Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation Expanding Their Reach to Include Paths for Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Biking, Running, Cycling and Horseback Riding

When the snow melts, outdoor enthusiasts will again be able to enjoy the 30 miles of bike routes throughout the Big Bear Valley, though, through the efforts of the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation, the hope is to have paths available for non-motorized travel year-round by incorporating routes not just for cycling, but cross-county skiing, hiking, running and horseback riding. In 2009, the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation expanded their reach, became a non-profit 501C3 corporation, and are now pursuing grant funding—which is a considerable effort for the group which, only in 2006, was a handful of volunteers operating as an ad hoc committee of the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District focused on establishing Class 3 bike routes within Big Bear.
This initial focus was accomplished, given support from the City of Big Bear Lake and the County of San Bernardino, and, on Memorial Day weekend 2008, the coalition celebrated the ribbon cutting for 30 miles of bike routes (15 in Big Bear Lake and 17 in the East Valley), the installation of 37 “share the road” signs around the perimeter of Big Bear Lake and beyond, the completion and distribution of Valley-wide bike trails maps, and a community Bike Ride for Ryan, in support of local Olympic marathon runner Ryan Hall. The group has since incorporated equestrian, hiking, running and cross-county skiing enthusiasts into their Foundation Board, as well as representatives from the San Bernardino National Forest and the City, to achieve their mission, which is to create, enhance, preserve and promote non-motorized use of Big Bear Valley trails and roadways for the enjoyment and transportation of residents and visitors. Ongoing efforts of the group include the design and development of a multi-use path around Baldwin Lake, as well as one between Stanfield Cutoff and Division, and the pursuit of funding for a Valley-wide master plan of trails both on the Valley floor and perimeter mountains; they are also working with the City and County as developments are proposed, to incorporate right of way access and funding for the multi-use paths. A long-term goal of the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation is to explore the possibility of providing a trail guide and information service.
To fund these efforts, the foundation will next week host their first fundraiser, billed as “Pizza and Pizzazz”; all-you-can-eat pizza (for $15), as well as salad and soft drinks, will be provided at Maggio’s in the Interlaken Center, and the pizzazz will be provided by local entertainers Mike Cross and Emily Dunn, as well as Brian Adams, Kim Boda, Steve Cassling, Beth Gardner, John Grandi, Elena Peavy, Nancy Walker and Ty Warren. The entire community is invited to the February 9 event, from 5 to 8pm, to enjoy pizza and pizzazz and find out more about the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation. For more information on Pizza and Pizzazz, see our event listing or call Phil Hamilton at 585-3467; for more on the Trails Foundation, visit their website at BigBearValleyTrailsFoundation.org.

Local Activities and Camps Available to Students During Fall Break; Hummingbird Project Offers Financial Assistance

Bear Valley Unified students start their two-week Fall Break come Saturday and, parents, should you be looking for activities to engage your children through October 18, there are some opportunities. The Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District offers Wild and Crazy Super Sports Camp for 9 to 13-year-olds, at a cost of $99 per week. Offerings during sports camp include bowling, hiking, mountain bike riding, volleyball, basketball, and a scavenger hunt; to register for Wild and Crazy Super Sports Camp, which runs from 9am to 2pm, call the Recreation and Park District at 866-9700. There is also a day camp offered by the YMCA’s Camp Whittle, with transportation services available from Vons. At Camp Whittle, in the woods behind Fawnskin, day campers can participate in arts and crafts, archery, outdoor games and hikes, and, for 12 to 14-year-olds, a specialized equestrian day camp is available. Cost for Camp Whittle over Fall Break is $250 per week, which also includes meals and transportation, as well as a Friday family dinner and campfire; to register, call 866-3000. Local teacher Kasey Hall offers an Arts and Outdoor Education program during break, which is available to kindergarten through sixth grade students at a cost of $100 per week. The outdoor science program will also include daily nature hikes, painting, canoeing on Cedar Lake, and healthy, organic snacks. Call soon to register, at 909/522-2945. No matter what activity you select for your child, the Hummingbird Project offers Fall Break activities financial assistance to low-to-moderate income families; for more information, contact Elaine Tennity at 584-8642, or stop by the Hummingbird Project Thrift Store at 400 West Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear City.

