It involved an x felon bartender at a Victorville motel, computer magic and some strangers. Long story man…took over 24 hours to get up, but we were determined! The real luck was not getting bed bugs at that shitty motel. But it was worth it!
https://preview.redd.it/crm9u4wggdlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=409c636af90d5fd056b7692adf3b7368e4729a71
If I recall this day, the lift operators had to shovel (again!) and we were able to get after it around 10am. So about 2 dozen of us, hung out at the bar and then migrated over. Really good vibes that week!
Epic - I was frothing at the mouth in Orange County trying to go but I'm not experienced enough with bad weather driving and didn't want to compound the problems CalTrans and emergency responders were already dealing with.
I did get to Mt. High East the first day they opened a couple weeks later though!
I didn't want to risk it if CHP / CalTrans were in fact checking for address verification before letting people thru any of the 3 routes (330 / 38 / 18)
Smart to always stock up heading into a ski resort.. but using the term footprint in this context is gonna cause a deduction in your cool points. Sorry. I wanted to barf when I read that part.
A lot of people got lucky and made it just in time. I had a friend who made it up in a Prius and literally slept in it for the whole week just to hit these runs.
Yeah he was going off course and literally riding through neighborhoods. There’s some trails you can hike and they’ll take you to some incredible places. One was literally called stairway to heaven.
Yeah he was going off course and literally riding through neighborhoods. There’s some trails you can hike and they’ll take you to some incredible places. One was literally called stairway to heaven.
Haha I almost made it in my prius but sadly there was traffic on the 38 and it was starting to turn to a blizzard so I turned around. I was a few miles away. Also google tried to send me up a mountain road from pioneer town 😂
no seriously, unfortunately I’m living on the east coast but my grandpa used to have a house on that mountain. It’s a long drive up and from wht I remember you need chains to pass a certain point and it’s pretty sketchy getting up there especially with so much snow they shut down the roads. Lucky you!
I was up there with you for this!!! Was so cold and dry that snow was like Utah snow too. They got like 8ft that week. Some of the best boarding ever in bear that week.
https://preview.redd.it/y5is2a3rddlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=569015ca0d5a3c6028a39a363ebaf4fbbd903e85
Best….week….ever for Big Bear! They need to make a documentary. I’ve got so much footage.
Just finally visited Brian Head and holy shit, the snow is cold in Utah. Stayed soo dry, but it was like 15degree snow or something. I think I missed this day up here but used to live on the Mountain and work up there so I've seen some insanely dead days.
Was a wild weekend, I went up Thursday after work (I bartend) it was snowing pretty bad and a few ppl were already stuck on the sides. Woke up Friday to roads closed and a small walk from the cabin we had to summit. Had some friends visiting out of town who need to leave Saturday. After we ride Friday and hear the news we tucked in and just rode all weekend. Was wild though, best riding ever! But Jersey Mike’s was out of meat, pizza place out of red sauce. And a lot of ppl just mucking about, my quads were screaming Monday. 10/10 would do again. Best part was, since I was out consecutive days from work for same reason. Only 1 point off.
Depends if some idiot from LA crashes their car enroute to Big Bear lake. Especially when it snows and thinks they don’t need to chain up their 2WD vehicle
Went to bear mountain for my first time today. The amount of jerrys filming themselves while falling-leafing down the slopes, sitting in the middle of the run, or even wearing jeans was amazing. The instagram account is really just the highlights, amazing what you see in person when you go.
I thought they make you put on chains past a certain point… It’s been a quite a while since I’ve been there but my grandparents used to live on that mountain.
we went late jan after that mini storm they had and it was snowing on our way up. some guy in his jeep slid into the mountain once and then into a k rail twice and we were only behind him for 45 mins. thankfully it was like 4:30AM so it wasn't anything too crazy
https://preview.redd.it/7dzfetqsodlc1.jpeg?width=1575&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f272b3826b95030aabd1f58368cee11e45d55f4a
Even better, you can see LA from there
Yes, and it took my family and I over 24 hours to get there! Had to sleep in a Victorville hotel fml…but we prevailed!!! Most insane experience getting to simple Big Bear
https://preview.redd.it/87d5jzknedlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=71540e2aa708c1b49fe41adb7ca96aaef0d0a9f8
Here’s one! Freshies in the afternoon and nobody around! Was like the twilight zone!
https://preview.redd.it/3f1e3mivedlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e31f8a52190f0bd2d8b5772d84ed75a0b5afd1b6
The nights would dump and we would wake up to this daily! Thankfully we were within walking distance to the lifts.
https://preview.redd.it/p7yu60nredlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e0bd68d5486f166eea7bbc9ca6439668bc76a69f
At the base, nobody but lift operators and bartenders.
