Big Bear Today Magazine August 2022

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Page 2—August 2022From the PublisherTeddi Boston story,Part II: her recordsettingPCT hikeThis is the second of a two-part serieswith Teddi Boston, first female ranger inthe San Gorgonio Wilderness and firstwoman to solo hike the Pacific Crest Trailhen Teddi Boston first got underwayon her record-settingtrek on the Pacific Crest Trail, Wshe soon found herself in 10 feet of snow.The date was May 1, 1976, and Bostonwas beginning a journey that wouldsee her become the first woman to solo hikethe PCT, all 2,600+ miles of it. A feat thathad only been accomplished six years earlierby a man, Eric Ryback, who was 17 atthe time. By the way, Boston was 49.Plus she was tackling the famous internationaltrail by starting at the north inManning Park, Canada, instead of the usualsouthern start at the Mexican border.Which naturally explained all the whitestuff she quickly encountered.Yet snow didn’t faze Boston, who wasborn and raised in northern Maine. “I wasbrought up on snowshoes,” Boston, 95,said. “My pack weighed 65 pounds withfull winter gear, including snowshoes, iceaxe, down jacket—I still have it. It gotsmaller as I got to the Sierras and I sentthe snowshoes home.” Today, ultra-lightloads are the norm on PCT, some carryinga quarter or less than she packed.She needed them. Early on snow wasdeep, obscuring the trail and forcing Bostonto navigate strictly by her map andcompass skills. When she finally sawground and her first marker after a month,she was less than 10 feet off the trail!Boston had never heard of the PCTtill she was leading a group of girls, includingher daughter, on John Muir Trailin 1972. “I kept seeing people with thesehuge packs and asked where they wereheaded,” Boston recalled. The answer was`Canada.’ That’s the first I heard of PCTand thought that trail needs my footprints.“Psychologically it made more senseto start in the north, walking toward home,”the mother of four added. “It took two yearsto plan. (Pacific Crest Trail Association)was in its infancy. There wasn’t any printedmaterial available.”Her husband wasn’t so sure of herplans. “(He) said a woman can’t do thatalone,” she said. “I said `why not?’ I metthe supervisor of the park where I startedand he let me park my truck in a shed forsix months.”Snow only hampered her progress alittle, including a blizzard that forced herto shelter in her tent two days. “And I sawa cornice hanging over 10 feet that camedown early around 11 a.m.,” Boston said.“Next day it was frozen. That was the onlyday I had to cut short.”Each day she started walking at 3:30a.m. while the snow was crusty. By latemorning as it softened she would donsnowshoes and continue. “I like to be onthe trail before the sun comes up,” she said.For the first month while hikingthrough the state of Washington, she didn’tsee a single soul. Crossing into Oregon,she went over the Bridge of the Gods andhad to pay a quarter for the privilege. Today,hikers cross for free.PCT was established in 1968 butwasn’t completed till 1993. During thoseearly years, hikers had to negotiate 800miles of Jeep roads, animal paths and vaguetrail sections. At one point Boston got lostdespite her navigation skills.Another Oregon delay was more serious.“I turned quickly and scratched mycornea on a tree branch,” Boston said.“When I was upright the eye didn’t hurtbut laying down was painful. So I sat upall night long.“I had never hitchhiked before butneeded to see a doctor so I got a ride toBend,” she continued. “He said I want youoff that trail If it gets infected you’ll learnthe definition of the word pain.” So shestayed with a couple at Odell Lake for aweek before departing on the trail again totheir disappointment, so used to their likeable,affable guest they had become.In the Sierras she encountered a famedPCT guidebook author whose work shewas carrying. Among many other people,a far cry from her experience in Washington.“I met 134 people on the trail in oneday,” she said. “It was like a freeway!”Water in the Mojave Desert is alwaysa PCT worry, especially going south in thefall, but Boston got plenty, courtesy of theremnants of a tropical storm. Finally after169 days on the trail, Boston reached theMexican border, where her husband, familyand friends were waiting.As the first woman to solo the PCTshe didn’t get the acclaim Ryback did. Afew newspaper stories—one got her firedwhen her boss read she was using sick timeto hike—that was it. But she’s been rewardedwith a lifetime of stories since.Hear more of her PCT story at her freeranger talk at Grayback Amphitheater onHwy. 38 in Barton Flats on Sept. 3.Have a good one.MarcusON THE COVER: Tunnels, climbs, drops and more await riders on Mineshaft Coaster atAlpine Slide; enjoy the sounds and sights of a Pink Floyd show at the PAC.Volume 34, Number 2 August 2022468916PublisherMarcus G. DietzAssociate PublisherSandra L. DietzPublishing ConsultantBret ColsonTechnical ConsultantCharles DietzPhotography/DistributionSteve DietzJohn DaskamMark GaugerIn This Issue...Big Bear TodayYou Control Speed on Mineshaft CoasterThe latest attraction at Alpine Slide is the must-ride ride inSouthern California. Negotiate carts you control around a milelongtrack with two 100-foot tunnels, three 360° corkscrews,200-foot bridges and steep drops. Hit speeds up to 27 mph orgo as slow as you want. It’s the first of its kind in California sodon’t miss it!Cyclists Tackle 6 Rides at Tour de BBGlow ride, poker ride, gravel ride and Southern California’sfavorite ride all highlight the annual Tour de Big Bear. With allthis biking fun it’s no surprise that Big Bear has become theregion’s biking capital. Plus there’s great cycling everyday intown the whole family will love; roll with us right here.All the Sights, Sounds of Pink Floyd at PACClose your eyes and you might think you’re listening to