Southern California Mountains:
Big Bear and Idyllwild

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(Note: this is probably not an accurate weather report, because it usually pulls its data from a different town that isn't even in the mountains.)

This is on Hwy 38 near Onyx Summit, elevation 8443 feet, between the Barton Flats area and Big Bear, in the eastern part of the San Bernardino Mountains. This view is looking west, along the upper valley of the Santa Ana River. The snow-covered mountain back there on the left is San Gorgonio Mountain, also called "Old Greyback." It is 11490 feet high, the highest peak in Southern California.
Although I have never been to the summit, I once day-hiked as far up as Dollar Lake, a good climb in itself at 9300 feet. I did, however, once climb to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto, 10804 feet, which is 25 miles south of Gorgonio in a different mountain range. (Pictures are further down the page.) No, I didn't go up this way! I took the easy way up most of that mountain on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. I'm glad I did it when I had the chance; I sure can't do that kind of climbing these days.

This is Big Bear Lake, elevation 6743 feet. This is looking northeast from near the dam at the west end of the lake.

On the right: that's what I call a Big Bear!

This is the dam at the west end of Big Bear Lake. The original dam is beneath the water now. The newer dam, completed in 1912, raised the lake level considerably.

That dark blue Toyota truck is mine. Yep, that's what it looked like back when it was spankin' new in 1995.

Across the dam and over to the north shore, across from where the last pictures were taken. Looking east toward the town of Big Bear.

And looking west back at the dam again. Beyond it is the deep canyon of Bear Creek, which eventually flows into the Santa Ana River.

(Note: this is probably not an accurate weather report, because it usually pulls its data from a different town that isn't even in the mountains.)

This is climbing up into the San Jacinto Mountains on Hwy 74 east of Hemet, looking west. You can see across the various valleys for well over 100 miles. The distant mountains on the left are the Santa Ana Mountains with Saddleback Peak at the highest point. The other mountains on the right are the San Gabriel Range. Through binoculars I could pick out Mt. Wilson far to the west.

This is the mountain town of Idyllwild, looking north as you enter the main part of town.

Looking east now.

Just up the street are a lot of shops and restaurants.

Looking north from there. More shops, bed & breakfasts, cabins, and so on.

That is Lily Rock way back there on the mountain.

Also in this area is Humber Park, a trailhead for the hike up the Devil's Slide to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto, which I mentioned near the top of this page.

This is Mt. San Jacinto, as seen from North Palm Springs.

This is a picture of both San Jacinto and San Gorgonio, seen from about 50 miles away in the desert to the east.