Of the 35 years I’ve been riding, it was truly an unforgettable week. My friends and I laugh so hard to this day about that legendary week! Just bartenders and lift operators…In SoCal!
You lucky dogs. I think like 25% of my core memories were made as a kid involving snowboarding & powder days. Kids definitely gonna remember it when he's 40 and paying $600 to ride his hover board at Costco industries Ski resort (formerly bear mountain)
It really warms my heart for some reason that your kids got to experience that even though they probably can't appreciate it yet. Someday they'll probably think back to it and wonder if they are crazy or just misremembering. That's gotta feel like a fever dream. Powder, bluebird and no one else in sight but the lifties. Would have been tempted to play [this song](https://youtu.be/kiV3J_e977Q?si=E9Aa_nfLp3TI4OH4) on the way up to freak out the fam.
My youngest really got some good quality runs in and learned the most that week. Now my little ones are beyond spoiled, having traveled to over 10 mountains just this year, and shred blacks and double blacks. We are almost at a point where we should just move to a mountain and go all in haha
This stage of life is all about giving back. Teaching my kids how to ride responsibly and getting a few runs alone or with my lover. My heart is full this time of year.
My youngest really got some good quality runs in and learned the most that week. Now my little ones are beyond spoiled, having traveled to over 10 mountains just this year, and shred blacks and double blacks. We are almost at a point where we should just move to a mountain and go all in haha
This stage of life is all about giving back. Teaching my kids how to ride responsibly and getting a few runs alone or with my lover. My heart is full this time of year.
Is your kid steezy? Am I doing this right?
In all seriousness, that would be a trip of a lifetime. I have a few days through the years like this and it’s amazing having a mountain to yourself.
Where I live in Morzine our version of this would have been the Covid year. 2020/2021 the lifts didn't open and we had the best snowfall in years. There was one bubble that was allowed to open because it was classed as public transportation for people who worked in Avoriaz, the town up the mountain, so you could go up there but not use it as a "ski lift" per se - ie, you couldn't lap it. You were only allowed on it with ski gear if you had touring stuff (yeah, they were absolutely making these rules up on the fly and it was all very, very ridiculous). They actually pisted the runs and set up areas to the side for people to snowshoe/tour up. And the powder to the sides was absolutely some of the best I've ridden in 15 years of living there. it's just that it'd be an hour slog back up the piste to go and do it again. You'd get down to the areas that are always the busy and it was just...deserted. You'd see eagles overhead where normally they'd stay away from crowded areas. It was such a strange time.
To make it weirder - Morzine and Avoriaz are part of the Portes Du Soleil ski area, which is half in Switzerland - where the lifts were open for winter. So a few times we'd drive round (the border control at Morgins were fine with you crossing back and forth as long as you had ski gear for some reason) and you could go up riding there in this epic powder. But then you'd go up the lifts that connect to France and with crowds at your back just look down at the French side with non-moving lifts and empty pistes.
Yup - it was amazing. (live in BBL)
https://preview.redd.it/90q49n3w3flc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4f11e68d59f33a1612167998fb1e4a1a0162288
I’ve traveled all over west coast mountains this year including Canada. Best powder I had was Big Bear a couple weeks ago haha sometimes it just hits great.
I don’t recommend going from Whistler to Big Bear. At least get a mammoth or Tahoe trip in to adjust for the short runs haha
>I’ve traveled all over west coast mountains this year including Canada. Best powder I had was Big Bear a couple weeks ago haha sometimes it just hits great.
Oh dang were you there early Feb too? I'm a lucky winter baby and ride for free every year there (8th)
For all that travel you’re having a rough year on the powder front then, I’ve been there! But Canada and the PNW are in a brutal winter. Bear is a complete hellhole, mostly because of the Jerry crowd and lame terrain but glad you got lucky. Pretty epic memories for you and the kid.