PinkFloyd when Continuous Signal takes the stage at the PAC. Butdon’t do that, because you’ll miss seeing the lasers,inflatables, giant puppets and more that made seeing thesupergroup such a unique experience.Series Continues with Journey, Beatles MusicDiscovery Center’s popular Music in the Mountains outdoorconcert series continues with two great shows this monthunder the stars. First it’s DSB Band’s popular tribute toJourney. Then two weeks later it’s Hard Day’s Nightpresenting Beatles music complete with costume changes.Walk Under Towering Pines to Pebble PlainHard to believe that while you’re hiking through dense forestwith tall pines all around that you’re actually enroute to PebblePlain, the unique ecosystem found only in Big Bear. And thatthere’s several trailheads right in town! But it’s all true and incolor, on The Back Page.Brad Riesau plays 9,000 songs all overtown; find out where on page 15DEPARTMENTS231314From the PublisherPotpourriArea Map/Calendar of EventsThe AlmanacBig Bear's most completelistings for recreation,dining, and more.Big Bear Today is a monthly magazine covering recreation,dining, nightlife, and events in Big Bear. Reproduction of anymaterial, without the express written consent of the Publisher,is prohibited. Advertising/editorial, call Big Bear Today at (909)585-5533. Mailing address: PO Box 3180, Big Bear City, CA,92314. E-Mail: bigbeartoday@verizon.net. Member, Visit BigBear and Big Bear Chamber of Commerce. Internet Address:bigbeartodaymag.comProduction: Offset printing by G.W. Reed Printing, Inc.Color prepress by 2-Bit Studio.Manuscripts and Art: Contributions are welcome. BigBear Today is not responsible nor liable for unsolicitedmanuscripts or art. Materials received will not be returned.© Copyright 2022 Big Bear Today
Big Bear Today August 2022—Page 3POTPOURRITwo days of fun with experts, live raptors, more!Celebrate eagleswith talks, slidesCelebrate Big Bear’s renowned baldeagles with two days of talks, activities andmore August 13.Saturdayis thebig day atthe ConventionCenter withthe secondannual CelebrationofEagles. Joinfelloweagle loversat 11 a.m.for talksand discussionsfeaturingBigBear birdsincludingwell-publicizedJackiea n dShadow,who havedrawn nationalattention the past few years. The nestcam provided by Friends of Big Bear Valleyhas brought their antics to viewersaround the world. Falcons and owls too.There will be a slide show by localphotographers Trish Green and OwenPhairis with captivating eagle images. Inaddition, Martin Tyner of the SouthwestWildlife Foundation will share knowledgeand experience of his wildlife friends. HisCedar City, Utah-based organization isdedicated to wildlife rescue, rehabilitationand education.At age 19 he was hired as curator ofbirds of prey at Busch Gardens. He wasthe first man in North America licensed totrain a wild golden eagle in the ancient artof falconry. Tyner is a federally licensedfalconer, eagle falconer, educator and wildliferehabilitator.Tynerwill be presentingScout thegoldeneagle, Bellethe Harrishawk andHelen theperegrinefalcon forimpressiveup-closeviewing.S t i c karound afterfor live musicatWyatt’sGrill & SaloonwithSouthernSpirit alongwith westernfoodand good drink. Vendors will also be onhand.On Sunday festivities move to the lakewhere bald eagles may be observed in thewild. Head out on the water aboard BigBear Cruzer for 90-minute excursions withspotters assisting guests in viewing eagles,hawks, falcons and other interesting birds.At press time the cruise was sold out.Admission to the Eagle Celebration isfree with seating first come, first served.Doors open at 10 a.m. Call (909) 585-3000or visit BigBearEvents.com.Big Bear Queen tours, bike rides, kayaks, more!Free hikes, boat ridesat Adventure DaysDiscover a secret portion of CougarCrest Trail or take a guided road or mountainbike ride. Cruise the lake aboard BigBear Queen or paddle a kayak. Celebrateamazing bald eagles.And all these activities and more arefree!Outdoor Adventure Days return August20-21, presented by Big BearEcotourism and headquartered at DiscoveryCenter. It’s Big Bear’s most diversefestival of outdoor activities promoting theValley’s natural beauty, accessibility andunique habitats, resulting in two days ofnonstop fun.All of the many activities are free, butthere is a catch: registration is required toparticipate. Sign up on a first-served basisat Discovery Center on Saturday only from9 a.m.-3 p.m.A slew of activities are scheduled andmore are expected to be added as OutdoorAdventure Days approach. Hikes on severalpopular trails are on tap, includingCougar Crest with its secret section or anaturalist-guided trek along Woodland InterpretiveTrail on the North Shore. If bikingis your thing, join a leisurely guidedroad or mountain bike ride; bring your owntwo-wheeler or rent one from vendors withdiscounts available.On the water, sail aboard Big BearQueen with Chris Bellows, the lake’s mostexperienced tour captain with decades ofexperience. Queen capacity is limited to45 passengers to ensure plenty of spacingon the two-deck paddlewheeler with colorfulflags and open bow seating.Paddle a two-person kayak or climbaboard a guided pontoon boat tour to seeand identify lake bird life. New for 2022,enjoy a water playground!Bald eagle fans can check out Jackieand Shadow’s nest from Dana Point Parkwith local experts on hand, or join in on aspecial eagle celebration Sunday from 10a.m.-noon. For more information, visitwww.bigbearecotourism.org.Pontoon Boat RentalsPirate ShipLake ToursHolloway’sMARINA & RV PARK800-448-53352 4 4 2 3 2 7FishingBoatsLAKESIDE RV CAMPING• Waverunners & Jet Skis• SUPs-Stand Up Paddleboards• Wake Boarding / Waterskiing909.866.57061/2 mile north of Big Bear Blvd. on Edgemoor2 miles west of the Village (turn at Log Cabin Restaurant)3 miles east of the damwww.HollowaysMarina.com
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