Big Bear - worth it?

[sauce]

So my mom's trying to drag me to Big Bear ... I was gonna ski (Yes; I am a nerd ... I refuse to snow board); but it looks like there's not enough snow. Is the mtb-ing up there anything special, or should I just stay in so cal for the usual "pain"-filled cc training ride and a santa monica mountain sojurn? I am torn! Help!

[dstepper]

Yes take your bike, Grout Bay Trail in Fawnskin (Area 51) is a killer singlespeed trail.

On the Big Bear side of the lake, you can always climb Mill Creek Road and come down Pineknot. Except the two times I have tried to find Pineknot offf of Grandview Point I have not found the trailhead...still looking for it.

Dean

[Pain Freak]

I know where it is, and it's right there off the road, but it's not signed and real easy to ride on by. If you do find it, it's some sweet riding on down to Pineknot. But I wouldn't make a trip for just this. There's other rides up there. I like Dean's suggestions.

[Kid A]

Grout bay -yes
snowboarding - hell yes

[mcgrath]

I don't think you're a dork for skiing, just ahead of the curve. Snowboarding is the longest running fad of all time... you'll see, next year everyone will be doing this cool thing called skiing at Mountain High.

[SoCal Life]

Originally Posted by mcgrath

I don't think you're a dork for skiing, just ahead of the curve. Snowboarding is the longest running fad of all time... you'll see, next year everyone will be doing this cool thing called skiing at Mountain High.

Have to disagree with you there. I grew up skiing in NorCal then in Colorado. I had a season pass to Copper Mtn.(by far the best resort Colorado) for 4 years. I can pretty much ski any Double Diamond in Colorado, and when I moved to SoCal, I still decided to throw that all away to start snowboarding.

Snowboarding is just a whole different way to attack the mountain. It just opens up so many different lines and changes your perspective on the mountain. Don't get me wrong, I still love to ski. It just like Street bikes vs. cars, same road, just a whole different way of looking at it.

sauce: If you love to ski, you should try twin tips!! Just get them a little shorter than your normal ski's. It's way fun, and you can still pull the chicks!!

[dirttorpeedo]

ms sauce,the big bear area looks to be rather bald rite now as cathy (ms cc ) and myself were there new years day. take your bike.

[mcgrath]

Originally Posted by SoCal Life

Have to disagree with you there. I grew up skiing in NorCal then in Colorado. I had a season pass to Copper Mtn.(by far the best resort Colorado) for 4 years. I can pretty much ski any Double Diamond in Colorado, and when I moved to SoCal, I still decided to throw that all away to start snowboarding.

Snowboarding is just a whole different way to attack the mountain. It just opens up so many different lines and changes your perspective on the mountain. Don't get me wrong, I still love to ski. It just like Street bikes vs. cars, same road, just a whole different way of looking at it.

sauce: If you love to ski, you should try twin tips!! Just get them a little shorter than your normal ski's. It's way fun, and you can still pull the chicks!!

I could have swore I put enough sarcasm in my post. Dammit, I'm losing my touch.

[SoCal Life]

Originally Posted by mcgrath

I could have swore I put enough sarcasm in my post. Dammit, I'm losing my touch.

Must be. Or it could just be that I don't know you that well. I'll remember next time.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by SoCal Life

I had a season pass to Copper Mtn.(by far the best resort Colorado) for 4 years.

Copper rocks but the "new" peak (forget number...open at least a few years now) at Breck is pretty sweet as well. For those who mostly ride blues, probably the best around. real natural terrain that you can find plenty of fun lines, rollers to pop and jibs to hit. Also pretty crazy Park they have...some of tht stuff just freakin scares the sh!t out of me its so big. That said looks like if we sneak in trip this year it's to UT (prob Canyons and PC...maybe Brighton)

[spookydave]

All I know is a few runs down "Dark Side", "Pistol Pete's", "Creek" and "Colin Bailey" sound good right now!

Man do I miss downhilling up there.

[SoCal Life]

Originally Posted by Kid A

Copper rocks but the "new" peak (forget number...open at least a few years now) at Breck is pretty sweet as well. For those who mostly ride blues, probably the best around. real natural terrain that you can find plenty of fun lines, rollers to pop and jibs to hit. Also pretty crazy Park they have...some of tht stuff just freakin scares the sh!t out of me its so big. That said looks like if we sneak in trip this year it's to UT (prob Canyons and PC...maybe Brighton)

Nice, I definitely like Brek. I think it was peak 9 that finally got a lift on it. When I used to ski, you had to hike all the good shit, and it just got old. I pretty much skied all the back bowls and the upper and lower enchanted forest's, and we used to hike Tucker mountain. I heard that they now have a lift up to the top of Tucker.

[sauce]

I heard from my friend that it's gonna snow! Do you think there will be skiing after all?

[Burner]

I think it's supposed to get very cold for the next 2 days, if there is snow it's not going to be much, but it will be at low elevation (down to 1000'). I'm sure they'll be making a ton of snow during these conditions.

[1x1clyde]

Sauce -
There is already sking & snowboarding at both resorts in Big Bear Bear Mountain: & Snow Summit: Winter . Summit has more runs open. The town of Big Bear has patches of snow from the few snowfalls they've had this season so far.
As far a biking goes - The mtb trails currently have patches of snow in the shady spots and will most likely be covered after the cold front going through Thurs & Fri. It will be cold this weekend and the forecast is saying some snow (everyone has their own version of amounts). Lately i've left the biking down the hill and enjoyed the winter sports Bear Mtn has to offer.

If you are going up this week-end plan on having chains for your vehicle - if the roads are the least bit slick they won't let you up the mountain without them even if you have 4 wheel drive..(oh and the resorts won't let you park in their lots without chains either - take it from me I learned that the hard way)

When the warm months are upon us there is some killer trails to ride up there.

I hope this helps you in your decision making..

[roadkillross]

who even goes to mountain high

[guero]

me^ i prefer riding the east mountain there. it is way less crowded and after a big dump, the freshies and tree runs there are amazing.

[jfromlv]

Originally Posted by guero

me^ i prefer riding the east mountain there. it is way less crowded and after a big dump, the freshies and tree runs there are amazing.

I feel freshies after a big dump.

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by spookydave

All I know is a few runs down "Dark Side", "Pistol Pete's", "Creek" and "Colin Bailey" sound good right now!

Man do I miss downhilling up there.

I hear you! That was the good ol' days.

Dave, remember me? (I gave a good enough hint, right?) I used to have a red Dodge truck, and I rode a blue GT DHi.

[sauce]

Has anybody ever rented DH bikes and gone down the slopes? What's that like?