Big Bear Today April 2018

Page 2—April 2018
From the Publisher
Trails Foundation
or whatever beating
feet to more paths
ig Bear Valley Trails Foundation is
merging with Southern California
Mountains Foundation. The former BFoundation will continue to exist but will
just be a division of the latter.
Which will then be called the Big
Bear Valley Trails Program of the Southern
California Mountains Foundation. At
least, that’s how I think it’s all playing out
after a late March ceremony wedding the
two organizations at the Discovery Center,
after Big Bear Today went to press.
Doesn’t really matter, because by any
name the trails group is making big things
happen. 2017 was a banner year for trail
work in the Valley, said trails coordinator
Bennett Rossell, with some 813 volunteers
donating 3,345 service hours of labor valued
at over $95,000. As part of Adopt-A-
Trail program workers cut one mile of new
path and did work on another 53 miles.
“Nearly every system trail in Big Bear
received maintenance,” Rossell said. “Big
Bear Cycling for instance has adopted Pine
Knot Trail and it currently is super polished
and buttoned up nice. Wildhorse
Trail from near the top of Onyx Summit
to Hwy. 38 is adopted by High Trails Outdoor
Science School and last year they had
over 50 volunteers working.”
Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake is another
player, adopting one of 12 sections
along the new, professionally-designed
worldclass Skyline Trail. The Club’s efforts
are in memory of late Snow Summit
president Dick Kun, a Rotarian for many
years and avid mountain biker. Big Bear
Mountain Resorts continues to provide
countless hours of labor.
As do athletes from Kodiak 100 competition
who keep up Siberia Creek, probably
the hardest trail to maintain. “You
have these ultra-runners hiking down with
heavy packs on,” Rossell said. “That trail
washes out about every winter.”
People are putting their bucks as well
as their backs into the program. Financial
commitments increased 144% over 2016
and should go up again this year. Already
39% of system trails in the Valley have
received financial backing, from
heavyhitters like REI, Team Big Bear,
Cyclery USA, Bosch and others. More
than $8,000 was raised last year by over a
hundred participants during the
Mountaintop Trail Rally. After years of
neglect, Big Bear’s trail system is finally
getting some love.
And if you’re a trails user you’ve noticed.
Signage is becoming worldclass at
trailheads like Bristlecone, Pine Knot and
others. New directional signs along the
routes help people find their way. And
we’re actually seeing new trails! Legendary
Cabin 89 received extensive work last
year and new Happy Hills 1/4- mile ADAaccessible
paved path opened at City Hall.
All of which brings the question:
when is a shortage a surplus? That’s the
conundrum Big Bear’s trail network finds
itself in. Official “system” trails recognized
by the Forest Service are what’s
listed on maps and there’s not that many,
at least compared to non-system which are
unofficial routes created by users. It’s estimated
that Big Bear has four times as
many non-system trails as official ones.
“Big Bear actually has a trail deficit,”
Rossell said, pointing to mountain Meccas
like Moab and Park City in Utah,
Breckenridge, even Mammoth Lakes as
worldclass trail communities. All have
extensive trail networks that make Big
Bear’s offerings pale in comparison, at
least official system routes.
“When you have a trail deficit and
you’re surrounded by a large population
with lots of tourism, you end up with
people creating their own trails,” Rossell
said. “If there’s not enough official trails
people make their own.”
So next step is to get the Forest Service
to open more trails, either new ones
or even legitimizing some existing usercreated
paths. The future trails plan calls
for 100 miles of new system trails plus another
200 miles of restored user paths.
Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But
Rossell said there’s support from the Forest
Service and already several preliminary
funding sources have been identified.
It’ll take money to pay for the NEPA study
that has to be done before any trail is cut.
In the meantime Trails Foundation or
whoever they are has announced three
cool new ways to volunteer. Serve as an
official Trail Host at key locations on busy
weekends and support hikers by passing
out maps, water and information.
Or really crank up the volunteer experience
by becoming a Trail Steward certified
by the Forest Service, which provide
quick trail repair. “Our highest level
of engagement sees volunteers leading ontrail
work crews,” Rossell said. “These are
broadbased ways to help our efforts.”
As are monthly public work days
when anyone can join in. Last year Trails
Foundation or whatever oversaw 39 trail
work days. How many will 2018 bring?
Have a good one.
Marcus
ON THE COVER: See wildflowers that grow in Big Bear and nowhere else in the world at
Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve, on self or guided tours on the famous Pebble Plain
Volume 29, Number 10 April 2018
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Publisher
Marcus G. Dietz
Associate Publisher
Sandra L. Dietz
Publishing Consultant
Bret Colson
Technical Consultant
Charles Dietz
Photography
Steve Dietz
John Daskam
Mark Gauger
In This Issue...
Foxes, snow leopards, mountain lions and
more at Alpine Zoo. See page 15
Big Bear Today
Walk on the Wild(flower) Side
Big Bear’s favorite spring trail isn’t long, but packs a big
wallop as it winds through Baldwin Lake Ecological Preserve,
home to rare wildflowers and Pebble Plain. A volunteerstaffed
visitor center at the trailhead opens each Saturday
starting April 7 and there’s weekly guided walks through the
wildflowers. Lace up the boots and head out!
Here’s the Dirt on Earth Day in Big Bear
Bear Valley Electric hosts its own shindig with facepainting,
energy saving ideas and more to raise planet awareness. Or
play in the Earth during Greenthumbs volunteer days...hike it
on early season trails...or raise money on it during the annual
MS Walk. Celebrate all month at Discovery Center!
Bandits, Missing Persons, Ketchum Shows
Who says spring is slow in Big Bear? Not at The Cave it isn’t.
April sees headliners like Moonshine Bandits, Missing Persons
and Hal Ketchum, and next month there’s Tiffany, Dick Dale
and Dave Mason. Mixed in are some top tributes to Johnny
Cash, Heart and Fleetwood Mac and more. Rock on!
Lake Season Opens, New Fish Tourneys
Welcome March weather gave the lake level a nudge upward,
in time for its April 1 opening. Head to your favorite marina to
get in on early season action when fishing is at its best, as a
tuneup for new fishing tournaments where all species are fair
game with lots of cash and prizes on the line (pun intended).
Redlands Classic Back with Time Trial
America’s longest-running professional cycling race returns
after a few year hiatus with its Big Bear Time Trial along the
north shore of the lake. Spectating is free and spots along
Alpine Pedal Path afford great viewing, as do the start at East
Boat Launch and turnaround in Fawnskin. Just a taste of
what’s to come this summer for cyclists, on The Back Page.
DEPARTMENTS
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From the Publisher
Potpourri
New! Area Map/
Calendar of Events
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