“Horse Whisperer” Techniques Come to Big Bear; Los Vaqueros Host Three-Day Horsemanship Clinic in August

Big Bear’s Los Vaqueros de La Montañas Riding Club has a special event planned for August, as horse expert Paul Dietz–who has been mentored by Buck Brannaman, the “horse whisperer” who inspired the book by Nicholas Evans and the movie starring Robert Redford—will be teaching three days of horsemanship and cow working workshops on August 7, 8 and 9. Says Los Vaqueros’ Suzanne Hodges, “This is very special for Big Bear to have such a close connection to the ‘horse whisperer.’ Paul Dietz is a very close friend, and studied for four years traveling the country with Buck Brannaman. Big Bear is lucky to have Paul make one of his national stops here, and promoting communication between horse and rider is his expertise.” Dietz offers a money-back guarantee on workshops (offered at $275 for three days), and classes offered at Los Vaqueros Arena will remain small so that individual attention can be given to all riders. For those who would like to get a sneak peak of the horse whisperer techniques, a free horsemanship and riding equipment demonstration will be offered by Dietz on Thursday evening, August 6 at 6pm. Spectator seating during the three days of clinics will also be offered at $15 per day, pre-sale. Other horseback riding events offered by Los Vaqueros include the August 16 horse show and, on August 15, September 12 and October 3, the final gymkhanas in the Los Vaqueros Saddle Series, all of which are held at the Los Vaqueros Arena (located at the end of East Big Bear Boulevard in the Shay Meadow area) and free to spectators. For more information on the Paul Dietz horsemanship classes, or to sign-up, call or email Suzanne Hodges at 855-9963, suzanne@spywithin.com or Kathy Armsby at 963-9405, cardsbyranch@charter.net.

Los Vaqueros Riding Club Hosts Gymkhana, Kick-Off BBQ and Ranch Sorting Event on Saturday

In addition to hosting all-breed western horse shows, Los Vaqueros de Las Montañas, Big Bear’s riding club formed in 1946, this weekend hosts the first in their Los Vaqueros Saddle Series Gymkhanas. Saturday’s 10am gymkhana features pole bending, Texas barrels, speedball and keyhole, and spectators are welcomed. Following the gymkhana (at about 4 or 5pm), Los Vaqueros host a kick-off BBQ featuring tri-tip. The day’s festivities at the Los Vaqueros arena, located at the eastern-most end of Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear City, continue with ranch sorting in the evening. Ranch sorting is a timed cattle event that tests the horsemanship skills of the rider. Says Los Vaqueros Suzanne Hodges, “Your $15 donation is asked for the BBQ, but with free ranch sorting, what a great deal for a night of fun, an opportunity to meet some great horse people, and a chance to join one of the most historic clubs in Big Bear!” The Los Vaqueros Saddle Series Gymkhanas will also be held on June 13, August 15, September 12 and October 3; the overall high-point winner in the series will win a saddle donated by All Mountain Feed. Western horse shows at the Los Vaqueros area are scheduled for June 14, July 12 and August 16. For more information, or driving directions, you can visit LosVaquerosRidingClub.com.

Lakeside Concerts, Free Movie Nights, Youth Field Trips Available Through Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District This Summer, As Well as Classes in Kayaking, Horsemanship and Gold Prospecting

The summer season is full of recreational opportunities, many of them outlined in the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District’s just-released 2009 Summer Brochure. In addition to the Fourth of July concert on the beach featuring Foreigner’s Lou Gramm, there will be another four concerts, as well as free movie nights at the lakeside venue. Rec and Park also offers a number of camps, including basketball, golf and soccer, in addition to classes in art, dance, karate, tennis, kayaking, gold prospecting, senior aerobics and, new this year, a horsemanship class for 12 to 15 year-olds taught by Man About Town Paul Ortuno. Rec and Park also offers summer day care and special field trips through the Rainbow Kids Club and the Teen Center. As of this weekend, McDill Swim Beach opens for the season. Season passes are available to swim beach, which also includes a sand volleyball court, grass picnic area, playground and BBQ pits. For more information on summer programs, the 2009 Summer Brochure is available at the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District offices on Park Avenue in Big Bear Lake, or visit them online at BigBearParks.com.

