ended up to be 13.5 miles, but I was exhausted somehow. Knowing that I had to go to a work event and pretend to be fresh and cheery felt like a burden, so after a nice cup of late afternoon coffee and half an hour in front of the mirror, I was ready to be that person :)