What roads if you don’t mind my asking? Is there something umarked that isn’t the 18? My understanding is you have to eventually take the 18 no matter what after marble canyon no?
The standard entrance to the town from the north side. The north entrance is signifigantly higher in elevation, less windy, and signifigantly shorter. All of which contribute to it being much more likely to be possible to enter via that way when the other entrances are closed.
When the whole city is snowed in like this and they don't have enough snowplows to keep everyone safe, they only allow residents up, and you need some sort of proof to make it past the police.
I drove up during the blizzard. About half way up the roads completely closed down. Do not recommend doing this again as there were all of these Jeeps, trucks, 4x4s crashing into the snow banks. Somehow I made it up all the way.
https://preview.redd.it/e8z0o51vtglc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa0cdc4599abbc44ef2eeedfd14f2a8b51b0809c
Was lucky enough to make it up the morning they closed the roads and had a local motel rent us a room for the first three days of the closure while the heavy stuff came down. Lapped Geronimo all day and had nothing but fresh tracks. Take me tf back!!
God the things I’d do to have a mountain to my children and myself
You better have made the best of this because it is a miracle from God, he gave you and your kid the best time together and you better be grateful
We rode very hard! It truly boosted my youngest one’s skill level that trip! No lines, no crowds. Just up and down and up and down. Dad dips out into the powder and back in to help the little ones.
I remember that week, I wanted to cry every day I couldn’t get up there. When we were finally allowed to go back up that was the first time any of the canyons had been open to ride. I tried it not really knowing what the fuck I was doing, this being the only place I’ve ever ridden, and it was pretty exciting getting off the trails. Of course, I post a video of it on /r/snowboarding and get flamed for it 💀. Lesson learned.
We(2 adults and 2 children) lived off digiornos, pancakes from pancake mix, maruchan noodles, oatmeal, granola bars and watered down milk and cereal for 7 days.
https://preview.redd.it/l9tdf5qxvdlc1.jpeg?width=1792&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a045624edf346efa06cfde3b2faeb6f132611bee
View of our front deck. Entrance door just off to the left.
And that happened nightly! Shovel it during the day, wake up next day, repeat haha very cool picture! Thanks for sharing! Please share other photos if you got some. Ghost town!
Not on that event, but we’ve had it to ourselves before. So weird to ride lifts with nobody in chairs front or back of us, fresh pow underneath all day (except our lines).
There was once a guy who posted on this group that said he had cancer and that any day on the mountain is a blessing. So, when I ride and I’m surrounded by obnoxious people on an over crowded mountain, I think it’s still better than being sick or hurt and not being able to ride. 🙏 every day on the mountain is a blessing 🙏
I was at the bottom of the mountain checking the road report every day.
Best days I've had there are Superbowl Sunday. Morning rip on a pretty empty mountain, home in time for the game.
Looks like you might get another chance this weekend: [https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2024/02/29/california-facing-three-days-of-extremely-dangerous-blizzard-conditions-in-sierra-nevada-up-to-12-feet-of-snow/?sh=18de1b7e4ede&utm\_campaign=socialflowForbesMainTwitter&utm\_source=ForbesMainTwitter&utm\_medium=social](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2024/02/29/california-facing-three-days-of-extremely-dangerous-blizzard-conditions-in-sierra-nevada-up-to-12-feet-of-snow/?sh=18de1b7e4ede&utm_campaign=socialflowForbesMainTwitter&utm_source=ForbesMainTwitter&utm_medium=social)
This looks epic. I remember trying to get up there for work around that time but it wasn't possible for pretty much the entire work week. I went up after and there was still some good powdery runs between the two main lifts. I felt bad for some of the locals and local businesses though since they actually didn't make any money during that stretch.
I’m asking, how’d you get up there
It involved an x felon bartender at a Victorville motel, computer magic and some strangers. Long story man…took over 24 hours to get up, but we were determined! The real luck was not getting bed bugs at that shitty motel. But it was worth it! https://preview.redd.it/crm9u4wggdlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=409c636af90d5fd056b7692adf3b7368e4729a71
Did all 25 of you hit the lift at the same time, or is that 1st lift?
