Big Bear 2011

Big Bear Lake(2011).

we went to Big Bear Lake for Christmas 2011 with my friend's, long time friend and Master classmate's family. we decided to go couple of days before, we decided to rent 3bed-room a vacation home for 3-4 days in green valley lake. Green Valley lake is highest peak in big bear county. one day before we left to big bear, there was a snow storm in big bear. by the time we went to big bear lake total green valley lake area is covered with snow.

we started on Friday after noon from San Diego. first one hour and half is pretty much flat roads, after few miles from Riverside, hilly road started. till we reached Big Bear city are on hill roads. it is almost 3 hours drive from Rancho Bernardo, San Diego to Big Bear Lake. we rented vacation home in Green Valley. Green Valley is highest peak on southern California. There is small lake in green valley, it was frozen most of the winter and frozen temperatures in the mornings and nights. it is almost dark, by the time we reached Green Valley. we observed ice is formed on roads in couple of places, slightly our vehicle also slide at one place.We got the key from rental office and we went inside the home by 7, it is fully dark and chilly out side. heater was on, it was heaven when we felt warm air, after couple of hours of cold breeze and frozen temperatures. We took rest and chit chatted for some time before we go for dinner. when we planned big bear trip, we decided to sit and enjoy for couple of days with very little activities. We prepared enough food for 2 days and packed. we enjoyed dinner and watched TV, no internet so no laptop, no browsing. our plan was take rest and get up so late. we slept very late. It was very hot inside by the middle of night, we opened a window and slept.

 

Next day we got up by 8 to 9AM, we prepared idlies for break-fast. we also bought couple of chutnies with us from home.  After break-fast we explored the outside of the house, we saw 2-3 inches of snow on patio and whole surrounding are covered with snow, looks amazing. our friend has two little girls, they enjoyed, played in snow a lot. after spending some time in snow, we decided to go outside and explore the big bear. we first stopped at snow summit for tubing. we could not do any activities but my friends family did tubing, their kids did tubing alone.  In big bear the slopes OK, But i liked sierra mountain slopes far better for winter activities.  we spent some there. we went to city and roamed there for some time and lunch there itself. while returning home we bought one sledge for kids. on the way home we stopped at frozen lake. we had lunch there. and walked around the lake. took many pictures on the lake. we have got very beautiful pictures on lake. we spent more than an hour and then left for home as it was frozen outside. Kids were shivering with chill. after some rest, we came out of the house and found a small play ground in front of the house, kids started to play, sliding on the snow till it fully become dark and they were exhausted in the cold. That night, we did nothing, lay down and shared our previous trip experiences, fun moments and we forgot everything, Just relax and enjoy. we prepared chicken biryani when we started. it was so tasteful, especially in the middle of winter night in snowy place.

Next day we got up by 10, we planned nothing except explore the lake. It was very scenic route over the lake. lake appears bluish from the top. there are many trails at the lake. we have not gone any trails. we just saw on drive through. my understanding from several reviews and recommendations, it is very scenic route over lake and especially it is very beautiful in the winter.  half the day we spent near the lake, we stopped for some near snow, where many people are playing, sliding in snow in open areas. next day morning, we left the rental house by 11 and left to San Diego. we came on the same route. we have not spent time on any place while returning, as i need to catch a flight the same night to San Jose,CA.  Instead i would recommend, while returning to go over the lake till it connects to I-15 all the way.

Yosemite - Trip with Arshiya

We went to Yosemite for Labor Day weekend in 2012. we went with 6 month old baby from San Diego through Yosemite east gate.

We planned to avoid LA and Bakersfield, instead went via Riverside, I-215N, US-395N and CA-120. we have not hit much traffic after we divided from I-15. after crossing Riverside, Almost till the Yosemite valley we drove on hills.

we started at 4PM on Friday evening and drove till Bishop in the middle we took rest twice, one for Gas and another at Rest Place on the highway 395. It was almost midnight by the time we reached Bishop,CA. it was very tough to get a room without reservation. we almost searched more than 10-15 hotels. finally we got one in hotel.

Bishop, village is on the highway 395. it looks very beautiful location surrounded by full of hills. espcially in winter all hills are covered with snow. we went on a full-moon day, i saw many photographers in Bishop. I understand after talking to them, Yosemite has many small lakes on surrounded hills and moutains. they wanted to capture picture of full-moon either in reflection water, hills in background and also full moon in the same frame.

next Day, we started our drive to yosemite by 9AM. we reached east gate before noon. we stopped for lunch at Tenya Lake. we went on a trial till lake. It is hot in day time and cold at nights. we spent couple of hours at the lake and took rest for some time. we watched bench of people learning rope walk learning on top of lake at one corner. lake water is very colourful. at shore light blue or light green shade and in the middle dark blue. it is very picturique with back ground blue skies and hills and thier reflection on water.

After 1st break, we drove to valley with one or two stops. we checked-in to yosemite-falls lodge, took few hours rest and took local transport to go to mirror lake. there are no water in any lakes and no water for falls. before dark we came back to hotel.

Next day morning i got up very early. i went outside to get few sun rise snaps. it is very cold in the valley. i drove one full loop in the valley. morning valley will be very pleasant, very calm. i walked few trails in valley. it was very refreshing compared to normal busy days. i saw bench of deers on meadows. playing, eating grass. i spent 2-3 hours in valley till sun is rises fully in the valley.

 

we parked vehicle at market place and took local bus to go all places with invalley. they also provide upto glacier point. in september long weekend yosemite is fully crowded very difficult to get a parking spot in all major attractions.  we stopped at many falls, But as no snow and no water falls are without water. very small water in few falls. at one falls we see water is going upward direction because of wind.

After that we drove to tunnel view for some time before go to Glacier Point. it was very clear sky, we can see half-dome very clearly no fog was there. Then we went to Glacier Point. After 10-15 mins, we got a parking spot. Glacier Point is one of the best view place to see Yosemite valley and half-dome. we had lunch there and spent some time walking on trails. Then we went to Mariposa grove, we did not spend much time there. we left the park from there.

we thought of staying there for night, then changed the mind and drove home(san diego) on the same night. it was very long, tiring drive. in the middle we took an hour or an hour and half rest near bakersfield just before sun set. we reached home just after midnight.