Los Vaqueros de Las Montañas Present First in a Series of Horse Shows This Sunday, Partner With BBVRPD for Youth Horsemanship Program

This Sunday marks the first in a series of all-breed western horse shows hosted by Los Vaqueros de Las Montañas, Big Bear’s local riding club that was formed back in 1946. Horse shows at the Los Vaqueros Arena, located at the eastern-most end of Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear City, begin at 10am on May 17, June 14, July 12 and August 16. Each of these horse shows, as well as Los Vaqueros Saddle Series Gymkhana (the first of which is May 30) are free to the public and spectators are welcome (there is, however, a fee to riders who participate). In addition to shows at their arena, the riding club is also offering horsemanship classes for youth, through a special partnership with the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District. As Los Vaqueros’ Suzanne Hodges tells KBHR, “The kids will get to be around horses, learn how to behave around them, plus groom them. They’ll also get a junior membership with the club and they’ll get to ride, and they don’t even need to have a horse.” Los Vaqueros will provide horses for the new Rec and Park program, which will be offered to both boys and girls, ages 12 to 15. The four horsemanship classes, offered every other Thursday starting June 18, are available to youth at a cost of $25, though Los Vaqueros will also make scholarship opportunities available—as well as a graduation BBQ for all involved. For more information on shows and gymkhanas at Los Vaqueros Arena, visit LosVaquerosRidingClub.com; for information on the horsemanship program for 12-15-year-olds, visit BigBearParks.com or call 866-9700.

Trekkin’ Through: Pacific Crest Trail Hikers Stop in Big Bear During Their Cross-Country Adventure

The annual trek along the Pacific Crest Trail, from the U.S./Mexico border north to nearly Canada, is underway as both hikers and equestrians partake in the adventure, many of them stopping in the Big Bear Valley for postal service, supplies and showers. This year there are more hikers on the PCT, according to Suzanne Wilson, a regional rep for the Pacific Crest Trail Association, a non-profit partner with the U.S. Forest Service. As Wilson tells KBHR, “We have a lot more people on the trail this year and it could be due to the economy, since it is a fun and relatively inexpensive adventure.” This season, during which PCTers arrive in Big Bear anytime between late March and mid-June, over 450 “thru” hiking permits have been issued by the PCTA, and over 500 section permits for portions of the trail, as some hikers tackle just a bit each year, rather than making the complete (and often arduous) trail, which includes both deserts and the Sierras. The Pacific Crest Trail drops into the Big Bear area just southeast of Heart Bar off Highway 38, goes over Onyx Summit, travels east of Baldwin Lake, then goes along the Valley’s northern ridge by Bertha Peak, and beyond Fawnskin—roughly 93 miles ’round our Valley, by the time hikers get to Lake Silverwood. Jim Dooley of the North Shore Trading Company tells KBHR, “The Pacific Crest Trail is only a mile and a half or so from Fawnskin—we can drive to it on one of the 3N roads—so hikers can drop down to Fawnskin for supplies.” To that end, the Fawnskin Chamber of Commerce this year placed an ad in the PCT magazine. According to Peter Fulkerson, a board member for the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association and owner of Equada Outfitters, “By the time they get to Big Bear, they’re rethinking their stuff. We get a lot of people looking for new shoes, or fuel for their cook stoves.” Fulkerson notes that they often stop at post offices to mail some things forward, such as an ice ax or heavier clothes that they won’t need for the desert leg of the journey. In fact, the Big Bear City Post Office has a wall of photos of PCTers, each including the nickname they picked up on the trail, their age and where they’re from. As PCTA’s Wilson says, “The backgrounds and ages of the hikers and equestrians who travel the PCT are of a wide variety and include all levels of experience. Folks come from all over, including Europe and South America.”

Ed Stalcup, a 34-Year BBHS Coach and English Teacher, to Be Celebrated in Tuesday Memorial Service

If you attended Big Bear High School between 1958 and 1992 and you can form a complete sentence, chances are you have Mr. Ed Stalcup to thank. Long the high school English and speech teacher—as well as coach of the golf, ski, volleyball and football teams, as well as having been the BBHS athletic director—Stalcup will be celebrated with a memorial service at Northwoods Resort on Tuesday, August 19 at 4pm. The 60-year Big Bear Lake resident, who passed Monday morning (at age 78) at Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs as a result of a two-month bout with leukemia, was known to all students at Big Bear High School, including his own children with Charlene, his wife of 54 years: Kim, Kirk, Kris, Kent and Karl. In addition to coaching Big Bear students in grammar and sports, Stalcup was also a member of Los Vaqueros Riding Club and started the Big Bear Ski Club in the late ’50s–along with Tommy Tyndall and others, he literally built the Tyndall Haus at Snow Summit, which served as the group’s clubhouse. Youngest son Karl tells KBHR that during summer breaks from school, his dad also built homes and delivered milk. Karl remembers, “We’d deliver milk to all the camps up here. He’d always take one of us kids to go with him, at 4am.”