Snow, Snow and Snow

We drove up the winding highway 330 to highway 18 in the San Bernardino Mountains last weekend. We cruised up past 7,000 feet above sea level, leaving behind the city, the smog, and the crowd and then back down into Big Bear Lake. The drive is beautiful, but if you get motion sickness, keep your eyes on the road and bring some Dramamine. As the sun set over the great Los Angeles basin and the valleys of southern California, I was content in the idea of spending our weekend in a house in the snow. Big Bear Lake, California, a ski community surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. We were staying in a coworker’s house, and with a $50 a night rate, it’s a steal for the SoCal adjacent retreat.

This is unusual for me, because I am not a fan of frozen water. I like the sun on my face and nature alive and in bloom. But I was looking forward to a weekend away with my husband and some friends were planning on joining us. Cut to us parking in front of the rental house with a driveway of snow to shovel. In the garage, we found two shovels, one clearly made for a child. That was the first time I have ever shoveled snow. It was like 19 degrees outside and inside. We discovered the last renter had not followed the house rules and did not set the thermostat to 60. Instead they turned it off. Also, this caused water in the pipes to freeze. It’s strange, looking into the toilet and finding ice. We went to bed covered in layers of blankets waiting for the heat to warm up the house.

But for our weekend in the snow, that was the worst of it. By morning the snow was beginning to thin as the weather turned to 50 degree afternoons with sun shining over us. I did not ski or snow board. But I did enjoy my 5k walk each morning to and from the Big Bear Starbucks with a fire-pit inside and out. I did enjoy our bratwurst and vegetarian chili dinner with friends, while we browsed the music in my iPod and talked about nothing and anything. I enjoyed our cozy cabin house with decorative bears and a fireplace. I read. I was lazy. I walked Pine Knot Avenue in the village with friends. And I enjoyed my farewell to winter.

When we returned home on Sunday, I found my apricot tree bursting with flowers. Spring in SoCal had sprung.