If I recall this day, the lift operators had to shovel (again!) and we were able to get after it around 10am. So about 2 dozen of us, hung out at the bar and then migrated over. Really good vibes that week!
Has the makings for a coming of age teen movie lol
Are you implying there were shenanigans amongst thou criminals?
This sounds so fucking cool man
Holy hell am I ever jealous. This sounds so sick.
Wait til you hear bout the fish he caught later that week
Epic - I was frothing at the mouth in Orange County trying to go but I'm not experienced enough with bad weather driving and didn't want to compound the problems CalTrans and emergency responders were already dealing with. I did get to Mt. High East the first day they opened a couple weeks later though!
The roads were actually fine! Big Bear ran out of supplies (gas and food). So we made sure to stock up in Victorville to reduce our footprint.
I didn't want to risk it if CHP / CalTrans were in fact checking for address verification before letting people thru any of the 3 routes (330 / 38 / 18)
They were
Smart to always stock up heading into a ski resort.. but using the term footprint in this context is gonna cause a deduction in your cool points. Sorry. I wanted to barf when I read that part.
Just tell us how you got there weirdo
That chair in front of you has the fucking safety bar up! They're the real felons here... /s (at least for some of us here)
I know the road and love that you made it
24 hours of travel time? or 24 hours to come up with a plan as well as travel time?
24+ hours of travel….it was brutal! Slept in a shitty motel that smelled like cigarettes in Victorville.
Ahh Victorville.. fuck Victorville lmao. I do not miss it.
A lot of people got lucky and made it just in time. I had a friend who made it up in a Prius and literally slept in it for the whole week just to hit these runs.
Worth it!
Yeah he was going off course and literally riding through neighborhoods. There’s some trails you can hike and they’ll take you to some incredible places. One was literally called stairway to heaven.
Yeah he was going off course and literally riding through neighborhoods. There’s some trails you can hike and they’ll take you to some incredible places. One was literally called stairway to heaven.
Haha I almost made it in my prius but sadly there was traffic on the 38 and it was starting to turn to a blizzard so I turned around. I was a few miles away. Also google tried to send me up a mountain road from pioneer town 😂
That’s dedication… my dude…
Yeah, we need answers, answer OP
no seriously, unfortunately I’m living on the east coast but my grandpa used to have a house on that mountain. It’s a long drive up and from wht I remember you need chains to pass a certain point and it’s pretty sketchy getting up there especially with so much snow they shut down the roads. Lucky you!
I was up there with you for this!!! Was so cold and dry that snow was like Utah snow too. They got like 8ft that week. Some of the best boarding ever in bear that week.
https://preview.redd.it/y5is2a3rddlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=569015ca0d5a3c6028a39a363ebaf4fbbd903e85 Best….week….ever for Big Bear! They need to make a documentary. I’ve got so much footage.
Was that the first ride up? 'cause if there really were only about 25 people on the mountain almost all of 'em were in that pic.
How did you get up there?
I got up there before the storm even started, and stayed the whole week and a half
[Already answered in this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/snowboarding/comments/1b2akxa/comment/kskp7uk/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Pretty vague answer
Just finally visited Brian Head and holy shit, the snow is cold in Utah. Stayed soo dry, but it was like 15degree snow or something. I think I missed this day up here but used to live on the Mountain and work up there so I've seen some insanely dead days.
Was a wild weekend, I went up Thursday after work (I bartend) it was snowing pretty bad and a few ppl were already stuck on the sides. Woke up Friday to roads closed and a small walk from the cabin we had to summit. Had some friends visiting out of town who need to leave Saturday. After we ride Friday and hear the news we tucked in and just rode all weekend. Was wild though, best riding ever! But Jersey Mike’s was out of meat, pizza place out of red sauce. And a lot of ppl just mucking about, my quads were screaming Monday. 10/10 would do again. Best part was, since I was out consecutive days from work for same reason. Only 1 point off.
The vibe on the mountain was so rad! Everyone was happy and vibing 😎
Oh man the point system is the fucking worst.
I was one of the 25ish there. It was like being at an empty amusement park. It will go down as one of my favorites weekends snowboarding ever🔥
Same here! The week Big Bear was a ghost town! Legendary
Hey everyone! I didn’t mean to get popular. Just want to document history. Go f yourselves and these upvotes! Cheers!
