paradisaea: Isla en el cielo: roaming the San Bernardino Mountains

Pineknot Trail to Grand View Point
June 2014

We needed a hike that would get us out into the wilderness of Southern California (no biggie). Something with mountains and critters and at least a little less traffic than you might find on the 405 at rush hour. We decided to head to Big Bear and check out a 7 mile trail called Pineknot. The trail goes up about 1,100 feet to an altitude of about 8,000 and has sweeping views of the San Bernardino Mountains, including San Gorgonio, the tallest peak (11,500 feet) in Southern California.

The San Bernardinos are a fascinating group of mountains for a variety of reasons. To begin with, they're part of the Transverse Ranges, unique in and of themselves because they run east-west, unlike most California coastal ranges, which run north-south. The California Aqueduct runs through the San Bernardinos, which also include one of the deepest valleys in the United States, San Gorgonio Pass, which is deeper than the Grand Canyon by over 2,000 feet. What I think is most fascinating about the San Bernardinos as a geological structure is that they are what is known as a "Sky Island," which means that the ecosystems supported in the mountains are dramatically different from those in the land below (such as the Mojave Desert).

Baba said, "Do you think, if we held hands, we could reach all the way around the tree?" We could.

We had views of Big Bear Lake on the north side of the trail, which was mostly uphill and did some switchbacking along the hillside and past small valley meadows like this one:

photo cred.: Mom

photo cred.: Baba

photo cred.: Mom

I felt particularly enthralled by the plant life along the trail. We saw tons of Jeffrey Pines up in the mountains, as well as dozens of California Chipmunks, who chased each other around with their spindly tails held high in the air like go-cart flags. Also, Manzanita, California Black Oak, Lupines, ... one trumpet shaped plant that smelled divine, which I have not been able to identify, and an evergreen tree that smelled like citrus, also an enigma.

photo cred.: Mom

Jeffrey Pines have jigsaw puzzle bark, which is beautiful and curious.

photo cred.: Mom

Lupines - the biggest I've seen in the wild!

photo cred.: Mom

We all felt the altitude in our temples and heads as we hit the trail. About midway up, I started feeling a little nauseated too. Mom had the same feeling on the way back down...But the view from the top of Grand View Point was invigorating. You can see snow-capped Gorgonio in this picture:

photo cred.: Baba

This rock (along with Mom's homegrown cucumbers) saved my life. It's probably the most comfortable place I've ever rested my weary bones. If we didn't have a four mile hike down the mountain, I would have taken it home with me!

photo cred.: Mom

Bab's ready for lunch.:

photo cred.: Mom

And then, we hiked back down. It had to have been the prettiest hike I've ever been on in Southern California. All rugged and vast and piney and vibrant, and it smelled delicious. I feel refreshingly charmed by the San Bernardino Mountains and intend to become very much more acquainted with them.