Gateway Magazine RSACC (Fall 2017)

Recent Fall color in Green Valley Lake • Photo by S.Peter
Where To Find Fall Color
by Steven Peter
To our friends below in the valleys and along the
coast, trees appear to turn from green to brown and
it may seem like an absence of seasons and color.
For those lucky enough to live in higher elevations in
Southern California, we are given a yearly show in the
fall with rich colors of yellow, orange, and red leaves
before dropping onto the ground. Mostly, the leaves
turn in our local mountains a little later than in the Eastern
Sierra. But, by mid-October to early November,
most have either blown off with the Santa Ana winds
or are just hanging in there and fall days later. Oak
trees are showing their yellow color on Highways 18
and 330 coming up into the mountains.
The higher the elevation, the quicker the leaves
have turned. The phrase ‘turned’ in this sense, means
Don’t miss out on the Chamber’s Annual Installation
Dinner on Saturday, October 28 at Hootman Center. Enjoy
fantastic entertainment, a delicious Prime Rib Buffet
provided by Bacchus Restaurant Group (Blondies) and
an evening of honoring local awards recipients. Dinner
is open to the public. Information is available on the
Chamber’s website. (Photo Credit: Mike Lee)
that it has changed or developed new color. People
who search out color are called ‘leaf peepers’ and usually
traverse areas of higher elevation. In Southern
California, most deciduous trees that are ‘color changers’
are in larger quantity in the mountains. The cooler
climates display the better range in color at the higher
elevations.
When coming up Highway 330, you can spot the
yellow leaves of the oaks that are changing already
along the highway. The drive towards Big Bear Lake
on Highway 18 shows color here and there until you
arrive into Arrowbear Lake and spot the large Quaking
Aspen along the highway. Quaking Aspens glitter silvery
green in the spring and summer, but turn a bright
yellow in the fall.
Approximately
two miles down the
road past Arrowbear
Lake is the
turnoff for Green
Valley Lake. Taking
that road in either
early morning or
late afternoon, the
sun glows through
the yellowing
leaves to give the
appearance of an
otherworldly hue.
Additionally, on a
quiet morning or
late afternoon with
no wind, you might
catch a beautiful
serene view of the
lake with the fall
Fall Color near Deep Creek • Mike
Lee/Starlight Photoraphy
color surrounding and mirroring it up to the sky. Make
sure you have a camera with you as you don’t want to
miss this scenery.
For the less adventurous, you might travel west on
Highway 18 from Running Springs and visit the Heap’s
Peak Arboretum. A great variety of trees and fall color
will greet you as you walk the easy half mile hike. An interpretive
trail will explain the different trees and plants
native to the San Bernardino Mountains throughout the
hike. Along the way you may see lots of green Bracken
Fern on the hillsides turning brown and hibernating for
the winter.
If you would like to get a glorious 360-degree view, a
quick drive up to Keller Peak and Children’s Forest just
off Highway 18 would be just the ticket. The spectacular
view from Children’s Forest will display the view
4 Fall 2017
Gateway Magazine
RUNNING SPRINGS
sity of 885.1 per square mile, of which 1,419 (73.0%)
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Running
Springs had a population of 4,862. The population
density was 1,154.0 people per square mile. The racial
makeup of Running Springs was 4,325 (89.0%) White
(79.8% Non-Hispanic White), 23 (0.5%) African American,
47 (1.0%) Native American, 50 (1.0%) Asian, 6
(0.1%) Pacific Islander, 146 (3.0%) from other races,
and 265 (5.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 695 persons (14.3%).
The Census reported that 4,862 people (100% of
the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in
non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were
institutionalized.
There were 1,944 households, out of which 611
(31.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in
them, 1,026 (52.8%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 171 (8.8%) had a female householder
with no husband present, 106 (5.5%) had a
male householder with no wife present. There were
114 (5.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and
38 (2.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships.
477 households (24.5%) were made up of individuals
and 140 (7.2%) had someone living alone who was 65
years of age or older. The average household size was
2.50. There were 1,303 families (67.0% of all households);
the average family size was 2.99.
The population was spread out with 1,119 people
(23.0%) under the age of 18, 375 people (7.7%) aged
18 to 24, 1,157 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,672
people (34.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 539 people (11.1%)
who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
was 41.7 years. For every 100 females there were
105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over,
there were 103.4 males.
There were 3,729 housing units at an average den-
were owner-occupied, and 525 (27.0%) were occupied
by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was
5.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.6%. 3,450 people
(71.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied
housing units and 1,412 people (29.0%) lived in rental
housing units.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Running
Springs had a median household income of
$59,111.
Gateway Magazine
Fall 2017 5