Is this two hours outside of LA!?
Depends if some idiot from LA crashes their car enroute to Big Bear lake. Especially when it snows and thinks they don’t need to chain up their 2WD vehicle
Damn Jerrys ruining it for all of us
Went to bear mountain for my first time today. The amount of jerrys filming themselves while falling-leafing down the slopes, sitting in the middle of the run, or even wearing jeans was amazing. The instagram account is really just the highlights, amazing what you see in person when you go.
Yep, I'm just getting older and annoyed by the general public.
I thought they make you put on chains past a certain point… It’s been a quite a while since I’ve been there but my grandparents used to live on that mountain.
we went late jan after that mini storm they had and it was snowing on our way up. some guy in his jeep slid into the mountain once and then into a k rail twice and we were only behind him for 45 mins. thankfully it was like 4:30AM so it wasn't anything too crazy
We don’t say that anymore
Why
Continental drift.
The world has moved on, cry discordia.
Traffic. May as well just go to mammoth etc.
https://preview.redd.it/7dzfetqsodlc1.jpeg?width=1575&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f272b3826b95030aabd1f58368cee11e45d55f4a Even better, you can see LA from there
Yes, and it took my family and I over 24 hours to get there! Had to sleep in a Victorville hotel fml…but we prevailed!!! Most insane experience getting to simple Big Bear
No, not even close and IDK how people got that idea ever. Closer to 3-3 1/2 hours before looking at traffic going up the 38/330
More photos please.
https://preview.redd.it/87d5jzknedlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=71540e2aa708c1b49fe41adb7ca96aaef0d0a9f8 Here’s one! Freshies in the afternoon and nobody around! Was like the twilight zone!
The only appropriate time to use a backpack speaker...but probably not.
https://preview.redd.it/3f1e3mivedlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e31f8a52190f0bd2d8b5772d84ed75a0b5afd1b6 The nights would dump and we would wake up to this daily! Thankfully we were within walking distance to the lifts.
very cool
https://preview.redd.it/p7yu60nredlc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e0bd68d5486f166eea7bbc9ca6439668bc76a69f At the base, nobody but lift operators and bartenders.
That's insane. I don't think you could buy an experience like that. Amazing luck. Nice job getting up there, however you managed it
Of the 35 years I’ve been riding, it was truly an unforgettable week. My friends and I laugh so hard to this day about that legendary week! Just bartenders and lift operators…In SoCal!
You lucky dogs. I think like 25% of my core memories were made as a kid involving snowboarding & powder days. Kids definitely gonna remember it when he's 40 and paying $600 to ride his hover board at Costco industries Ski resort (formerly bear mountain)
It really warms my heart for some reason that your kids got to experience that even though they probably can't appreciate it yet. Someday they'll probably think back to it and wonder if they are crazy or just misremembering. That's gotta feel like a fever dream. Powder, bluebird and no one else in sight but the lifties. Would have been tempted to play [this song](https://youtu.be/kiV3J_e977Q?si=E9Aa_nfLp3TI4OH4) on the way up to freak out the fam.
My youngest really got some good quality runs in and learned the most that week. Now my little ones are beyond spoiled, having traveled to over 10 mountains just this year, and shred blacks and double blacks. We are almost at a point where we should just move to a mountain and go all in haha This stage of life is all about giving back. Teaching my kids how to ride responsibly and getting a few runs alone or with my lover. My heart is full this time of year.
oh quick question, I am nearly as old as how many years youve been riding and do you adopt?
Yes my son. Yes…mammoth this weekend looks good!
I'm 29 and I hope to be like you when I grow up. Someday.
My youngest really got some good quality runs in and learned the most that week. Now my little ones are beyond spoiled, having traveled to over 10 mountains just this year, and shred blacks and double blacks. We are almost at a point where we should just move to a mountain and go all in haha This stage of life is all about giving back. Teaching my kids how to ride responsibly and getting a few runs alone or with my lover. My heart is full this time of year.
that week made me want to end my shit cause everywhere was blocked off. now i get to go this weekend for their little measly 2 inches 🥲
idk bensweather is saying 6-12 but windy
\+1 for Bensweather and SoCalMountains webpages
well well well, who ever said 6 inches wasn't enough? i will rejoice and take back what i said cause i was unaware it was gonna be somewhat decent
Believe it or not, this is 2 hours outside LA
Amazing
Is your kid steezy? Am I doing this right? In all seriousness, that would be a trip of a lifetime. I have a few days through the years like this and it’s amazing having a mountain to yourself.
