Best conditions in years await those want to explore Big Bear’s backcountry on snowshoes and cross-country skis.

    Regular storms and cool temperatures all winter long are making for tremendous conditions on local trails, and favored locations like Deer, Bow and Sand Canyons in the hills above Moonridge should keep adequate snow cover all month long. But hurry—as the sun rises in the sky and the days get longer, the life expectancy of the best season in years gets shorter.

    Out here, there’s no chairlifts running nor base area commotion. No lift ticket is required so it costs hardly anything to enjoy remote Big Bear recreation. The only sound beyond utter stillness is the occasional bird chirping or squirrel chattering—except for that distinctive poof! your snowshoes or skis make as they punch through crust into powdery, sugary snow.

    Becoming proficient on snowshoes is as simple as strapping a pair on and setting forth on foot into the forest. Put one foot down in front of another and repeat, occasionally putting a little spring into your step...or not. Forget expensive lessons; if you can walk, you can snowshoe! It’s absolutely the easiest way for the masses to get out and enjoy Big Bear winter recreation, and the learning curve is light years faster than with skiing or snowboarding.

     And forget the tennis rackets cartoon characters wear; Goldsmith’s Boardhouse rents Atlas snowshoes for just $10/day with two cleats in the back that grip harder snow, for climbing and scooting around ridges. A pair of ski or hiking poles is helpful, and Goldsmith’s has maps and expert advice plus the latest snow conditions.

    Many of those trails that are so popular with summer hikers make ideal snowshoe treks when they’re covered in snow, like Pine Knot Trail, Holcomb Valley, and the aforementioned canyons. The narrowing walls of Bow Canyon are especially magnificent, with a gentle ascent up the floor as the walls close in on each side.

    Bear Mountain ski area may be immediately to the west, but Bow is a world in of itself. There’s even a conveniently-located log where snowshoers and skiers can sit and slip on their boots—hiking boots or Sorels work best and keep water out, but some folks go out in tennis shoes. Plus no Adventure Pass is required.

    Snowshoers can get as aggressive as they want, bounding up and down slopes, even running or racing, as competitors showed during the first annual “Snowshoe the Bear” event last month. Most folks just amble along though, stopping to take pictures and walking at their own pace.

    “Snoeshoeing is one of the fastest ways to get a workout in, about 10-15 minutes if you run,” Goldsmith says. “Or a half-day and look at the scenery. Many people bring a picnic lunch along, maybe a bottle of wine, and make a day of it. It’s not uncommon to see wildlife along the way, obviously squirrels and birds but also sometimes coyotes or even bobcats.”

    Most people find cross-country skiing more challenging than snowshoeing, with free-heel bindings that allow feet to shuffle forward. Going uphill isn’t too bad, but making downhill turns can be interesting. Regardless of what you’re on, going downhill is faster and easier, just like hiking.

    Even if you showed up in Big Bear with no equipment whatsoever, Goldsmith’s Boardhouse has everything you’ll need for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, from gear to even clothing, like ski pants and jackets. “We have cross-country skis for anybody, from tykes size three or four up to 200-plus pounders like yourself,” Goldsmith says. The store also has maps with detailed locations on how to get to the best places.

    Goldsmiths Boardhouse is at 42071 Big Bear Blvd. Call (909) 866-2728.