Big Bear Opening Weekend

For most Southern Californians, opening day at Snow Summit comes sometime during November or December as soon as there is enough snow to open the lifts for skiing and snowboarding.

For mountain bikers, opening day comes in May when the snow has melted and the trails are open for a summer of lift assisted downhill riding.

This weekend was the first time I've ridden the trails at Big Bear in at least ten years. I used to ride here a lot. Between the races and leading group rides for clubs, I spent quite a bit of time riding the trails at Big Bear.

I was living out of the area and country from 2001-2005 and missed the season and accident that led to the management of Snow Summit closing the trails within the ski area. Since then for some reason I just didn't make it up to the area to ride.

I was invited by some friends to join them for opening weekend and ended up having a blast. I explored trails I haven't ridden in years, rode the old cross-country courses from when I used to race and reaquainted myself with an area that has so much mountain bike history.

There is something special about riding in real mountains.

The smell of the pine trees, riding down steep, rooty, rocky trails all make it a special experience.


Sure the ski area is closed to riding, but here's the real secret of Big Bear, the best trails were never on the Ski Area, they are out in the National Forest waiting for a whole new generation of riders to make their own history.

And maybe we'll never get a bike park built like Mammoth, Northstar or Whistler, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun riding with our friends in a beautiful alpine environment.

Big Bear is and always will be a great place to ride. Get out there and have fun.