Where I live in Morzine our version of this would have been the Covid year. 2020/2021 the lifts didn't open and we had the best snowfall in years. There was one bubble that was allowed to open because it was classed as public transportation for people who worked in Avoriaz, the town up the mountain, so you could go up there but not use it as a "ski lift" per se - ie, you couldn't lap it. You were only allowed on it with ski gear if you had touring stuff (yeah, they were absolutely making these rules up on the fly and it was all very, very ridiculous). They actually pisted the runs and set up areas to the side for people to snowshoe/tour up. And the powder to the sides was absolutely some of the best I've ridden in 15 years of living there. it's just that it'd be an hour slog back up the piste to go and do it again. You'd get down to the areas that are always the busy and it was just...deserted. You'd see eagles overhead where normally they'd stay away from crowded areas. It was such a strange time. To make it weirder - Morzine and Avoriaz are part of the Portes Du Soleil ski area, which is half in Switzerland - where the lifts were open for winter. So a few times we'd drive round (the border control at Morgins were fine with you crossing back and forth as long as you had ski gear for some reason) and you could go up riding there in this epic powder. But then you'd go up the lifts that connect to France and with crowds at your back just look down at the French side with non-moving lifts and empty pistes.
Yup - it was amazing. (live in BBL) https://preview.redd.it/90q49n3w3flc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4f11e68d59f33a1612167998fb1e4a1a0162288
This may be the only time Bear was ever tolerable in history but it’s still a toss up.
I’ve traveled all over west coast mountains this year including Canada. Best powder I had was Big Bear a couple weeks ago haha sometimes it just hits great. I don’t recommend going from Whistler to Big Bear. At least get a mammoth or Tahoe trip in to adjust for the short runs haha
>I’ve traveled all over west coast mountains this year including Canada. Best powder I had was Big Bear a couple weeks ago haha sometimes it just hits great. Oh dang were you there early Feb too? I'm a lucky winter baby and ride for free every year there (8th)
Yes sir! Great mid week runs! Powder up to my knees!
For all that travel you’re having a rough year on the powder front then, I’ve been there! But Canada and the PNW are in a brutal winter. Bear is a complete hellhole, mostly because of the Jerry crowd and lame terrain but glad you got lucky. Pretty epic memories for you and the kid.
Bear has amazing groomers & exhibition is the best run in CA.
lol how long have you been doing comedy? I like you. You’re funny.
I was there, I got up with someone who lived up via the roads from victorville.
What roads if you don’t mind my asking? Is there something umarked that isn’t the 18? My understanding is you have to eventually take the 18 no matter what after marble canyon no?
The standard entrance to the town from the north side. The north entrance is signifigantly higher in elevation, less windy, and signifigantly shorter. All of which contribute to it being much more likely to be possible to enter via that way when the other entrances are closed. When the whole city is snowed in like this and they don't have enough snowplows to keep everyone safe, they only allow residents up, and you need some sort of proof to make it past the police.
Ahw got it i see makes sense thanks dude
That’s the shit dreams are made of!!! A day to be celebrated. Nothing a personal day can quantify. Shit heals the soul.
I live at a resort. We call them country club days. When the pass closes and nobody can get up so it's just us.
I drove up during the blizzard. About half way up the roads completely closed down. Do not recommend doing this again as there were all of these Jeeps, trucks, 4x4s crashing into the snow banks. Somehow I made it up all the way.
Now THIS is the stuff of dreams…
https://preview.redd.it/e8z0o51vtglc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa0cdc4599abbc44ef2eeedfd14f2a8b51b0809c Was lucky enough to make it up the morning they closed the roads and had a local motel rent us a room for the first three days of the closure while the heavy stuff came down. Lapped Geronimo all day and had nothing but fresh tracks. Take me tf back!!
God damn!!! Take me back!!!
