Big Bear Lake tour

First ever experience of snow covered mountains

 

 

It was long back in the year 2008. At that time, I had no idea about the picturesque mountains in southern California. One night we were sitting at one of our family friends’ home. It was a cold January evening, a perfect time to gossiping with a cup of hot coffee. My hubby’s friend, who was very enthusiastic about going for an outing was talking about Big Bear Lake, and insisting us to go there along with them. However, his wife seemed not very interested. Anyway, the planning abruptly ended as it was getting late night. We came back home in the wee hour of night.

The penthouses just in front of the lake

 

 Suddenly, the very next Saturday after that weekend, in morning during tea-time my hubby suggested going to Big Bear Lake. I jumped up and agreed with him. We hurriedly got ready and left for Big Bear.  I knew, if I told the fact that I never saw snow-covered mountain, nobody would believe. However, it was really a bare truth that, I never saw snow-covered mountain before. So, my excitement was high. The place was not very far from our home. We both dressed in heavy winter garments started from home packing some snacks with us. I can’t just hold my excitement as soon as the mountain road started. I told my hubby that it was the first time in my life I was experiencing a mountain road. I only heard about mountain road from my mother. Such a narrow and spiraling road surrounded by tall pine trees flourishing towards the sky sent me a mixed feeling of scare and excitement. I felt that every time I was missing heartbeat when the car was taking sharp turn with the steep inclination on the other side. 

I felt like that our car was going down the cliff. As it was winter, the prime time of tourism, people were going there to enjoy winter sports. So, the narrow road was almost packed with cars, though we didn’t face any traffic jam. We thought we would experience snow covered road, and it would be a tough situation. We anticipated putting chains on the wheels of car, but nothing was there. Road was already cleared up in the morning. We saw only heap of snow on the both sides of the road. We went there to enjoy the beauty of nature, so we were not in a hurry. As we were moving slowly towards the top, the white rugged mountain opened up its harsh beauty in front of my eyes. Other people were in hurry to reach the top of the mountain to start their winter sports, but we were not. We were there to enjoy the beauty of the nature. 

So, whenever my hubby saw a speeding car behind him, he gave him pass by siding at the nearest turnouts. Then we reached the Big Bear Lake. The lake was utterly frozen in the winter. It looked like a huge skating ground. However, the ice layer was too thin to bear any kind of weight. So, people were restricted to step on the ice. Though we knew that it was cold outside, still couldn’t realize the intensity of the cold. Especially for me who just arrived from a warm climatic zone of the world just few days back. As soon as we came out of the car, the cold air brushed our faces and hands so intensely that we again went back to our car to put on extra clothes and gloves to beat the cold. The dazzling sun seemed no power to overpower the cold. 

But, we enjoyed standing in the teeth-tittering cold to see the vast white. We walked beside the lake. I felt like to put my feet on the thin layer of ice on the lake, but that was extremely risky. Anyway, another thing caught my eye were the beautiful penthouse on the opposite of the lake. As usual my hubby started planning to spend some days in one of the houses. I also hoped to come to Big Bear Lake in other season to enjoy in the penthouse. Anyway, we decided to explore further, but after few minutes, we realized that it wouldn’t be a wise decision to go forward. We decided to come down. Also it was already 4 o’clock, and it was going to be dark, which might make difficult to drive on an unknown mountain road. So, we decided to go back home. While coming down I saw people were riding rope-ways. I expressed my desire to ride. So, we stopped our car in a huge flat area. However, when we went inside, we found that, that rope-way was exclusively for the skiers. We couldn’t do ski, but I saw a new game there. 

People were coming down from above the mountains on huge saucers. I wanted desperately wanted to try that funny game, but my hubby didn’t allow me to do that. Sun started setting down slowly, and it was time to go back home. I enjoyed the day in fullest. I never had any experience on mountain road; my hubby gave me that experience. 

The same penthouses in fall

 

Almost one and half years later during fall ’09 again we went there. Actually I wanted to see that very place apart from the tourist season.  It was the month of October, extremely chilly without snow. The road was totally deserted. Only a very few cars were on the road. While going there my hubby entered on the wrong way and we lost. Fortunately we saw a small shop in front of us. We asked the shopkeeper, who told us the route. Again we went down and took the right route. It was cloudy day. Sometimes we faced dense fog on our way. Anyway, we reached the lake. As soon as we got down the car the chilly wind washed our face and left us shivering. The lake was totally empty, only some people were boating there. The lake was utterly calm and serene, just like the lake was sleeping. We decided to take car ride round the lake. Last time we didn’t go beyond the lake because of snow. We drove is slow pace through the sleepy town.  It seemed everybody was sleeping there; they didn’t want any outsider to wake them up. What a contrast!! Just in few miles away we were leading a hectic life in everyday’s hustle and bustle.  We were going down. Suddenly dense fog plunged in our way. We couldn’t see anything beyond hundred feet. It was really scary. We couldn’t see the incoming cars on the sharp bends. I sat in the car with a palpating heart. After half an hour we found clear weather, and we could breathe freely. Anyway, it was another experience. First time only two of us, but next time we were three!! Yes, this time I was with my one year old toddler. However, my cute little baby didn’t make any problem.