The Big Bear Valley has had several storms visit leaving a base of one to two feet on the slopes. The daytime temperatures will range from the mid-30's to the mid-40's. Conditions are cold enough to maintain machine groomed packed powder runs at the Resorts. Other types of snow play on the mountain include inner tubing at the Alpine Slide west of the Village or Big Bear Snow Play across from the Convention Center. If you're looking for less demanding excitement during the holidays, head into Big Bear Lake's … [Read more...]
Winterizing Your Big Bear Home – Part Two
December 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Heat, Gas, and Electricity Heating Systems Most experts advise against turning the heat completely off - for two reasons. First, the winter air brings condensation that can cause mildew and dry-rot. Second, the freeze and thaw will add undue stress to your home and has been known to crack foundations. Install a thermostat that can be set to 40 degrees and make sure you’ve sealed all potential air leaks throughout the home. Natural Gas and Propane Even though you need gas for the heat, you can turn off the gas to … [Read more...]
Winterizing Your Big Bear Home – Part One
December 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear’s been hit with a blast of artic air and overnight temperatures have dropped into the single digits. If you haven’t done it already, it’s time to winterize your Big Bear home and avoid any costly damage that can occur when the temperatures drop. Here are a few tips for protecting your mountain home during the winter months. Water Supply and Plumbing Besides wrapping your pipes and insulating your home, there are several things you can do to protect your property from freezing temperatures. If you do … [Read more...]
Big Bear Looks Like Christmas
December 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear looks like a Christmas card thanks to a recent snow storm that blanketed the valley with almost a foot of new snow - and the timing was perfect. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain have opened up most of their runs and lifts, just in time for the holidays. The Big Bear winter season is off to a great start. Let’s face it, whether you like it or not, Big Bear is a tourist town. As much as the locals may complain about the traffic and the crowds, most of us probably wouldn’t be here if not for the fact that Big … [Read more...]
Your Big Bear Home
November 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Go Green Save Money Reducing your carbon footprint and “going green” are big buzzwords these days. Winter heating costs have risen over the past few years and it’s more important than ever to reduce energy consumption. Here are a few low-cost and no-cost tips to help Big Bear home owners reduce their carbon footprint and save money at the same time. Use The Heat Of The Sun Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the … [Read more...]
It’s Snowing In Big Bear!
November 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment
When you live in Big Bear it pays to be prepared for a quick change in the weather. But nobody expected the six inches of snow that dumped on us yesterday. It’s rare for a storm of this size to hit this early in the season, but it’s not unheard of. We’re just scratching our heads because it was nice and sunny just a few days ago. All of the sudden, wham, it’s winter. And it’s so beautiful, just a blanket of white. Obviously, this is great news for the local economy. Tourism is our number one industry and when the … [Read more...]
Big Bear Lake Feels Like Home
November 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Every Halloween the City of Big Bear Lake throws a great party in the village. The streets are blocked off and hundreds of costumed kids of all ages walk business to business and collect candy from local businesses and vendors. It’s really a blast. Some parents dress up right along with their kids. In fact, I saw Tyler Wood and son decked out head to toe in matching fly-fishermen outfits, looking like they just walked out of The Banana Republic. This was my first “Halloween in the Village” in several years. My … [Read more...]
Moonridge Neighbors
October 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Moonridge neighborhoods, comprising High Timber Ranch, Upper Moonridge and Lower Moonridge, is also home to the Moonridge Animal Park. This popular attraction is located across from Bear Mountain Ski Resort. The Park began in response to a forest fire back in 1959. Orphaned and imprinted animals that couldn’t be released back into the wild needed an alpine facility. One of the Parks first residents was a stranded, thirty pound, black bear cub. Early inhabitants also included a bobcat and mule deer. In 1960 the … [Read more...]
Big Bear Lake – A Ski Season Preview
October 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment
There’s a chill in the air and in Big Bear that means only one thing, winter is right around the corner. If you love winter sports it’s time to get excited. Here’s a little pre-season info to get you thinking about all the winter fun you’re going to be having in Big Bear this season. Skiing and Snowboarding We’d be spoiled of we had just one local ski area in Big Bear, but we’re blessed with two world class resorts, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. There’s something for every skill level and taste, long cruisey ski … [Read more...]
Mountain Colors
October 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Fond early childhood memories include watching the colors of the trees change, every Fall on the East Coast. Our mountains here in Southern California take a little bit longer. The 2011 season is in full swing and is expected to peak the weekend of October 22nd. As a transplanted “New Englander,” it took me a few years to appreciate Big Bear’s seasonal color show. The funniest color change occurs on Baldwin Lake. This seasonal dry lake changes from deep green to pink and finally a deep copper color. Many of our … [Read more...]
