Big bear area trails

[dirtman13]

Here's what's going on up here in Big Bear as of 9:00 AM on Weds. Where I live in Moonridge, we recieved about 2 ft of snow from the first storm on Monday and we've gotten about another 8 to 10 inches again overnight, and it's still snowing very hard righ now. My guess would be that there are at least R2 road conditons up here and possibly R3. That's 4 wheel drive and chains.

I'm pretty sure areas like Gold Mtn and John Bull would have about the same amount of Snow and it's getting deeper by the minute. Probably close to 3 ft or more. All I can say is it's Nasty out there.

I'll send out another report on Friday if you guys would like. Keep you fingers crossed. If it ever stops snowing it will be lots of fun out there.

From what your saying and by the looks of this I find it hard to believe there will be much wheeling this weekend. I'll bet the weekend after Christmas will be great wheeling conditions.


Updated 12-17-2008 09:56 AM Local Time at Big Bear City - CA
THU

AM Snow Showers
Hi 28°
Lo 12°

FRI

Partly Cloudy
Hi 33°
Lo 17°

SAT

Partly Cloudy/Wind
Hi 34°
Lo 13°

SUN

Mostly Sunny
Hi 37°
Lo 16°

MON

Few Snow Showers
Hi 36°
Lo 19°

[hondatom]

No real plan yet....any suggestions? We would like to get an early start and are pretty much open as far as trails go. A couple of the people coming with me have never driven in snow so they need to be broken in. I know bear is getting hit hard with the snow right now so does anyone know if chains will be required to get up there?

If you go up through Bowen ranch it's all dirt road to Fawnskin. I think it hooks up with 3n34. No chains required there.

[ECHO]

Well the conditions look like they could be pretty harsh for newb snow drivers. The group is now looking towards cougar buttes out in johnson valley if road conditions dont improve. We have never been there before but the pics that other mjr members have posted look interesting. I hate changing plans like this so close to the weekend but we were hoping for open roads all the way up. Ive been looking for snow chains today and the best price i could find was 120 bucks per pair at autozone. Pep boys wanted 180.00 per pair with a 4 day waiting period. Does that sound about average for chains? Hopefully the storm slows down and things clear up a bit, id really hate to miss a chance to wheel in the snow.

[Mitch]

I know that alot of you guys live for these snow moments, but watch what trails you get on. A realisitic guess is 3' to 4' of snow on some trails. Just local at the top of the Cajon it is already 2' deep on the trails and is expected to snow for another 6+ hours. Hard to see the edge! Be safe.

Mitch

[TJ Clay]

ya, i have a friend in oak hills said there's 3ft there and still snowing. I'm stuck down the pass and can't make it home tonight.

[Elusive]

my jeep is rolling on 38.5's and I know for a fact it's not big enough for the trails this weekend.
this pic was a couple years back with only 18" of snow.

[skygod73]

We're heading up Friday between 1-PM. I'll be going up 38 and I would bet 4wd w/snow tires will be fine since it's supposed to stop snowing Thursday morning. They should have a decent handle on it by Fri. I don't have chains for these tires, so if they are required (on 4wds) then we won't be going. I would be surprised if they were required on 4wd vehicles. 4 hi, slower speeds and a little less psi is all I've ever needed to get up the hill.

As for the trails, I would love to try something like Gold Mountain, but if it's too deep then going on the Holcomb Valley trail can be fun in deep snow, plus it's open area to play. I am up for any trails SAT morning. The snow will make any fire road fun. Let's get a plan together. ECHO, come on up!

[GrimJeeper91]

With the amount of snow they have had up there you will be hard pressed to do much playing up there (in the Jeep anyways). My father in law lives in Arrowhead and they had 4 feet as of early this morning and were expecting another 2 feet today. It doesn't take much snow to stop a Jeep.

[bigbearwheeler]

Big Bear update

It's about 8:00PM and it's still snowing. There's now about 4 feet on the ground in Moonridge. It's not looking too good for wheeling up here unless it stops very soon. If you do come up this weekend and plan to do some wheeling, have a good set of chains with you. You'll probably need them just to get back into Holcomb Valley if it's possible at all.

[curtis]

Tried to go up Hwy 38 today to BB, But CHP said you need chains because of too much ice and snow. You can go up the 330 and 18 with 4WD. Was going to try 1N12 to 1N04 to 38 but to slick to try by myself. Maybe tomorrow.

[skygod73]

Just checked cal trans, 38 still requires chains, but as posted above 330/18 good to go 4x4 w/snow tires. I wonder if they'll have a handle on 38 by fri afternoon.

[skygod73]

We're heading up Friday between 1-PM. I'll be going up 38 and I would bet 4wd w/snow tires will be fine since it's supposed to stop snowing Thursday morning. They should have a decent handle on it by Fri. I don't have chains for these tires, so if they are required (on 4wds) then we won't be going. I would be surprised if they were required on 4wd vehicles. 4 hi, slower speeds and a little less psi is all I've ever needed to get up the hill.

As for the trails, I would love to try something like Gold Mountain, but if it's too deep then going on the Holcomb Valley trail can be fun in deep snow, plus it's open area to play. I am up for any trails SAT morning. The snow will make any fire road fun. Let's get a plan together. ECHO, come on up!

Removing foot from mouth:yay:

If anyone is coming up and wants to try some wheelin on Sat, call me.
Carl 951-834-6956

[Matt2001TJ]

Snow

Hope you guys do come to Big Bear this weekend. We got dumped on. Maybe to much. We'll just have to check it out and see. Let me know where to meet you.

Me and a couple friends did a last minute run thursday up there up Bowen Ranch road then up 3N14 to 3N17 to white mountain. it did not take to long before the snow was up to my front bumper and all four of my my super swampers were just spining and my buddy went up about 100 yards ahead in his trail buggy on 42 inch super swampers and almost got stuck. He got back to me and said "were done, its to deep" other than that it was fun but Gold mountain or John Bull is out of the question.

[Jeeperator]

Does anyone have a snow cat i could borrow?lol

[ECHO]

my buddy went up about 100 yards ahead in his trail buggy on 42 inch super swampers and almost got stuck. He got back to me and said "were done, its to deep"

umm... His 42 in swampers couldnt hammer through and i only have 33's. Let me figure this out, 42 and 33 divide by, carry the 1, by the square route...ya, i think its safe to say big bear is a little too much this weekend. Is anyone going to try to make it up there? Any other ideas?