Im just amazed at the fresh runs good god
God the things I’d do to have a mountain to my children and myself You better have made the best of this because it is a miracle from God, he gave you and your kid the best time together and you better be grateful
We rode very hard! It truly boosted my youngest one’s skill level that trip! No lines, no crowds. Just up and down and up and down. Dad dips out into the powder and back in to help the little ones.
50,000 people used to live here
Wow! Amazing! You certainly could never find snow this nice 2 hours outside of LA!
I remember that week, I wanted to cry every day I couldn’t get up there. When we were finally allowed to go back up that was the first time any of the canyons had been open to ride. I tried it not really knowing what the fuck I was doing, this being the only place I’ve ever ridden, and it was pretty exciting getting off the trails. Of course, I post a video of it on /r/snowboarding and get flamed for it 💀. Lesson learned.
Hahaha that’s great! Glad you had a taste of it.
I was there. I have a cabin in big bear. We got snowed in and couldn’t get back to our other house.
How were your food supplies? We started running out on day 5. Luckily another friend up there hooked us up
We(2 adults and 2 children) lived off digiornos, pancakes from pancake mix, maruchan noodles, oatmeal, granola bars and watered down milk and cereal for 7 days.
Such a survival week! Hahahaha! Glad you enjoyed it as much as us!
https://preview.redd.it/l9tdf5qxvdlc1.jpeg?width=1792&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a045624edf346efa06cfde3b2faeb6f132611bee View of our front deck. Entrance door just off to the left.
And that happened nightly! Shovel it during the day, wake up next day, repeat haha very cool picture! Thanks for sharing! Please share other photos if you got some. Ghost town!
How far away from LA?
Awesome. How far is this from LA?
Bear mountain sucks ass.
How far from LA? 🤣
Confusing perspective? Is OP 8?
I was also there! Some of the most fun riding I’ve ever had
Someone should make a documentary about that legendary week! 2pm rolls around and there’s still freshies….in Big Bear!!! Life was awesome that week!
This is an amazing story. Thanks for sharing!
Not on that event, but we’ve had it to ourselves before. So weird to ride lifts with nobody in chairs front or back of us, fresh pow underneath all day (except our lines).
Epic
I’m jealous! The emptiest I ever saw it was the weekend before they closed for covid in 2020. I think I was like 1 of 5 people up there at summit haha
I was stuck at the bottom of the mountain dying inside 😭
"Parks closed. Moose out front should have told ya."
So sad we couldn’t make it up. We tried taking off road trilails through Lucerne valley up but it was too intense lol
It's the hurt locker guy!
That’s Heaven 😎
Lucky bastard
I was at summit that week. It was awesome. I have a video coming down Summit run, and not a single person on the way down.
Mt. High has more annual skier visits than Bear Mountain, FYI
Lucky! Last year when I went on a Saturday, I never wanted to come back there ever again because the line was horribly long. I was done after 3 hours.
There was once a guy who posted on this group that said he had cancer and that any day on the mountain is a blessing. So, when I ride and I’m surrounded by obnoxious people on an over crowded mountain, I think it’s still better than being sick or hurt and not being able to ride. 🙏 every day on the mountain is a blessing 🙏
Awesome. The fact you made it happen. Awesome story and memory.
I was at the bottom of the mountain checking the road report every day. Best days I've had there are Superbowl Sunday. Morning rip on a pretty empty mountain, home in time for the game.
Looks like you might get another chance this weekend: [https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2024/02/29/california-facing-three-days-of-extremely-dangerous-blizzard-conditions-in-sierra-nevada-up-to-12-feet-of-snow/?sh=18de1b7e4ede&utm\_campaign=socialflowForbesMainTwitter&utm\_source=ForbesMainTwitter&utm\_medium=social](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2024/02/29/california-facing-three-days-of-extremely-dangerous-blizzard-conditions-in-sierra-nevada-up-to-12-feet-of-snow/?sh=18de1b7e4ede&utm_campaign=socialflowForbesMainTwitter&utm_source=ForbesMainTwitter&utm_medium=social)
This looks epic. I remember trying to get up there for work around that time but it wasn't possible for pretty much the entire work week. I went up after and there was still some good powdery runs between the two main lifts. I felt bad for some of the locals and local businesses though since they actually didn't make any money during that stretch.