Scores of off-duty firefighters and friends showed up at Snow Summit in Big Bear to ride their mountain bikes en masse on August 3rd. It was a first-ever event planned and executed by LAFRA Trustee and 21’s Fire Captain Chris Hart.
“What a great day!” exclaimed Hart as he stood atop the mountain on the terrace of the Skyline Taphouse and looked out over the valley and lake below. “Perfect weather and we have the whole mountain to ourselves. I bet we have twice as many riders up here next year once the word gets out.”
In addition to the sunny weather, the 40 plus participants received an all-day lift ticket, a BBQ lunch and a t-shirt. There were also some fantastic prizes for a Poker Run that was eventually won by Patrick Rivera from LA County Fire.
Chris chose Snow Summit because it is home to Southern California’s only lift-served bike park and features a diverse mix of runs and terrain – including step-ups, berms, and bridges – that definitely challenges riders of all ability levels. From beginner features like Small Wonder and the Skill Builder Park, to more advanced runs like Miracle Mile and Party Wave, the Bike Park Terrain Crew keeps things fresh and interesting all summer long. There is access to more than 60 miles of professionally built and maintained trails, including the legendary Mountain Top Trail and local favorites like Pirate’s and Fern’s.
LAFRA President Bob Steinbacher brought his boys up for the day. They enjoyed the most breathtaking views in Big Bear on the Scenic Sky Chair, where you can sit back and enjoy the fresh mountain air, scenic surroundings, and panoramic views of the valley below as you make the mile-long climb to the top (elev. 8,200 feet). If you have time for an all-day trek, you can skip the chair and go for a three-mile climb (1,500 ft. elevation gain) on Towne Trail or Trail 2N08 before intersecting the 26-mile Skyline trail. Either way, from that altitude you’ll have amazing views of the Santa Ana River Valley and San Gorgonio National Wilderness Area.
The biggest winners for the day were the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund, which was the beneficiary of the rider’s largess, and LAFRA’s Medical Plan – due to the fact that there were NO injuries reported out on the course!
Special thanks go out to Snow Summit for donating some of the prizes and for the tons of help with the logistics of putting this event together.
Stay on the look-out for notices of future events for bike riders of all disciplines. Chris knows that there a lots of LAFD members who are both mountain and road riders, and already has plans for more exciting cycle adventures.